[APP] Promethium = Geolocation & Lost Phone App

Search This thread

richbayliss

Senior Member
Jun 18, 2006
122
10
Hi,

After the success of the beta programme (over 100 people wanting to signup!) I decided it was time to re-write the platform to allow me to add more features and improve the overall "feel" of it. I also have plans to commercialise the platform, allowing it to be used by businesses/individuals who wish to monitor devices remotely.

The client application for Android is available freely from here and can be included in a custom ROM if you wish to make it persistant across factory resets. I do ask that if your are a ROM developer that you let me know before you do this, and also credit me in your release notes.

There will be 3 main licenses available to you:
  1. Basic
  2. Standard - comming soon
  3. Expert - comming soon
(These apply to your account)

Basic
  • FREE!
  • Single device per account
  • GPS Location
  • Alarm-on-Demand

Standard
  • £0.99
  • Single device per account
  • GPS Location
  • Network Location
  • Alarm-on-Demand
  • LiveTracking
  • Includes software updates for 12 months

Expert
  • £2.99
  • Multiple devices per account (limit of 5)
  • GPS Location
  • Network Location
  • Alarm-on-Demand
  • LiveTracking
  • Includes software updates for 12 months

I am also considering the possibility of an API which a business could use to extract information and use it in their own way. Please contact me if you are interested.

How to install?
  1. Remove any older versions from your device
  2. Install the latest version from above
  3. Goto "http://promethium.mobi" and signup
  4. On your phone, follow the instructions to register your device against your account
  5. Login to "http://promethium.mobi" and have fun!

I haven't moved any old accounts over, so you should signup again.

Enjoy,

Rich
 
Last edited:

richbayliss

Senior Member
Jun 18, 2006
122
10
2.0 - 24/01/2011
(uninstall previous version prior to installing 2.0)
* See OP for details
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Dj!pOner

dwizzy130

Senior Member
Nov 14, 2007
742
3
Hi,

I have created a geolocation app a bit like MobileMe or htcsense.com for any Android 2.2 device with Market. Allows you to show your device on a map and make the alarm sound, all via a web portal.

http://promethium.mobi/

This site is the main portal, There will be limited accounts to start with, just 20. These will be BETA accounts as I need people to trial the system to get feedback etc. Currently the email address has to be unique, but doesn't need to be a valid address, however this will be useful when you try and report issues.

Once you have signed up, the latest APK for the client application will be downloadable from the portal toolbar. This app will ask for the same login credentials used on the portal, and once connected you are ready to use the portal functions.

Check the site periodically, as I will allow more signups as the application progresses.

Please can we keep all bug reports within this thread, I would rather develop this in the open.

Enjoy,

Rich

Looks pretty sweet. Nice and simple. Works well, though I couldn't get the sound to work. It just popped up in the taskbar and said "Ring! Ring".

dwizzy130
 

richbayliss

Senior Member
Jun 18, 2006
122
10
Looks pretty sweet. Nice and simple. Works well, though I couldn't get the sound to work. It just popped up in the taskbar and said "Ring! Ring".

dwizzy130

Ok. It should play the default alarm tone you have set. Could you pastebin a logcat, from before you click "play sound" until the notification appears.

Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App
 

richbayliss

Senior Member
Jun 18, 2006
122
10
OK people!

Thanks to all those who already registered, just a few spaces left if people want to signup. Please only signup if you are happy to engage in helping me improve this platform... any accounts created but not activated within a day will be removed!

So far I have made quite a few alterations, improvements to the UI on the portal, as well as more interactive feedback. This means that you need to re-download and install the client app - this will overwrite the current one, and will keep all existing settings :)

Enjoy!
 

richbayliss

Senior Member
Jun 18, 2006
122
10
Very nice application! Good :)

You're welcome, and thanks for the positive feedback!

I would appreciate if you could test out the portal/make sure it does what it is supposed to etc. Post back here if you have any niggles, but also if you can think of anything which might improve the experience.
 

dwizzy130

Senior Member
Nov 14, 2007
742
3
Ok. It should play the default alarm tone you have set. Could you pastebin a logcat, from before you click "play sound" until the notification appears.

Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App


Well that's why! I figured it would play it's own notification. I have the alarm volume set to 0 because I don't ever use it.lol
It would be nice if you had a configuration for that in the app or the portal.
Keep up the good work,

dwizzy130
 

richbayliss

Senior Member
Jun 18, 2006
122
10

dwizzy130

Senior Member
Nov 14, 2007
742
3
Hmmm. It should crank the volume up to max before it plays the tone.

I haven't included an "alert" sound yet, as I thought people would recognise their own alerts easier. I like the idea of adding a customise option to the app though :) Thanks!

Hmm that's weird. It didn't change the volume, but when I manually did it, the sound worked. Other than that, the app looks and works great!
One more suggestion though, idk if it's possible, could you have it force turn on gps? I normally leave it off so if I actually do lose my phone, it would just give me the giant radius of the cell tower location...
Also, I notice you're using dyndns. Is the computer/server you're running it on going to be up 24/7?


**EDIT**
One more suggestion, a "My Phone's Location" button on the portal that snaps to the location and centers it.




dwizzy130
 
Last edited:

richbayliss

Senior Member
Jun 18, 2006
122
10
One more suggestion though, idk if it's possible, could you have it force turn on gps? I normally leave it off so if I actually do lose my phone, it would just give me the giant radius of the cell tower location...
Sorry, starting from Android 1.5 cupcake, you cannot programmatically toggle GPS. It should be fine to leave it enabled though.

Also, I notice you're using dyndns. Is the computer/server you're running it on going to be up 24/7?
While I am developing the app regularly it is running on a server I have on a dynamic IP line. Once the app is ready for general release it will go onto into a hosted environment.

One more suggestion, a "My Phone's Location" button on the portal that snaps to the location and centers it.
Hitting "Refresh Location" does this now, but it takes up to 5 seconds to move across the map, I will look at making it snappier :)
 
Last edited:

dwizzy130

Senior Member
Nov 14, 2007
742
3
Sorry, starting from Android 1.5 cupcake, you cannot programmatically toggle GPS. It should be fine to leave it enabled though.
Hmmm I could have sworn one of those SMS based locator apps could force toggle it. Maybe not. Idk.


While I am developing the app regularly it is running on a server I have on a dynamic IP line. Once the app is ready for general release it will go onto into a hosted environment.
Perfect, that's what I wanted to hear.

Hitting "Refresh Location" does this now, but it takes up to 5 seconds to move across the map, I will look at making it snappier :)
I'm an idiot for missing that one.lol


dwizzy130
 

xghostyxjokerx

Senior Member
Sep 26, 2009
929
13
hi,

i have created a geolocation app a bit like mobileme or htcsense.com for any android 2.2 device with market. Allows you to show your device on a map and make the alarm sound, all via a web portal.

http://promethium.mobi/

this site is the main portal, there will be limited accounts to start with, just 20. These will be beta accounts as i need people to trial the system to get feedback etc. Currently the email address has to be unique, but doesn't need to be a valid address, however this will be useful when you try and report issues.

Once you have signed up, the latest apk for the client application will be downloadable from the portal toolbar. This app will ask for the same login credentials used on the portal, and once connected you are ready to use the portal functions.

Check the site periodically, as i will allow more signups as the application progresses.

Please can we keep all bug reports within this thread, i would rather develop this in the open.

Enjoy,

rich



i must say great start looking forward for more....keep up the great work!!! Hey could we somehow get a option to lock and such...will more add on and such be added in the future??,....keep us posted thanks alot!!!
 

richbayliss

Senior Member
Jun 18, 2006
122
10
Hmmm I could have sworn one of those SMS based locator apps could force toggle it. Maybe not. Idk.
I have read through the SDK documentation and the best you can do is prompt the user to enable it. So kind of misses the point :)

I have also altered the JavaScript code so that clicking on the location refresh button zaps you to the marker instantly, but you still have to wait until the phone updates the server to see the latest result :D
 

richbayliss

Senior Member
Jun 18, 2006
122
10
i must say great start looking forward for more....keep up the great work!!! Hey could we somehow get a option to lock and such...will more add on and such be added in the future??,....keep us posted thanks alot!!!

Thanks for the positive feedback - glad you like it so far.

Yes, more features will be coming soon, including a "Lock" ability. This is quite a complicated one though, might require the user to select a "secure" lock screen prior to first use.

I also thought of some wicked uses for the Nexus S, but that will have to wait until I get time ( here's a clue: Peekaboo! :) )
 

xghostyxjokerx

Senior Member
Sep 26, 2009
929
13
Thanks for the positive feedback - glad you like it so far.

Yes, more features will be coming soon, including a "Lock" ability. This is quite a complicated one though, might require the user to select a "secure" lock screen prior to first use.

I also thought of some wicked uses for the Nexus S, but that will have to wait until I get time ( here's a clue: Peekaboo! :) )

GREAT LOOKING FORWARD TO IT..... Curently running off of Nexus One ... will these wicked uses work for N1? :( :)
 

Top Liked Posts

  • There are no posts matching your filters.
  • 7
    Hi,

    After the success of the beta programme (over 100 people wanting to signup!) I decided it was time to re-write the platform to allow me to add more features and improve the overall "feel" of it. I also have plans to commercialise the platform, allowing it to be used by businesses/individuals who wish to monitor devices remotely.

    The client application for Android is available freely from here and can be included in a custom ROM if you wish to make it persistant across factory resets. I do ask that if your are a ROM developer that you let me know before you do this, and also credit me in your release notes.

    There will be 3 main licenses available to you:
    1. Basic
    2. Standard - comming soon
    3. Expert - comming soon
    (These apply to your account)

    Basic
    • FREE!
    • Single device per account
    • GPS Location
    • Alarm-on-Demand

    Standard
    • £0.99
    • Single device per account
    • GPS Location
    • Network Location
    • Alarm-on-Demand
    • LiveTracking
    • Includes software updates for 12 months

    Expert
    • £2.99
    • Multiple devices per account (limit of 5)
    • GPS Location
    • Network Location
    • Alarm-on-Demand
    • LiveTracking
    • Includes software updates for 12 months

    I am also considering the possibility of an API which a business could use to extract information and use it in their own way. Please contact me if you are interested.

    How to install?
    1. Remove any older versions from your device
    2. Install the latest version from above
    3. Goto "http://promethium.mobi" and signup
    4. On your phone, follow the instructions to register your device against your account
    5. Login to "http://promethium.mobi" and have fun!

    I haven't moved any old accounts over, so you should signup again.

    Enjoy,

    Rich
    1
    2.0 - 24/01/2011
    (uninstall previous version prior to installing 2.0)
    * See OP for details
    1
    Very nice application! Good :)