[review] Text Widget

[konzern]

Im back bringing you another widget worth mentioning. This time around the widget worth mentioning is "text widget" found in the market FREE

FOR 1.5 FIRMWARE ONLY! (CUPCAKE)


This is just a simple widget that displays incoming SMS messages

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m278/konzern_one/textwidget.png

When you first install the widget it gives you a little info telling you what the widget is all about.

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m278/konzern_one/textwidget1.png

The size of the widget is actually the same size as the google search widget. 1x4 spaces(HxW)

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m278/konzern_one/textwidget2.png

When you receive an SMS it will automatically show on the widget. (sorry about the short sms i was bothering my girl so she could send me a message to display lol)

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m278/konzern_one/textwidget3.png

You can click on the widget and reply directly from the widget.

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m278/konzern_one/textwidget4.png

You could also dismiss the message by simply pressing the close button on the top right side of the widget. the best part of this widget is when you dismiss the message the widget becomes invisible but doesnt get removed from the screen, it will reappear when u receive another SMS.

This is a very simple widget but i found that i really liked it.

PROS
*you can read your messages directly from your home screen
*direct reply from widget

CONS
*no multi-messages support
*no mms support
*no options

What i would like to see
*background color chooser
*different widget sizes
*different font sizes

UPDATE

Well Boys and girls i have been beta testing a new version of "Text Widget" you should be able to download this new version off the market in the near future (very soon)

CHANGE LOG
*Next/previous buttons
*Message marked read on quick reply
*New look (Hero-esque)
*Full message appears in quick reply
*Easier to read font

Next/previous buttons
sorry i couldnt get screen shots of the next and previous buttons, nobody texted me during the screen shots. i do however know it works

Message marked read on quick reply
This feature only marks the message as read in native messanging app, but it does not mean it will remove the notification from the notification bar.

this is a quote from alex

I'm still unable to clear the default
notification in the bar because of security

New look
the first thing you will see when you first install the widget is that now you have two options:
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m278/konzern_one/textwidget-2.png

the classic that came with the first version of this widget and the new "hero-esque" version
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m278/konzern_one/textwidget1-1.png

here are the two versions of the widget
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m278/konzern_one/textwidget3-1.png

Full message appears in quick reply
now when you click on the widget to quick reply you can see the full message in your quick reply

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m278/konzern_one/textwidget2-1.png

Easier to read font
As you can see from the screen shots the font is a little improved but IMO it still looks very small compared to the size of the widget.

LOOK FOR THIS APP VERY SOON ON THE MARKET.


I think this update is an improvement from the original text widget and a step in the right directions.

[DrVeronica]

about time you posted a review...hell it's been like 3 months!!!!


good review otherwise, although I don't like the idea of my text messages on my screens, as I always have people touching my phone

;)

[konzern]

lmao there hasnt been a widget that catches my eye dr.v!

[JohnnyLicious]

i use this all the time i love it =D great review!

[dippedinsauce]

how does this widget handle multiple unread messages? does it just display the last message you have received?

[konzern]

yeah it just displays the last message received

[Aikoa]

I absolutely love this widget, I waited for something like this and of course it comes out just have to wait a little while, now I posted something about this here at AC a few weeks back, I hope eventually devs can make it look nicer as the one on ROSIE's UI and have the box look a little better, i dont like how it has the same graphic UI as the google search widget. maybe a square?

[*susan*]

Another great review, Konzern.

[konzern]

:D thank u susan

i emailed the dev. and told him about some changes i would like to see and i mentioned AC hopefully he comes in here to discuss what users want

[Iceberg]

I'm sorry I'm so negative but I think this application is horrible.
I have it installed and tried it out the frist day. When the touch reply didn't work and I sent him a log so he could figure out why it wasn't working and he updated it to work which is good.

Don't get me wrong I liked the widget for about 32 seconds.
But by no means is it a good widget.

I emailed him politely discussing the future of his widget and what makes an app/wid a good one. After that sadly he never replied.

I said the purpose of making an application/widget is to better the phone and out do the default application on the phone. And his widget doesn't come close.

Can it handle multiple incoming text messages?
No.
Mms?
No.
Does it display messages more the one page long?
No sure didn't like the widget to look into it.

Doesn't disable the notification bar or lcd light.

It words and all.
But its not better then the default browser in many many ways.


There is my negative review :D

[Iceberg]

Sorry I'm on my phone so no edit just another post.
We always talked about making an option to make the widget 2x2? So its a square and would have a better feel for it and could support more.
Kinda likt Johnny's Hero? build with the text widget.

But one of the main things was that he can't make the widget do certain key things. Sorry I forgot what but I believe it was along the lines of viewing all the threads/replying or something. Sorry about not remembering I would pull it up from my phone but....multitasking..need I say more?

[konzern]

your righ iceberg all those things you listed are correct, but if theres anything i have learned from stickin to a widget that is sub-par is that with time they improve.

just take twidgit it started off very simple and now its the widget i use most because it has improved greatly

[konzern]

Can it handle multiple incoming text messages?
No.
Mms?
No. i think besides the native messanging app none of the messanging apps do
Does it display messages more the one page long?
No sure didn't like the widget to look into it.

Doesn't disable the notification bar or lcd light.

It words and all.
But its not better then the default browser in many many ways.
I really dont know what the browser has to do with this

There is my negative review :D

(just a bunch of filler)

[Iceberg]

Lol default browser. I meant messaging app.

Its hard to accumilate everything using my g1 here.
And I agree with sticking through with a widget its still on the next page on the right. But i never use it.

I just wish devs would think it through when they publish an app or widget in the means to better and outdue the phone and push for better apps.

But the android os still youn I'm just picky and kinda envious about that hero text widget? I believe.

[dippedinsauce]

i think im gonna wait till it can handle more but i still think the idea is great and from what i read a very handy widget good work developer

[theway2live]

i want to see a widget like the one hero has, with the messages behind eachother. wow.


*waits for an amazing hero rom patiently*

*shrugs shoulders saying i minus well just buy the damn phone*

[alexbyrnes]

Hello everyone. First thank you konzern for a great intro to the widget. I've be totally overwhelmed with the response and I have had absolutely no time to do something like this myself. Seems like something I should have done as a developer, maybe a little blog post or something...

BUT this is where some people's dissatisfaction with the widget comes from, my inability to update fast enough and respond to queries. This is entirely my fault because I released it at a time (now) when I don't have a second to spare. Updates will come hopefully in the next couple of weeks.

I released the widget basically as an ad for my paid app Voice Text, which has essentially the same thing built in. I had the code so I just took it out and published it as a separate app. I think most developers have been frustrated with their ability to promote their apps on the market. We have to continually release updates and even then the spike in downloads only lasts a day or two. So we're starting to get creative and this was my bright idea...

Most people really like it and have encouraged me to add various features, which I appreciate very, very much. You guys are my "focus group" and you've done a great job at it.

Unfortunately, you're also my beta testers. I have been really surprised by the little quirks that show up on other people's phones that don't show up on mine. There are so many variables even though 99.9% of us have a standard G1. There are home replacements like aHome, Open Home, dxTop etc... Various builds and rooted phones... and all the other apps that could interact badly with this poor little widget.

Android is a system that supports interoperability, which is great (and one of the reasons I think it will win the phone OS war). The problem is that working with other apps and the system is HARD. It basically balloons the variables that you have to account for. (My nightmare is that the 18 phones coming this year turn out to be a little different from each other...)

Anyway, this is going a bit long, there are some things that I need from you guys if you have trouble: Please send me everything you know about your phone along the lines of the above variables (OS reimage/root if any, home replacement, other apps that send and receive text messages, other widgets etc.).

Here's what I can do for you at this point. There are several features that a lot of people have asked for that will definitely go on the list for the next version if I can possibly help it:

* Multiple message support (next, previous buttons)
* Clearing the built-in notification. Not sure if I can do this without doing a custom notification and having people change their built-in settings but I will look into it.
* Smaller widget/different dimensions
* MMS support
* Contact image
* Skins
* Fonts/colors
* Marking the message as read when you do a quick reply
* Auto capitalization/correction in the quick reply

The last two are easy so I might be able to do a fill-in version sooner rather than later with those.

If you emailed me and I'm forgetting your features, I apologize. I've been sort of discombobulated with everything.

Also, I put a notice on the market but I'll repeat it here. I need people with more design sense/talent than I have to do skins for me. Yours could show up as the new background (everyone asks for a Hero-like look) and I'll put your name/link everywhere it will fit. In the app, online etc. The dimensions I need for now are 320x100 and 424x74 png files.

Thank you all so much for the feedback and support! We'll get this up and running right as soon as possible.

Alex

[konzern]

thanks for coming in here and discussing the plans for the widget. its always appreciated when a developer drops by.

[konzern]

***updated first page with new screenshots of the new version COMING SOON

[JohnnyLicious]

looks good can't wait for an update.

[konzern]

FOR SURE


i forgot to mention that alex might be releasing a paid app in the near future that has more skins and notification settings

[JohnnyLicious]

the paid app is already out ;]

.99 cents i haven't tried it yet

[Iceberg]

Yea I was going to mention it but I haven't gotten a chance too. It looks like its working very well. All the reviews are good. Now only if I had 99 cents on my card. lol.

[konzern]

Yea I was going to mention it but I haven't gotten a chance too. It looks like its working very well. All the reviews are good. Now only if I had 99 cents on my card. lol.

yeah im on the same boat, i have like 12 dollars on my card but its reserved for the monthly charge.........STUPID BofA

[Iceberg]

yeah im on the same boat, i have like 12 dollars on my card but its reserved for the monthly charge.........STUPID BofA
Lol I've been like this for awhile, I've wanted to buy quite a few apps but I just don't have the money right now it sucks, and I won't remember most of them either.

[konzern]

Lol I've been like this for awhile, I've wanted to buy quite a few apps but I just don't have the money right now it sucks, and I won't remember most of them either.

yeah it sucks when i want to review an app or a widget and i dont have enough money for it! not even a buck!

right now my phone is working cuz my girl paid it for me HOW EMBARRASSING