[NTLK] New version of Einstein for Android

Matthias Melcher mm at matthiasm.com
Wed Dec 26 18:55:32 EST 2012


Hi my friends of the green friend,

Tonight I uploaded a new version of Einstein for Android: einstein.26.12.2012.apk . Use this link to download:

http://code.google.com/p/einstein/downloads/list

So what is new?

I plunged into the Android docs and mailing lists to finally understand what the heck I was doing when I first implemented this port. And buy did I find out a lot about my mistaken assumptions. I guess it is the fate of being a programmer for 30 years to simply assume things - because they have always been that way. And then this newfangled language named Java. Tsk tsk.

Anyway, this version is now much much faster thanks to a better compiler and better optimization.

When launching multiple apps, Einstein is sent into the background as a service. That way, it will no longer reboot every time. This was also a severe bug wasting megabytes of resources. Ah well.

So, if you are using a Samsung Note for example, you will get a pretty good Newton experience. The HWR works, the apps run at almost full speed, and even adding the Y10K patch should work.

Install the APK, upload the ROM (717006.rom) and the REX (Einstein.rex) into the directory "/sdcard/Downloads/Einstein/" and launch the Einstein App. It may crash the first time around, but should work the second time and from then on. Booting takes less than a minute on my phone, but may take longer on slower CPUs. A dual core CPU is highly recommended.


Should you try to get this running, please send me a quick note, which phone/tablet, and if it worked for you.


 - Matthias


PS: not working: preferences, network

PPS: packages are installed by uploading them to the same directory where the ROM is and choosing "Install" from the menu. Einstein should only install files that are newer than the last installed files.





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