Cannonbowl

I'm proud today, I release my first Android game. It's a puzzle casual game call Cannonbowl. The goal is pretty simple, you have to clear all the balls of each level of the game with the help of a little cannon.

When hit, the ball can hit other balls creating a domino effect. The gameplay mechanic looks like Peggle and Angry Bird with a mix of bowling and pool.

The challenge is to maximize your score to claim the three typical stars on each level.

There are different types of balls, walls, gravity switch and portals.

I used the same made-it-myself game engine I used for Tablet Remote so the UI style is dynamic, clean and fast.

It took me around 2 months to create it.

The jazz music is from http://www.playonloop.com

For future updates, I will gladly add new levels and make something to do with all the stars you gain.

But let me ask you, where should I put my effort :
 - Level editor?
 - Achievements system?
 - Just new levels?

Have a nice day!

Tablet Remote

At the start of 2012, I release an app called Tablet Remote. It let you control an Android device, like a tablet with another Android device, mostly a phone.

I made this app for two purpose : Laziness and no interrupted cuddling. When I bought an Android Tablet (the great Asus Eee Pad Transformer TF101), I wanted to transform the tablet as my media hub : read comics, music, play games, watch movie on it and on my TV (with its hdmi output).

It works really great apart for watching movies or TV shows on my TV with it because obviously, I had to get up from my couch for everytime I wanted to pause or switch to another episode. And it kills the mood when you are with your loving partner.

I tried to find an app that let me do this and I did but it only works on rooted device :

DroidMote Server
https://market.android.com/details?id=org.videomap.droidmoteserver&feature=also_installed

Droid Client
https://market.android.com/details?id=org.videomap.droidmoteclient&feature=also_installed

By the app description and the user reviews, it seems to be a really great app. Even today, I couldn't find a way to emulate touch screen on non-rooted devices. But sadly, I did't want to root any of my devices because most of Android users don't.

I also tried this app which required no root :

Wiimote Controller
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.ccpcreations.android.WiiUseAndroid

The Wiimote Controller app let you control an Android device with a Wiimote device by Bluetooth. It work without need of root priviledge because you need to change the input method which can send any key event to Android.

It's because of that app that I knew I could make my own Remote Control.

Before making Tablet Remote, I was trying to make a little racing game. I created a lot of java libraries to render the game. Sadly, I dumped the project, but my game libraries stayed. I use those libraries to make the UI of Tablet Remote which is why the app look so dynamic.

So by using the same working solution of Wiimote Controller and by using my game libraries, I was able to start creating Tablet Remote.

I had some problems and I still got somes with Bluetooth connections. I don't know if it's the internal implementation of Bluetooth on Android or how I use their API, but sometimes, my devices (or other users devices) can't connect. I need to unpair/pair devices to correct it. I hate this workaround but at least when it works, it works great!

I release the app free because I didn't know the market potential of it and I wanted to grasp how many people had the same need as me.

After some weeks, I made an udate adding the Gamepad to Tablet Remote. My goal with the gamepad is to be able to play flawlessly to Super Mario on a Snes emulator, and I was!

After 2 months, there was around 20K downloads and rated 3.9/5. Most of the issues is the "abc" button and connection problem (damn fragmentation!).

If I made a new update for Tablet Remote, beside correcting the above bugs is to add a remote editor where you could set your own remote. I might make this feature not free thought.

Anyhow, I hope you also like to use Tablet Remote!

Rocking Shortcuts

Rocking Shortcuts is my new application which is based around the functionality of my last one, Next Song. It uses the volume buttons but not only for switching song but for any action you configured. 


There are 8 triggers to start an action :

• One click on +/- volume key;
• Double click on +/- volume key;
• Triple click on +/- volume key;
• Hold the +/- volume key;

And there are 18 actions to chooses from :

Application category
* Open application : Open your favorite application;
* Browser : Go to your favorite web page;

Music player category

• Play Sound : Play a sound file that you choose. It can be looped and overlap with each sound!
• Next track : Change the current track with the next one on your media player without unlocking your phone!
• Previous track : Change the current track with the previous one on your media player.
• Pause/resume track : Pause or resume the music on your media player.

Recorder category

• Camera : Take a photo the fastest way with just one press!
• Microphone : Record audio, perfect for journalism!
• Video : Record video, perfect for voyeurism! ;)
• Play last audio record : Listen the scandal you recorded;
• Play last video record : Admire what you filmed;

Settings category

• Volume : Yup, you can change volume with the volume buttons... At least, you can control how much step you want to increase or decrease!
• Brightness : Control your brightness settings without interrupting your work or game!
• Auto-rotate screen : Lock or unlock your screen on one press!
• Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Data : You can activate/deactivate them.

Rocking Shortcuts category

• Set configuration :Switch to an another configuration preset with other actions!

Any of these actions can be configured on any of the triggers.

You can have 5 differents configuration preset you can switch on the preference screen or with an action!

Actions can be launched anytime even when other applications are running or when the screen is lock!

Every action can be set with a custom haptic feedback (vibrations), so you'll recognized which action has launched when your screen is lock. Special actions have two

separated haptic feedback so you'll know when the settings is on/off or the recording is started/stopped.

Here's some great uses :
* You're listening to music and you want to switch to the next song without unlocking your phone? Use Next track action!

* You play on some addictive game and don't want to stop just to change the brightness? Use the brightness setting action!

* You can launch Gesture Search or any tool application easily with one volume trigger!

* You witness your friend in an embarrassed situation : Record it! You can't find a quicker way!

* Take a quick photo without anybody noticing : Quite fun on the bus!

* Set a configuration with only sound actions and annoy your friends! Try it with game sound effect or plain old farts!

Known limitation :
- The hold triggers doesn't work when the screen is lock, use those triggers with action that you usually use when the phone is unlock, like opening an application or a web page;
- The hold triggers also trigger the one press trigger on press;

Rocking Shortcuts is compatible with the same music players of the application Next song :
* com.google.android.music;
* com.android.music;
* com.htc.music;
* Power Amp;
* Double Twist;
* Cubed³;
* PlayerPro;
* MIUI Music;

If you have any ideas to improve this application, like adding new settings, actions or music players, please write to me at android.tournesol@gmail.com

Thank you and have fun!

Next Song

Today, I decided to publish my first application on the Android Market. It's an application that I use everyday for switching songs on my Android phone without having to unlock it or turning the screen on. It's call : Next Song.

How it works is very simple, you only have to double-press one of the volume buttons and the application will change the current song with the next one and will also change the volume to his original output. That way you can still change the volume output by pressing the up or down volume key but only with a interval of 0.5 seconds or more for each key press otherwise it will trigger Next Song.

The application works like a service, so you can use it when another application is working or when the phone is locked.

The application only works with the default Music Player on the Android phone.

I'll publish this application for free. If I get a lot of success, I'll make a fee version with preferences and add Music Players to be compatible.