Update: TexTab has been released in the market! Thanks to everyone who participated in the beta. Download links:
- Full Version
- Lite Version
TexTab is an SMS app for Android tablets. It allows you to connect your Android 2.1+ tablet to your Android 2.1+ phone over Bluetooth and send/receive SMS messages on your tablet as if you were sending them from your phone.
I've been working on this app for some time now and I feel that it is ready for public beta testing. I encourage everybody to download and install the app on both your phone and tablet, and please provide feedback here.
App Features:
- Honeycomb optimized, though not required
- Push menu button to connect devices via bluetooth, with option to select a device to automatically connect to in settings
- Conversation threads use your Google contact information to display contact info
- Widget with button to enable/disable service, and displays connection information
Known Bugs:
- Messages not saving to outbox on some devices
- Sometimes unable to connect from one device. Seems to fix after turning bluetooth off then on, on OTHER device.
- Delivery reports are not always reliable, when messages are sent or received very quickly
- Visual issues/ghosting when using Swype keyboard in portrait orientation
- Performance issues on Samsung Galaxy Tab 7"
Future Development/Requested Features:
- New layout for 7" tablets
- Wifi functionality for increased range
- UI improvements
- Option to sync contacts with phone rather than cloud
- Sync sms history with phone
- Option to mute phone notifications
- Mark incoming messages as "read" on phone
- Popup dialog on received message when app is not in foreground
- MMS support
- Ability to use existing SMS app (GoSMS, Handcent, etc) to send/receive messages on ANOTHER phone
- suggestions?
Installation and Use:
Download the attached zip file and extract it somewhere on your computer. Copy the extracted file, TexTab.apk, onto both of your devices. Find the .apk file using File Manager or your favourite file browser and run it on both devices to install. Once installed, you can access it like any other app, and you can long-press on the homescreen to add the widget.
Once in the app, push the menu button to connect to a paired bluetooth device. If your devices are not paired, simply make one of them discoverable using Menu Button > Make Discoverable and then on the other device use Menu Button > Connect a Device > Scan for Devices to pair the two devices and establish a connection.
Once a connection is established, the devices should show their proper views. If not, click the settings button and change the Device Type. Under settings, you can also select the option to automatically connect to a paired device on startup. You can also enable or disable the bluetooth service under settings, or by using the button on the widget.
To send a message, either type a phone number into the Phone Number... field, or tap the Send To... button to choose a contact from the cloud. Type the message in the Enter a Message... field and tap send. Received messages will automatically show up as long as the app is enabled.
I look forward to any feedback/bug reports/praise/insults you may have!
Changelog:
See attached text file
This sounds awesome! Thanks a lot man.
Could you maybe throw up some instructions for everyone...
Edit: works great so far. Looking foward to the updates!
I updated the OP with installation and usage instructions. Let me know if they're not clear!
Cant wait to give this a try! Awesome
Will deffinately try this, sounds like what I've been looking for!
You say Future Development for WiFi, 2 ways I could suggest to have that.
1) If the tab is tethered to the phone for data (this is how I get my WiFi only tab to have data at work)
2) If they are on the same WiFi network, say I'm at home. Phone is connected to home WiFi and tab is connected to home WiFi.
Just some thoughts
*Edit*
Ok, tried it out and thats pretty cool! I like how the message shows up on the phone and the tab. Is there a way to pull down recient conversations (say from the last 24 hours) incase you wanted to continue a previous conversation? Also, if read on the tab or phone, could it show read on the other device?
wingman1487 said:
If they are on the same WiFi network, say I'm at home. Phone is connected to home WiFi and tab is connected to home WiFi.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is exactly how the wifi support will work. It will still require the connect to device step, but the range will be limited by your wifi network rather than your phones bluetooth signal.
wingman1487 said:
Is there a way to pull down recient conversations (say from the last 24 hours) incase you wanted to continue a previous conversation? Also, if read on the tab or phone, could it show read on the other device?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've toyed with the idea of syncing sms history with a contact, unfortunately though any operations which involve using sms history are unsupported in the Android SDK and could break my app in the future. Marking a message as read is subject to the same problem. I'll look into it some more.
I appreciate the feedback, keep it coming!
I wanna suggest something, look at the app called texter, and the chrome app, then take a look have they work. They work by signing in on your google account on an app on the android phone, and the signing in at the same account on chrome, npw you can sms from chrome throw your phone and recive them, no matter where your phone is, it just need 3g connetion. This is like chrometophone. If you could get it working in this way it would be awsome! And the ofc still the bluetooth or something other when the tab not have internet connection
Loving this app so far, just wanted to report a bug. When a new contact sends a text, it seems to duplicate the view of prior conversations. I have one conversation that's up to three alternate views!
Edit: After a reboot, the duplicates disappeared.
Fisken said:
npw you can sms from chrome throw your phone and recive them, no matter where your phone is, it just need 3g connetion.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will look into this, thanks!
cekle said:
When a new contact sends a text, it seems to duplicate the view of prior conversations. I have one conversation that's up to three alternate views!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, added it to the list. As a temporary fix, tapping the settings button and then tapping back will reload the contacts list and they should disappear.
Also I can't seem to delete conversations by long pressing. Is there another way?
I haven't implemented this. I'll consider it a feature suggestion! Are you wanting to delete specific messages within a thread, or whole thread for a contact?
I was actually working on something exactly like this. I did not end up getting much work done though. If you would like any help, just let me know.
Dude, your App is awesome ! ive searched for days for something like this. the only other option is syncsms and that one doesnt support "push", only "all 5 min sync". But your solution via bluetooth is just awesome
ive allready installed it on 5 different transformers for my friends. we are all very happy and would like to donate for your work.
As soon as your App is final, you should totaly put it on market for 1-2$ or more. you will be rich buddy !
Greetings from Germany, keep up the good work. ive allready bookmarked your thread =)
PS: Could you implement the function to mute the notification sound?
smaskell said:
I was actually working on something exactly like this. I did not end up getting much work done though. If you would like any help, just let me know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I won't name any names, but there is at least one other implementation of this idea. My app goes about it a little bit differently.
Deadwalk said:
ive allready installed it on 5 different transformers for my friends. we are all very happy and would like to donate for your work.
As soon as your App is final, you should totaly put it on market for 1-2$ or more. you will be rich buddy !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! I'm glad you like it. It will eventually be a paid app on the market, but not until I feel its complete enough to justify charging money.
Deadwalk said:
PS: Could you implement the function to mute the notification sound?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Adding it to the list.
howettl said:
I haven't implemented this. I'll consider it a feature suggestion! Are you wanting to delete specific messages within a thread, or whole thread for a contact?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just a contact thread. Specific messages would be a good option if you want this to be a full fledged texting app, but then the deletion wouldn't propogate to the phone without some magic. If this app is intended to be a messenger though, an extension of the phone when the tablet just so happens to be around, I'd like the ability to keep that interface clean and current so its not bogged down with out of date texts.
Edit: Keeping with the 'extension of the phone' idea, you could have an option to clear the text database after a certain amount of time disconnected from a device.
a friend of mine just told me that his phone is acting wierd.
he installed the app and send me 5 texts over his pad and i got them all. but his phone wont show what he wrote and in his phone there are only the sms from me and not his. we both use the lg optimus 2x.
and also his phone send 2 sms to the number "555555555" with text "default body". right after he installed the app and tried to send texts over his pad.
any idea?
Deadwalk said:
a friend of mine just told me that his phone is acting wierd.
he installed the app and send me 5 texts over his pad and i got them all. but his phone wont show what he wrote and in his phone there are only the sms from me and not his. we both use the lg optimus 2x.
and also his phone send 2 sms to the number "555555555" with text "default body". right after he installed the app and tried to send texts over his pad.
any idea?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have an idea about what's happening here. As I mentioned in an earlier post, any operations that involve your phones SMS history are unsupported in the Android SDK. It sounds like your particular phone model doesn't access SMS history in the same way as other phones, so the app is unable to save sent messages in your phones SMS history.
The number "5555555555" and "default body" are used when there is a problem saving the data to your phone. The phone was told that a message was sent to that number; but no SMS was actually sent.
I'll try and find a workaround for this phone.
Do other people using this phone model have the same problem? Or any other LG phone?
No one else have that issue.
we both use the same lg and we both use a modaco rom. the only difference is, iam using modaco version ~16 and he version ~19. so the problem should lie in the difference of that roms. he just got furios because he tought the app had send 2 sms to a pricy number...
after reading your explanation we saw that everytime he sends a text to me he got a 55555555 sms with default body, so its realy the fact that his phone cant save the textmessage into the threaded sms history. its send, but not saved. on the other hand it flawlessly work on my phone. i can send a text on my pad and see it almost directly on my phone in the threaded history. funny tho =) now we're gonna flash his phone to another rom.
i'll keep an eye on this thread. it would be realy cool if you would mention it somewhere when u think u found a workarround. we will test it then =)
ah and we found another bug just now. when i want to write a new sms to contactB i have no choice to choose the number to send. so my girlfriend for example have 3 different numbers, and the app want to use the first number of the contact, in this situation its her home number.. no way to send a sms to that one ^^
Deadwalk said:
No one else have that issue.
we both use the same lg and we both use a modaco rom. the only difference is, iam using modaco version ~16 and he version ~19. so the problem should lie in the difference of that roms. he just got furios because he tought the app had send 2 sms to a pricy number...
after reading your explanation we saw that everytime he sends a text to me he got a 55555555 sms with default body, so its realy the fact that his phone cant save the textmessage into the threaded sms history. its send, but not saved. on the other hand it flawlessly work on my phone. i can send a text on my pad and see it almost directly on my phone in the threaded history. funny tho =) now we're gonna flash his phone to another rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the clarification. It must be an incompatibility with the rom then.
I'll repeat for clarity: when you see a message to the number "5555555555" its simply a problem with the phone not saving the information properly. An SMS has NOT been sent to this number.
Please let me know if flashing a different rom fixes the problem!
I have about roughly 30 contacts in my phone (mobile numbers) and whenever i go to send a text, (press the messages app, then the plus sign) i normally type my contacts via keyboard and id get suggestions as a dropdownon my old phone (Galaxy S 4G). however I cant on this. Id have to press the "+" sign in order to access my contacts. is there a way that i can just type in my contacts in the "To:" area in messaging? I dont think this is related to the software setup, i just think its how the phone was made or something like that.
I use handscent and it does that
Sent from my HTC Amaze 4G using xda premium
tombeach22 said:
I use handscent and it does that
Sent from my HTC Amaze 4G using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ehhh i dont like to use 3rd party replacements. I have a preference of stock... so yeah, kinda need a workaround for the stock
jcjackjay said:
I have about roughly 30 contacts in my phone (mobile numbers) and whenever i go to send a text, (press the messages app, then the plus sign) i normally type my contacts via keyboard and id get suggestions as a dropdownon my old phone (Galaxy S 4G). however I cant on this. Id have to press the "+" sign in order to access my contacts. is there a way that i can just type in my contacts in the "To:" area in messaging? I dont think this is related to the software setup, i just think its how the phone was made or something like that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your problem reminds me of another one that just recently showed up.
I used to be able to just type "mom' and get my mom's number to show for messaging even though I have her saved as *mom.
Now I have to type the *and then mom to get her to show up.
I didn't have to do this before and I think it has something to do with my Tmobile Contacts Backup syncing.
Before it synced I could just type m-o-m.
Anyway. Sorry I was of no help I was just trying to complain too. Lol.
nguyendqh said:
Your problem reminds me of another one that just recently showed up.
I used to be able to just type "mom' and get my mom's number to show for messaging even though I have her saved as *mom.
Now I have to type the *and then mom to get her to show up.
I didn't have to do this before and I think it has something to do with my Tmobile Contacts Backup syncing.
Before it synced I could just type m-o-m.
Anyway. Sorry I was of no help I was just trying to complain too. Lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeeahhh thats exactly what my problem is! except when i do type in "Mom", and start to type, it says "invalid recipients", even tho i do have my mom saved as "Mom".....
jcjackjay said:
... can just type in my contacts in the "To:" area in messaging? I dont think this is related to the software setup, i just think its how the phone was made or something like that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But ithe requested is working as default setup..
That's odd because my stock app has the dropdown that shows names and numbers as I type. I have handcent installed also, which is what I mainly use.
It works perfectly fine for me. I go on the messages app, click the "pencil" on the top-right corner, write a name in the to box and it gives me suggestions. Are you running the stock rom?
jcjackjay said:
yeeahhh thats exactly what my problem is! except when i do type in "Mom", and start to type, it says "invalid recipients", even tho i do have my mom saved as "Mom".....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know when you're managing people (groups and favorites) you will not see any contacts that are stored on the SIM.
It's absolutely ridiculous that it shows the received time of text messages with no way of seeing the sent time. I can manually fix it for a message if I edit the /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/mmssms.db database by using Root Explorer and SQLite Editor. I do this by copying the value from the "date_sent" column to the "date" column in the "sms" table. But having to do this for each message received is inconvenient. Is it possible to make the phone display the sent time for received messages?
Anyone?
i believer there's a mod for that over at the Themes&Apps section, not quite sure though. you should check it out there
I have searched but can't find a mod that works. Using ICS. Can you give me a link to a mod that works?
i use gosms which does this for me. the cm9/10 sms app also has this feature i think
I have tried GO SMS but still only get the received time. How do I get it to display the sent time?
I'm not sure actually! I always put on delivery reports and change one or two settings. There used to be an option to turn that on but it seems to have been removed. However, I still get sent time on mine. Sorry it's not more help than that.
I have now found that GO SMS shows the sent time on new messages but not the ones that were received before it was installed. I don't understand why.
So out of curiosity, let's say I had received a text message from a new contact, and then S-OFF -> installed a custom rom, would you say that my contact is completely lost or would there be a possible way to get it back from the full phone backup I made prior to unlocking? Anybody knows a good hypnotist? Maybe I'll magically remember the digits
Dating + technology = lol
Yuveh said:
So out of curiosity, let's say I had received a text message from a new contact, and then S-OFF -> installed a custom rom, would you say that my contact is completely lost or would there be a possible way to get it back from the full phone backup I made prior to unlocking? Anybody knows a good hypnotist? Maybe I'll magically remember the digits
Dating + technology = lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How about doing it the smart way and writing the number down. Then just use sms backup plus to save the messages. You can also just save them as a Google Contact and sync your phone so you'll get the contact saved. Perhaps you might want to do all 3.
Press my thanks if that helps. :thumbup:
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app
SuperAfnan said:
How about doing it the smart way and writing the number down. Then just use sms backup plus to save the messages. You can also just save them as a Google Contact and sync your phone so you'll get the contact saved. Perhaps you might want to do all 3.
Press my thanks if that helps. :thumbup:
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was sort of hoping google contact would've saved it, but I guess I played with my phone too quickly after receiving that text message and the sync did not happen.
Lesson learned! (or maybe the NSA kept a copy for me? lol)
Log into your carrier account (my-tmobile, etc) to see the numbers you've texted. You can write it down from there.
Sent from my Amaze 4G using Tapatalk 2