[Android Apps and Games] lowveld:
V9.3.0 Release

Ok Guys,

I'm about to publish V9.3.0 on Google Play. The reason for the "about to" is that I published something else that I want to be available before the update hits Play.

Changelog for V9.3.0:

- Added UCS Plugins feature: LICENSED users only!

- "Standalone Syncer" is now a builtin plugin, several bugfixes included

- "FindMe plugin": make your phone ring even in silence mode with a pre-defined SMS

- "Theme Previewer Plugin": fast preview of themes on any UCS screens

- "Phonebook Pictures Plugin": use your existing photos for non personalized contacts

- Added some delay on call ends to give time to stock interface to exit

- Moved Privacy Screen Settings to Settings tab

- Themes also apply to Missed Call Screen now

- Optimized app memory footprint

- Minor fixes​

Apart from the usual fixes and improvements on existing functions, there's something new with impact not only on functionality but also architecture (not that any ones but me cares, but still... :) ). In this version I introduced a "plugin" infrastructure.

The idea is to shift non-core UCS functions to external apps (plugins), or at least to separate location. The separation can be physical (in case of external apps), or logical (some builtin functions were completely lost in menus, or already standalone (e.g. standalone phone syncer).

I also made the decision to make the plugins free, but only available for Licensed users. Currently there are 2 external plugins, which I just published, here are the market descriptions:

FindMe Plugin:

Did you misplace your phone while in silence mode, and have no idea where it is? My wife did, and it was up to me to spend an hour looking for it in the house.

The UCS FindMe Plugin is my way of ensuring that never happens again, operation is simple:

- configure a pre-determined SMS on the Plugin

- send that SMS from any other phone to yours

- your phone will immediately start ringing at full volume, no matter what your normal volume settings are, or if you set in in Silence mode

You can also configure how much time the phone should ring for, or it should never stop until you press the "Stop" button on your phone.​

Theme Previewer Plugin:

This UCS plugin provides a fast way to preview any UCS theme when applied to any UCS screen. It's meant to see at a glance what a theme will look like in any situation.

You can:

- Load any UCS theme

- Choose any of the UCS Main Call Interface types (Buttons, Rotary Slider, Ring Picker, ...)

- Preview the incoming Call Screen

- Preview the SMS screen

- Preview the Missed Call Screen

- Preview the Privacy Screen

The plugin allows you to not only pick the theme you want much faster, but is also an invaluable tool for theme developers to speed up development time.​

I have a couple more ideas already about more stuff, but these two embody the concept: they are not essential to UCS. FindMe is actually completely unrelated. But I find them useful, so instead of not publishing them, or simply make them free, I decided to give them to License users to show my appreciation for the support of the continuing development of UCS.

So, hope you enjoy!

Cheers