[Android Software Development] Robbilie:
Prolog:

Like many of you I am using WhatsApp. Its a widespreaded mobile Messenger, nearly all of my and probably your friends too got this little App wether for Android or *cough* iOS *cough*...

Since I have been using it I am aware of the many issues, especially security issues they are facing. Using apps like DroidSheep or WhatsApSniffer makes it easy to show off the main proplems of this App.

I am hosting some servers, some time ago I made use of SSL Certificates, the in my opinion easiest way to secure your webapp (roughly...).

I just thought "Why dont they make use of this?!" and I fond out, they simply started their server without bearing this in mind.

I am a big fan of HTML5 which gives me the favor of using SSL certificates AND a new technology I really love :)

WebSockets, some kind of TCP Connection which is encryptable with a SSL Certificate that is really fast, amazingly lightweight in traffic, event driven and up to this point, integrated quite fine (except ie, you all know this :D )...

A small proplem I am facing is Android not supporting WebSockets natively :(

I dont know why exactly but there are many (a lot of!) implementations in java...

So what is this all about?

I started a small project, I want to introduce you to....

LightMsg​

LightMsg aims to be a faster, secure and customizable alternative to WhatsApp and similair services.

Functionality:

I try to implement all the features WhatsApp provides you.

In addition, there is one core feature you will probably like:

You will be able to use LightMsg on multiple devices at the same time, not only mobile devices (well, at least one is required for registration...) but also on desktop platforms and in browser.

What is it build on:

I developed in JAVA some time ago, building a server for a mulitplayer RPG but I never had to do with GUI in JAVA. It is probably not that ard to learn but I simply dont find the time to. So for making this available for multiple platforms with just one source code and giving me the ability to code in my favorite language I build the app using Cordova/Phonegap.

You might have hear about it, this cool tool gives you a WebView with native platform capabilities.

To make it clear:

The App is mostly written in JS and HTML.

The interface I use is jQuery Mobile, i made some good experience with it, I find it quite nice looking, highly customizable (this will be nice for you later ;) ) and easy to use.

Note: I may do a native Android App later but for now, I want to make one source for as many platforms as possible.

If you are interested, the server is also in my favorite language, I use a node.js backend...

Note 2: Since this server is simply a websocket server with some logic, anybody can connect to it, also from outside of the app which makes the server some kind of api for others who want to build an app around the server.

What am I doing here?

The main reason I am posting this here: Getting you (constructive) opinion :)

Letting you take part in the developement progress helps me to make the app more user friendly.

Annother reason is that I hope to find some people here beeing willed to help me, either in helping me with the html app or also people trying to help me build a native app ;)

I also need somebody to help me integrate SSL support for the JAVA WebSockets since all the distributions out there that also fit with cordova dont provide this...

Not that much to do, simply take one with the functionality and build it around a cordova plugin :)

Any help is welcomed, Artists for stuff like smileys ( :D ) or programmers ;)

So what is already done?

Yeah I got a welcome page...

No thats not all ;)

More or less the complete registration process and the connecting process (for making use of multiple device support ) is done, currently im build the chat environment, I am a bit stuck with the architecture for handling offline messages and the multiple connections for one user account ;)

Also I got some localization finished, all text in the app is either available in english or german...

If you want to help me localize it for you language I can send you the template and you just have to fill in the text ;)

Localizations:

- German

- English

- Spanish

- Croatian

- Hindi (Indian/Have to try out what it looks like in browser because of the symbolic letters)

- Italian

- Dutch

Latest English Localization found here: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?p=33549618#post33549618

So for now I can provide only a few screenshots you find in the attachement ;)

Note: Please, Don't Call Me Maybe ;)

BTW: You can also like my Facebook Fanpage ;) https://www.facebook.com/LightMsg

Ok so now its up to you, ask your questions, tell me your suggestions and ideas and I will happily answer them ;) Meanwhile I gonna step over to the chat architecture ;)

//Robert ;)

Edit no1:

Since I and probably everyone who is reading this thread wants to get this app into Alpha stage there are currently 2 things to get this done:

First and most important:

I need someone to help me integrate the SSL part in the Websocket client.

This is really important because this makes LightMsg more (or even at all) secure than WhatsApp...

The Server I use is only accepting ssl connections right now so please someone, this isnt that much work :)

Second but also important:

The account verfication is by SMS (the only way to verify the phone number ;) ) and this means each SMS costs something for me.

The prize is not that high but since i got myself a new development device ( uuuuhhhh RAZR i :D ) i dont have any pocket money left :P

I might afford registration costs for 100 to 300 accounts but from what i see from the reader counts of this thread

there are maaaaany more people interested in getting LightMsg...

I know investing is hard if you have nothing in your hands but i would realy appreciate if you would invest some bucks into this,

before or after release of the alpha :)

Just PM me if you would like to :)

Edit no2:

So I know this will make you all hope for the LightMsg release but its actually only for me to get a list of interested persons who will get a early alpha version

LightMsg Alpha SignUp

Lets see how many people register :)

Change Log:

Fix - Fixed a bug or error

Added - Added but not yet functional or disabled

New - new feature added

Update - Updated an old feature which was already present to make it better or more effective

v0.0.9:

- NEW! verification button takes you immediatly to the verification page.

- FIX! removed the timeout on app start.

- ADDED! minsdk version 7 (experimental)

v0.0.8:

- NEW! Google push notifications.

- ADDED! option buttons for vibration and statusbar notifications.

- NEW! offline sent messages are now sent when connected to network

- ADDED! file sending theoretically integrated (practically: file inputs are

disabled in webview -.-).

- UPDATED! locking chat more secure (when coming back from lockscreen you

see

conversation page).

* NEW! pressing back on conversation page disabled (for not beeing able

to

go back into locked chats).

- FIX! error on "Connection to server failed" on startup for some of

you through adding a hicher timeout to the page loading.

v0.0.7:

- FIX! the send button.

- FIX! the contact list, contacts getting added multiple times.

- FIX! line breaks in messages, (some of you recognized the escaped

messages from me :D).

- FIX! Sending message to wrong conversation when upgrading

- ADDED! decent notification (already in 0.0.6 i think)

- ADDED! newest chat now on top

v0.0.6:

v0.0.4:

v0.0.3:

v0.0.2:

v0.0.1:

-Initial release