The full source code is available on Github – if you want to edit and compile this yourself (requires Android Studio).
You can download the (older) compiled Smart Poi apk here. *see note #1 for the latest version which should actually run on all devices now hopefully…
Some notes on the app:
I have not been able to get this to work on Android Pie (9)*update: a fix is out, if you are running Android Pie (9) – or above(?), you need this updated version: SmartPoiPieFix.apk – still haven’t tested with Oreo (8) yet. This version is the latest, and should work with previous versions of Android as well.
**Update 2023: Google changed things again, this version is for Lollipop (6) and above (If you are using Android Pie (9) or above you will get a message when you install saying it’s insecure. This is correct, anyone else connected to your poi can see which setting you are sending to the poi, but of course they need to connect to the poi first with the password which you set) – works best for Android Nougat (7) but I’m using this version fine on my own phone which is running Android Q (10). Also, it won’t work unless you give Microphone and Storage Access privileges in Android App Settings. As you can probably tell, I’m sick of Android and Google. this may well be the last version.- With Android Marshmallow (6) and Nougat (7) (or above possibly?) you will need to first select Airplane Mode and then enable WiFi to avoid Android system’s annoying captive portal detection system. Basically Google wants us to be connected to the internet at all times. This problem seems to be mostly resolved after Android 9.
- Requires a WiFi connection to work (preferably connected to the SmartPoi Access Point) – without it the app will force-close.
- This app does not access the internet, only connects to the poi over WiFi.
- The app will look for a folder in Pictures called SmartPoi. Inside are sub-folders for 10 banks of images. Each sub-folder (Collection0, Collection1, etc) must have at least one .jpg or .png image inside. The app will force-close if you try to navigate to a folder which does not contain an image, or has an image which is too large (> 300px or so)
I made a separate app to create folders and put some pics in for you, find it here. Run the application once and then uninstall it again.*This is now included in the main SmartPoi app. If you are having trouble with no images appearing in the Collection folders, uninstall, then install again, and when you open for the first time just wait a bit before choosing 36px or 72px menu items. - I have uploaded the old manual which is available here
– this is a very old manual but gives some idea of the working of the poi.
This video is a bit old now, I have integrated all the functionality shown here into one large app since, however the video does give a good idea of the functionality.
When spun in this video, the poi look choppy due to the low frame rate. Please take my word for it, they look a lot better in real life. I have a better looking video of both sizes of poi being spun here:
https://www.circusscientist.com/2018/03/29/embedded-video-is-easy/
So a lot has changed since I uploaded the manual and video above. All of the functions are now in one app, with the exception of the text app (get it here).
Also new are backup images (4 banks of 5 images) which can be displayed if the WiFi is not working, and controlled from the app, or changed by switching the poi off and on again. I have an old slower Windows only version of the program for uploading these to the poi to test out here (untested on Windows 10, please let me know if it works!). Code will be uploaded to Github soon. *Uploading backup images is now part of the SmartPoi app. In 32px or 72px select upload. Up to 52 backup images now supported! ** UPDATE: sorry the Android uploading is not working correctly (image re-sizing error?). I compiled a new version of the desktop uploading software (for Linux only I’m afraid, I am currently unable to compile for Windows or Mac). You can get that for 36px here or 72px here – it can upload 20 images, just drag and drop your pics (need to be 90 degrees rotated) onto the window, connect to Poi AP and press “Upload”. You need to extract it and run from the command line but it should work on any Linux distro (tested on Ubuntu and Arch). If you are on Mac or Windows, try running in a VM.
***UPDATE 2023: The new browser based software is available in this repository on Github: https://github.com/tomjuggler/SmartPoi-js-utilities – look for “releases”.
Follow the instructions and upload, list files, and change settings (requires latest version of firmware)
Next up: the circuit
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