Knife Steel chart for android smartphones is out

Hi All,

Finally I've finished the project. The application is submitted to android market and available for free Search for the "Knife steel composition" on the android market form your android phone. Now about the app.

Basically, it is the mobile phone version of the Interactive Knife Steel Composition Chart. Obviously, given the small screen size limitations, layout and some functionality differs.

Mobile knife steel application contains the complete knife steel composition database, as of 10/05/10. ~2400 alloy names with 600+ compositions. Therefore, you won't need active internet connection to see steel composition and name reference information. Obviously, external website links in the notes section will require internet, but not the steel data itself.

Initial screen is the list of the alloys for one of the steel standards, or you can choose to show only Proprietary alloys in the list, or option "All" for all the names are in the list. Although, that's a 2400 item long list.
Settings are saved in the phone, so next time you run the application, you will have your last setup.

Like the online version, you can select several alloys (up to 5) by checking the corresponding checkboxes, to build comparison graph. Once in the graph you can add/remove alloy to the graph, using menu add/remove options.
Graph have the same 3 modes as its online counterpart - mass%, molar % and atomic count per 1000. You can switch between those using the menu.

Clicking on the list item displays alloy detail view with detailed information about the alloy, including composition and all the name cross-references available for it.


Search functionality:

Inside the application - Search button is smart enough to distinguish graph mode and alloy detail view. Whichever view you are in, clicking the search button and picking an item from the found alloy list will display the alloy information in either graphical or text mode, matching current view mode.
Obviously you can switch between graph and detail view mode for a given alloy using menu options.

Including knife steels in phone global search - From phone settings menu, pick search/searchable items and there check the "Knife Steel compositions". Now, when you click the search button, steel names are included in search items and suggestions. Click on the item and steel detail view will be launched.

I've also enabled voice search, but frankly, it's really hard to make it work. Pronouncing letters at correct pace and clearly enough, is a challenge itself, mainly speed is the issue, as the voice recognizer inserts spaces when you are spelling ZDP-189. May be you can me it work.

Emailing steel compositions:
From detail view pick menu/Send, then pick your favorite email app form the menu that appears and type in the address. Email with steel composition and full cross-reference data will be generated, click send(or add your comments, then click) and that's it.

A few downsized screenshots are on the knife steel android app page, on the phone it looks much better

Quite detailed help file is included in the app.

App requires Android 1.6 or higher, that's more than 75% of the android devices out there.

Upgrade plans:
1) Improve user interface and usability
2) After I finish knife steel chart 3.0 for web, which requires database schema change, I'll implement online synchronization for knife chart mobile database. In other words, new alloy compositions, names, notes, whatever other corrections and fixes I make will be automatically downloaded to your phone.

And as usual, all the feedback, bug reports, constructive criticism is highly appreciated.

P.S. Not related to phone app, but to satisfy a few "complaining visitors" I've added a note to the steel chart online that I am neither a knife maker, nor a metallurgist. I'm not very sure what does that solve, because I mention many times on my site the same thing and have separate section dedicated to programming. Well, hopefully that makes complainers happy.
As for the notes attached to alloys, I respectfully refuse to take them down. Notes are either my opinion, or otherwise the source is clearly cited. If someone has problem with them, he/she/they are free to ignore those altogether.

 

Thanks guys, I'm glad it's working

Vicarious - Android may have some questionable content, but it's free, as in the developers don't have to wait 7 days for approval from Apple or get their apps rejected based on unknown reasons.

Improvement will be coming soon, after online chart gets upgraded.

 

HardHeart - Thanks for posting QR, should've thought about that myself.

PatriotDan - YXR7 steel composition is not published by Hitachi. I revisit specs on their site once a month, but it's been almost a year since I do that and nothing new... If someone has the composition I'll be happy to add.

Problem reports, improvement suggestions and ratings/comments will be appreciated

 

Thanks guys.
YXR7 added to online database, and it will be included along with 100+ updates in steel db for the next mobile app upgrade.