21083827-FlyWord | Android Universal “Message in a bottle” App Template.zip

iOS and Android versions can share the same database on back4app

14 Apr 2020
• FCM firebase cloud messaging implemented. Code clean up. 
• Libraries updated.

22 Aug 2019
• Fixed the issue of Login with Facebook.  
• Fixed issue “Compatibility Issue with Facebook SDK 4.38.0”  so we have downgrade Facebook SDK to “4.37.0” still using the old constructor, so using that version fixes this particular issue.
• Fixed Back Stack issue from the entire application 
• Apply DancingScript fonts in the entire app for better user experience
• Updated Login, Signup UIs designs and enhance the user experience 
• Updated Home.Java class by using recycler View, previously List view was implemented
• Improved Home screen list items design by using Card View.
• Updated Login, Signup and edit profile UIs designs and enhance the user experience 
• Improved the layout and alignments of the Account screen.
• Updated found Messages, Chats, Sent Message, and inbox UIs designs 
• Applied Camel Notation in Edit Text Fields Hints.    
• Updated 'compileSdkVersion' and 'targetSdkVersion' to 28 in build.gradle

25 May 2018
• Accordingly to the new EU GDPR terms, I've updated the 'tou.html' file and Documentation.
IMPORTANT: This means that if a User asks for his/her Account deletion, you must do it within 24 hours, as the GDPR's "Right to be forgotten" Article states (LINK: https://gdpr-info.eu/art-17-gdpr/)

8 May 2018
• Changed Parse version in build.gradle into 1.16.0, due to some issue on the latest Parse SDK and FCM:
    implementation 'com.parse:parse-android:1.16.0'

• Edited 'getUserDetailsFromFB()' method in Intro.java, this line of code:
    } else { currUser.put(Configs.USER_EMAIL,  facebookID + "@facebook.com"); }

17 April 2018
• Added Firebase dependencies in build.gradle(Module:app)
• Removed the 'com.google.android.gms:play-services:+' and updated all dependencies to the required ones only 
• Added the 'google-services' classpath in the dependencies{} list in build.gradle(Project:)
        classpath 'com.google.gms:google-services:3.2.1'

• Added this Permission into Manifest.xml:
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED" />

• Updated the Documentation (connect your App to Firebase for GCM and Ads)

15 April 2018
• Updated to Android Studio 3.1.1
• Removed all dependencies of play-services | left only this one in build.gradle:
     implementation 'com.google.android.gms:play-services:+'

11 April 2018
• Updated to Android Studio 3.1
• Updated 'compileSdkVersion' and  'targetSdkVersion' to 27 in build.gradle
• Replaced 'compile' with 'implementation' in build.gradle (Module: app)
• Updated classpath 'com.android.tools.build:gradle:3.1.1' in build.gradle (Project:)

Jan 20th 2018
• Added this line in the dependencies list of build.gradle (Module: app):
    compile 'com.squareup.okhttp3:okhttp:+'

Think about a message in a bottle, in a digital way: that’s basically FlyWord, a Universal App Template where you can send messages to specific locations in the world and have people find them. Once a user finds a message, he can choose to throw it away forever, keep it and contact the message sender via the built-in chat.
If you find a message, it becomes automatically yours and will not be visible to other people – it’s like when you find a message in a bottle, it’s yours forever.

This is an innovative and fun application for who is looking for new penpal friends, establish relationships around the world or simply have fun.
FlyWord includes a Report inappropriate content feature, block/unblock users in Chats, embedded Google Map and Terms of User HTML file, along with an Account screen where you can see the messages you’ve sent, the ones you read and your active chats.

Since its backend is by Parse you don’t have to buy any domain/hosting, there are NO PHP files to upload to a web server so you’ll save some money for server side.

FlyWord is a native Android Studio project, Java/XML language, Universal, Parse SDK hosted on http://back4app.com, super easy to customize.

About Parse SDK and back4app

Read this article for more info about back4app and Parse SDK: https://hubpages.com/technology/Parse-SDK-will-not-shutdown-in-thanks-to-back4app

Can I host Parse Server on my own server?

Yes, although I don’t provide support for the setup process, you can read the official Guide here: http://parseplatform.org

What about free support for this template?

I can offer free support for bugs encountered in the original code.
Instead, if you’ve edited the code and messed something up with it, I may apply some fee to fix it either via TeamViewer or by checking your app project files directly on my computer.

How do I rename the app’s package name?

Read this tutorial to learn how to rename a package name: https://hubpages.com/technology/Android-How-to-rename-an-app-package

Should I use the latest version of Android Studio to edit this template?

Yes, I always update my apps to the latest version of the IDE and you also should make sure you’ve updated the Android Tools to their latest version of the Android SDK manager.

The demo APK crashes on startup

Make sure that the minimum Android version of your device is the one listed in the FEATURES section below. If the problem persists, please contact me through my profile’s contact form and send me the Logcat message of you get when the app crashes along with the steps you made to reproduce the crash.
Please note that not all real devices print an error Logcat message, in this case just run the APK into the Android Studio’s emulator and you’ll surely get the red messages about your issue.

How do I remove AdMob banner ads?

1. Enter the .xml files where there’s an AdView and remove its code:

       <com.google.android.gms.ads.AdView
           android:id="@+id/admobBanner" 
           android:layout_width="wrap_content" 
           android:layout_height="wrap_content" 
           ads:adSize="BANNER" 
           ads:adUnitId="@string/ADMOB_BANNER_UNIT_ID" 
           android:layout_alignParentBottom="true" 
           android:layout_centerHorizontal="true">
       </com.google.android.gms.ads.AdView>
   

2. Enter the .java files where there’s an AdRequest instance into its onCreate() method and remove its code:

           // Init AdMob banner
           AdView mAdView = (AdView) findViewById(R.id.admobBanner);
           AdRequest adRequest = new AdRequest.Builder().build();
           mAdView.loadAd(adRequest);
   

3. Lastly, remove the play-services-ads reference in the build.gradle file:

       compile 'com.google.android.gms:play-services-ads:+'
   

• Android Studio 3.x project – Java/XML
• Universal – Android 5.0+
• AdMob banners
• Works with Parse Server hosted on back4app
• Push Notifications for Chat messages
• Send messages by choosing a location on the Map
• Find messages around your location (Location service enabled required)
• Terms Of use HTML file (to be edited)
• Report inappropriate/offensive users
• Throw messages away (they’ll be gone forever)
• PDF User Guide included
• PSD icon graphics included
• Easy to customize, well commented code

• Apple Mac or Windows PC with their latest OS version installed
• The latest version of Android Studio and some knowledge about its UI interface
• Photoshop or any other image editor software
• A Google Developer account to submit apps to the Play Store
• An AdMob account to generate your own banner UNIT ID
• A free account on back4app.com