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armstrdj
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WCG Support for Lollipop

There is currently a known issue with the research application support on Lollipop. We are working on getting an updated version out as soon as possible. Please monitor this forum as well as the beta forum for updates.

Thanks,
armstrdj

[Dec 9, 2014 4:45:22 PM]

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Re: WCG Support for Lollipop

There is currently a known issue with the research application support on Lollipop.
We are working on getting an updated version out as soon as possible.

I have heard concern that you will need to drop support for "older" Android versions.
How much "older"? Android 4.1 and newer support PIE code,
so would WCG only need to discontinue supporting Android 4.0 and older?

[Jan 20, 2015 7:43:04 AM]

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Re: WCG Support for Lollipop

The Berkeley dev.discussions included there will be a recognition feature, pre / post 4.1 so the right app can be send. Requires server side patching the distrubution system.

[Jan 20, 2015 7:58:37 AM]

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Re: WCG Support for Lollipop

The Berkeley dev.discussions included there will be a recognition feature,
pre / post 4.1 so the right app can be send.
Requires server side patching the distrubution system.

This stuff:
android:minSdkVersion="16"
android:targetSdkVersion="19"
android:maxSdkVersion="19"
in the BOINC code, or similar?

So, with that, there will be "Legacy" BOINC, and "PIE" BOINC,
and both will automatically know which devices they are for?

So, no need to drop support for _any_ devices after all?

[Jan 21, 2015 10:44:03 AM]

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Re: WCG Support for Lollipop

If not done already, don't hesitate to enroll to the BOINC beta test channel of BOINC for Android. The latest:

I have promoted 7.4.39 into production.

This should prevent the Playstore from offering up BOINC on 5.0 devices.

I'm building 7.4.40 which will contain the stuff for PIE enabled clients. When it goes live, projects that have not published PIE enabled executables will start receiving an increase in errors.

----- Rom

Principally, Android 4.1 and up should be able to process both PIE and non-PIE [theory], on Android 5.0 the PIE model is enforced.

[Jan 21, 2015 11:55:50 AM]

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Re: WCG Support for Lollipop

Principally, Android 4.1 and up should be able to process
both PIE and non-PIE [theory], on Android 5.0 the PIE model is enforced.

And for Android 4.0 and older, will those still be supported to the
degree you are supporting them now?

I know it's more work, but so many devices are perfectly good,
but just not getting OS updates beyond maybe a year after purchase,
if even that.

[Jan 21, 2015 5:49:04 PM]

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Re: WCG Support for Lollipop

Whether WCG will actually circulate 2 versions of the FAHV application is up to them to decide, but it kind of goes without saying if they do, the Playstore will only provide the non-PIE BOINC version to pre 4.1 (that would be 7.4.39 at this time). The now released 7.4.40 PIE supporting would only go to 4.1 and up. An earlier PIE featuring release ran fine on my KitKat 4.4.4.

Some statistics from the developers on global Android, all projects, not just WCG:

Specifically:
Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich provides address space layout randomization (ASLR) to help protect system and third party applications from exploits due to memory-management issues. Position-independent executable support was added in Android 4.1.

I'm not sure it would be worth the dev cycles.  

Break down of active devices:
Android 4.4		4,880		48.60%
Android 4.1		4,062		13.27%
Android 4.2		3,326		10.86%
Android 5.0		2,427		7.93%
Android 4.3		2,133		6.97%
Android 4.0		2,130		6.96%
Android 2.3		1,566		5.11%
Android 3.2		65		0.21%
Android 3.1		17		0.06%
Android 4.4W	4		0.01%
Others		6		0.02%

I would go with the policy of...  If the OS Version field contains the Android version and it is 4.1 or better, send the PIE executable, otherwise send the original.

If you are a new project just build a PIE executable.

----- Rom

As with BOINC 32 bit on 64 bit OS, think having a non-PIE BOINC for Android on >= 4.1 does not prevent the client from processing PIE science apps. They are their own executable. BOINC is merely the traffic manager.

Edit: Just had 7.4.40 offered for update to the KitKat tab. Did so, but it would not launch properly so pulled 7.4.39 apk again for installation.

Edit2: The new "PIE" release 7.4.41 installs fine over 7.4.39 on Android 4.4.4.

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[Edit 2 times, last edit by Former Member at Jan 23, 2015 8:39:22 AM]

[Jan 22, 2015 8:22:46 AM]

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Re: WCG Support for Lollipop

When this PIE business all blows over, I hope to start a recruitment campaign
and get those badges. I notice many people don't stick with it,
but suggesting they obtain multi-core Android 4.1/CM... or newer devices
and leave them running WCG dedicated, as I do, might help.

To me, it's like donating blood, time or money.
I can't donate blood, but I can donate cycles.

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[Edit 1 times, last edit by Former Member at Jan 23, 2015 9:42:47 AM]

[Jan 23, 2015 9:28:14 AM]

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Re: WCG Support for Lollipop

I've been encouraging friends of mine running money making apps on their phones to also run BOINC on them. You can get dual core phones with Android 4.0+ for under $15 these days that have between 512MB and 1GB of RAM. Most of mine paid for themselves in a few weeks, so certainly worth picking some up.

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