Frink for Android

     I'm happy to announce the first release of the Frink programming
language and calculating tool for the Android mobile phone platform.
Android is an open-source, multi-vendor platform for developing
applications for mobile phones and other devices, and this represents a
full port of *all* of Frink's capabilities to a handheld device.

     Android and Frink are a near-ideal match, allowing a concise,
expressive, powerful programming language and calculating tool on a
handheld device.  The Android platform is powerful and well-designed,
and gives an open platform for writing software that will run on phones
from a variety of manufacturers and wireless carriers.

     Features of the Frink port include:

       * Interactive Mode - This mode allows interactive calculations to
be made as a powerful calculating tool.

      * Programming Mode - Allows writing, saving, and loading
full-fledged Frink programs.

      * Graphics - All of Frink's graphics features are available,
including transparent, anti-aliased graphics. Graphics can be written to 
PNG, JPEG, and SVG formats.

      * Images - Images can be loaded, modified, displayed, and written
out to the device's internal storage.

      * Animation - Graphics can be animated using Frink's animation
capabilities.

      * Sensors - All of the sensors on the Android can be read, which
may include some or all of the following types:
            o Accelerometer
            o Gyroscope
            o Light
            o Magnetic Field
            o Pressure
            o Proximity
            o Orientation
            o Temperature

      * GPS - Allows fetching of location from the GPS receiver or from
the network-based location services. The GPS receiver can be turned on
and off programatically. You can access either the last-known position,
or turn on the GPS and acquire current, continuously-updated position
information.

      * Text-to-Speech - Frink can easily speak text aloud using a 
single speak[string] function.

      * Calling Java code - You can call arbitrary Java code supported 
by the Android API using Frink's Java Introspection capabilities. This
allows you to use current and new features available on the Android
platform.

      For more information, including how to download Frink for Android,
see the documentation for Frink on Android at:

http://futureboy.us/frinkdocs/android.html

and about Frink, including directions to use it on your personal computer:

http://futureboy.us/frinkdocs/

     By the way, I bought the Motorola Droid phone, and it's a
technological marvel.  I can provide reviews on request.

     Comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome!

-- 
    Alan Eliasen
    [email protected]
    http://futureboy.us/