Impel - the easy and automatic way to automate Android

[mstroud]

Impel is an automation and task creation utility for your phone or your tablet running Android 2.1 through 4.0. Josh @ Android Central reviewed an earlier version of our app but we've made a lot of improvements and updates since that time... so perhaps it's time for another look

Unlike other utilities, Impel is designed to be simple to use, easy to maintain, very low on memory consumption and polite to system resources (runs as a service or as an app - you choose). Root features are available but it runs just fine without root (su features will be hidden).

Give Impel a try and see if you like it, then let us know. We're a small developer with some great talent and fast feedback response times, we're just looking for more customers and feedback. There are two versions of the app available in two different storefronts:

Free version with in-app Plus upgrade (no ads) :
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.phase2i.impel

Plus version only :
Amazon.com: Online Shopping for Electronics, Apparel, Computers, Books, DVDs & more

Full details and features list :
Impel: Launch Something

Product Video :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4dosbj1F8M

 

[mstroud]

Release Version (Android Market customers only):

• Impel free and Plus version 1.1.1 [ Updated 1/23/2012 @ 8:00PM PST ]
• Release Notes

 

[mstroud]

Hello again from the Impel HQ.

For those folks who would like to help test and provide feedback on an updated version of Impel, we have a release candidate for you to take a look at. A couple of fixes and additions have made it into this version, but no major features. Here's what's inside:

• Fixed a crash when using the "camera swipe unlock" feature on Galaxy Nexus Android 4.x devices
• Fixed a crash with the "network only" location provider service (not using GPS)
• Fixed the color picker for very high dpi (Galaxy Nexus, Tablets) devices
• Added a new setting: Location Services - restrict Impel to just GPS, just Network, or both
• Added detailed location logging into the logcat stream

This build is an install-over-the-top version for Android Market customers only. Sorry about that, Amazon Appstore customers, but there is no way to do beta releases for your version at this time.

If you have Impel Plus, DO NOT uninstall Impel prior to installing this version or you WILL LOSE Plus functions. If you are a free customer this app works the same as your existing Impel does.

For people who want to see what Impel sees when it asks for locations, use your favorite logcat reader (ours is Catlog) and filter for Impel. You will see what Impel is seeing when it asks for a location from your device. The location data works like this:

• Ask the device for all location services that are available: GPS and Network (WiFi and cell towers)
• Device responds with all services and their accuracy level. The lower the number, the more accurate the service
• Impel automatically chooses the most accurate service and gets the location data. This data is provided in Lat/Long format. This data can be dropped right into Google Maps to show exactly where the device thinks it is currently

Please give this a test and tell us what you think. We look forward to your feedback. Thanks!

 

[mstroud]

We got some feedback from customers and have updated our beta release to improve or fix the following areas:

* Fixed a crash when using the "camera swipe unlock" feature on Galaxy Nexus Android 4.x devices
* Fixed a crash with the "network only" location provider service (not using GPS)
* Fixed the color picker for very high dpi (Galaxy Nexus, Tablets) devices
* Fixed a WiFi receiver crash in location services
* Added a new setting: Location Services - restrict Impel to just GPS, just Network, or both
* Added detailed location logging into the logcat stream
* Added in-app logging of tasks in chronological order
* Added an additional boot-start permission to fix cases where Impel doesn't always auto-start

Grab a copy from post # 2 and let us know what you think!

 

[MojaveHigh]

You probably don't want to talk positively or negatively about the competition, but if you can...

What are some compelling reasons I should use Impel over Tasker?

 

[mstroud]

Well, the reasons we feel Impel is a great app to use versus other apps are...

• Impel is designed to be easy to use, so that nearly anyone can gain the benefits of automation
• The user interface is clear and wizard based, making it easy to create your own tasks
• An online catalog containing many useful activities is available and built-in to the app
• The way Impel works is straightforward and direct; there are no logic problems or programming required
• A free version is available for everyone to try in the Android Market, with in-app upgrade to a paid version or a full paid version is available in the Amazon Appstore
• The developer is responsive to customer input, support and feature requests
• Impel doesn't have every feature that other apps have, but it is very stable and dependable for the features it does have

Those are our top reasons to use Impel. We've now heard from many different customers over the past few months that indicate they feel similarly. We're a small developer working hard to gain the attention and trust of the Android community, and Impel is our first app for this market. We hope that at the very least people will download it and give it a try and tell us what they think. At the cost of free there is very little downside to using it... and who knows, you might even like it!

 

[mstroud]

We just released, posted and are starting to see the first bits of version 1.1.1 trickling out into the Android Market. Amazon Appstore folks will have to wait a bit longer for the approval process to see the new bits.

Our thanks goes out to those of you who tried the beta and gave us feedback. It was invaluable and you will find your fixes made it into this release version.

For all the details take a quick look over at our release notes post on our web site. The highlights are below for your perusal:

• New setting: Location Services - restrict Impel to use GPS, Network or both
• Added detailed location logging into the logcat stream
• New stats: Task history shows a chronological list of when tasks were last run
• New permission: additional boot-start permission to fix cases where Impel won't always auto-start
• Fixed a crash when using the "camera swipe unlock" feature on Galaxy Nexus Android 4.x devices
• Fixed "add widget" text to be correct for Android 4.x devices
• Fixed a crash with the "network only" location provider service (not using GPS)
• Fixed the color picker for very high dpi (Galaxy Nexus, Tablets) devices
• Fixed a WiFi receiver crash in location services
• General Fixes - some little issues were found and improved upon

Let us know what you think of it, we do hope you'll like it.

 

[mstroud]

We've had quite a few people ask us "what is Impel" and "what can it do?"

So we put together a short, 30 second video with some highlights to explain it. Take a look and see for yourself what Impel can do.

Watch what can Impel do? on YouTube.