🤖 I’m developing an Android app for Better xCloud
What does it include?
- Still free and open-sourced
- Same code base as the web version (has all the features)
- Easier to install, especially on Android TV
- Smaller, full package is only around 10MB
- Hopefully it has better performance + battery life
- Better device vibration support
A public test version will be available this weekend.
I have a test version at the moment and it works great on my phone + tablet.
Sad news: tested on Chromecast Google TV and the performance is still terrible.
What does it include?
- Still free and open-sourced
- Same code base as the web version (has all the features)
- Easier to install, especially on Android TV
- Smaller, full package is only around 10MB
- Hopefully it has better performance + battery life
- Better device vibration support
A public test version will be available this weekend.
I have a test version at the moment and it works great on my phone + tablet.
Sad news: tested on Chromecast Google TV and the performance is still terrible.
Some more info about the Android app (test version available this weekend)
- It’s a mini browser (WebView) that displays the xCloud website.
- Should support all Better xCloud features, including: local co-op, custom touch controls….
- Virtually the same as the web version with the addition of the toolbar (refresh, settings…). Of course this toolbar will be hidden while playing.
- Will have ability to add custom userscript.
Support Better xCloud development: https://ko-fi.com/redphx
- It’s a mini browser (WebView) that displays the xCloud website.
- Should support all Better xCloud features, including: local co-op, custom touch controls….
- Virtually the same as the web version with the addition of the toolbar (refresh, settings…). Of course this toolbar will be hidden while playing.
- Will have ability to add custom userscript.
Support Better xCloud development: https://ko-fi.com/redphx
Progress update for the Android app:
✅ Change market & language
✅ Edit custom userscript
❌ Update Better xCloud script
❌ Check for update
Once I finish the last two features the app will be ready to be tested.
✅ Change market & language
✅ Edit custom userscript
❌ Update Better xCloud script
❌ Check for update
Once I finish the last two features the app will be ready to be tested.
More Android app news:
- Targets all Android 8.0+ devices.
- Can be used on Android TV but still need a mouse to interact with the UI (for now).
- The "Update Better xCloud script" is finished. You can use this feature to update the script without having to install a new app version.
- The last feature I want to add to the test version is "Check for Update" and "Download update". I don't plan to release this app on any app store because I hate to deal with their bs rules.
- The app will still be free and open-source. No ads, no tracking.
- There will be many beta versions. Once I satisfy with the state of the app I'll release version 1.0 and publish the source code. The code is messy at the moment and I want to reorganize/clean it up first.
- I hope I can get the first test version out on Sunday. Will announce the exact time later.
- Targets all Android 8.0+ devices.
- Can be used on Android TV but still need a mouse to interact with the UI (for now).
- The "Update Better xCloud script" is finished. You can use this feature to update the script without having to install a new app version.
- The last feature I want to add to the test version is "Check for Update" and "Download update". I don't plan to release this app on any app store because I hate to deal with their bs rules.
- The app will still be free and open-source. No ads, no tracking.
- There will be many beta versions. Once I satisfy with the state of the app I'll release version 1.0 and publish the source code. The code is messy at the moment and I want to reorganize/clean it up first.
- I hope I can get the first test version out on Sunday. Will announce the exact time later.
Another feature of Android app: it can limit the screen's refresh rate to 60Hz while using the app.
Since games on xCloud have maximum 60 FPS there is no point playing in higher refresh rate.
This will improve performance + battery life, especially when playing with touch control.
Since games on xCloud have maximum 60 FPS there is no point playing in higher refresh rate.
This will improve performance + battery life, especially when playing with touch control.
🔥 Better xCloud Android app is now available for testing.
Visit https://better-xcloud.github.io/android/ for more info & download link.
Please report any issues on GitHub: https://github.com/redphx/better-xcloud-android/issues
❤️ Support Better xCloud: https://ko-fi.com/redphx
Thanks!
Visit https://better-xcloud.github.io/android/ for more info & download link.
Please report any issues on GitHub: https://github.com/redphx/better-xcloud-android/issues
❤️ Support Better xCloud: https://ko-fi.com/redphx
Thanks!
Everyone, please report the problems you have to https://github.com/redphx/better-xcloud-android/issues
It's difficult for me to keep track of the problems and reply to you in this channel/group.
Thanks for testing.
It's difficult for me to keep track of the problems and reply to you in this channel/group.
Thanks for testing.
GitHub
Issues · redphx/better-xcloud-android
Android app to improve Xbox Cloud Gaming (xCloud) and Remote Play experiences - Issues · redphx/better-xcloud-android
If you have problems with the Android app not working properly, make sure that the Android System WebView app is up to date: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.webview
Google Play
Android System WebView - Apps on Google Play
Web content for apps, powered by Chrome
com.redphx.betterxc_0.1-1-mic-test.apk
5.5 MB
Need help testing mic support. Tha APK file is attached.
After granting the mic permission you’ll have to restart the stream (no queue). After that you’ll never have to restart the stream again when using mic.
After granting the mic permission you’ll have to restart the stream (no queue). After that you’ll never have to restart the stream again when using mic.
Better xCloud Android 0.2 is available: https://github.com/redphx/better-xcloud-android/releases/tag/a0.2
Open the app and you’ll see a popup to download the new version.
Changes & fixes:
- Enable mic support
- Fix WebView being refreshed when connecting new devices
- Allow both regular and remote login methods
- Fix not showing fullscreen on devices with display cutouts
- Always use "Paste as plain text" when pasting code into the custom userscript EditText
- Show web's title & URL on the toolbar
Report issues: https://github.com/redphx/better-xcloud-android/issues
❤️ Support Better xCloud: https://ko-fi.com/redphx
Open the app and you’ll see a popup to download the new version.
Changes & fixes:
- Enable mic support
- Fix WebView being refreshed when connecting new devices
- Allow both regular and remote login methods
- Fix not showing fullscreen on devices with display cutouts
- Always use "Paste as plain text" when pasting code into the custom userscript EditText
- Show web's title & URL on the toolbar
Report issues: https://github.com/redphx/better-xcloud-android/issues
❤️ Support Better xCloud: https://ko-fi.com/redphx
com.redphx.betterxc_0.2b-2.apk
5.4 MB
Need testers for the new version before release.
Changes:
- Fix vibration bug on Logitech G Cloud
- Don’t display over cutout while in portrait mode & not playing
- Don’t force 60Hz refresh rate on Android TV
Changes:
- Fix vibration bug on Logitech G Cloud
- Don’t display over cutout while in portrait mode & not playing
- Don’t force 60Hz refresh rate on Android TV
What is your experience of the Android app so far?
- Your phone/Android TV & chipset?
- Performance (better or worse than Kiwi)?
- Battery life?
If your experience is not good I’m suspecting it was because the device’s chipset doesn’t support hardware accelerated for H.264 decoding. I heard that most Snapdragon & Exynos chipsets have this feature. I’ll add a feature to detect this. For now you can use this app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.tyniw.mediacodecinfo.application
Unlike Kiwi Browser, Android WebView doesn’t have a built-in H.264 decoder which is why the app might crash or doesn’t work as good as Kiwi.
So if you have those chipsets I’d recommend using the app, otherwise keep using Kiwi.
- Your phone/Android TV & chipset?
- Performance (better or worse than Kiwi)?
- Battery life?
If your experience is not good I’m suspecting it was because the device’s chipset doesn’t support hardware accelerated for H.264 decoding. I heard that most Snapdragon & Exynos chipsets have this feature. I’ll add a feature to detect this. For now you can use this app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.tyniw.mediacodecinfo.application
Unlike Kiwi Browser, Android WebView doesn’t have a built-in H.264 decoder which is why the app might crash or doesn’t work as good as Kiwi.
So if you have those chipsets I’d recommend using the app, otherwise keep using Kiwi.
Google Play
Media Codec Info - Apps on Google Play
Shows which multimedia codecs are built-in your Android OS.
Android 0.3 is available with tons of fixes: https://github.com/redphx/better-xcloud-android/releases/tag/a0.3
If see a message like this on startup then the app is not for you. Use Better xCloud with Kiwi Browser for better performance.
❤️ If you like Better xCloud please consider donating: https://ko-fi.com/redphx
If see a message like this on startup then the app is not for you. Use Better xCloud with Kiwi Browser for better performance.
❤️ If you like Better xCloud please consider donating: https://ko-fi.com/redphx