Tag: analyzethis

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analyzethis android

Android 10 security and installing new Engine files

Google and Android are increasing the security with Android 10.0 and there are implications for our Android users who install external Chess engines from downloaded files.

Background

Earlier, one could download binary/executable files of Android chess engines. Analyze This app allowed installing these binary files and you could use these Chess engines in the app.

But Google/Android has now made this impossible with new security restrictions on Android. Basically Apps can no longer allow user to locate a binary/executable file and then make it run.

For the tech savvy:

https://developer.android.com/about/versions/10/behavior-changes-10

And starting November 2020, all Apps will be forced to target the new API 29 (i.e. Android 10), which means our new upcoming App update on Analyze This will no longer support installation of external chess engine files.

From Nov 2020, all app updates need to target API 29+ (Android 10)

BUT, this does not affect Chess engines which are bundled into separate apps and support the OEX (Open Exchange Chess protocol)

What should you do next?

If your favorite Chess engine is already bundled in another app, then thats the only way forward. Analyze This comes with the Stockfish 12 binary. Other engines like Leela/Komodo etc can be installed via their respective apps.

Or you can search the Android Play Store for chess engine apps (there are few out there). Once installed, fire up the Analyze This app – Manage Engines and the new engines should get installed.

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analyzethis ios

Engine vs Engine & Threats on Analyze This iOS!

Analyze This v3.2 with improved ‘Engine vs Engine’ is now available on the Apple App store! Most of these features were already in our Android version since a while. So it was about time the iOS version also got them!

Whats New

  • Improved Engine vs Engine – The earlier update could only play one side at a time. Now its easier to ask the Engine to play both sides. Just select ‘Play this Side’ once. Then after the Engine makes its move, choose the option again. The Engine will then continue to play both sides till the game finishes!
  • Share game link – With the kind of changes iOS and Android platform makes, sometimes it becomes difficult to share a pgn or text with friends. Or a pgn on WhatsApp may look fine on Android but show some weird format on WhatsApp in iOS. We cannot control that, but we can surely try and improve the experience for our users. Not if you want to share a single game, just tap the Menu – Share – Game link. This will create a link to this game. And your friends can tap on the link and it will open right in their Analyze This app! A great way for Students to exchange their game with their coach. Ofcourse, we will improve this feature to make it easier to import and share a collection of games.
  • Show threat – Say you want to understand the threats in the current position or basically understand what would happen if you are not careful, the ‘Show threat’ feature comes in handy. Just tap the engine name and Show threat.
  • iPad layout issues – In this release we also fixed layout issues on the iPad, especially in the Position Setup and Share screen.
Categories
analyzethis android

What’s new in Analyze This 4.0!

After a long wait, Analyze This 4.0 for Android was released today! Its a big release and I am sure you will all like it. Here is what’s new in it!

☆ Full Automatic Engine Analysis (with verbose commentary!) – BETA
It took me really long time to finish this feature (besides work on other Apps/features), but its finally here! Analyze This is probably the first Android App to feature a full automated analysis with natural language analysis. Yes, not only can it suggest moves, but it can also add verbose comments (in English, for now)
Moreover, the feature has been programmed to not only suggest the mistakes and bad moves, but it also marks good moves and sacrifices! Yes it can add symbols like “!”, “?!” , “??” etc

This is only the 1st version of this feature and obviously there will be some rough edges. I plan to keep improving this feature, so please send your suggestions or remarks based on your experience with this feature.
Free users can only choose between 1-5seconds per move. PRO users can choose upto 20seconds per move.

☆ Stockfish 6
PRO users of the App could manually download and install the latest version of Stockfish 6. Now, its available by default for all users (free and PRO)

☆ Engine Threads/Cores

Now you can choose the number of Threads/Cores/Processors the Engines can use. See Settings – Engine Options. 
Please note that choosing the max number of threads can improve Engine performance, but at the same time, your device may stall a bit and consume more battery. Use wisely.

☆ Automatic Opening recognition
The App now automatically tells you the Opening ECO, name in the Notation. The ECO will also be automatically saved when you save a game!

☆ Undo option in strategic places
From time to time, we all make mistakes! Accidentally deleted the wrong move? Or perhaps you cleared the board in Position setup? Don’t worry, UNDO has got you covered!
A major reason and driving force behind this was to improve the overall user experience.
Undo options have been added in multiple strategic places, so even if you make a mistake while using the App, you can undo it! 
☆ Share board image with different arrow/highlight colors!
Now when you share the Board as image, you can choose from 4 preset colors and highlight the Squares or draw arrows with them! Makes it easy to express ideas.
Not only this, you can even directly Share board image from other Chess Apps installed on your device! Choose to export current board as FEN, and choose “Analyze This – Highlight & Share” option from the list of Apps! You are ready to highlight the board and share it!
☆ Option to hide engine arrow
For those of you who did not like the Engine revealing the solution with the arrow on the board, you may now hide the arrow. See Settings – Engine Options
☆ More space for Notation!
Some of you wanted even more space for the Notation view. Now the 2-way toggle next to the player names, can work 3-ways and provide more space for the Notation (and shrink the Board accordingly)
☆ Touch and hold the board for Quick annotation view
This was a nice feature added in the previous version which quickly helped to add annotation Symbols to the game. Earlier you could double tap on the board to view it, but some times that lead to false touches. This is now changed to long-press. So touch and hold the board to view the Quick annotation View.
In this regard, there is an additional feature in the Analysis Menu, to hide the Engine layout. When not needed, you can hide the Engines currently selected, and make more space for the Board/Notation.

☆ Bug fixes and other enhancements

This version has many bug fixes and lots of other visual enhancements and improvements under the hood!

//What could not make into this release
Unfortunately, Critter cannot run on Android 5.0 and above. I am looking for a suitable replacement, and will hopefully add it in a future release.

Meanwhile, please keep sending your bugs/feature suggestions, and I would be happy to consider them.

Categories
analyzethis

Minor update to Analyze This app – Stockfish 4.0 & less battery drain and heating!

I have just released v2.0.6 of Analyze This app, with some important improvements:

  • Stockfish 4.0 – The Stockfish engine has been upgraded to v 4.0! I have found this version to be definitely better. This is also good on your battery, since by default it uses only a single core.
  • Less battery drain and heating – Using iChess on a multi-core device would often cause the device to heat up when continuously solving puzzles. This update brings better battery usage and definitely lesser heating!
  • Bug/Crash fixes – Some important bugs and crashes have been fixed.

This is just a small release. More “feature” updates are in the pipleline!

Categories
android yourmove

Your Move – Android app for Correspondence Chess players

It gives me immense pleasure to announce ‘Your Move‘, my new Android app for Correspondence Chess players of ICCF & SchemingMind.

I joined ICCF in 2012 with the aim of improving my Chess skills. But not having an easy way to make moves from my Phone/Tablet was bit discomforting, especially to the developer in me!
So I developed one!

Now, you can easily make your move!

VIEW IN PLAY STORE

Features
♟ Make move, Offer/Accept draw, Resign (See menu), Message your opponent and do all the important stuff
♟ Bring up the position and analyze it even while on the road or on train with no Internet
♟ Analyze your finished games with the power of two Chess engines and save to database (uses Analyze This app)
♟ Supports standard Chess (does not support Chess 960 or variants, yet)
♟ Launch app directly by clicking the hyperlink in the email you receive from ICCF/SM

Your Move is supported with Ads and they can be permanently removed for $0.99, right from the app. (See Menu in the Board window)

VIEW IN PLAY STORE

Categories
analyzethis ichess

Minor updates to iChess and Analyze This, simultaneously!

Probably my first release where I pressed the ‘Submit’ button and published 4 (both iChess and Analyze This versions) apps at the same time!

iChess v3.1.6
* Illegal moves are not allowed
* Review mode has been enhanced. Now you can easily add moves, jump to any position and move back and forth.
* Bug fixes in alternate moves.
* Minor enhancements

Analyze This v2.0.3
* Improved stability when loading PGN
* Stockfish engine crash
* Minor engine output changes
* Other enhancements

Special thanks to Tadek, Che, Gilberto for their kind feedback (without adding a bad review)! 😉

Categories
analyzethis

Analyze This – I want a BIG board!

Everybody wants big things in life. Why should the Chess board on Analyze This be small?
I heard your feedback and today I have released v2.0.2 to Play Store with board size optimizations and minor enhancements for small screen phones.

Show/Hide Notation view – This makes the board bigger!

Just click the expand/collapse icon (^ – next to the Black player name), and you can enjoy a big board!
Disable Sound
You can now disable the sound from the Settings.
Engine fixes and minor enhancements
To the user who reported an issue with engine Robbolito; thanks, it is fixed in this release!

Enjoy (and don’t forget to rate!)

Categories
analyzethis

Analyze This in Action [Video]

Here is a video of Analyze This app in action.

Categories
analyzethis android

Analyze This v2.0 released – your Android Chess experience just got better

I am very excited and proud to release v2.0 of Analyze This. This is my first major release after quitting my day job and going full-time and I am personally very happy with this release.

    What’s new?

    • New innovative feature: Simply tilt your device (left edge up or down) to move forward/backward through the moves! Now give your fingers some rest! See Settings to enable/disable. Or you can even use the Volume button/keys of your device
    • Install UCI engine of your choice! Hide some or all engines
    • Load and Save PGN games including variations. Touch and hold move in the notation view for more options
    • Refreshing new look, smoother interface plus board colors
    • Share game/position with other Chess apps or via email/twitter. Can even share the current board position as image!
    • Tap engine analysis to play the first move on the board
    • Stockfish upgraded to latest 3.0 version
    • Delete and Share your PGN files right from within the app
    • Many bug fixes and improvements

    THIS upgrade was made possible by the kind feedback and suggestions from many invisible friends! (whom I have never met and may never get a chance to meet!)

    Arne | Artem | Benzi | Carlos | David | Dom | Joseph | Justin | Kevin | Mehmet | Raymond

    IMPORTANT
    Both free and paid apps have Critter and Stockfish by default. If you only see one engine, then please re-install the app and start the app once. 
    Edit: Issue fixed in v2.0.1