Transferring data wirelessly between phone and PC

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the challenge of transferring data wirelessly in real time from a Step Tracker App on a Samsung Android phone to a PC. Participants explore potential methods for establishing this connection, including considerations of app functionality and security constraints.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests needing the same program version on both devices and creating an inbound firewall rule for the app.
  • Another participant questions whether the app has an export function and if it inherently supports a connection to a PC version.
  • Concerns are raised about accessing the internal database of the app due to Android's security model, unless the phone is rooted.
  • It is mentioned that if the app stores data in user-accessible folders, a separate app could potentially be designed to retrieve and send that data.
  • A later reply acknowledges the app's popularity and suggests that if the original poster is the developer, they have more flexibility in how to implement the connection.
  • Discussion shifts towards the idea of relaying data through a server for real-time communication between the mobile app and PC.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express uncertainty about the app's capabilities and whether it supports direct communication with a PC version. Multiple competing views on how to approach the problem remain, and the discussion does not reach a consensus.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the lack of clarity on the app's features, potential security restrictions, and the need for specific technical knowledge to implement a solution.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in wireless data transfer, app development, or those working on similar projects involving mobile and PC integration may find this discussion relevant.

WWGD
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TL;DR
I have a small project to transfer data wirelessly from an App to my PC. I have a sketch of how to go about it. Hoping someone can check if it's roughly correct.
Hi,
I'm trying to find a way of sending data in real time , Wirelessly ,from my Step Tracker App in my Samsung Android to my PC.

I have a rough idea on how to do it. Would like to see if I'm roughly on the right track:

So I need to have the same program version on the PC as in my phone. Then I need to create an inbound rule in my PCs firewall allowing data from the Samsung app. I haven't been able to find an ' Export' function on the App. If there's one, I can create a connection string to create a path for the data.

Am I roughly on the right track?
 
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Are you the developer of the Android app in question? More specifically, do you have access to its source code?

If the answer is "no", a few more questions:
WWGD said:
So I need to have the same program version on the PC as in my phone.
So, the devs have released a version for PC as well? Then they should have an option to connect the two within the app itself. But you say:
WWGD said:
I haven't been able to find an ' Export' function on the App.
Does that mean the app inherently does not have any option to connect to the PC version?

Could you please also link to the app?

In general, it is impossible for an outsider to get hold of the internal database of an app because of how Android is built (i.e. assuming your phone is not rooted). That would be a security vulnerability. If the app stores its data somewhere in the user-accessible folders, however, you could design another app to grab and send that data.
 
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Wrichik Basu said:
Are you the developer of the Android app in question? More specifically, do you have access to its source code?

If the answer is "no", a few more questions:

So, the devs have released a version for PC as well? Then they should have an option to connect the two within the app itself. But you say:

Does that mean the app inherently does not have any option to connect to the PC version?

Could you please also link to the app?

In general, it is impossible for an outsider to get hold of the internal database of an app because of how Android is built (i.e. assuming your phone is not rooted). That would be a security vulnerability. If the app stores its data somewhere in the user-accessible folders, however, you could design another app to grab and send that data.
Thank you. It's more of a pet project of mine than an effort at actually developing an app.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/...ss.walkingtracker.pedometer&hl=en&gl=US&pli=1
 
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WWGD said:
Thank you. It's more of a pet project of mine than an effort at actually developing an app.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/...ss.walkingtracker.pedometer&hl=en&gl=US&pli=1
That's an impressive pet project indeed, with 10M+ downloads and 639k reviews, averaging 4.9! If it's your app, I guess all the discussion becomes needless. How you want to connect it to the PC version is completely up to you, isn't it? That makes it more of a programming question than a technology question. You have your servers running, then you just need to relay data between the mobile and the server, and then with the server and PC in real time.
 
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