What's new in CLZ Games for Android? (page 2)
v5.4: Re-designed “Select Folder Field” screen and faster Update from Core
Today’s version 5.4 brings two improvements to your CLZ Games app:
- A redesigned Select Folder Field screen
- A much faster Update from Core feature
Redesigned Select Folder Field screen
Through the years, the number of available folder fields has grown enormously, making the Select Folder Field screen a bit “unwieldy”. We decided to come up with a better solution.
This update includes a redesigned Select Folder Field screen, with all folder options nicely grouped under sensible headers, and the most popular options (Platform, Game/Hardware, Completeness, Genre) instantly accessible at the top.
Faster Update from Core
On large collections the old Update from Core feature was quite slow, as it updated your games one by one, that is doing separate requests to our server for each and every game.
So for this update, we also complete rewrote the Update from Core feature to do the updates in batches of 100 games at a time, making it much much faster!
Remember: Update From Core can be used to update your local game entries with possible extra data from our Core online game database. To use this feature, tap and hold on a game in your list to select it, tap more to select more, then tap the menu icon on the bottom right and choose Update from Core.
Fixed:
- Field Defaults screen could crash
- Edit Screen: some fields would give a bad sorting while editing them
Now live in the App/Play Store, a huge 5.3 update for your CLZ Games app, introducing two big new features:
- Add games by checkboxing from a full platform list.
- Add game hardware by searching our new Core hardware database.
IMPORTANT:
Both are new premium online services, so require an active CLZ Games subscription!
If you are still using CLZ Games in the grandfathered “Unlocked” status, you will have to subscribe before you can use these new services. To do so, just open the menu and near the top, tap “Subscribe for more”.
Add Games by Platform
(in the Add Game screen, use the new “Platform” tab)
Add by Platform is a new 3rd tab in the Add Games screen, for quickly adding all games you own for a platform.
Just select a platform top left, then checkbox the games you own from a full list of games for that platform. Use the US/EU selector to choose which version of the game you want to add.
The list also clearly highlights in the games you already have, making it a perfect tool for platform completionists. Use the filter top right and select “Not in collection” to make the list show only the games that are not in your app yet.
Add Hardware from Core
(In the menu, choose “Add Hardware from Core”)
Search our new Core online hardware database, to easily add consoles, controllers and other accessories. Automatically get descriptions, box images, device images, backdrop images, sometimes even YouTube promo videos.
Use the platform selector top right to search within a platform. Limit the search results to consoles, controllers and other accessories using the “Search for” filter.
IMPORTANT: both are premium online services, so require an active CLZ Games subscription!
Fixed:
- In the Add from Core screen, when adding a game that is already in your app as ‘On Wish List’ or ‘On Order’, the app will now offer to change its status to ‘In Collection’.
- When scanning barcodes the “beep” sound would only sound on the first scan
Faster CLZ Cloud syncing!
We have made several structural changes to the CLZ Cloud syncing, making it much much faster than before, especially when syncing large amounts of entries up to the CLZ Cloud or down from the CLZ Cloud.
To enjoy the faster syncing, you need to use the actual Sync with CLZ Cloud screen.
(The Auto-Syncing in the background is also slightly faster now, but if you need to sync many entries up or down, please use the Sync with CLZ Cloud screen.)
New design for Sync with CLZ Cloud screen
While we were at it, we decided to do a quick make-over for the Sync screen, with a new look and layout and a direct link to your CLZ Cloud page online.
Fixed:
- Made the touch area for scrollbars a bit bigger (useful for quick scrolling)
- Added a “Clear” button in the search box in the Add Screen
v5.1.1: Search folders, sort folders by count and and faster syncing
In this update we introduce a new quick-search for your folders, sorting your folders by the counters, and more stable cloud syncing through our brand-new dedicated Sync-server.
Quick-search your folders
Grouping in folders is a powerful way to browse and filter your collection. Just group by Platform, or Developer, etc… tap a folder and the list will give you all games for the selected Platform or Developer.
However, if your collection spans thousands of games and a lot of platforms, that “tap a folder” part is sometimes easier said than done. It may require lots of scrolling in the folder list.
But not anymore! This version introduces a new search box right above the folder list, that lets you instantly search/filter the folder list as you type! Just typing a few letters is often enough to bring the folder you are looking for into view:
Sort folders by count
By default, the folders are sorted alphabetically. But as of today, there is another option: sort your folders by the counter, that is by the number of games contained.
Sorting by the counters is a nice way to find the most popular Platforms, Developers, Genres, etc..
Switch between the Alphabetical and By Count sorting using the sort toggle at the top:
Improved barcode scanning
We have improved the scan engine and gave it a larger “scan area”. This should help scan barcodes faster and easier.
Now uses our brand-new CLZ Cloud Sync-server
Previously one big server was handling the Connect website, the CLZ Cloud website AND the CLZ Cloud syncing from the desktop programs and the mobile apps.
But this week we have set up a brand-new dedicated Sync-server to handle just the CLZ Cloud syncing.
In today’s update, CLZ Games has been updated to sync through this new server, which should result in faster syncing and a more stable syncing experience during high load times (weekends).
New:
- You can now folder group on “Purchase Date Year” and “Completed Date Year.
Fixed:
- Rare incident where timeouts occurred during CLZ Cloud sync.
CLZ Games 5.0: Multiple collections, Statistics, UI improvements, etc..
It’s finally here, CLZ Games 5.0. Here’s what’s new in v5:
- CLZ Games is now a subscription app
Of course, all existing users have been “grandfathered” into a life-time app unlock. - Now supports and syncs multiple collections
Create and sync multiple “sub collections” within your database. - Automatic cloud-syncing of your own “custom” images
No more need to manually force “Upload Image to CLZ Cloud”. - New “infographic” style Statistics screen (replaces Database Totals)
Totals, lists and statistics about your game collection. - Various improvements to the user interface:
- Redesigned top-bar and main menu
- Redesigned Manage Pick Lists screen
- Editing: Easier way to select values for pick list fields.
- Adding: new Clear Queue button to clear the barcode queue.
- All panels in the main screen (folders, list and details) are now resizable using draggable separators between the panels, so that you can customize the layout to your own liking.
- The resizable panels in the Add screen have been updated to use the nicer look of the draggable separators.
Fixed:
- Atari Lynx had the Sega Master System logo as platform icon.
- Added Completeness / hasBox / hasManual fields to the field defaults screen.
New: Redesigned app icon
We designed new icons that give new users a better indication of what the app actually does (as opposed to just a different color CLZ logo), but still obviously belong together, when shown together.
And if you have Android 8.0 or higher, we’re also including an “adaptive app icon” as of today which are in line with all your other app icons!
Some changes in CLZ Games for you:
- The buttons to switch folders, sorting and view options have been moved to more logical places to make them more accessible.
- The skins and templates options are now only available from the settings screen.
- The selection mode button has been removed, just tap and hold on an item to start selecting items.
Fixed:
- Update from Core could (in some cases) overwrite manually entered information for the Series, Edition, Region, Description fields.
New for the Add Games screen:
- Add button is now bigger and easier to spot (some new users missed the little round “+”).
- Add button now “remembers” your collection vs. wish list selection. No need to pick from the Collection/Wish List popup menu every time you add anymore.
- Remove from queue button is now bigger and easier to spot. Tap and hold on a barcode in the queue to select barcodes you want to remove.
Fixed:
- Accented characters in sortnames/titles were sorted incorrectly.
- Main screen: the over-sensitive quickscroll bar in the thumbnail view has been fixed.
- Edit: ‘Done’- button doest not scroll from screen on manual scroll.
- Edit: New ‘Unsaved changes’ dialog.
- Cloud sync: Sync reporting ‘invalid xml’ in rare cases.
v4.10: Many new sort options and a redesigned Select Sort Order screen
We’ve added new fields to sort on to change the order in which your games are displayed in your list. Your game list will adapt to sort and show the field you’re sorting on. On top of that we’ve redesigned the Select Sort Order screen to make it more clear what you’re choosing.
Open the Select Sort Order screen by tapping the menu top right, then tap “Sort order”.
All available sort fields:
- Platform, then Title (New!)
- Platform, then Release Date (New!)
- Title
- Release Date
- Order of Entry (New!)
- Purchase Date (New!)
- Purchase Price (New!)
- Price Charting Value (New!)
- Current Value (New!)
- Completion Date (New!)
- My Rating (New!)
- Quantity (New!)
- Index
- Storage Device (New!)
All fields can be sorted either ascending or descending. Tap the field you wish to sort on, then tap “Apply” to confirm.
Quick Search: Search-As-You-Type suggestions
Instantly find and select a particular game in your local database:
- In the Quick Search box, just start typing the first few letters of the title you are looking for.
- While typing, a drop-down list will appear, showing the first five matching games (for most games, it only takes 2 or 3 letters before it shows up).
- Once you see the game you were looking for, tap it to bring up its detail page
- TIP: Tap the search button on the keyboard or tap “View All Results” to perform the normal search.
Quick Search now searches more fields
Now also searches in:
- Series
- Descriptions
- Notes
- Tags
Full list of fields that are now searched:
- Title
- Barcode
- Platform
- Series
- Descriptions
- Notes
- Tags
A new v4.8 update for your app is available now, with:
Automatic CLZ Cloud syncing
Add or edit games and your changes will auto-upload to the CLZ Cloud instantly.
Made changes on the desktop or Connect side? Just start the app and changes will download automatically.
Note: Auto-Syncing is switched OFF by default. Switch it ON in the “Sync with CLZ Cloud” screen.
Don’t have a CLZ Cloud account yet?
If you don’t have a CLZ Cloud account yet, We strongly recommend to signup up for one from the app. Using the CLZ Cloud is completely free!
The CLZ Cloud syncing will let you:
- Sync your data between devices, e.g. between your phone and your tablet. Or from your old phone to your new phone.
- View your database online using the free CLZ Cloud viewer website.
- Make an online backup of your data. Better safe than sorry!
In today’s update for the CLZ Games app, we have made further tweaks to the Add screen, to make it clearer than previous versions:
- Add from CLZ Core:
- Color high-lighting: Games already ‘on wish list’ now have an orange title, games already “in collection” show up with a blue title.
- Slightly smaller font for the game title, so that longer titles fit better.
This new version lets you download current value information for your games from the popular game pricing site PriceCharting.com:
- When adding new games, they automatically come with game value info.
- Values are determined based on the Completeness field (Loose vs CIB vs New).
- See totals for your collection using the new Database Totals screen.
- Download up-to-date value information for your entire collection using the Update button in the Database Totals screen.
Fixed:
- On tablet devices: After adding a game to the collection it wasn’t selected
- Templates: Improved layout and colors.
New:
- Group on the “Completeness” field by tapping the menu top right, then tap “Folders > Completeness”.
Fixed:
- Fixed a “non SQL exception” error that could occur during adding of certain games.
For CLZ Games on Android we have added several game-specific fields and made more fields available to edit in the edit game screen: This update is especially targeted at the serious video game collector:
New “Completeness” field: Loose vs CIB vs New
This is for the real video game collectors, especially those that are into collecting retro games:
- Added: a new “Completeness” field, to indicate how complete your copy of a game is. Choose from:
- Loose, meaning “cartridge or disc only”.
- CIB, meaning “Complete In Box”, everything included.
- New, meaning CIB and also still sealed.
- Two extra toggle fields “Manual” and “Box”.
To further specify the “Loose” status. You know, for those cartridges with just a manual, no box. Or in a box, but with the manual missing. - Group on the “Completeness” field by tapping the menu top right, then tap “Folders > Completeness”.
Changed:
- Made some improvements to the barcode scanner
Fixed:
- Manual focus for barcode scanning
- Crash in the add auto screen when adding a mix of new games and games on wish list by barcode
- Crash in the pick cover option in the edit screen
This update to the CLZ Games app for Android brings user interface improvements to the Add Games screen:
- All panels are now resizable (list, details, camera)
- When adding a game that is already on your wish list, the app now lets you change its status to “In Collection”.
- Adding By Barcode:
- Camera scanner is now integrated in Add screen, not a separate screen
- Tap the keyboard icon in the camera panel to enter a barcode manually
- Barcode queue is now remembered between sessions
- Press and hold to delete a barcode from the queue
- Adding By Title:
- Expand game edition list using “V” icons on the right
- Game not found? Easy add it manually using the special entry in the results list
v4.3.11: New: Easily add games that come up as “unrecognized barcode”
This update introduces an easier way to deal with “Unrecognized Barcodes”.
A new screen that not only helps you to add the game to your app anyway, but also helps your fellow CLZ Games users by instantly adding the missing barcode to the CLZ Core online game database.
Easily add games that come up as “Unrecognized Barcode”:
- In the Add Games screen when a barcode is not recognized, a new “Unrecognized Barcode” screen will appear.
- In this screen:
- Just find your game by title (Search-As-You-Type is also active here!)
- Then click Add Game.
- This will:
- Add the game to YOUR database with full game details and your barcode.
- Instantly add the barcode to OUR Core online game database, connected to the game you selected.
New:
- Split edit screen, easily switch between main and personal fields
Fixed:
- App respects the system screen orientation lock
- Background color for the searchbar on certain Lollipop tablet devices
- Long loading in Manage Pick Lists screen
v4.3.5: Added more folder options, Sync Status indicator and more
New:
- CLZ Cloud database detection for empty databases
- Out of sync notification on the sync button
- Improved restoring of in app purchase
- Added folder support for: multiplayer mode, edition and hardware type
Fixed:
- Fixed hardware keyboard enter not working in tablet search field
v4.3.4: New: “Search-As-You-Type” suggestions when adding games
New: “Search-As-You-Type” suggestions when adding games by title. While enter a title to search for, a drop-down list will appear, showing the five most popular games that match. If you see the game you were looking for, just tap to select it.
Fixed:
- Screen rotation throughout the app
- Database totals counting hardware as games
A huge v4.3 update for your CLZ Games app is now available.
And prepare to be shocked 🙂 (in a good way, don’t worry):
The app looks completely different now, with a cleaner brighter look and an improved user interface. Here’s what’s new:
What’s new in CLZ Games 4.3 for Android?
- New “Material”-based interface, with two skins/themes: Light & Dark.
(The app now starts in the Light skin. If you prefer the Dark look, just use the View menu top right) - Big floating blue “+” button for adding games.
- Access all other features and tools from “hamburger” menu top left.
- Clear and easy switch between All / In Collection / Wish List at the top.
- Access all other view options from menu on top right.
- Add screen: tabs at the top to switch between By Title and By Barcode modes.
- Add Manually is now a separate menu item in the menu on the left.
- Redesigned book list entries.
- Old Import from Game Collector has been moved to Settings screen!
v4.2.1: New: Manage Pick Lists tool and ways to edit pick list items
- New “Manage Pick Lists” tool for editing and merging Platforms, Genres, Formats etc…
- Edit screen: Now edit the names of Platforms, Formats, etc…
- Edit screen: New “value picker” screen for quickly filling fields like Platform and Publisher.
- New Tools menu, with Manage Pick Lists, Field Defaults and Empty Database tools.