I've been working rather hard to fix several bugs with the Universal App Loader. The ended up requiring a re-write of major parts of the loader and taking a lot longer than I expected.

The bugs fixed are:

• Fixed a database connection issue that caused the entire BoostApps site to go offline for up to an hour on several occasions.
• Fixed an error that was causing a blank screen to be displayed sometimes  when using the loader
• Fixed a bug that caused the site to switch from the mobile version to the desktop one while using the loader.
• Fixed a big that caused some apps sent with the loader to fail to download with error: "Failed Download with status code 904(Attribute Mismatch"

With these bugs out of the way I can finally start work on adding a forum to the site where users can share urls to good and useful apps and games that work using the loader and iDEN phones.  If any of you have experience hosting a web forum I'd appreciate suggestions of good forum software.  My requirement in order of importance are:

• Written in PHP
• Good support for mobile browsers
• Runs well on a shared hosting account
• Good hacker and spam resistance
• Easy to maintain
• Open Source
• Free or imexpensive

Please report any bugs with the new loader version here or on the loader post.

1. Install the UCWEB 6.7 browser if you haven't already.  Get it here.
2. Be sure UCWEB's User-Agent is set to Openwave. Press the Left Soft Key (labeled "Menu"), choose " Set", then "System Settings", then "User Agent" and pick "Openwave" from the  drop-down (first image below). Press the left soft-key ("Save).
3. Go to m.getjar.com useing UCWEB.
4. On the GetJar home page (second image, below), choose Motorola and then find a game you like and press the Download button (image, above).
5. On the next wierd looking page press the Left Soft-key ("menu"), choose "Tools", then "Page Properties" (3rd image, below) . Scroll down to the Page URL to highlight it.
6. Press Left Softkey ("Menu") again and choose " Tools", then "Copy".
7. Scroll down to "Select Link" and press the left softkey ("OK")
8. Press the Left Soft-key ("Menu"), Choose "Window", then  "New Window"
9. Open the BoostApps.com and open the "Universal App Loader".
   Click in the Loader's "Enter JAR or JAD URL" text-box. Press the the phone Menu key (not the left soft-key labeled "Menu") and choose Paste. Press OK.
10. Press the Upload File button (4th image, below) and follow the prompts to download or send the app to your phone.

If you are using a PC browser the desktop version of the Loader's Send To Phone page now displays a numeric Jump Code. Enter it on a new Boostapps Jump page at boostapps.com/jump/ using your mobile browser to display a download page with the JAD and JAR links. Click the JAD link to complete the installation on non-iDEN phones. Jump codes expire in one hour and the jad and jar files are deleted.  I don't have the enough space on the server to store large numbers of files.

While it's true that non-iDEN users can download apps directly  from sites like GetJar  However Boost or Sprint CDMA phones require a JAD file and are very fussy about it's formating and content.  Some  download sites only provide JARs or have invalid JADs that do not work with these phones.  The Universal App Loader tries to create a valid JAD file that should work with most phones.

However, I don't have a Boost or Sprint CDMA phone so I can't test with those phones.  Please let me know in the comments if you have issues using the loader.  In you comment please include the Jump Code and any error messages you see on the site or the phone.

I'll be continuing to fix bugs and trying to make the Universal App Loader compatible with more phones and sites.

The Universal App Loader now lets you send games and apps from most free online app sites directly to your Boost iDEN or Nextel phone.

I fixed several bugs today that were causing it to break on some popular sites.

There are  general instructions on using the loader with desktop browsers on the loader page itself.  If you don't have a PC you can use your phone. Click here for mobile specific instructions.

Here's a list of sites that have been confirmed to work with the loader along with some site specific tips

GetJar: Desktop: Yes, UCWEB: No. The mobile site doesn't work because uses a download button instead of a link and the Loader only works with links. The desktop site (getjar.com) uses complex Javascript to simulate pop up windows. It works OK with desktop browsers but none of the mobile browsers can handle that level of sophistication. I'll probably have to create a special mobile loader just for GetJar.

Gamejump: Desktop:Yes, UCWEB: Yes. You need to use the mobile site (wap.gamejump.com) with desktop browsers to be able to download anything, but that works great. You need to choose a phone before you pick a game on this site.

Hovr: Desktop: Yes, UCWEB: Yes. Use the mobile site (hovr.com/wap/) even with desktop browsers as the desktop site is badly broken. Choose a phone before trying to do anything on this site.

Mobilerated: Desktop: Yes, UCWEB:Yes. Use the mobile site (mobilerated.com/wap/) with desktop browsers.

Phoload: Desktop: Yes, UCWEB:Yes. On the desktop site (phoload.com) you need to use the JAR links, the JAD ones don't work. The JADS on the mobile site (m.phoload.com/) work in desktop and mobile browsers.

Ownskin: Desktop: Yes, UCWEB:Yes. Use the mobile site (m.ownskin.com/) with both desktop and mobile browsers. Browse through the games section to find your games. Don't use the "OS Key"quick download form as it doesn't work.

Mobango: Desktop: Yes, UCWEB:Yes. You need to register and add a phone to your profile before you can download. Don't choose an iDen phone or it will tell you that no games are are available. Pick a Motorola v188, v190, v300 or v3xx instead. Both desktop (mobango.com) and mobile sites (wap.mobango.com/) work.

When you choose a phone of these sites there's a good chance yours wont be listed.  If that's the case just pick a different Motorola phone with the same screen size. Here's a list:

• For phones like the i290 with small square screens (130x130 px),  choose the Motorola i455 or V188.
• For the i465 and i776 (128x160), Choose the Motorola i576 or V190.
• For the i855, i856 and other phones with 176x200 screens, choose the i850 or V300.
• For the i9 (240x320), choose the RAZR V3xx or V3xxM

Next I'm going to get this working with Boost CDMA and other non-iDEN phones.  That will probably take a couple of days. I don't plan to post any further updates until it's done.

The form itself is now functional in the mobile version. The biggest issue now is that mobile browsers, including Openwave, Bolt and Opera Mini, do not have a way to copy a link URL.  The only browser that does and works on iDEN phones is UC WEB 6.7.  Here's how to use it to download games and apps from sites like wap.gamejump.com, hovr.com/wap/, mobilerated.com/wap/and others. See here for a list of working sites and site specific tips.

• Launch UCWEB (get it here) and load Boostapps.com.  Click the mobile site link (not strictly necessary, but it's a lot faster.)
• Open the Universal App Loader page.
• Press the left softkey labeled "Menu", choose "Window", then "New Window"
• Load wap.gamejump.com or other download site.
• Click "Select Phone", and enter "i455",  i850, "v190" or "v300".
• Find a game you want. Highlight the "Download" link.  Select "Menu",  then "Tools" then  "Copy", then "Select Link" (first image, below).
• Press the "3" key to switch back to the BoostApps
• Click the text box, then click the phone's Menu key and choose "Paste".  UC WEB will display it's clipboard (second image), highlight the topmost item and press the left softkey (labeled "OK") twice.
• Click the "Upload" File button on BoostApps (third image). If you get a blank page here (bug) it means the Loader couldn't find a jad or jar file at the URL you entered.
• On the next screen (fourth image), which displays in desktop mode (another bug), scroll down and press the "Send to Phone" button.
• On the next screen enter your phone number and again click the "Send to Phone" button.
• The rest is the same as downloading any other app from BoostApps,  There are instructions on the page that loads (last image) after you hit the "Send to Phone" button.  To summarize; launch "Download Apps" on your phone. Click "New Purchases" the click the app name (the Universal Downloader gives apps 1 to 4 digit file names so they should be at the top of the list).  Choose "Get" and the app will download, close Download Apps and the phone will install the new app.

I clearly have a lot left to do on the Universal App Uploader but it is working on at least some sites.  Here are the one I've tried so far:

wap.gamejump.com works with both desktop browsers and mobile using UC WEB

getjar.com works on desktop, but not mobile

hovr.com/wap/ doesn't work on desktop or mobile

m.phoload.com and wap.mobango.com; don't work on mobile not tested with desktop browsers.

I believe I can fix the compatibility issues with at least some of these sites.  You can help by testing other download sire (There's a big list on WapReview.com) and letting me know in the comments what works with UCWEB and with desktop browsers.

Detailed  Universal App Loader Help No PC? How to use the Universal App Loader without a PC

Have fun and let us know in the comments what works and any issues you encounter.

For Liz, who asked for a Pool game that would work on an i776, here's Simple Pool.  It's not perfect, but it's the best of the five pool games I was able find.  The main problem is that the bottom of the table is a  little cut of making it hard to sink balls in the bottom pockets.  Also, there's no opponent, you just try to pocket all the balls without scratching.

Rules:
Pocket all colored balls while trying not to pocket the white cue ball.
You lose one credit when
1) The white ball is pocketed;
2) No ball has been pocketed for three turns;
3) The white ball has not touched any other ball during the turn.
When three credits are lost, the game is over.
To shoot:
1) Use the direction keys to place the pointer (white triangle) where you want the white ball to go.
2) Press and hold for the Call key to specify the impact value.

Type: Freeware
Author: Evgenii Krivosheev
Data Connection Required: No
Supported iDEN phones: All Falcon Series (i776, i465, i9, i290, etc.)
Filesize: 21 KB

Requested by Louise, IQ Boost or IQB by Coremedia is a matching game that is supposed to test your IQ, stimulate your brain and make you smarter.  You are shown a shape or math problem and have to pick the matching shape or right answer from three choices by pressing the 1, 2 or 3 key.  The matching shapes are turned in different directions and you only have a few seconds to pick the answers.

Requires a 176x220 screen or larger (i9, i855, i856, etc).  The answer row is hidden on smaller screens making the game unplayable.

Type: Ad-Supported
Vendor: Coremedia
Data Connection Required: Yes
Supported iDEN phones: All with 176x220 or larger screen (i855, i1856, i860,  i9, etc.)
Filesize: 43 KB

Requested by piggy, this book by botanist John Dudgeon was published in 1903. It's a guide to all the fungi of the United States and includes information on how to grow mushrooms along with recipes.

Unfortunately, there is no way to include  the over 200 illustrations of the original book in a mobile Java eBook.  You can view the book with illustrations  at gutenberg.org/files/26492/26492-h/26492-h.htm using a desktop browser or UCWEB 6.7 with "text section" = 100 K (in the "Set" -> "System Settings" menu).  Bolt 2.11 and Opera Mini 3.1 and 4.2 were  not able to open the very large HTML file on my i776.

Original eText by Project Gutenberg, mobile Java eBook created with Tequila Cat Book Reader.

Keys
Menu - main menu; OK - last menu
Up, 2 - line up; Down, 8 - line down
Left, 4 - page up; Right, 6 - page down
Zero - bookmarks; 7 - find text
9 - find next; # - cycle through small, medium and large fonts
5 - autoscroll on/off; 1 - show info

Tip: Press "menu" > "settings" > "wrap" and turn off  "Justify by width" to turn off justification which looks ugly on small screens

Type: Public Domain/Freeware
Vendor: Project Gutenberg/ManyBooks/TCBR
Data Connection Required: No
Supported iDEN phones: All with Java (MIDP1)
File Size: 259 KB

Requested by reader Jimmy, this is a turn based artillery game in the style of Scorched Earth.

Description: There are 4 tanks on the map. The game is turn-based, the tanks shoot one after another. A random tank starts the game. When the turn of your tank  comes, set the angle with th3 4 and 6 keys and the power with the 2 and 8 keys and shoot with the 5 key. Pay attention to the wind, its direction and speed change every turn. Try to eliminate the 3 other tanks before they eliminate you.

This game seems OK, if a little slow moving. There are a few quirks, you have to play all four tanks yourself unless you use the 0 key option.  Although the wind varies there's no on screen indication of it's direction and speed.  The same with the power setting, there's no way to tell what it's set at.

Keys:

1/3 - scroll the screen, 7/9 - scroll the screen by one half of the screen,
2/8 - set the power of the shot, 4/6 - set the angle of the barrel, 5 - fire.
Press 0 to let the AI control your tank for 1 turn.

Type: Freeware
Author: Pavel Smirnov
Data Connection Required: No
Supported iDEN phones: All Falcon Series (i776, i465, i9, i290, etc.)
Filesize: 13 KB