NectarLink 0.1.3 Pollen

Hive, a new theme for both apps, and updates to the Windows app that work on slow or unsteady connections and show how far they are.

Downloads

Download	For	Needs
Nectarlink-0.1.3-x64-setup.exe	Windows	Windows 11, 64-bit
Nectarlink-0.1.3-android.apk	Android	Android 8.0 or newer

Both are listed with their SHA-256 hashes in SHA256SUMS.txt. Installed copies update themselves. If Update in 0.1.2 or earlier closes NectarLink and nothing happens, install this version from the link above once; updates after it work from the app.

New

• Hive, a theme for the Windows and Android apps: honey on charcoal in dark mode and on warm wax in light mode, with a living honeycomb behind the whole app. The comb grows from the logo, breathes slowly, and sends a soft pulse of light outward every few seconds, the same on the PC and the phone. On the PC the phone on Home shows it too. Its colors are fixed, so the wallpaper, artwork and phone color options are hidden while it's on.
  • Choose it in Settings › Appearance, or from the Try Hive card on Home. Dismissed, the card returns only after an update or a reinstall.
  • Animated comb (on by default) turns the motion off. The comb also holds still with reduced motion or battery saver on, and while the app isn't in front.
  • Light on resources: one GPU shader draws the comb, updated about 30 times a second and only while the window is in front. On Android 12 and older, a still comb breathes.
• The installer and uninstaller share Hive's comb.

Fixed

• Updating the Windows app. Clicking Update closed NectarLink right away, and the download that followed in the background could time out on a slow connection to GitHub's download server. The update then failed with no sign of it, and NectarLink reopened only minutes later. Now NectarLink stays open while it downloads, shows the progress in Settings › Connection & About, resumes a download that was cut off, and closes only once the update is downloaded and checked. If an update doesn't install, NectarLink reopens and says so.
• Slow responses from GitHub no longer fail update checks or downloads: the Windows app waits longer and tries again.
• Album art no longer goes blank on the Windows app's Home media card after the track changes or the card switches between the phone and this PC. The same fix covers rounded images in notifications, calls, messages and the shelf.
• Elevated on Android reconnects by itself after Wi-Fi drops or changes. It used to stay on Try again until tapped, even with Wireless debugging back on. Now it starts again as soon as Wireless debugging is on, and keeps trying while the phone is on Wi-Fi.