Chess for Android 5.2.3: Network version

Maybe i'm getting old. Yesterday i've remembered that my last post about Chess for Android had left a promise behind, about the network version of the same app.

Aart Bik has done it weeks ago but i've forgot to post it. You can download it HERE and enjoy the remote engine feature which will enable games between your Android engine vs your favorite PC engines.

A copy of the Google Play version without that network feature is also available HERE.

Chess Genius 3.0.2 for Android

Better be late than sorry! Chess Genius for Android is updated to 3.0.2 with below notice.

If you purchased it previously, you are already warned about the update. But if not, it's your second chance to buy the monster of 1990s, ported to Android at GOOGLE PLAY.

WHAT'S NEW

* Version 3.0.2 fixes a bug that caused occasional crashes

Android UCI engine update: Arasan 19.0.1 bundled with Acid Ape Chess

After a couple of discussions and claims about compatibility, the last version of Arasan bundled with Acid Ape Chess gets the passport for Rapidroid!

It was unexpected that v19.0.1 requires the presence of the configuration file "arasan.rc" in the same folder, unlike previous versions.

Without the config file, the build may run or not depending on your hardware. In my case, it could run with the older Exynos 4210 but not with the newer Exynos 4412.

I've verified that switching to single core makes it run okay but that's not the point, not a solution at all. I kept insisting by installing the arasan.rc file provided within Ape Chess in a different folder of the apk.

The config file didn't only fix the quad core functionality but also provided with further options for logging, tablebase setup and book usage. I hereby confirm at least the logging toggle works. You can tweak the rc file for your own choices.

The link i'm sharing HERE contains all available builds by architecture as well as the "arasan.rc" that you must install with the engine. You need them both.

Try the above and report your experience.

And for the collectors: A 7z package HERE contains the previous Arasan 18.3 builds bundled with Ape Chess Beta 10.

Android XB engine update: Scorpio 2.7.7 bundled with Acid Ape Chess

This set of builds will be appealing not only for collectors but especially to all x86 and 64-bit users, given that JA builds were made for 32-bit arm5 and arm7 only.

GET Scorpio 2.7.7 for 32/64 bit arm & x86

Android UCI engine oldies: Cheng 4 0.36c bundled with Acid Ape Chess

The reason i'm calling this an oldie is that the JA version (4.038) is more recent.

4.036c build in subject comes bundled with Acid Ape Chess, as a native binary. Threfore it can be used as a standalone engine with other GUI's without problem.

GET Cheng4 0.36c bundled with Acid Ape Chess Beta 10 for arm & x86

Acid Ape Chess Beta 10.1 ft Arasan 19.0.1

It's nice to see Ape Chess improving regularly toward a better competition versus favorite GUI's like Chess for Android and Droidfish.

Once you get familiar with the menus, i guess you can even prefer Ape to above favorites unless you are directly concerned with engine features. Droidfish is very stable, CfA is a must for tourneys and Ape is beautiful!

The new version is Beta 10.1 and it features a very recent build of Arasan, v19.0.1 as well as Cheng4 0.36c and Scorpio 2.7.7. While we've got Cheng 4.38 and Scorpio 2.7.7 by Jim Ablett already, the new Arasan is appealing. Another important detail is that Ape provides several engine builds for different architectures unlike JA builds.

You can GET Acid Ape Chess free from Google Play.

Regarding the bundled engines, stay tuned for dedicated posts to follow this one.

Komodo 10 for Android: Will it overtake Stockfish?

I wanna keep cautious with Komodo 10 after the disappointment with 9.3 and 9.42 which both showed very poor progress over 9.2.

As of today, Stockfish leads all major rating lists based on Windows platform. Android is no exception for Komodo. The reptile is currently performing much weaker on Android 32-bit, about 30 ELO behind Stockfish 7.

Bearing in mind that current Stockfish development versions promise serious improvements over SF7 already, i think Komodo 10 needs a remarkable boost to cope with them.

Further Rapidroid gauntlets will show exactly how much the gap changed in last months.

Nevertheless, i would be more than happy to see more threats around against Stockfish, other new engines ported to Android. According to TCEC Season-9, some competitive engines clearly overtake the old Critter 1.6a, which is still #3 behind Stockfish and Komodo.

Imagine that we could have Jonny, Andsacs, Fire, Nirvana, Raptor too... running in Rapidroid. Wow!

Then i woke up! It seems i had a dream...