My simple web server is Python3 SimpleHTTPRequestHandler and it works just fine. It runs in a LAN machine's picture folder and I have tested it using a browser and entering a test URL such as: http://192.168.1.111:8000/2020-02-09/test.jpg
However, that same URL will not load by Picasso. It will load local pictures via the "file://". As test, I have tested an internet URL and it also loads successfully. So I have narrowed down the problem to the LAN address.
I have tried the android:networkSecurityConfig solution but it did not work. I'm running out of ideas at this point and about to ditch Picasso and load the images via ftp but did not want to get into managing efficient memory management. Please advise...