Android Application Development For Dummies

Android app ambitions? This is your go–to guide to digging into the development process

Have a great idea for an Android app? This book will help you turn it into a reality! Start by downloading the SDK and JDK and creating a simple application, and then advance to developing a feature–rich app and distributing it through the Google Play Store. You'll also discover how to make a good app great and how to design an app interface users will love. Once you master the basics, the sky's the limit!

• Load your toolbox get acquainted with the tools and frameworks you'll use to develop Android apps
• Your first app build a simple application and create a widget for the device's home screen
• Kick it up a notch build a tablet application and learn to implement an SQLite content provider
• Get it out there see how to publish your apps to the Google Play Store
• Master the fine points use the debugger, see what makes a good menu, explore data storage options, and make your apps work for other devices

Open the book and find:

• Why Android offers great opportunities for developers
• How to install all the tools you need
• Tips on designing a good user interface
• Help deciding what to charge or if your app should be free
• Advice on handling user input
• Design differences between phone and tablet applications
• Ways to avoid common pitfalls
• Inspirational sample apps

Learn to:

• Create amazing apps for the latest Android smartphones and tablets
• Download and install the SDK and start working with the JDK tools
• Adapt your existing phone apps for use on Android tablets
• Publish your apps to the Google Play Store

Part I: The Nuts and Bolts of Android 7

Chapter 1: Developing Spectacular Android Applications 9

Chapter 2: Prepping Your Development Headquarters 27

Part II: Building and Publishing

Your First Android Application 53

Chapter 3: Your First Android Project 55

Chapter 4: Designing the User Interface 91

Chapter 5: Coding Your Application 115

Chapter 6: Understanding Android Resources 153

Chapter 7: Turning Your Application into a Home Screen Widget     161

Chapter 8: Publishing Your App to the Google Play Store  183

Part III: Creating a Feature–Rich Application    203

Chapter 9: Designing the Task Reminder Application 205

Chapter 10: Going a la Carte with Your Menu 229

Chapter 11: Handling User Input  237

Chapter 12: Getting Persistent with Data Storage  259

Chapter 13: Reminding the User with AlarmManager 287

Chapter 14: Updating the Android Status Bar 301

Chapter 15: Working with Android s Preferences Framework 311

Part IV: Tablets 325

Chapter 16: Developing for Tablets 327

Chapter 17: Porting Your App to Android Tablets   335

Chapter 18: Moving beyond Google 349

Part V: The Part of Tens 359

Chapter 19: Ten Free Sample Applications and SDKs 361

Chapter 20: Ten Tools to Simplify Your Development Life 365

Index 369

Michael Burton is a Groupon software engineer and the creator of the Groupon, Digg, TripIt, and OpenTable Android apps plus many more. Donn Felker is an Android programmer, Microsoft ASP Insider, MCTS in Web Client Development for .NET 2.0 and 3.5, and certified ScrumMaster.