Objectives

1. Android Boot Camp for Developers Using Java, Comprehensive: A Guide to Creating Your First Android Apps Chapter 1: Voilà! Meet the Android Android Boot Camp for Developers Using Java, 2nd Ed.

2. Objectives In this chapter, you learn to: • Understand the market for Android applications • Identify the role of the Android device in the mobile market • Describe the features of the Android phone • Identify which languages are used in Android development • Describe the role of Google Play in the mobile marketplace Android Boot Camp for Developers Using Java, 2nd Ed.

3. Objectives (continued) • Create an Android project using Eclipse • Explain the role of the Package Explorer • Specify the use of layout and widget controls in the user interface • Execute an Android application on an emulator • Open a saved Android project in Eclipse Android Boot Camp for Developers Using Java, 2nd Ed.

4. Meet the Android • Apps • Mobile applications created for smartphones • Open-Source operating system • No one company or individual defines the features or direction of the development • Open Handset Alliance • 80 firms that develop standards for mobile devices Android Boot Camp for Developers Using Java, 2nd Ed.

5. Meet the Android (continued) • Android Phone Device • Most popular are Galaxy, Butterfly, Optimus, Droid Razr, Lumia, Prism, Moto, Freeform, Xperia and Gravity, etc. • OS also powers tablets, netbooks, e-readers, MP4 players and Internet TVs • Emulator • Duplicates how the app looks and feels on a particular device Android Boot Camp for Developers Using Java, 2nd Ed.

6. Meet the Android (continued) • Features of the Android • 3D graphics- The interface can support 3D graphics for a 3D interactive game experience or 3D image rendering • Facial recognition – Automatically identifies or verifies a person’s face • Front- and rear-facing cameras – Allows creation of video calling apps • Multiple language support – Android supports multiple human languages Android Boot Camp for Developers Using Java, 2nd Ed.

7. Meet the Android (continued) • Features of the Android (continued) • Onscreen keyboard – Spell-check, predictive text, voice-input mode. • Power management – Android identifies programs running in the background using memory and processor resources • Voice-based recognition for calling, texting, and navigating with the phone • Wi-Fi Internet tethering – Allows a phone to be used as a wireless or wired hot spot Android Boot Camp for Developers Using Java, 2nd Ed.

8. Meet the Android (continued) • Writing Android Apps • Java is the language of choice for Android Apps • Object-oriented programming languages allow for good software engineering practices • Eclipse • The most popular tool (IDE) for writing Java programs • Includes the Android Software Development Kit (SDK) • XML is used to assist in the layout of the Android emulator Android Boot Camp for Developers Using Java, 2nd Ed.

9. Meet the Android (continued) • Android Emulator • Design, develop, prototype, and test Android apps without using a physical device • Mimics almost every feature of a real Android handset, except placing phone calls • Current version is 4.4 Kit Kat – all versions named after dessert items (in alphabetical order) • Previous versions include Cupcake, Donut, Éclair, Froyo (frozen yogurt), Gingerbread, Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich, and Jelly Bean Android Boot Camp for Developers Using Java, 2nd Ed.

10. Meet the Android (continued) • Getting Oriented with Market Deployment • Platform consists of the Android OS, application development tools, and a marketplace Apps are compiled into package files with an .apk extension • Google Play (http://play.google.com) sells and deploys all apps • Programs must meet minimum standards • Apps are free or paid (70/30 split between developer and wireless carrier) • Also sold through Amazon (amazon.com/appstore) and iTunes (both charge a $99 registration fee) Android Boot Camp for Developers Using Java, 2nd Ed.

11. First Venture into the Android World • Opening Eclipse to Create a New Project • Install Eclipse IDE, Android SDK • Create the Android Virtual Device (ADV) • You’ll need a Project name, application name, package name, activity name, API level • Creating the Hello WorldProject • Open Eclipse and choosethe Android Project icon • Name the project and specify a save location Android Boot Camp for Developers Using Java, 2nd Ed.

12. First Venture into the Android World (cont’d) • Creating the Hello World Project (continued) • Enter a package name, such as: (net.androidbootcamp.helloandroidworld) • Enter the Activity name (main) • Enter the Minimum SDK (14) • Click the Finish button Android Boot Camp for Developers Using Java, 2nd Ed.

13. First Venture into the Android World (cont’d) • Building the User Interface • Must be intuitive • Interface must not distract from functionality • Java code or XML layout files are needed • XML method is preferred • Can design interface without writing large amounts of code Android Boot Camp for Developers Using Java, 2nd Ed.

14. First Venture into the Android World (cont’d) • Taking a Tour of the Package Explorer • Src folder – contains Java source code • Gen folder – contains automatically generated Java files • Android library – contains all class libraries • Assets folder – contains asset files • Res folder – contains images, music, and video • Android Manifest.xml – contains information about the application that Android needs to run Android Boot Camp for Developers Using Java, 2nd Ed.

15. First Venture into the Android World (cont’d) Android Boot Camp for Developers Using Java, 2nd Ed.

16. First Venture into the Android World (cont’d) • Designing the User Interface Layout • Layout – a container that holds as many widgets as needed • Widget– a single element on the screen (Button, Text Box, etc.) • Also called an object Android Boot Camp for Developers Using Java, 2nd Ed.

17. First Venture into the Android World (cont’d) Android Boot Camp for Developers Using Java, 2nd Ed.

18. First Venture into the Android World (cont’d) • Adding a Form Widget to the User Interface Layout Android Boot Camp for Developers Using Java, 2nd Ed.

19. First Venture into the Android World (cont’d) Android Boot Camp for Developers Using Java, 2nd Ed.

20. First Venture into the Android World (cont’d) • Testing the Application in the Emulator Android Boot Camp for Developers Using Java, 2nd Ed.

21. First Venture into the Android World (cont’d) • Opening a Saved App in Eclipse Android Boot Camp for Developers Using Java, 2nd Ed.

22. Summary • Android OS is released under Apache license allowing anyone to get the full open-source for free • Android OS powers all types of mobile devices • To write apps, you can use Eclipse, an IDE used for building applications • The Android emulator lets you design, develop prototype, and test Android applications • The Android platform consists of the Android OS, the Android application development platform, and the Android marketplace Android Boot Camp for Developers Using Java, 2nd Ed.

23. Summary (continued) • Android supports both Java code and XML layout files, although XML is preferred • The Package Explorer contains folders for an Android project • To design a user interface for an Android app, you can create a layout containing widgets (objects) • The Android emulator allows you to test an application and make sure it runs correctly Android Boot Camp for Developers Using Java, 2nd Ed.