Android and Me » developer

Google’s new Android Design website aims to beautify third-party apps

Alberto Vildosola — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:53:34 +0000

It’s a pretty well-known fact that some Android apps out there lack a bit in the “pretty and easy-to-use” department. More often than not, these apps have well-designed counterparts on other platforms like iOS and Windows Phone. As a result, Android has always been thought of as the ugly duckling of the mobile OS family.

However, that might start to change soon. Google just announced Android Design, a website with the sole goal of helping developers make their apps look great. The site has a great deal of information on how to integrate apps with Ice Cream Sandwich, how to use all the new UI elements included in the latest version of Android, and overall tips and guidelines to keep in mind when you’re building apps. If you’re an Android developer, you should definitely check it out.

This launch is just one of the latest moves made by Google in an ongoing war against some of the biggest issues hurting the Android platform right now: fragmentation and unattractiveness to the average consumer. The company started to fight these problems with Honeycomb — and more so with Ice Cream Sandwich — but the G-Team is nowhere near done. In fact, just a few days ago we found out that the Holo Theme available on Android 4.0 is included on every device that has access to the Android Market. That plus today’s announcement make it pretty obvious that Google is quite serious about getting rid of the “ugly duckling” tag.

As it is usual with Android, these UI guidelines are not enforced in any shape or form. Developers can still go their own separate way if they choose to — for better or for worse. Having said that, I wouldn’t be surprised if Google decides to highlight those apps that stick to the official UI guidelines, while penalizing those apps that don’t.

Google I/O 2012 to be a day longer, moved to June 27-29

Edgar Cervantes — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 19:19:59 +0000

The Android platform has been evolving rapidly, and Google keeps growing with its many services and products. These are two of the main reasons why Google I/O has become one of the biggest events in the tech industry. Last year, tickets sold out in less than an hour, and things are becoming quite difficult for our fellow coders. We definitely expect this Google I/O 2012 to be a huge event as well.

Google knows this event is very important for developers and has decided to extend the event by one day. The event will now last three days (instead of two), so attendees will be able to spend more time learning what makes the Google world spin.

Sadly, though, this extension comes with a bit of a down side. Those who are eagerly waiting for next year’s Google I/O will have to wait a bit longer. Google I/O usually takes place in April, but this has also been changed. Next year’s Google developer conference has been pushed a couple months back. Next year’s event is scheduled for June 27-29, so get ready to see what is to come. This is Google’s advice:

In the meantime, be sure to brush up on your coding skills. They’ll come in handy when the new application process opens in February. That’s all we can tell you for now, but we’d advise against making travel arrangements until then.Monica TranGoogle Inc.

The event will still be held in San Francisco, CA, at the Moscone Center. There ya go, guys. Get ready for some coding awesomeness (and free stuff!). What do you guys think we could see at next year’s Google I/O? Maybe Android’s next version, Jelly Bean?

Google tells devs to get their apps ready for Ice Cream Sandwich

Taylor Wimberly — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 18:27:21 +0000

As we count down to the release of the next version of Android, codenamed Ice Cream Sandwich, more clues are beginning to drop. Today Google made a post on the Android Developers blog that informs devs of how to prepare their apps for Ice Cream Sandwich.

Scott Main, lead tech writer for developer.android.com, describes how the upcoming Android release will support big screens, small screens and everything in between. Since Android apps are forward-compatible, this means tablet apps developed for Honeycomb will also run on Ice Cream Sandwich.

Most Honeycomb apps were designed to run on a big screen, so devs must either “prevent installation on smaller screens or (preferably) support smaller screens with the same APK.”

The Honeycomb action bar will make its way to phones.

Scott also tells us that Ice Cream Sandwich will bring all the Honeycomb APIs to handsets. This means design elements like the action bar and fragments will be implemented on a smaller screen. Developers will need to “create ‘single-pane’ layouts for handsets and ‘multi-pane’ layouts for tablets.”

Hopefully this is a sign that the Ice Cream Sandwich software development kit (SDK) is nearing release. Last year Google released the Gingerbread SDK on the same day they announced the Nexus S. The device went on sale at Best Buy ten days later.

Could the Ice Cream Sandwich SDK be out in a matter of weeks? We should find out soon, but all signs point to “yes.”

Video: NASA chooses Android to power satellites in space

Dustin Earley — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 19:34:35 +0000

Android is no stranger to outer space. The Samsung Galaxy S II got out of this world in July. And back in December 2010, the Nexus S was rigged up to a weather balloon and sent into the atmosphere to test the Nexus’ on-board sensors. According to the fellows in charge of the project, Android’s “robust” open development environment allowed them to “modify at any level necessary,” making Android and the Nexus S the perfect candidates for scientific exploration. While that project may have seemed more like a science project turned publicity stunt, it actually laid the groundwork for a much bigger affair.

Today, Google has released detailed information on how the Nexus S was sent into space with the shuttle Atlantis to participate in mission STS-135. Thanks again to the open development environment of Android, NASA engineers were able to upgrade three “volleyball-sized” SPHERES (Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites) to be Android compatible. With the enhancements made to the satellites, the Nexus S can now monitor the SPHERES’ sensors and capture video footage for data logging. Eventually, the SPHERES will be fully controlled with an Android phone using the IOIO board and the ADK. And after that? NASA plans to use the Nexus WiFi connection to control the satellites from Earth. NASA is seeking new ways to interact with equipment in space, and Android is really coming through for them.

To learn more about Android’s adventures in space, watch the video below and head on over to NASA’s website. If you’re interested in the kinds of apps used on the mission, you can download the Sensor Data Logger below as well.

Sensor Data Logger Cellbots PLAY QR POWERED BY APPAWARE

Copy/Paste anything with Copy Text app

Edgar Cervantes — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 19:29:55 +0000

Trying to copy/paste text on your Android device can be a hassle. Most times the text isn’t even able to be selected, leaving you with no options. Who hasn’t gotten a URL via chat client that doesn’t allow links or copying text? Things of this nature happen frequently, and that’s what makes Copy Text a special application.

Copy Text allows you to copy any text on your screen, regardless of its nature. It could be text on your browser or a widget. This app will copy the text to your clipboard and let you paste it elsewhere. We’ve tested the app, and it does seem to work as it should. We even tried it on images with writing. The results weren’t great, but the developer is upfront about it. It seems a very high quality image should work, though.

While this is a very convenient app, it’s not perfect. Sometimes it does make mistakes. One we noticed is shown in the developer’s video, as well. When there’s a double lower case “L,” the app tends to replace the second “L” with an exclamation mark (!).

The settings are user-friendly, as much so as an app of this nature can be. If the text is not being copied correctly, simply increase the delay a few more seconds. That should improve things at least a bit. You can also get rid of the notification and set the copying box to show upon shaking the device. There’s also a network option that seems to make the service better. (Maybe by using one of Google’s services?)

There is one downside to this solution, though. The installation and first-time setup are a bit inconvenient. This app does not require root, and it can be installed in any device (except Honeycomb tablets). But it does require downloading a program onto your Windows or Mac computer. After getting the .zip file from the developer’s site, you have to follow a process that requires a couple reboots and plugging your device in to your computer.

We know the installation hassle may dissuade many of you, but it’s part of the reason why this app works the way it does. It may be a bit hard to understand for many of us, so we’ve asked the developer. The process involved is something like this:

Copy Text works by first taking a screenshot of your screen, then running an OCR engine (optical character recognition) on the section of the screen that you would like copied. As you know, screenshots are not easy to do on an unrooted Android phone. The only way screenshots can be taken on unrooted phones is through adb. The desktop application essentially enables your phone to take screenshots in the same manner.Edward KimCopy Text Developer

This is a great service, and it looks very promising. But the fact that it includes a non-market installation can always include a bit of risk. Though we trust Edward Kim as a developer (Car Locator), other individuals could take advantage of the situation. This app may open a port in your device, which could be used by others to create an app and get access to it (with malicious intents).

If you’d like to try it out, go ahead and purchase it from the Android Market for $5.99. The price is a bit high, but it can be a very convenient app if you take advantage of it. There might be issues with the 15-minute refund window, though. It will definitely take you more than 15 minutes to take care of the first-time setup.

What do you guys think? Is this app worth $5.99? Too much of a hassle? Developers, do you think this app could be dangerous for our devices? Let us know what you think. And if you download the app, tell us how well it works for you.

Copy Text Edward Kim PLAY QR POWERED BY APPAWARE

HTC launches new developer center

Justin Shapcott — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 18:25:14 +0000

Today HTC launched a new version of their developer portal, HTCDev.com (previously developer.htc.com). Along with a slick new look, HTC has also added some new resources and tools for Android (and Windows Phone, to a far lesser degree) Developers.

Inside, you will find the HTC OpenSense SDK with information about the various innovative features provided by HTC Sense. If you’re a developer looking to fit right in with the Sense experience, this is where you’ll want to begin. It includes API documentation and Code Samples for utilizing some of the HTC UI elements and components, the Stereoscopic 3D display and the Tablet Pen.

For those who want to open up the full potential of their devices, this is where the Bootloader Unlock tool will live (when it becomes available). As we previously reported, users looking to use this tool will need to register at the site, install the Android SDK and then use the web-based tool to begin the device unlock process.

HTC also provides downloadable kernel source code, binaries and other materials for their Android devices at the site.

The resources section of the site, while currently sparsely populated, offers some basic Getting Started advice and helpful links for both Android and Windows Phone developers. Although this is the only part of the site that refers to Windows Phone, I’d venture a guess that HTC plans to provide additional Windows Phone resources here in the future.

If you’ve ever thought about making use of some HTC-specific hardware and software features, head over HTCDev.com and check it out. Or if you’re interested in unlocking your device, this is where the Bootloader Unlock tool will be made available, so keep an eye out for it.

Evernote launches Evernote Developer Challenge

Anthony Domanico — Thu, 26 May 2011 21:07:26 +0000

Are you a budding application developer looking for some ideas to get started? A seasoned veteran looking to unleash some awesome new application onto the world? Evernote has a new developer challenge for you, complete with a total of $100,000 in prizes, including $50,000 of cold hard cash for the grand prize winner.

Evernote has announced it’s first ever Evernote Developer Challenge, allowing developers to build applications, features/serivces, or device integration that incorporate Evernote’s features in cool or innovative ways. Evernote provides some further clarification for what they’re looking for in the quote below.

One way to look at an integration is to think about the two services that you can provide to an Evernote user: you can help them capture information, or you can help them find and use information that they've already captured. Some apps do only one of these things, others do both.Evernotevia Evernote Developer Challenge Website

For all the details on the Evernote Developer Challenge, including rules and regulations for submission, breakdown of prizes, and the submission deadlines, head on over to the Evernote Developer Challenge websit e.

Plan on entering the competition? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

A developer’s look at the new Android Market features announced at I/O

Justin Shapcott — Thu, 12 May 2011 01:33:00 +0000

Today, Google’s Eric Chu announced a number of new features available now (or soon, in some cases) in the Android Market. While many of these changes come in the form of user features, I believe that their true value lies in their benefit to developers. Accordingly, I’d like to take this opportunity to look at the new features from the viewpoint of a developer.

Paid Apps for 99 More Countries

Perhaps the most important new feature to developers is the availability of paid apps to buyers in an additional 99 countries. For those keeping track, that more than quadruples the number of countries where Android users can purchase apps to 131 in total. This is huge for reasons that don’t even need explaining. The oft-cited reasoning that Android app pirating exists due to the lack of availability of these paid apps makes this an even more important enhancement, (reference: Lack of paid apps in Android Market contributes to app piracy, and Android Paid-App Shortage ‘Fuels Piracy’). And if this reasoning is valid, hopefully this new availability will curtail some, or most, of that piracy (Hey, I can dream can’t I?). Of course, there’s a flip side to this coin and that is that the corresponding announcement of additional seller countries never came. In my opinion, this is going to have to be the next hurdle Google strives to overcome.

More App Discovery

Several new ways to discover apps were also announced. The new Trending Apps list features apps that have great download velocity in the short term, giving users a way to know what apps and games are hot right now. Similarly, there are now lists showing the Top New Free and Paid Apps and Games which will put focus on freshness. You can think of this as a combination of the Top and Just In listings. This is important because previously the Top lists were all-time (or some other long-term, we’re not entirely sure) and it was very difficult for newer developers, or newer apps, to break into these lists. Of course, the previous lists aren’t going away, there will just be new lists. With these changes, it gives new developers some momentum from which to build upon.

Two additional discovery features were announced, Editor’s Choice and Top Developer badges. These will allow users to quickly find those apps and developers which are notable, but may not actually be on the other listings. From the sound of it, these will be hand-picked by Google, and will be prominently displayed, making it a huge incentive to get picked, and a huge boost to revenues when it happens.

Device-Availability, Larger Sizes, Multiple Versions & Better Stats

Among the specifically developer-centric enhancements, we find the ability to see and control which devices our apps are available to, larger app sizes of up to 4GB (the Market will host and manage the download of large assets), the ability to upload multiple versions of the app and have the market automatically deliver the appropriate version for the requesting device (a feature that has been requested several times at the Google Code Issue Tracker for Android, (reference: Issue 5501 and Issue 4851), and better statistics and reporting capabilities. With these new features, developers have a much better opportunity to provide the best experience for users, and maximize their revenue stream.

All in all, I think these are a great set of enhancements, not just for users, but developers as well. It should be a lot easier for developers to distribute, promote, and monetize their apps and games now that Google finally appears to be really working on their side.

Sony Ericsson posts a tutorial on building and flashing custom kernels

Edgar Cervantes — Mon, 09 May 2011 16:35:25 +0000

Earlier this year, Sony Ericsson promised that it would bring substantial improvements to its performance within the Android platform. Sony Ericsson has been making devices with good potential, but sadly, the company has been lagging when it comes to software updates (which is what seems to bother most Sony Ericsson Android users). Sony Ericsson is throwing us some curve balls lately, proving that their commitment to the Android platform is legit. Not only are their phones better and even coming straight with Gingerbread, but Sony Ericsson also seems to be opening the doors to the developer world, which is sadly starting to become much less of a trend lately.

Last month, Sony Ericsson gave us official support for unlocking their devices’ bootloaders. Today looks like an even brighter day, as they have posted a tutorial that shows us how to build a custom kernel and flash it to an Xperia device. Bad news is that Xperia X10 users will be left out, since this guide is actually specific to the new Xperia devices: the Xperia Play, Xperia Arc, and Xperia Neo.

Now that Sony Ericsson has put down its weapons and decided to cooperate with the developer world, the company decided to even bring some official support at the XDA-Developers site… Impressive. It looks like the future of Sony Ericsson will begin to look brighter. As manufacturers continue to lock their devices, the Xperia brand will start gaining a better reputation within the Android world.

Is the Android Market ready for the Paid App Pledge? Survey says…[OPINION]

Anthony Domanico — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 23:05:35 +0000

Though there are many good paid applications in the marketplace, there is a belief on the part of potential Android developers that Android users are much less likely to spend money on applications than their iPhone counterparts. Several weeks ago, Chuck Falzone, a blogger over at Android Guys, launched the Paid App Pledge as a means of making a statement to developers that Android is a viable platform for launching paid applications as a means of making money.

The Paid App Pledge is a pledge Android users can take to indicate they are willing to spend $5 per week on applications as a way of supporting the hard-working developers that bring top-quality Android applications to the Market. To date, the paid app pledge has amassed 187 twitterers who have vowed to spend $5 per week on applications, bringing the pledge up to a whopping $935/week or $48,620 per year. That’s a pretty nice chunk of change going back to Android developers.

Though the Android community’s reception of the Paid App Pledge has been positive overall, it has not come without its share of criticism. Several users are suggesting that there simply aren’t that many good paid applications out there to justify paying $5 a week. Others argue that there are significant problems/drawbacks to the Android market itself that prevents users from being able to find these apps in the first place. Still more point out that the paid applications in the Android market is only available in 13 countries, preventing international Android users from being able to purchase paid applications.

Though developer frustrations in the lack of Android users willing to purchase applications can be partially chalked up to the fact that Android users aren’t as willing to purchase applications as users of other platforms, this appears to only be part of the problem. Google’s cluttered market, the lack of a web interface for browsing applications, and the lack of availability of paid applications in many international markets also play a significant role in Android’s paid app problem.

Fortunately, we have the opportunity to remedy at least a part of this problem if we choose to adopt the Paid App Pledge. Now, I’m not going to argue that you should agree to pay $5 a month to pay for applications, as I believe that may be the wrong way to go about it. What I would instead encourage you to do is to commit to buying 2-4 paid applications per month when you deem it appropriate. Have you been using a free application for ages that has a $2 paid/donate version? Pony up the $2 and support that application. Is there a new game you’ve wanted to try, but haven’t been able to justify the $6 price? Fight your initial instincts and pay the $6. Treat yourself to paid applications from time to time; several of them truly go above and beyond what you could ever hope to get from a free app.

Taking the Paid App Pledge (or a version of it), leave some comments about your experiences, apps you’ve downloaded, anything you want really. Oh, and don’t forget to share your paid app purchases on Twitter using the #PaidAppPledge hashtag.