Java For Mobile Devices – Building a client application for the Android platform

Building an Android client

Rohit Nayak
Talentica Software

Agenda

iPhone and the Mobile App Explosion

How mobile apps differ

Android philosophy

Development Platform

Core Android Concepts

App Demo

App Dissection

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:IPhone_sales_per_quarter.svg

http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/10/21/how-the-iphone-is-blowing-everyone-else-away-in-charts/

Mobile Limitations

Screen size

Battery Limitations
− CPU tick, memory refresh, screen lighting

Speed

Memory

Keyboard

Usage Traits

Universal, Always Available

Small attention span

Interruptible (calls, green light!)

GPS

Tap, Flick, Rotate, Pinch, Shake

Accelerometer

Voice, Texting

Handwriting recognition

Dropped calls, lack of coverage

Motorola Droid

Android 2.0, 256MB

4.56-by-2.36-inch, 0.54 inch thick, 6oz,
480-by-854-pixel, 6hrs

Camera: 5MP/4X flash, video rec

Slide-out QWERTY keyboard

Mail: Gmail, MS Exchange

Google Maps Navigation

The Android mobile platform

Linux 2.6 kernel

Dalvik VM (.dex, .apk)

Application framework

SQLite, Integrated browser (Webkit)

OpenGL graphics

Media support

GSM/CDMA, Wireless

Camera, GPS, Accelerometer

Core Applications

Email client

SMS

Calendar

Maps

Contacts

Criticisms / Issues

Not a std linux distribution

Not Java ME/SE, limited libraries

Apps run only from on-board memory

Version compatibility

Obsolete search results

Application Framework

Activity Manager: app life cycle, navigation
stack

Views: layout, widgets

Content Providers: data storage/sharing

Resource Manager: strings, images

Notification Manager: alert mechanisms

Key Programming Concepts

Activities

Services

Intents

Receivers

Content Providers

Activities

Runnable

Interacts with user

Associated with views

Requests data or services via Intents
Services

Runnable

Background process

MP3 player, polling sub-system

Receivers

Broadcast receivers (low battery)

Intent Receivers

Intents registered with Android

Content Providers

Share data with activities / services

Queries in the form of a URI
− content://contacts/people

Java For Mobile Devices – Building a client application for the Android platform

Installing Dev Environment

Java 5/6

Eclipse

Android SDK

$PATH

ADT plugin

Install Updates

Development Environment

Eclipse

ADT plugin

Emulator, Device Controls

Android Virtual Device Manager

Dalvik Debug Monitor Service
− Debugger, LogCat
− File Explorer, Threads, Heap

Physical Device Testing

Poolster

Online “football pools” application

Entities: Game, User

Game  Stake, Option, Ends

To join User chooses an Option

REST Webservice backend

Clients: iPhone, Grails, Android, Silverlight

Inside Poolster

Directory Structure

Manifest File

App Launching

Activity Life Cycle

Layout Files

Menu

AndroidManifest.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
package="com.talentica.poolster"
android:versionCode="1"
android:versionName="1.0">
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET"></uses-permission>
<application android:icon="@drawable/icon" android:label="@string/app_name">
<activity android:name=".Main"
android:label="@string/app_name">
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
</intent-filter>
</activity>
<activity android:name=".GamesList"
</activity>
<activity android:name=".Login"
</activity>
</application>
<uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="3" />
</manifest>

Inside Poolster - 2

The Main activity

REST Client

Object-XML marshal/demarshal

Internationalization

AdMobs Integration

Position

Database

Deploying

Join Android Developer Program

Eclipse Android Tool “Export Signed
Package”

Upload .apk file to Android Market

Resources

http://developer.android.com

Professional Android Application
Development (Wrox)

Android Application Development (O’Riley)

http://www.screaming-
penguin.com/AndroidResources

Java For Mobile Devices – Building a client application for the Android platform

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Java For Mobile Devices – Building a client application for the Android platform