Pro Android 2 [Paperback]

Sayed Hashimi (Author), Satya Komatineni (Author), Dave MacLean (Author), Dave MacLean (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 15, 2010 | ISBN-10: 1430226595 | ISBN-13: 978-1430226598 | Edition: 1

Pro Android 2 shows how to build real-world and fun mobile applications using Google’s latest Android software development kit. This new edition is updated for Android 2, covering everything from the fundamentals of building applications for embedded devices to advanced concepts such as custom 3D components, OpenGL, and touchscreens including gestures. While other Android development guides simply discuss topics, Pro Android 2 offers the combination of expert insight and real sample applications that work.

• Discover the design and architecture of the Android SDK through practical examples, and how to build mobile applications using the Android SDK.
• Explore and use the Android APIs, including those for media and Wi-Fi.
• Learn about Android 2’s integrated local and web search, handwriting gesture UI, Google Translate, and text-to-speech features.

Pro Android 2 dives deep, providing you with all the knowledge and techniques you need to build mobile applications ranging from games to Google apps, including add-ons to Google Docs. You’ll be able to extend and run the new Google Chrome APIs on the G1, the G2, and other next-generation Google phones and Android-enabled devices.

What you’ll learn

• How to use Android to build Java-based mobile applications for Google phones with a touch screen or keyboard (thanks to Cupcake’s inclusion as of Android 1.5)
• How to design and architect using Google’s latest Android SDK
• How to use the Android SDK to write mobile applications for embedded devices
• How to create 3D graphics with OpenGL and custom components
• How to build multimedia and game apps using Android’s Media APIs and OpenGL
• How to use Android’s location-based services, networking (Wi-Fi APIs), and security
• How to create and allow for more integrated local and web searches
• How to build handwriting gesture UIs
• How to incorporate Google Translate into your Android applications

Who this book is for

This book is for professional software engineers/programmers looking to move their ideas and applications into the mobile space with Android. It assumes that readers have a passable understanding of Java, including being able to write classes and handle basic inheritance structures. This book also targets hobbyists.

Table of Contents

1. Introducing the Android Computing Platform
2. Getting Your Feet Wet
3. Using Resources, Content Providers, and Intents
4. Building User Interfaces and Using Controls
5. Working with Menus and Dialogs
6. Unveiling 2D Animation
7. Exploring Security and Location-Based Services
8. Building and Consuming Services
9. Using the Media Framework and Telephony APIs
10. Programming 3D Graphics with OpenGL
11. Managing and Organizing Preferences
12. Exploring Live Folders
13. Home Screen Widgets
14. Android Search
15. Exploring Text to Speech and Translate APIs
16. Touchscreens
17. Titanium Mobile: A WebKit-Based Approach to Android Development
18. Working with Android Market
19. Outlook and Resources

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Sayed Y. Hashimi is the author of Pro Android, as well as a consultant and trainer in Jacksonville, Florida. Sayed has worked for startups and Fortune 100 companies. He has developed large-scale distributed applications with a variety of programming languages and platforms, including C++, Java, and .NET. Sayed has published in major software journals on topics ranging from low-level programming techniques to high-level architecture concepts.

Satya Komatineni has been programming for more than 20 years in the IT and Web space. He has had the opportunity to work with Assembly, C, C++, Rexx, Java, C#, Lisp, HTML, JavaScript, CSS, SVG, relational databases, object databases and related technologies. He has published more than 30 articles touching many of these areas, both in print and online. He has been a frequent speaker at O'Reilly Open Source Conference, speaking on innovations around Java and Web. Satya has done a considerable amount of original work in creating Aspire, a comprehensive open-source Java-based web framework, and has explored personal web productivity and collaboration tools through his open-source work for KnowledgeFolders.com. Satya holds a master's degree in electrical engineering from Indian Institute of Technology and a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Andhra University, India. You can find his website at SatyaKomatineni.com.

Dave MacLean is a software engineer and architect living and working in Jacksonville, Florida. Since 1980, he has programmed in many languages, developing solutions ranging from robot automation systems to data warehousing, from web self-service applications to electronic data interchange transaction processors. Dave has worked for Sun Microsystems, IBM, Trimble Navigation, General Motors, and several small companies. He graduated from the University of Waterloo in Canada with a degree in systems design engineering. Visit his blog at http://davemac327.blogspot.com or contact him at [e-mail].

Dave MacLean is a software engineer and architect currently living and working in Jacksonville, FL. He has programmed in many languages since 1980 developing systems ranging from robot automation systems to data warehousing, web self-service applications to EDI transaction processors.

Product Details

• Paperback: 736 pages
• Publisher: Apress; 1 edition (March 15, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1430226595
• ISBN-13: 978-1430226598
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 1.5 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #154,554 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars It shouldn't be the only Android book on your shelf, but your collection should not be without it. May 3, 2010

By M. Freeman VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

Pro Android 2 is aimed at developers who want to take Android to the next level. This large book serves as a manual for how to do almost anything on Android. The book starts by giving a refresher of the platform, and then quickly dives into explaining XML files, GUI layout and Views, and working with mapping. Building and consuming services are explained, giving the first example of working with Apache's HttpClient libs that I have seen in an Android book. Examples of working with the Telephony API, searching, using gestures, you name it. The book even offers an alternative way of creating applications using Titanium Mobile. Finally time is spent explaining the Android Marketplace and things you should know before making your application public.

The information contained in this book is at the same time enlightening and overwhelming. In just the first few chapters, I had already found better ways to handle several things in my own Android applications. That alone was worth the time spent reading this book.

Although the book was written by three different authors, I found the writing style and flow of the book well done and congruous.

The book explains that the intended audience should have previous exposure to developing on the Android platform and to Java, and they mean it. While an introduction is given to the various parts of an Android application, a new developer wouldn't be able to get enough understanding to use this book as a starting point for developing Android applications. Previous exposure to any number of beginning Android books is recommended before you attempt to tackle this one. The publisher suggest you start with Beginning Android 2.

If you are an Android developer, do yourself a favor and pick up this book.... If you spend 2 minutes flipping through the various chapters, I promise you will walk out of the book store with Pro Android 2 in hand. My rating, 5 stars. The book delivers exactly what it advertises and does so in a manner that is enjoyable to read and very helpful. Read more ›

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding deep dive into Android 2.0 April 6, 2010

By Dylan C. Phillips

Format:Paperback

In my opinion, one of the weaknesses of the Android documentation from Google is that is does not highlight the associated components of the Android Operating System. Pro Android 2 provides those high level connections and provides real depth into the various parts of the API.

I found the coverage of the Android Platform, in the context of the evolution of computing, to be particularly insightful and engaging. And they quickly transition into an in depth explanation of what you will need to build real applications.

The chapter exploring the Structure of an Android Application clearly illustrates how the different development assets are wired together by the runtime. The chapters describing the OOB widgets, menus and layout are both very complete and easy to understand.

I was especially excited to read the sections on more advanced topics, including OpenGL, 2D Animations, and even WebKit / Titanium hybrid development.

Outstanding book!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Resource May 27, 2010

By T. Lowry

Format:Paperback

This book is a great resource for developers that are new to Android programming. I had never built a droid app before. With this book, I was able to get up and running very quickly. The examples are excellent and the foundation that this book provides is invaluable. It covers all of the topics for virtually any application need, and then describes in detail how to get your new app on the market.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Examples don't work September 3, 2010

By Paul Schwartz

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

The book is extensive and covers a lot of material. However, about half of the examples don't work. The sample code that you can download from the book's web site doesn't import into Eclipse and the samples aren't the book examples anyway. I learn by taking something that works and extending the sample; if you learn like I do you'll be a little disappointed.

I see from the book's website, [...], that Pro Android 3 is in the works. I suggest they actually build the examples of the code they show in the book. It's clear they didn't build their own examples.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars A new low for me January 9, 2011

By Vadim Kin

Format:Paperback

It is truly unbelievable books like this one get published. The code in the book is horrible, much of it does not even compile, let alone run. As a professional developer, how often can you break the build before you're put on notice? Before you're shown the door? Some figures are low-res gibberish where you can't make out the text - how does that get past quality control? Pp. 33-47 appear twice. More importantly, the book thoroughly lacks in examples where the reader is invited to sequentially implement a given set of tasks. It's more like "here is some code, here's what it does". What do I do with it? Where do I plug it in? The section on content providers is a real gem. Here, they are talking about the code in the notepad app in the Android samples (freely available on the net). Well, there happens to be a Notepad tutorial on the Android site, complete with step-by-step instructions, code explanations, and solutions. It also happens to be correct and well written. Authors, when you butcher someone else's perfectly good tutorial, at least don't confuse the reader more than the original text does. Actually, in this case the original text is quite clear, it's the butchered version that's worthless. One good chapter in the book, the one on how to set up the dev environment. But alas, the Android site has that as well. So, to someone considering buying this book, go over to [...] first, spend a couple of days there, then see if you really need a book. This is coming from someone who usually starts with a book. It's just that for some reason, the two Android books I attempted to use were worthless.