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Introduction to Android Application Development: Android Essentials, 4th Edition

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Introduction to Android Application Development: Android Essentials, 4th Edition

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Features

  • Instructor resources available - test bank and PowerPoint slides
  • Reflects the authors' decades of in-the-trenches experience with commercial-grade mobile development
  • Covers powerful, lesser-known features, tips and tricks ignored by other books, including how to write apps that are compatible across multiple Android devices and versions
  • Description

    • Copyright 2014
    • Edition: 4th
    • Book
    • ISBN-10: 0-321-94026-1
    • ISBN-13: 978-0-321-94026-1

    Bonus KitKat material is available for download at www.informit.com/title/9780321940261

    What Every Android™ App Developer Should Know Today: Android Tools, App/UI Design, Testing, Publishing, And More


    This fully reworked edition of a proven title is the most useful real-world guide to building robust, commercial-grade Android™ apps. The content is revised and updated for the latest Android 4.3 SDK and the newest development best practices. Introduction to AndroidApplication Development: Android Essentials, Fourth Edition,covers all you need to quickly start developing professional apps for today’s Android devices. Three expert developers guide you through setting up your development environment, designing user interfaces, developing for diverse devices, and optimizing your entire app-development process–from design through publication. Updated throughout, this title includes extensive coverage of the most useful new Android tools and utilities. It adds an all-new chapter on planning an amazing Android app user experience, plus extensive new coverage of unit testing, dialogs, preferences, and app publishing. Throughout, key concepts are taught through clear, up-to-date example code.

    This edition offers

    • Fully updated introductions to the latest Android 4.3 APIs, tools, utilities, and best practices
    • Up-to-date strategies for leveraging new Android capabilities while preserving compatibility
    • Navigation patterns and code samples for delivering more intuitive user experiences
    • Example-based explanations of ActionBars, DialogFragments, and other key concepts
    • Expert automated testing techniques to quickly improve code quality
    • New Google Play Developer Console app publishing techniques that also offer more control 

    For Android developers at all levels of experience, this reference is now more valuable than ever. Students, instructors, and self-learners will especially appreciate new chapter-ending questions and exercises, carefully designed to test knowledge and deepen mastery.

    Annuzzi has released new source code samples for use with Android Studio. The code updates are posted to the associated blog site: http://introductiontoandroid.blogspot.com/


    Note: This revamped, newly titled edition is a complete update of Android™ Wireless Application Development, Volume I: Android Essentials, Third Edition

    Downloads

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    Extras

    Author's Site

    Please visit the site associated with this title here.

    Sample Content

    Online Sample Chapter

    Writing Your First Android Application

    Sample Pages

    Download the sample pages (includes Chapter 3 and Index)

    Table of Contents

    Acknowledgments xxxi

    About the Authors xxxiii

    Introduction 1

    Who Should Read This Book 1

    Key Questions Answered in This Book 2

    How This Book Is Structured 2

    An Overview of Changes in This Edition 3

    Development Environments Used in This Book 5

    Supplementary Materials Available 6

    Where to Find More Information 6

    Conventions Used in This Book 7

    Contacting the Authors 7

    Part I: An Overview of the Android Platform

    Chapter 1: Introducing Android 11

    A Brief History of Mobile Software Development 11

    The Open Handset Alliance 18

    Android Platform Differences 23

    The Android Platform 29

    Summary 36

    Quiz Questions 36

    Exercises 36

    References and More Information 36

    Chapter 2: Setting Up Your Android Development Environment 37

    Configuring Your Development Environment 37

    Exploring the Android SDK 43

    Summary 52

    Quiz Questions 52

    Exercises 53

    References and More Information 53

    Chapter 3: Writing Your First Android Application 55

    Testing Your Development Environment 55

    Building Your First Android Application 68

    Summary 92

    Quiz Questions 93

    Exercises 94

    References and More Information 94

    Part II: Android Application Basics

    Chapter 4: Understanding the Anatomy of an Android Application 97

    Mastering Important Android Terminology 97

    The Application Context 98

    Performing Application Tasks with Activities 99

    Organizing Activity Components with Fragments 105

    Managing Activity Transitions with Intents 106

    Working with Services 110

    Receiving and Broadcasting Intents 111

    Summary 112

    Quiz Questions 112

    Exercises 112

    References and More Information 113

    Chapter 5: Defining Your Application Using the Android Manifest File 115

    Configuring Android Applications Using the Android Manifest File 115

    Managing Your Application’s Identity 122

    Enforcing Application System Requirements 123

    Registering Activities in the Android Manifest 129

    Working with Permissions 131

    Exploring Other Manifest File Settings 133

    Summary 133

    Quiz Questions 134

    Exercises 134

    References and More Information 135

    Chapter 6: Managing Application Resources 137

    What Are Resources? 137

    Setting Simple Resource Values Using the Android IDE 143

    Working with Different Types of Resources 146

    Working with Layouts 166

    Referencing System Resources 171

    Summary 172

    Quiz Questions 173

    Exercises 173

    References and More Information 173

    Part III: Android User Interface Design Essentials

    Chapter 7: Exploring User Interface Building Blocks 177

    Introducing Android Views and Layouts 177

    Displaying Text to Users with TextView 179

    Retrieving Data from Users with Text Fields 183

    Giving Users Choices Using Spinner Controls 188

    Allowing Simple User Selections with Buttons and Switches 190

    Retrieving Dates, Times, and Numbers from Users with Pickers 197

    Using Indicators to Display Progress and Activity to Users 199

    Adjusting Progress with Seek Bars 202

    Other Valuable User Interface Controls 203

    Summary 207

    Quiz Questions 207

    Exercises 207

    References and More Information 208

    Chapter 8: Designing with Layouts 209

    Creating User Interfaces in Android 209

    Organizing Your User Interface 214

    Using Built-in Layout Classes 215

    Using Container Control Classes 232

    Summary 239

    Quiz Questions 239

    Exercises 240

    References and More Information 240

    Chapter 9: Partitioning the User Interface with Fragments 243

    Understanding Fragments 243

    Using the Android Support Package 258

    Exploring Nested Fragments 261

    Summary 261

    Quiz Questions 262

    Exercises 262

    References and More Information 263

    Chapter 10: Displaying Dialogs 265

    Choosing Your Dialog Implementation 265

    Exploring the Different Types of Dialogs 266

    Working with Dialogs and Dialog Fragments 267

    Working with Support Package Dialog Fragments 271

    Summary 275

    Quiz Questions 276

    Exercises 276

    References and More Information 276

    Part IV: Android Application Design Essentials

    Chapter 11: Using Android Preferences 281

    Working with Application Preferences 281

    Finding Preferences Data on the Android File System 285

    Creating Manageable User Preferences 286

    Learning about Cloud Save for Android Applications 296

    Summary 298

    Quiz Questions 298

    Exercises 299

    References and More Information 299

    Chapter 12: Working with Files and Directories 301

    Working with Application Data on a Device 301

    Practicing Good File Management 302

    Understanding Android File Permissions 303

    Working with Files and Directories 303

    Summary 312

    Quiz Questions 312

    Exercises 313

    References and More Information 313

    Chapter 13: Leveraging Content Providers 315

    Exploring Android’s Content Providers 315

    Modifying Content Provider Data 324

    Using Third-Party Content Providers 328

    Summary 328

    Quiz Questions 328

    Exercises 329

    References and More Information 329

    Chapter 14: Designing Compatible Applications 331

    Maximizing Application Compatibility 331

    Designing User Interfaces for Compatibility 333

    Providing Alternative Application Resources 338

    Targeting Tablets, TVs, and Other New Devices 347

    Targeting Google Chromecast Devices 350

    Summary 350

    Quiz Questions 350

    Exercises 351

    References and More Information 351

    Part V: Publishing and Distributing Android Applications

    Chapter 15: Learning the Android Software Development Process 355

    An Overview of the Mobile Development Process 355

    Choosing a Software Methodology 356

    Gathering Application Requirements 357

    Assessing Project Risks 364

    Writing Essential Project Documentation 368

    Leveraging Configuration Management Systems 369

    Designing Mobile Applications 370

    Developing Mobile Applications 373

    Testing Mobile Applications 373

    Deploying Mobile Applications 374

    Supporting and Maintaining Mobile Applications 375

    Summary 377

    Quiz Questions 377

    Exercises 377

    References and More Information 378

    Chapter 16: Designing and Developing Bulletproof Android Applications 379

    Best Practices in Designing Bulletproof Mobile Applications 379

    Avoiding Silly Mistakes in Android Application Design 388

    Best Practices in Developing Bulletproof Mobile Applications 388

    Summary 393

    Quiz Questions 394

    Exercises 394

    References and More Information 394

    Chapter 17: Planning the Android Application Experience 395

    Thinking about Objectives 395

    Techniques for Focusing Your Product Efforts 397

    Charting Your Application’s Navigation 400

    Encouraging Action 408

    Communicating Your Application’s Identity 416

    Designing Screen Layouts 417

    Reacting Properly with Visual Feedback 418

    Observing Target Users for Usability 418

    Summary 419

    Quiz Questions 420

    Exercises 420

    References and More Information 420

    Chapter 18: Testing Android Applications 423

    Best Practices in Testing Mobile Applications 423

    Android Application Testing Essentials 435

    More Android Automated Testing Programs and APIs 455

    Summary 457

    Quiz Questions 457

    Exercises 457

    References and More Information 458

    Chapter 19: Publishing Your Android Application 459

    Choosing the Right Distribution Model 459

    Packaging Your Application for Publication 462

    Publishing to Google Play 468

    Google Play Staged Rollouts 478

    Publishing to the Google Play Private Channel 478

    Translating Your Application 478

    Publishing Using Other Alternatives 479

    Self-Publishing Your Application 479

    Summary 480

    Quiz Questions 481

    Exercises 481

    References and More Information 481

    Part VI: Appendixes

    Appendix A: Mastering the Android Development Tools 485

    Using the Android Documentation 485

    Leveraging the Android Emulator 489

    Viewing Application Log Data with LogCat 490

    Debugging Applications with DDMS 490

    Using Android Debug Bridge (ADB) 490

    Using the Resource Editors and UI Designer 491

    Using the Android Hierarchy Viewer 493

    Working with Nine-Patch Stretchable Graphics 497

    Working with Other Android Tools 500

    Summary 502

    Quiz Questions 503

    Exercises 503

    References and More Information 503

    Appendix B: Quick-Start Guide: The Android Emulator 505

    Simulating Reality: The Emulator’s Purpose 505

    Working with Android Virtual Devices 507

    Launching the Emulator with a Specific AVD 512

    Configuring the GPS Location of the Emulator 516

    Calling between Two Emulator Instances 517

    Messaging between Two Emulator Instances 518

    Interacting with the Emulator through the Console 520

    Enjoying the Emulator 524

    Understanding Emulator Limitations 525

    Summary 526

    Quiz Questions 526

    Exercises 527

    References and More Information 527

    Appendix C: Quick-Start Guide: Android DDMS 529

    Using DDMS with the Android IDE and as a Standalone Application 529

    Getting Up to Speed Using Key Features of DDMS 530

    Working with Processes, Threads, and the Heap 531

    Using the Allocation Tracker 534

    Viewing Network Statistics 535

    Working with the File Explorer 536

    Working with the Emulator Control 539

    Working with the System Information Pane 541

    Taking Screen Captures of the Emulator and Device Screens 542

    Working with Application Logging 543

    Summary 544

    Quiz Questions 545

    Exercises 545

    References and More Information 545

    Appendix D: Android IDE and Eclipse Tips and Tricks 547

    Organizing Your Android IDE Workspace 547

    Writing Code in Java 552

    Resolving Mysterious Build Errors 556

    Summary 557

    Quiz Questions 557

    Exercises 557

    References and More Information 557

    Appendix E: Answers to Quiz Questions 559

    Index 567

    Updates

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