Android Mobile Development Nic Shulver, FCET, Staffordshire University Introduction What is Android? Pros and Cons Why is it important? Why develop for Android? Programming model Tools Documentation Critical appraisal Geekandpoke 2009

Android Mobile Development Nic Shulver, FCET, Staffordshire University Game Changers Geekandpoke 2009

Android Mobile Development Nic Shulver, FCET, Staffordshire University What is Android? “Android is a software stack for mobile devices that includes an operating system, middleware and key applications.” “The Android SDK provides the tools and APIs necessary to begin developing applications on the Android platform using the Java programming language.” From Google's Android Developer Docs,

Devices

Android Mobile Development Nic Shulver, FCET, Staffordshire University Pros and Cons Many different Android devices, more being developed all the time Backed by Google, one of the world's biggest and most powerful IT companies Google is deliberately “disruptive” Free development environment for low cost of entry Free OS for hardware developers But are the points above “pro” or “con”?

Android Mobile Development Nic Shulver, FCET, Staffordshire University Pros and Cons Although Android can be used on non- smartphone devices, they are not supported by Google Devices must support quite a rich mix of capabilities in order to be certified as Android compatible Only compatible devices can access the growing Android Market for apps

Android Mobile Development Nic Shulver, FCET, Staffordshire University Why is it important? In a November 2007 article entitled “Analysis: Long odds for Google's ambitious Android” Tom Yager makes some interesting points: “Google, whose future depends on a pervasive cross-platform mobile applications model... has an obvious need to create a cross-platform mobile SDK for its own use.” “It's no great leap of logic that if Google requires a standard platform to support its mobile applications, manufacturers and carriers have a strong financial incentive to get in line.”

Android Mobile Development Nic Shulver, FCET, Staffordshire University Why is it important? Market share (of smartphones): In the US, up from 27% in November 2009 to 42% in February 2010 In the US, Apple's iPhone lead fell from 55% to 44% in Nov 2009 to Feb Worldwide, iPhone holds 50% of smartphone market share [Feb 2010] Android has about 24%, up from 16% in the previous year.

Android Mobile Development Nic Shulver, FCET, Staffordshire University Why develop for Android? The Android Market is open to all applications – No screening except for illegal content – No controls on applications which compete with Google – Android explicitly allows new components to replace old ones, even at the OS level The downside is that some apps are very poor quality, check user feedback scores Explicit content is allowed – see recent (Mar 2010) comments by Apple CEO

Android Mobile Development Nic Shulver, FCET, Staffordshire University Programming model Android is built on: – Linux kernel – The Dalvik Runtime (Java SE compatible) – The Android APIs – A minimum-spec hardware platform Android software is: – Multi-threaded – Interruptible – Written in standard Java

Android Mobile Development Nic Shulver, FCET, Staffordshire University Tools The Android SDK comes with: – A plug-in for Eclipse – A configurable emulator – Extensive documentation – A large array of example applications and services You don't need a phone to write for Android, you can just use the emulator – it's very good

Android Mobile Development Nic Shulver, FCET, Staffordshire University Tools

Android Mobile Development Nic Shulver, FCET, Staffordshire University Tools

Android Mobile Development Nic Shulver, FCET, Staffordshire University

Android Mobile Development Nic Shulver, FCET, Staffordshire University Critical appraisal Android is tightly regulated by Google at the hardware level But Android is an open system for developers The success of Android has surprised many Much of the success may be down to: – Apple's iPhone, opening a new market sector – Apple and its over-controlling nature – Microsoft's inactivity and ball-dropping – Google's aggressive development

Android Mobile Development Nic Shulver, FCET, Staffordshire University Reading, references, links Analysis: “Long odds for Google's ambitious Android” By Tom Yager, InfoWorld, Nov ambitious-android ambitious-android-723 Wired Gadget Lab: “Android Devices Crave Google’s Attention” By Priya Ganapati, Mar googles-attention/ googles-attention/ Android “Porn Store” Claims: EuroDroid store-for-android/ store-for-android/ Android Developer's Guide Geek & Poke Cartoons:

Android Mobile Development Nic Shulver, FCET, Staffordshire University