Android apps for absolute beginners [get started with building your very own Android apps

Anybody can start building simple apps for the Android platform, and this book will show you how! Recently updated to include Android Jelly Bean, Android Apps for Absolute Beginners, Second Edition takes you through the process of getting your first Android apps up and running using plain English and practical examples. This book cuts through the fog of jargon and mystery that surrounds Android apps development, and gives you simple, step-by-step instructions to get you started. Teaches Android application development in language anyone can understand, giving you the best possible start in Android development Provides simple, step-by-step examples that make learning easy, allowing you to pick up the concepts without fuss Offers clear code descriptions and layout so that you can get your apps running as soon as possible This book is Android Jelly Bean compliant, but is backwards compatible to most of the previous Android releases. What you’ll learn Get yourself and your computer set up for Android apps development Use the Eclipse programming environment to make your Android development efficient and straightforward Follow steps in plain English to build simple apps and get them working immediately Style your application so that it appeals to potential users Make use of the Android’s touch screen Use shortcuts and cheat sheets to create apps the easy way Use the basics of Java and XML to move onto more advanced apps Who this book is for If you have a great idea for an Android app, but have never programmed before, then this book is for you. You don’t need to have any previous computer programming skills—as long as you have a desire to learn, and you know which end of the mouse is which, the world of Android apps development awaits! Table of Contents Preliminary Information: Before We Get Started What’s Next? Our Road Ahead Setting Up Your Android Development Environment Introducing the Android Software Development Platform Android Framework Overview Screen Layout Design: Views and Layouts UI Design: Buttons, Menus, and Dialogs An Introduction to Graphics Resources in Android Adding Interactivity: Handling UI Events Understanding Content Providers Understanding Intents and Intent Filters Advanced Android Topics

Anybody can start building simple apps for the Android platform, and this book will show you how! Recently updated to include Android Jelly Bean, Android Apps for Absolute Beginners, Second Editiontakes you through the process of getting your first Android apps up and running using plain English and practical examples.

This book cuts through the fog of jargon and mystery that surrounds Android apps development, and gives you simple, step-by-step instructions to get you started.

• Teaches Android application development in language anyone can understand, giving you the best possible start in Android development
• Provides simple, step-by-step examples that make learning easy, allowing you to pick up the concepts without fuss
• Offers clear code descriptions and layout so that you can get your apps running as soon as possible

This book is Android Jelly Bean compliant, but is backwards compatible to most of the previous Android releases.

What you’ll learn

• Get yourself and your computer set up for Android apps development
• Use the Eclipse programming environment to make your Android development efficient and straightforward
• Follow steps in plain English to build simple apps and get them working immediately
• Style your application so that it appeals to potential users
• Make use of the Android’s touch screen
• Use shortcuts and cheat sheets to create apps the easy way
• Use the basics of Java and XML tomove onto more advanced apps

Who this book is for

If you have a great idea for an Android app, but have never programmed before, then this book is for you. You don’t need to have any previous computer programming skills—as long as you have a desire to learn, and you know which end of the mouse is which, the world of Android apps development awaits!

Table of Contents

1. Preliminary Information: Before We Get Started
2. What’s Next? Our Road Ahead
3. Setting Up Your Android Development Environment
4. Introducing the Android Software Development Platform
5. Android Framework Overview
6. Screen Layout Design: Views and Layouts
7. UI Design: Buttons, Menus, and Dialogs
8. An Introduction to Graphics Resources in Android
9. Adding Interactivity: Handling UI Events
10. Understanding Content Providers
11. Understanding Intents and Intent Filters
12. Advanced Android Topics

Front Matter....Pages i-xxiii Preliminary Information: Before We Get Started....Pages 1-11 What’s Next? Our Road Ahead....Pages 13-20 Setting Up Your Android Development Environment....Pages 21-51 Introducing the Android Software Development Platform....Pages 53-97 Android Framework Overview....Pages 99-123 Screen Layout Design: Views and Layouts....Pages 125-161 UI Design: Buttons, Menus, and Dialogs....Pages 163-208 An Introduction to Graphics Resources in Android....Pages 209-233 Adding Interactivity: Handling UI Events....Pages 235-276 Understanding Content Providers....Pages 277-304 Understanding Intents and Intent Filters....Pages 305-350 Advanced Android Topics....Pages 351-367 Back Matter....Pages 369-378 This guides you through the entire process of creating an app. You'll discover how and where to get the Android development environment, how to set it up, how to configure it, and how to use it to create applications that employ many of the powerful features of Android". This book gives you simple, step-by-step instructions and practical examples to help get you started "From start to finish, 'Android apps for absolute beginners' guides you through the entire process of creating an app. You'll discover how and where to get the Android development environment, how to set it up, how to configure it, and how to use it to create applications that employ many of the powerful features of Android"--Back cover