Professional Android 2 Application Development

Reto Meier's Professional Android 2 Application Development does a great job of educating the reader on what is necessary for developing Android applications. Core application fundamentals and advanced Android features are presented to the reader via a series of real-life application examples. Readers who work the examples and leverage the breadth of coverage provided on the Android 2 framework will be well on their way towards establishing an excellent foundation for building compelling Android applications.After giving the customary history lesson and tour of the toolsets and development environment, the first half of the book deals with the components that make up an application. Chapters are devoted to activities and life cycle, UI views, data and file access, and key Android concepts like intents (message-passing mechanisms) and content providers (ability to expose data to other apps).Once the fundamentals have been covered, the remainder of the book is spent exploring the advanced and optional features available in the SDK. Android-centric concepts like background services, notifications and widgets are given the same in depth treatment given to the fundamentals so you get a lot of the "why" along with the how. Features and functionality that naturally lend them to being abstracted away via an API like media playback, GPS and Bluetooth are given adequate coverage of what is available via the framework and, where pertinent, the Android-specific behaviors are highlighted.While the book is divided into fundamentals and advanced topics, continuity is maintained throughout via the example applications used to emphasize the concepts presented. By building the to-do list, compass, and earthquake monitoring service applications while reading through the book, passive learning is transformed into active, directed learning. Unlike some programming books I've read in the past, these examples do real work, accomplish specific real-life tasks, and provide some utility once completed. Readers are not just extending these applications one feature at a time, they are also adding one key concept to their proverbial tool belt while doing it.The speed at which the Android platform is being evolved and improved upon is staggering. Since April 2009 there has been 4 major releases of the Android OS with a 5th release rumored for this fall. While the breadth of coverage provided for the APIs and framework is nice while it is still relevant, the real strength of this book comes building an understanding of the core Android fundamentals. Readers looking for a solid introduction to Android development need to look no further than Professional Android 2 Application Development. Update to the bestseller now features the latest release of the Android platform Android is a powerful, flexible, open source platform for mobile devices and its popularity is growing at an unprecedented pace. This update to the bestselling first edition dives in to cover the exciting new features of the latest release of the Android mobile platform. Providing in-depth coverage of how to build mobile applications using the next major release of the Android SDK, this invaluable resource takes a hands-on approach to discussing Android with a series of projects, each of which introduces a new feature and highlights techniques and best practices to get the most out of Android. The Android SDK is a powerful, flexible, open source platform for mobile devices Shares helpful techniques and best practices to maximize the capabilities of Android Explains the possibilities of Android through the use of a series of detailed projects Demonstrates how to create real-world mobile applications for Android phones Includes coverage of the latest version of Android Providing concise and compelling examples, Professional Android Application Development is an updated guide aimed at helping you create mobile applications for mobile devices running the latest version of Android. Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file Hello, Android Getting started Creating Application and Activities Creating User Interfaces Intents, Broadcast, Receivers, Adapters, and the Internet Files, SavingState, and Preferences Databases and Content Providers Maps, Geocoding, and Location-Based Services Working in the Background Invading the Phone-Top Audio, Video, and Using the Camera Telephony and SMS Bluetooth, Networks and Wi-Fi Sensors Advanced Android Development Provides Information On Using Android 2 To Build And Enhance Mobile Applications, Covering Such Topics As Creating User Interfaces, Using Intents, Databases, Creating And Controlling Services, Creating App Widgets, Playing Audio And Video, Telphony, And Using Sensors.--