building your own apps? - Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I want to create my own app are there any free or cheap tools to build own. I want it to be able to be able to stream videos, listen and read rss feeds and send credit card info. Any advice or points in the right direction would be very helpful. Thanks

Eclipse, and you need to know java language. Otherwise you can't just have a tool create everything for you.
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I'm also interested in trying my hand at apps and games. Is Eclipse and Java the only route or are there other methods? I've heard of using Flash designer, but I don't know. price is not an issue for me, quality of the app/game is, so if there is a "better" way than eclipse I would like to know. Not saying Eclipse is bad(because I have NO clue). just would like to know all the options, free or paid, on how to create for both phones and tablets.

g0t0 said:
I'm also interested in trying my hand at apps and games. Is Eclipse and Java the only route or are there other methods? I've heard of using Flash designer, but I don't know. price is not an issue for me, quality of the app/game is, so if there is a "better" way than eclipse I would like to know. Not saying Eclipse is bad(because I have NO clue). just would like to know all the options, free or paid, on how to create for both phones and tablets.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check out corona sdk.
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You can develop your own application if you know java language with the help of Eclipse and ADT Plugin along with android SDK and any platform that you want to develop for in the SDK (Thats lots of tools there but once you setup you can develop unlimited amount of apps or games) You can download android sdk from developer.android.com/sdk/index.html and eclipse from eclipse.org (google download eclipse)...
For resources and tutorials (i.e to begin developing your own first app) setup android sdk and eclipse and visit to developer.android.com/resources/index.html (there are lots of tutorials and code to help you get along)
All the best with software development.......
---------- Post added at 03:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:21 PM ----------
g0t0 said:
I'm also interested in trying my hand at apps and games. Is Eclipse and Java the only route or are there other methods? I've heard of using Flash designer, but I don't know. price is not an issue for me, quality of the app/game is, so if there is a "better" way than eclipse I would like to know. Not saying Eclipse is bad(because I have NO clue). just would like to know all the options, free or paid, on how to create for both phones and tablets.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also everything you get to setup a environment for developing is free of cost and for developing in phone or tablets choose the os platform in android sdk and download the os that the device is running on...
Also Ecplise is the best for the job. (I think you can also use netbeans or othere java editors to edit souce code but not so sure)

For more detailed info on setting environment for developing your own applicaitons and games at your own personal computer please see this http://yagyagaire.blogspot.com/2011/09/how-to-develop-your-own-applications.html article.
Please Hit Thanks Button If my post was useful!!

There's also intellij IDEA, which has a free (opensource IDE) that comes with all their android development tools. It lacks the GUI building that eclipse has, but it makes up for it with other things. I bought their paid version when it was 50% off sometime ago for the extra features it had like python and php editing.
http://www.jetbrains.com/idea/

zuma for android
Hi, is there an app to change a cab file to a apk file? I use to have an HTC HD2 and there was a cab file with an awesome zuma app on there. Is it possible that anyone can show me how to convert a cab file please????

adbookeronline said:
Hi, is there an app to change a cab file to a apk file? I use to have an HTC HD2 and there was a cab file with an awesome zuma app on there. Is it possible that anyone can show me how to convert a cab file please????
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol...no. that's like asking if you can convert from a windows execute to something you can run on linux (without wine).

Related

[Q] learning how to develop apps

i want to start making apps for android but dont know where to stat i have the sdk on my desktop but thats about it. If someone could please help me or push me in the next step please do so.
Just go to the dev guide on the Android website to start making your first Hello World app. As for language, Android (I could be wrong) uses Java. Again, I could be wrong.
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Indeed, Android uses Java. I'd suggest learning it before attempting to program for Android or else you'll feel like it's gonna be too difficult. There's plenty of books on Java, and some powerful Google searching will lead you to step-by-step guides to learning Java.
Also, go through the Android Dev Center for a lot of information. There's plenty of guides there on things like 'how to design your app to flow with the overall android feel' and 'designing icons to fit general android homescreen look'.
You're gonna want to download Eclipse for Java Programming. It's a free Java development environment much like Dreamweaver and Visual Studio are for web development.
Oh, and PLAN! Like any good development project, your project will not get anywhere if you don't know where to start and when to end it.
Plan first. Then plan the planned elements. Java is object-based programming, and just like building a house each object needs to be solid or else it'll crumble to pieces.
Same here. Thx for the advice.
elindemann said:
Indeed, Android uses Java. I'd suggest learning it before attempting to program for Android or else you'll feel like it's gonna be too difficult. There's plenty of books on Java, and some powerful Google searching will lead you to step-by-step guides to learning Java.
Also, go through the Android Dev Center for a lot of information. There's plenty of guides there on things like 'how to design your app to flow with the overall android feel' and 'designing icons to fit general android homescreen look'.
You're gonna want to download Eclipse for Java Programming. It's a free Java development environment much like Dreamweaver and Visual Studio are for web development.
Oh, and PLAN! Like any good development project, your project will not get anywhere if you don't know where to start and when to end it.
Plan first. Then plan the planned elements. Java is object-based programming, and just like building a house each object needs to be solid or else it'll crumble to pieces.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, you're doing things the hard HARD ...HARD way....
if you want to develop apps for android, Titanium Mobile (appcelerator.com) is the best way to go. It takes far less time to learn JavaScript , CSS and HTML then it does to learn pure JAVA, and then learn to implement Android's API.
There are a few things that Titanium Mobile can't do, but they are always working on it to make it better. And of course - it's free
I've made a few apps using it. Including an HTML eBook reader, Chinese Flashcard App, and a Simple Chat Client.
Their JavaScript API takes a bit to get used to, but after that, you can easily spit out a simple app in about a day or so.
I have a web-app Template that lets me dump a Web-app (html/css/js) into a project, and spits out a nice new shiny Android app ready for the market.... I also wrote code that lets you access the Menu Button on android too. So it's not like using PhoneGap where it's just a Browser session with an icon on your phone.
PM me if you're interested, and i'll show you everything i learned about Titanium Mobile so far (i'm still learning actually). Or if you want an app done, i can do it for you... free if it's easy enough
DaoMingJin said:
Actually, you're doing things the hard HARD ...HARD way....
if you want to develop apps for android, Titanium Mobile (appcelerator.com) is the best way to go. It takes far less time to learn JavaScript , CSS and HTML then it does to learn pure JAVA, and then learn to implement Android's API.
There are a few things that Titanium Mobile can't do, but they are always working on it to make it better. And of course - it's free
I've made a few apps using it. Including an HTML eBook reader, Chinese Flashcard App, and a Simple Chat Client.
Their JavaScript API takes a bit to get used to, but after that, you can easily spit out a simple app in about a day or so.
I have a web-app Template that lets me dump a Web-app (html/css/js) into a project, and spits out a nice new shiny Android app ready for the market.... I also wrote code that lets you access the Menu Button on android too. So it's not like using PhoneGap where it's just a Browser session with an icon on your phone.
PM me if you're interested, and i'll show you everything i learned about Titanium Mobile so far (i'm still learning actually). Or if you want an app done, i can do it for you... free if it's easy enough
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, I'm very interested. I might check it out.
sent from my pimp hero running Froyo CM6 and the XDA app
If you know the C or C++ language you could try out MoSync, depends what you like, some programmers like the level of control and speed you get from C++. If your content with simpler apps then maybe phonegap or appcellerator for you.
I guess that when mobile apps get more sophisticated javascript programs will be just as complex as C++ programs.
Thats my view, but then I like C++ better.
/Tony
MoSyncTony said:
If you know the C or C++ language you could try out MoSync, depends what you like, some programmers like the level of control and speed you get from C++. If your content with simpler apps then maybe phonegap or appcellerator for you.
I guess that when mobile apps get more sophisticated javascript programs will be just as complex as C++ programs.
Thats my view, but then I like C++ better.
/Tony
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It really depends on how much control and you really need. If you're going to write games, then you do need speed that C++ and the Native Application Development API on android can give you. If you're writing a social networking app, the speed of C++ would really be an overkill.
As far as i've read, PhoneGap still has a lot of issues. And the build process is a bit more complicated than on Titanium Mobile.
If you're just using the regular Android API to write apps, i don't notice a lot of difference in speed execution between writing it in pure Java, or using Titanium mobile (using native code and UI elements - i don't mean putting everything into a WebView).
The current app that i'm writing now i don't think can be written using Titanium Mobile or PhoneGap (unless i added some native functions and did my own fork of PhoneGap).
More or less, i'm writing an App for Android and JRE/Linux systems that will allow me to enumerate, and access USB status bits, and USB data frames of a given USB device, and then allowing that USB device to be accessed through a TCP or UDP connection.
I might be able to do this with Titanium Mobile, but i don't think i can. As the only files you're allowed to access are on the SD card, application data directory, and temp directory.... i think there's one other place you're allowed to access too, but i never used it. However later today i might just try to see if i can access the /Dev/DSP01 (aka sound card) on an android device. If i can, i think i could write it using titanium mobile. I'm already halfway done with this app in pure java, so i wouldn't actually rewrite it in Titanium Mobile now.
DaoMingJin said:
if you want to develop apps for android, Titanium Mobile (appcelerator.com) is the best way to go.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanx mate!
If you looking a book or something to teach you the basics Beginning Java Programming for Dummies and Android Application Development in 24 Hours are good reads.
I'd rather not fill the forum with more threads so I'm just going to ask my question here. What is the best way to read the android dev guide on the device itself? Just going to the site directly? Ideally I'd like a pdf or something designed to be read on a small screen. The site can have formatting issues when read on a small screen.
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I've been developing for a long time (nearly 30 years), and whenever I need to learn a new language I start with the Sams range, "Teach yourself whatever language in X days/hours". They're pretty good and this is available for Kindle, which is great if you use the Amazon Kindle app...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Teach-Yours...1_fkmr2_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1287485537&sr=8-2-fkmr2
It obviously costs, but I really do rate those books as brilliant starting points. The rest is google and friends on here.
Hope this helps - good luck mate.
Personally, I've been coding in Java for what... four years now? I'm feeling dwarfed here by johncmolyneux but honestly, the best way to learn is to not use an IDE like Eclipse, but to use something that you have to hand-code everything yourself, such as Geany! You learn fairly quickly after writing a few applications.
If you are thinking "titanium", "mosync" or "phone gap" it is worth doing a bit of background research. There are several extremely powerful tools out there that can help you build cross platform apps - these are among the top ones.
bit more discussion about this here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=16703287#post16703287
There are a few useful reports comparing them - check out ours by googling "triballabs cross platform"
The Google App Inventor makes it pretty easy to create your own Android apps. Best part is you don't need to learn any programming languages. You won't be creating anything too complicated like a video game for example, but it's a good start nonetheless.
http://appinventor.googlelabs.com/about/
If you want to learn the basics of Java, then please check out a book called as "Head First Java". They really explain the basics with the help of real life examples to make things much simpler so that people understand.
Beginner app projects
I'm also just getting started with app development. Something I've been looking for is a beginner app project. Wish I could find a walkthrough of a simple app like a game of Hangman or something like that. I've been through the android developer training web site and got some good info but some things I'm still a little stuck on. Id Love to see an actual app (rather than just a mock up of some fields and buttons) and then a slightly dumbed down explanation of the code. Might be a lot to ask but man it would be great!

Starting with Android app development

I have very little programming experience, just some in C and C++. But I'd like to start learning how to develop for Android.
Any good books/ebooks which will help me started? Or any guide or anything such?
Ill help you out if you want. Email me [email protected].
i wanted to start too, i just wanted to know if it is harder to learn to program for android than for example to programm with c#. and what's the best way to get started
meaningQo said:
i wanted to start too, i just wanted to know if it is harder to learn to program for android than for example to programm with c#. and what's the best way to get started
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just like me...
1. Start with learning Java as a programming language.
Don't waste time on learning how to create GUI in java as it is irrelevant to Android, but make sure you know the basics of how threading works, what collections you can use, learn the java event listeners model (concept only) etc.. Also make sure you're using Eclipse as it would probably be your primary IDE for Android development. For an experienced C++ programmer this step should take no longer than a week.
2. Install the Android SDK (follow http://developer.android.com/sdk/installing.html).
3. Read the developers guide basics.
4. Learn from examples!
The Android SDK comes with many example projects, just add a new Android project in eclipse and choose "from example" in the window that will follow.
There are also many open source Android projects you can learn from.
roee88 said:
1. Start with learning Java as a programming language.
Don't waste time on learning how to create GUI in java as it is irrelevant to Android, but make sure you know the basics of how threading works, what collections you can use, learn the java event listeners model (concept only) etc.. Also make sure you're using Eclipse as it would probably be your primary IDE for Android development. For an experienced C++ programmer this step should take no longer than a week.
2. Install the Android SDK (follow http://developer.android.com/sdk/installing.html).
3. Read the developers guide basics.
4. Learn from examples!
The Android SDK comes with many example projects, just add a new Android project in eclipse and choose "from example" in the window that will follow.
There are also many open source Android projects you can learn from.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
good advice. but consider IntelliJ as well as Eclipse. i find IntelliJ nicer and faster to use
Another useful thread on this topic is here:
[Q] How did you learn to develop?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1206082
As mentioned there, it would be good to get a general noob dev guide set up on here so that people can get started with developing.
Well i just started learning development in android as well,i have been trying hard to find sources to help me understand until i stumbled upon a gold mine....!
here it is:http://www.youtube.com/user/CornboyzAndroid
http://www.youtube.com/user/mybringback
this guys videos are awesome explains in detail....
Hope this helps all new learners like me,also the user in those videos has been doing this out of his busy schedule for free,if those videos teach you something or help you in anyway then please consider making him a small donation....!
I would also suggest to post your questions (or find answers) on the stackoverflow website (http://stackoverflow.com). It is full of smart guys
Another approach would be to build your apps in html / javascript using frameworks like JQuery, and then use a tool like PhoneGap which will bundle it into an app that will run cross platform
Found another good book:
android application devlopment for dummies.....!
great book see if u can find it,if u dont then let me know i will upload it ...!
its the best book i have seen for android
edit: ok here is a link for the book,i am doing this just because many ppl pmed me to upload it,if the mods feel the link shouldnt exist u can always delete it
http://stor1070.uploaded.to/dl/JnhVLWv0qz
link added to the above post
Thanks for this, good resources.
adicool said:
Found another good book:
android application devlopment for dummies.....!
great book see if u can find it,if u dont then let me know i will upload it ...!
its the best book i have seen for android
edit: ok here is a link for the book,i am doing this just because many ppl pmed me to upload it,if the mods feel the link shouldnt exist u can always delete it
http://stor1070.uploaded.to/dl/JnhVLWv0qz
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Page not found
Error: 404
I would love to get that book but the link is not good. Thanks anyway.
i will be uploading it tonight then,u will see a link soon
Found the book here for download: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...s61ws8oFg&sig2=vQS3EtQFTFUaJWLnsmYGXQ&cad=rjt
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Ok another few of my good resources as always for laerning android:
Get hold of Android course videos by Plural sight
Android with java essential videos by Lynda.com
Android using essential java by O reilly
adicool said:
Ok another few of my good resources as always for laerning android:
Get hold of Android course videos by Plural sight
Android with java essential videos by Lynda.com
Android using essential java by O reilly
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have all 3 . They are really great sources. I've been learning development on android past 2 months.
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you can also develop apps in adobe air. I have been able to port over some of my flex code into adobe air. You can compile into android, blackberry playbook, and the IOS with flash builder 4.5.1 only problem is flash builder is not free.
I'm currently churning my way through Thinking In Java. There's a free version on the official mindview.net website.
Learning Java as a programming language will pay off in the long run (I believe) as C# shares many fundamental areas with Java and so adapting to it should be easier if you have a good foundation in Java.
If you have previous experience with C++, then Java should not be too big a step for you.
I've heard that all those "Java for Dummies" books are pretty useless as they focus a lot on basic stuff and less on programming structure/patterns, etc.
as for the leap from Java -> Android Apps, I think the official android dev site is pretty sweet.

Best Way to Develop A Simple App?

Hello,
I am a total novice. However, I'd like to develop a simple timecard app for Android, specifically targeted like the apps below.
http://www.appato.com/edward-pereira/wrap-time-time-card-for-film-crews/
http://www.crewtimecard.com/
These only exist for Apple products, though. What is the easiest, most straight-forward (Windows-based) software for creating such an app? I've heard of something called Eclipse...? Or there's some Google thing?
Thanks!
You need eclipse ide and android adt plugin for exclipse to code for android.Also you need android sdk for the api's.Googling "how to setup eclipse for android development" will give instructions for those from android developers website
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thanks vijai2011. Is Eclipse easy to learn? Is there something easier that may not be TOO basic, so that I can create a timecard app like the ones I linked to above?
You dont have to learn to use eclipse .All you you need to know is java and few things about android resources which you can find at android developer website.They will pretty much cover everything.
But without java,you cannot take even the first step of app coding.Heart of app coding is java.
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I see... so there really isn't something similar to Adobe Dreamweaver for android apps?
daniel178 said:
I see... so there really isn't something similar to Adobe Dreamweaver for android apps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like Adobe Dreamweaver lets you design your web layout pages with PHP coding ... Eclipse lets you design the App layout with java coding. Its pretty much similar.
You can even use Netbeans or similar IDE's, but most developers use Eclipse and its the one that's being recommended by Google, I guess.
Thanks... I am little intimidated by Eclipse. Is it mostly graphical? can I get by without any coding? You see the type of app I want to create....
Also, have you heard of Phonegap? Is this easier/better/more or less limiting?
Eclipse is fully gui.You go through a wizard to create a new project,adding app icon,creating main activit(ies),select lowest api and the api for app then you get into a screen like a text editor where you type java,then go to android manifest then added the created activity,give perm and export the app signed.Even the adb is included at the bottom toolbar for easy debugging in real time .
So its pretty much straight forward but it can take sometime for the first time.
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Hmm, sounds like there's some java (at least) coding involved. Can I get by without any manual coding at all?
Also, to create an app like the timecard things above, for Android, what version of Eclipse would be best (simplest, yet able to do the job well).?
Well....Its not some java...It 99% java the remaining 1% is for the look and feel that you put to your preference .That is why I said
But without java,you cannot take even the first step of app coding.Heart of app coding is java.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
on post #4
No...you dont need any specific version of java.Take the latest eclipse IDE and the latest ADT plugin and code it.There is nothing you can do without manual work of typing java.You cannot do those web page design using dreamweaver here Here is my first app I wrote.There is also the source code attached at the bottom.See how long the code is just to invoke a activity of another app with a default argument.
This is how I set up eclipse:
You must have sdk pre-installed for this.Also sdk needs a 32bit java JDK to work.(you need 32bit irrespective of if u run 32 or 64bit.Dont know why is that so.SDK never recognized my 32bit JDK)
Install eclipse classic
follow this to install ADT
daniel178 said:
Hello,
I am a total novice. However, I'd like to develop a simple timecard app for Android, specifically targeted like the apps below.
http://www.appato.com/edward-pereira/wrap-time-time-card-for-film-crews/
http://www.crewtimecard.com/
These only exist for Apple products, though. What is the easiest, most straight-forward (Windows-based) software for creating such an app? I've heard of something called Eclipse...? Or there's some Google thing?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Checkout HELLS-KITCHEN. It's a great starting point. With this Distro and a million Tutorials on XDA, you should be able to find what your looking for.
what about Flash? I've watched a couple of video tutorials on using Flash 5.5 and up to create Android apps, and it seems pretty graphical-only (no or less coding -- keep in mind my app is very simple). Would this be a viable option?
What ever you try,The last and final destination is TO USE JAVA for app even if the app is a "Simple" Hello world app!You have to have a main activity,type in the codes etc....You dont get it out my clicking out on wizards like:
Do you want Android app?click next
Do you need it to be simple?click next
What features you need?Select them.
If you are too lazy to type out codes or dont know java,Why not just try any alternative in play store?It is more Graphical and is only few taps
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Alternatively you could try to use phonegap.com or usepropeller.com / simplr.mobi.

language for android app development

Hello , i have an IT project lined up regarding the programming of an android app (a high level)
i would like to know that which is the best free book/pdf document is available online for learning android programming.
i have started learning python, i just wanted to know whether it can help me in any way?
Emmm....I think python won't help. By the way what languages do you know? If you like you can continue your project with Mono Android. Which is compatible with Microsoft Visual Studio and you can do many things easier with it. In that case you have to know C#. Here's the thread with many links. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2223114
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---------- Post added at 11:57 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:55 AM ----------
Here's the thread for setup Mono Android. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2223010
Btw if you would like to go on this, pm me problems you have, I will help you as I can. Good luck.
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virk36 said:
Hello , i have an IT project lined up regarding the programming of an android app (a high level)
i would like to know that which is the best free book/pdf document is available online for learning android programming.
i have started learning python, i just wanted to know whether it can help me in any way?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do yourself a favor and simply use Java if possible. That is how they intended to develop on Android. In my experience anything else is good only if specifically needed.
JAVA is the most used language to make apps for Android but there are alternatives and the biggest I see is Mono fro Android which uses C# as a programming language
const_char said:
Do yourself a favor and simply use Java if possible. That is how they intended to develop on Android. In my experience anything else is good only if specifically needed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I second that. Android is mostly designed around C and Java. Even if you code C/C++, you sometimes have to use JNI to call back into Java, because some functionality is only exposed in a Java package, not in native code.
So Java is the best way to make full use of the Android platform, and gives you the best compatibility. Most tools, documentation and other resources are also aimed at Java development.
Java is default android development language
virk36 said:
Hello , i have an IT project lined up regarding the programming of an android app (a high level)
i would like to know that which is the best free book/pdf document is available online for learning android programming.
i have started learning python, i just wanted to know whether it can help me in any way?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you can develop android app with python but maybe your released app size is so big
because your app must statically have python interpreter.
it is not easy stuff, if you have not many experience of android development.
python is not too far from java or c/c++ so it may help anyway, but now you should go to java ...
but the most important is now to know how to use the Android framework
Nowadays, Java is the most useful language to create application for android, but I will prefer mono for C# as a programming language.
yeah...man u should use java it would really help u.....i m 14 i too wanna develop apps...so i learn JAVA it's the best ....
By the way gud luck with ur project
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APK(game) development?

First I'm sorry for my English's mistakes,I'm brazilian.There are a long time ago that I already knew about xda site but I just joined in it now because I need a lot help into apk development.I develop games in Construct 2(paid) for Android but when I finish my game in the program I get a HTML version of it and sent to Adobe Phonegap because like this I can get a apk without the boring problems of make it in ConcoonJS.My problem is when it get back the apk because the apk comes just like a ''raw'' project.What I want to mean is that the apk by the way doesn't come with a icon/logo(I think that like this it must come without the name of the company for instance too-n other words just a apk with a log ''build app'' and the game).In Unity we can put icon,name of company,compatibity and another things but I prefer to make in Construct my game because Unity is more complex than.SO what I want is a program that can give these informations for my developeds apks.
Thanks A LOT to everybody that answers my question!
Instead of using PhoneGap, try to use Intel XDK and use Crosswalk as the wrapper for the game. Much less issues and you have better control over versions and plugins. Plus, it's free for unlimited apps, unlike phonegap.

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