Hello Just got here - Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Would like to say Hello. I am a developer (server and PC) mostly C++ some IOS but after some medial issues and a few years away looking forward to getting back in to software development.
I do have a few questions though.
What would be a good solid development platform to develop the same app for android, IOS and Windows?
I know everyone has there own specific smartphone manufacture they use and live buy and the manufactures have there own version of android but I was thinking is there a base Android OS that works with all phone manufacturers?
Any links and suggestions would rock thanks in advance.

analyticworm said:
Would like to say Hello. I am a developer (server and PC) mostly C++ some IOS but after some medial issues and a few years away looking forward to getting back in to software development.
I do have a few questions though.
What would be a good solid development platform to develop the same app for android, IOS and Windows?
I know everyone has there own specific smartphone manufacture they use and live buy and the manufactures have there own version of android but I was thinking is there a base Android OS that works with all phone manufacturers?
Any links and suggestions would rock thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Every android device uses Google's Vanilla android OS, a.k.a. AOSP(Android Open Source Project) as the base of all android operating systems, then the various manufacturers and carriers put their personal coding on top of that.
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Related

[Q] Should I buy an android phone or tablet for development?

So I'm an iPhone developer looking to start writing some Android apps. I know what I can get away with in terms of actual device testing in the iOS world, but not the Android world. I don't want a contract or monthly service (so no new phones). I'll initially be building apps targeted for mobile phones, but if possible, I would like to avoid owning a phone just for development, so if I can get away with a tablet, then that would be perfect because I can use it for other things.
With that said, is that a smart idea? I figure I need the following:
- Used, to keep costs down
- wifi since I won't have cellular service.
- 2.1-2.1 for development.
- Used Phone with no contract to save on price.
- hdpi screen for maximum compatibility testing (according to android dev site, looks like 75%+ phones in use are hdpi)
- Not too old, so that with some upgrades my phone doesn't become unbearable to use.
If I were to get a tablet, am I better getting something with 2.1 or 2.2? Or if I got something with 3.0, would I be able to test compatibility with apps targeted for 2.1 or 2.2? On an iPad for example, I can install iOS5, but build apps targeting iOS4 and test on an iOS 5 device.
I'd like to keep my purchase under $300 either way...obviously less would be even better if I can get away with it...
Anyways, any tips would be great!
I'm partially in your shoes, but going the other direction after a few projects (i.e. Android to iOS). I have a Droid X phone and will probably be getting an iPad...just need to sell a few more apps
Android runs on a multitude of devices and none of them are the same. I think the last app I published said it would be compatible with over 200 Android devices. A far cry from iPhone/iPad and just 2 devices.
I would think the phone would be the cheapest path to go....look on ebay. Luckily I have a friend with a xoom tablet and he can test stuff for me. If you're going to be in this (Android) for the long term, I might suggest a tablet as the better way to go
3.0 is only on tablets at this point and the Android SDK will let you set your release level down as required. Android phones should have just gotten an upgrade to 2.2.3
Objective C to JAVA and xml files....lucky you LOL
Is objective C harder?
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Tablet. We need more tablet developers and tablet optimized apps.
Rootstonian said:
I'm partially in your shoes, but going the other direction after a few projects (i.e. Android to iOS). I have a Droid X phone and will probably be getting an iPad...just need to sell a few more apps
Android runs on a multitude of devices and none of them are the same. I think the last app I published said it would be compatible with over 200 Android devices. A far cry from iPhone/iPad and just 2 devices.
I would think the phone would be the cheapest path to go....look on ebay. Luckily I have a friend with a xoom tablet and he can test stuff for me. If you're going to be in this (Android) for the long term, I might suggest a tablet as the better way to go
3.0 is only on tablets at this point and the Android SDK will let you set your release level down as required. Android phones should have just gotten an upgrade to 2.2.3
Objective C to JAVA and xml files....lucky you LOL
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the feedback, it is much appreciated! I'm definitely leaning towards tablet, unless I hear of any reason why it's a bad idea! Again, coming from an iOS world, I'm worried about displays, and things looking their best, and acting properly...but as long as a tablet device can give me a reasonable enough device for testing that isn't an emulator, then I'll be happy...I figure the longer I do this, then much like my iOS development, I will build up a collection of test devices...fortunately for iOS developers, that collection doesn't have to be too big!
iynfynity said:
Is objective C harder?
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As a former C# and Java developer, I will say that Objective C is generally "harder"...not necessarily because of the language...but because of the environment...Objective C has come a long way, and definitely is getting better, but I would guess that any C based language is generally harder to pick up successfully compared to more managed languages like C# or Java...
Now when it comes to device development, I can't tell you yet if writing Java for Android devices will be easier or harder...but give me a few months and I'll let you know!
SwiftLegend said:
Tablet. We need more tablet developers and tablet optimized apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll say this, I do love writing code for the iPad,...tablets are fun, and open up a world of opportunity...with that said, I'll initially be writing for mobile phones, but I'm sure that will expand eventually to tablets...
Well, I was in your situation just an year ago an I did:
1 - I bought an HTC Magic used from ebay, rooted at 2.2 (payed 150$ more or less)
2 - I used all the suggestions on the web to improve my java coding using Eclipse (i suggest you stackoverflow guys)
3 - Now, I'm looking for a tablet to enlarge the opportunities of my apps.
The emulator sucks, leave it as soon as you can for a device. You will boost your coding and debug.
If you know people with android phones, ask them to test your app. Unfortunately, it seems that the unique manner to be sure your app will work on all devices is to test it everywhere
I can confirm that emulator is ver slow, but as a last resort is ok.
If I were you a would have bought phone first. You don't want to develop applications that work perfectly on tablets that have 1% of a market share only to find out that after publishing they don't work on more popular devices.
Buy one of most popular phones (for example Samsung Galaxy S) and you will be in good shape.
get google development phone from google
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Android tablet
Here is a cheep android tablet to start dev on http://conamee.com/products/wm8850-android-4-0-cortex-a9-1-2ghz-tablet-pc-7-inch-4gb-coffee

Most developmentally-friendly OS

Dear phone developers:
Out of iOS, Android, and WP7, I am inclined to believe that Android has the potential for the most growth because of its easy modification abilities as well as Google's open-source philosophy.
In your eyes as developers, would you say Android is the most customizable, flexible developmental operating system? It is my understanding that iOS is very rigid and I know nothing of Windows Phone 7.
Thanks for your opinions!
Yes Android is (of course ).
Shao_X said:
Dear phone developers:
Out of iOS, Android, and WP7, I am inclined to believe that Android has the potential for the most growth because of its easy modification abilities as well as Google's open-source philosophy.
In your eyes as developers, would you say Android is the most customizable, flexible developmental operating system? It is my understanding that iOS is very rigid and I know nothing of Windows Phone 7.
Thanks for your opinions!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Android is the ultimate choice
Sent from my HTC One X using xda app-developers app
So true
Android is the best OS, I tried all of them...and I can say that Android gives the most flexibility and its easier to use than most would think. Although the iPhone has the "Just Works" motto...it just works with the apps that come with it...why on earth do I need to pay for apps that should have been present in the OS in the first place...
The iPad doesn't come with even a calculator pre-installed...which is the most basic app one could add...
---------- Post added at 05:37 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:31 AM ----------
On the other-hand Apple seem to have gotten the formula right for their MacOSX which is much better than both Windows and some Linux Distros
What about future prospects regarding Windows Phone 8? I am hearing things like how tablets and phones will have a full blown application architecture instead of just "running apps" - is Microsoft going to revolutionize the app world, or is Android still running strong with its open source philosophy?
Android of course! Obviously this is going to be the answer you get on a primarily Android forum.

[Poll] Dev's What OS do you use for Deving? Curious

So what OS do all you awesome dev's use for doing your magic.
RoryHe said:
So what OS do all you awesome dev's use for doing your magic.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ive been using ubuntu 12.04.1 . yesterday i tried to go to 12.10 beta 2 but it doesnt want to work
Not a Dev like you see making fancy roms or whatever, but for the little excursions i go on, i use MacOS X
Osx
Via my Google Galaxy S3 running AOKP goodness
They use OS X or Ubuntu.
Ubuntu 12.04.1. Click the link in my sig if you want to learn how to set up a build environment in Ubuntu without modifying your Windows installation.
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Using the enemy's os to build android...... Idk if that's a slap in the face to Apple or a slap in the face to android lol.
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From what I know it stands for the mean frame of the android
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Evocm7 said:
Using the enemy's os to build android...... Idk if that's a slap in the face to Apple or a slap in the face to android lol.
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OS-X in an offhanded way is based off of UNIX which is what Linux is based off of so they are more similar than people think. Think of it as a closed source Linux.
kzoodroid said:
OS-X in an offhanded way is based off of UNIX which is what Linux is based off of so they are more similar than people think. Think of it as a closed source Linux.
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Click to collapse
I don't think I'd call it particularly offhanded. It's based on a straight port of BSD called Darwin, which is open source under the a proprietary license that is similar to the GPL, with some additional allowances for linking to non-free software. I don't recall them ever trying to hide that. Granted, recent versions of Darwin are less than usable without all the close source OS X stuff, but there is a community trying to fix that. I'm not sure how far they'll really get, but it's neat to see.
http://www.puredarwin.org/
shrike1978 said:
I don't think I'd call it particularly offhanded. It's based on a straight port of BSD called Darwin, which is open source under the a proprietary license that is similar to the GPL, with some additional allowances for linking to non-free software. I don't recall them ever trying to hide that. Granted, recent versions of Darwin are less than usable without all the close source OS X stuff, but there is a community trying to fix that. I'm not sure how far they'll really get, but it's neat to see.
http://www.puredarwin.org/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, OS X is UNIX with a fancy graphical overlay
personally i use ubuntu 12.04, but when sneaking in some stuff at work ill use win xp (can work on sense roms and such)
and on occasion will do some stuff in OSX on wifes laptop
shrike1978 said:
I don't think I'd call it particularly offhanded. It's based on a straight port of BSD called Darwin, which is open source under the a proprietary license that is similar to the GPL, with some additional allowances for linking to non-free software. I don't recall them ever trying to hide that. Granted, recent versions of Darwin are less than usable without all the close source OS X stuff, but there is a community trying to fix that. I'm not sure how far they'll really get, but it's neat to see.
http://www.puredarwin.org/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I considered it offhanded as Apple bought NeXT in 1996 which had an OS called NeXTSTEP (OPENSTEP and the OpenStep API) based off BSD. (NeXT was Steve Jobs company he formed after Apple let him go). The OPENSTEP foundation is the basis of OS-X and iOS. The funny thing is Jobs did all this in the late 80's early 90's while not even a part of Apple, he was basically fired, then 20 years later his work was what ended up saving Apple.
kzoodroid said:
I considered it offhanded as Apple bought NeXT in 1996 which had an OS called NeXTSTEP (OPENSTEP and the OpenStep API) based off BSD. (NeXT was Steve Jobs company he formed after Apple let him go). The OPENSTEP foundation is the basis of OS-X and iOS. The funny thing is Jobs did all this in the late 80's early 90's while not even a part of Apple, he was basically fired, then 20 years later his work was what ended up saving Apple.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea. Darwin was basically their relicensing of NeXTSTEP/OpenSTEP to the Apple Open Source License. I played with NeXTcube in college, a couple of years after Apple bought out NeXT and shut it down. They were neat systems. I wish they'd stuck around longer.

[Q] fooling around with android devices

Hey guys, didn't know where exactly to put this, but imo it fits best here (if not please tell me)
So i thought about fooling around with software and hardware, basicly: getting iOS or win7.8 or win8 on a android device (and i am not talking about some sh** that just looks like it)
As i have no experience in ROMs or anything programming related i just wanted to know if this would be possible?
It would be really awesome as i am very fond of fooling around with hardware devices where you dont expect the software you have xD
Because i heard of some classmate of my cousin who flashed android on his windows-phone (he had some old 6.x version)
Greets Vauvenal7
Sent from my HTC Vision
Vauvenal7 said:
... getting iOS or win7.8 or win8 on a android device (and i am not talking about some sh** that just looks like it)...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, it's impossible. iOS needs specific HW, plus both OSes are closed source. You can run Android on iStuff and on WinMob devices (HTC HD2) because Android is open source, you can change everything in it without problems.
iOS and WP aren't open source and you can't modify it.
fifo171 said:
Well, it's impossible. iOS needs specific HW, plus both OSes are closed source. You can run Android on iStuff and on WinMob devices (HTC HD2) because Android is open source, you can change everything in it without problems.
iOS and WP aren't open source and you can't modify it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right.
the iPhone has its own processor -- the "A6" is used in the iPhone 5 which is based on the ARMv7, but I'm confident it is different enough to effectively make "porting" the iOS to another hardware platform essentially impossible (short of repackaging an iPhone's internals into a different case).
Now Windows Mobile 8 runs on "Qualcomm Snapdragon S4" chips (according to Wikipedia) which seems a bit safer on the hardware end...but then you're looking at trying to get a closed-source operating system to run on a different hardware..
I'd say Windows Mobile 8 is pooooossible, but it's a very very long stretch. And then, is it really worth it? Or just to say that you did it?
I think I'd just stick to Android since they are GIVING us the operating system. It's like free money!
Thanks guys
Well, pitty :/
And yeah...nothing goes over android xD
But it would have still been fun though^^
Greets Vauvenal7
Sent from my HTC Vision

What are the pros/cons of developing only for Android 4.0+?

Hey guys,
I'm a writer for PhoneArena.com and I'm working on a piece about Android development. The idea is inspired by Koush saying that he is considering "adopting an Android 4.0+ only app development policy", and I wanted to get some ideas as to what you all see as the pros/cons to this approach.
I understand that dropping support for 2.x leaves out just under 50% of the market, but I guess I'm wondering how much you find that those users use apps. Koush and some commenters have insinuated that the Play stats for apps show that most users that actually download apps are on 4.x anyway.
What do you think? What are the pros/cons of developing only for Android 4.0+?
Thanks!
-Mike
I still code all my apps 2.3.3+ because there's not much I need in the later versions because of the great work of ActionBarSherlock, Android Support and Holo Everywhere. I run an app development company at android-app-development.ie, clients are usually local companies and the apps aren't exactly earth-shattering. They don't need many features but I get an earful if a customer can't install on their Galaxy S2. Still a great and hugely popular phone, most of them running 2.3.3.

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