Android App Development For Dummies, 3rd Edition

Chapter 16

Developing for Tablets

In This Chapter

Zeroing in on why a tablet is a different digital beast

Modifying your existing app to run on tablets

Downloading a tablet emulator

Using responsive layouts

Building product flavors

Creating a tablet‐only activity

You need to master some tricks of the trade to make your apps work on tablets and on phones. In this chapter, you can get an overview of the differences betweeen phones and tablets, and then find out how to design the Tasks application to work on both types of devices.

Considering the Differences between Phones and Tablets

Android tablets and Android phones have some obvious differences, and size immediately comes to mind, but that is only one of the differences:

• Tablets are designed to be held in two hands, whereas phones are designed for only one.

• Android tablet screens tend not to extend past the 7‐to‐10‐inch range, ...