Android™ 3 SDK Programming For Dummies®

Introduction

The Android operating system now powers 32 percent of the smartphones in the United States. Android has not only a plurality of users but also a well-designed Java-based SDK to make developing apps straightforward and fun. With that, welcome to Android 3 SDK Programming For Dummies!

About This Book

This book explains the workings of the latest version of the Android SDK (version 3.1 when this book was printed). The book is aimed at the following audiences of software developers:

• You have experience in developing other kinds of Java applications but not those for a mobile device. If this is you, don't worry — this book serves as a mobile applications primer and discusses resource conservation, network disconnection, location changes, and hardware-software interaction, for example.
• You have mobile application development experience and are looking to develop an Android application equivalent to an app on another platform (such as the iPhone). You will be able to quickly understand the Android programming model (which is similar to, but also different from, the iOS and BlackBerry models) and then navigate to the chapters in the book that you're most interested in.
• You have Android experience and are looking to upgrade a program written for an earlier version of Android. You can easily identify the changed or new capabilities in the various versions of the Android SDK. If you're looking to identify what additional application functions or user experiences can be provided ...