Android™ Tablet Application Development For Dummies®

Why Develop for Android Tablets?

If you're already developing apps for Android mobile devices, developing for Android tablets is the next logical venture for you. If you're not developing for Android mobile devices, the real question should be, “Why not develop for Android tablets?” Do you want your app to be available to millions of users worldwide? Do you want to publish apps as soon as you're done writing and testing them? Do you like developing on open platforms? Do you have a great app in mind more suited for a tablet than a smart phone? If you answered yes to any of these questions, I think you have your answer, but in case you're still undecided, keep reading, and I'll explain what I mean.

Using your existing Android code

If you're an existing Android developer, pay attention: You can use the same code you wrote for your other Android apps on the Android tablet. Yes, that's right, you can develop for both devices with the same code. With Android, you can have your cake and eat it, too! The only differences you'll encounter are some nuances between device screen sizes and how to handle the various new features in both platforms. Android has always aimed itself as being as backward-compatible as possible, and if you refrain from using newer features, you can write apps that work on previous versions. I cover these differences throughout the course of this book.

Major market share

As a developer, you have an opportunity to develop apps for a booming market that's expanding ...