Professional Android™ 2 Application Development

Chapter 1. Hello, Android

WHAT'S IN THIS CHAPTER?

• A background to mobile application development

• What Android is (and what it isn't)

• An introduction to the Android SDK features

• What devices Android runs on

• Why develop for mobile and Android?

• An introduction to the SDK and the Android development framework

Whether you're an experienced mobile engineer, a desktop or web developer, or a complete programming novice, Android represents an exciting new opportunity to write innovative applications for mobile devices.

Despite the name, Android will not help you create an unstoppable army of emotionless robot warriors on a relentless quest to cleanse the earth of the scourge of humanity. Instead, Android is an open-source software stack that includes the operating system, middleware, and key mobile applications along with a set of API libraries for writing mobile applications that can shape the look, feel, and function of mobile handsets.

Small, stylish, and versatile, modern mobile devices have become powerful tools that incorporate cameras, media players, GPS systems, and touchscreens. As technology has evolved, mobile phones have become about more than simply making calls, but their software and development platforms have struggled to keep pace.

Until recently, mobile phones were largely closed environments built on highly fragmented, proprietary operating systems that required proprietary development tools. The phones themselves often prioritized native applications over those written by third ...