[Q] Android - General Questions and Answers

I have been doing a little research between iOS and Android platforms. One major difference I have noticed is that Apple has a platform that is compatible across their devices. For applications it seems it would be easier to develop applications for the iOS. I might be wrong but, not finished with my research.
There is one concept that I have not been able to understand with the Android Platforms is the platforms that are available in the SDK. For example the Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0 is available on the developer website and what makes this release not available to install onto a phone. How does this translate from hardware to hardware?
If anyone can direct me to some enlightenment on this topic it would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance for your reply’s.

Related

what does gingerbread mean for Android gaming?

I was just wondering, what does 2.3 do exactly for gaming on Android? Please give details. I've noticed that compared to the iPhone app store, Android games do not compare. Is 2.3 going to make a difference and how?
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Kinda new to android ive always had apple I picked up the galaxy tab... Was thinking about rooting it but it runs pretty good stock... My real ? Here is what does gingerbread mean I hear about 2.3 something gingerbread? Thank you
Gingerbread is a new and better version of Android OS. If you search and do your research You will find that developers for this OS are calling different names of desserts as codenames for the different releases, like 2.2 was froyo for "Frozen Yogurt"
As one web site states...
The code name of the operating system (OS), Android always use desserts and has become his trademark. Why?
The names of the first Android operating system since its launch from the Cupcake (Android 1.5), Donut (Android 1.6), Eclair (Android 2.1), Froy (Android 2.2), gingerbread (Android 2.3), and special tablets OS, honeycomb (Android 3.0.)
New operating system will soon be the next version is Ice Cream (Android 2.4). Which is why Google uses the name of the dessert? Internet giant refused to explain.
Google spokesman said Randall Saraf to give the names were the result of internal decisions and Google choose to perform a little magic in this.
"When the new Android platform was released, carried the names of the desserts. Most of the alphabetical order," he said.
Another peculiarity Android operating system to use the name of the dessert, the names have the initials in alphabetical order, ie, Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, Froy, gingerbread, honeycomb, and ice cream."
About gaming, lets use windows as an example, first version of the OS (win95, 98) weren;t so good with games or tasks intensive apps, but in the latest versions this has evolved a lot... this is the same for the Android OS...

Android's next move: Unify phone and tablet OS

Here is the Latest on the Next update Ice cream sandwich:
Interesting update on what next to expect..........
From MSNBC:
By Wilson Rothman
Google has an ongoing problem: There are too many different versions of its software out there, running on too many different machines. Rather than rein in the number of possible devices — a tactic preferred by Apple and Microsoft, among others — Google is embarking on a much more challenging task: To create one OS that can drive 'em all.
I scream, you scream
Its nickname, Ice Cream Sandwich, belies the fact that it's software engineering ambition in its extreme. Google is promising the OS update by the year's end. Central to the task is writing software tools that do not require apps to work with specific screen resolution or power demands. And because the goal is to have this same OS run not just on phones and tablets, but set-top boxes and other systems, Google will be "adding a lot of UIs to accommodate Android devices of all shapes and sizes," according to tech site Ars Technica, reporting from Google's I/O event in San Francisco.
In spite of that, the core look and feel will resemble Android's 3.0 Honeycomb, now found on a handful of Android tablets including the Motorola Xoom and Asus EeePad Transformer. According to Cnet, Ice Cream Sandwich "will include all of Honeycomb's user interface features, too, and includes the 'holographic' user interface, application launcher, multitasking and richer widgets."
Tablet update coming soon
Speaking of those Honeycomb tablets, they're due to get an interim update with two very welcome additions. I have complained for a while that the Honeycomb home screen is ugly, because the "widgets" that give it an advantage over the iPad are still sized to fit phones, not spacious 10-inch tablets. In the Android 3.1 release (for tablets only), widgets will be resizable.
Many Honeycomb tablets come with USB ports, and now we know why: The release will also allow for device support via USB, a clear benefit that the iPad does not share. Not only will people be able to plug in cameras to off-load images, but they'll be able to use keyboards, game controllers, microphones and other input and control devices. (Here's more on the Open Accessory program.)
There will also be provisions in the new software for interaction with a wide range of accessories, from exercise machines to robots.
But will it update?
Ambitious as the path to Ice Cream Sandwich is, that's something that Google can handle mostly in-house. The other half of this fragmentation problem is that devices out there don't get updates to the new OS — even when they're technically compatible. To fix this problem, Google is enlisting the help of its partners, the biggest companies in the wireless world. "New devices from participating partners will receive the latest Android platform upgrades for 18 months after the device is first released, as long as the hardware allows."
Neither of these big moves is bound to solve the fragmentation for the 100 million or so active Android devices currently in the world, but it's a sign that Google cares about the future of its platform, and about making it a great OS for really cool software.

Android as an OS for non-phone devices

Hello,
First off, apologies if I have posted this in the incorrect forum.
The company I work for is looking to update one of it's product lines and has been toying with the idea of using Android as a development platform. Up until now the philosophy has always been to develop simple, bespoke embedded software that provides only the functionality that is needed at the time. The device itself will be a medical device, and as such will have no telephony requirements (and associated things like contacts, calander and the large majority of the pre-installed Android apps).
I have read, and understand it is possible to re-compile Android from source and remove all of these non-required functionality. My question is really if that is worth doing? i.e. stripping out all un-needed applications that get build into a stock ROM. Or would it be a more efficient to use some form of OTS embedded Linux platform?
Something in Android 4.0 that does seem to be useful is the support for Bluetooth HDP.
Kind Regards,
Simon
Well there are other devices that aren't phones that use Android. Take the motoactv for example. It's a fitness watch that runs a stripped version of Android, but it's still Android and applications can still be programmed and installed to it.

[Q] Good up-to-date devices for Android Platform Hacking?

Hi Guys,
I've been out of the android platform development game since Android 1.5, so I've pretty much missed a lot of ongoing development lately.
My own device is a bit old and does not bring any fun, if you want to develop on up-to-date Android (or custom rom releases such as cyanogenmod), so I'm looking for a "hacking-friendly" device (phone, tablets are not for me). Can anyone recommend a device for good hacking experience?
Some properties which are interesting to me:
* "hardware openess"
* unlockable bootloader
* bleeding edge hardware so everything runs fast enough
Thanks in Advance

Which platform is best for developing android apps, android studio or eclipse??

I am working on eclipse from 6 months but recently I downloaded android studio and i found it good too. So i am confused which platform should i keep using?
thanks.
Eclipse is d best i feel..developing on it since ice cream sandwich
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I've no problem with android studio except the fact that it is damn slow. I'm sure that it will improve in the future.
Eclipse is a very familiar tool. It feels like home when I use eclipse and a lot faster.
Androi Studio for sure
My personal favorite is android studio. Its much better then eclipse and it surely improves productivity in certain tasks.
Developers should be update, use Android Studio
Android Studio.. IDEA based software is best ever.. You guys must learn its featured and then you would say wow. From multiple selection to Floating Navigation Bar to Any File Go to lot and lot of features..... Extremely customisable... I don't know how many have used legendary code editor sublime text.
Buy this android studio.... Completely Brings all features of Sublime Text into an IDE. Learn the features of this ide... And u will hate all other ide altogether
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Also google positions Android Studio as the official development environment.
Eclipse is faster, but Android Studio has more features and is built for Android specifically (while Eclipse is built for Java generally). If your computer can run it smoothly, go with Studio.
I personally believe one should always use the one which is best and up-to-date. Saying that, Android Studio fits in best as this is the latest development platform with loaded features and easy to use.
The only factor that it takes time and effort for the developers to learn new things. For, developers who starts fresh doesn't make much difference to them as they need to learn either one of the platform and they can start with Android Studio. If one learns Eclipse first, they eventually need to learn Android Studio and upgrade themselves at some point.
Moreover, there are additional features on any new releases than the older version. Similarly, we see some of the well known features that are available on Android Studio and not present in Eclipse, mentioned here:
1. Maven-based build dependencies
2. Build variants and multiple-APK generation (great for Android Wear).
3. Advanced Android code completion and refactoring.
Finally, new and advanced features in these new released platforms helps developers to produce apps faster.
Happy Coding
Cheers!
For low performance laptop Android Studio wouldnt be as efficient, on the other hand it have a lot of advantage rather than eclips.
I'm looking to create an app for android (which I can eventually add to the play store), that contains buttons of a sort in the fact that if you tap on the screen in once place one thing will happen and in another place, something else. Can anyone recommend which I should use to create this app? Also, do they both use need java? (android studios or eclipse)
Thanks!
I've found the newer versions of Android Studio to be much more efficient as well as having less issues than they used to. I highly recommend using Android Studio, especially since Google is ending support for Eclipse by the end of the year.
intellij
Android Studio is a customized version of IntelliJ, which is a commercial IDE. So you're getting a $200 IDE for free!
And intellij is very polished
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Android studio is pretty good, but it is very slow and takes a bit too much of the memory
I have only used Android Studio so far. Lot of support tutorials and ease of understanding / use. May be, one day I will explore other options. Not for now.
My vote is going for Android Studio.
I vote for Android Studio. eclipse is not support. but i am using visual studio to develop android app (cordova hybrid project).
Hi,
Android Studio is great.The framework is sleek and it is perfect platform to develop your apps.
If you are new to android programming i would suggest you can take courses from Udacity (Android Basics Nanodegree program by Google)Here you will be taught by the Google developers themselves and it's really cool and interactive.
Android Studio.. Thought based programming is best ever.. You all must take in its included and after that you would say stunning. From different choice to Floating Navigation Bar to Any File Go to parcel and part of features..... To a great degree customisable... I don't know what number of have utilized incredible code editorial manager radiant content.
Purchase this android studio.... Totally Brings all components of Sublime Text into an IDE. Take in the elements of this ide... What's more, u will despise all other ide by and large

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