Greeting to fellow developers,
First thing's first: I'm a programmer, experienced in Java, C,C++ (mainly MSVS, unix/linux), and a few other (i.e. no longer fashionable) programming languages ... And I'm planning to start developing Android based Apps. Currently I'm in the phase of selecting the most suitable phone for my future endeavours.
The Question: What is the best, most suitable, Android phone which fulfils following criteria:
[1] is based on Android OS
[2] has a front-facing, i.e. secondary, camera. This is a must (!!!)
[3] is suitable for development & testing front-facing camera Apps. A must (!!!)
[4] would also be suitable for development of other Apps
[5] phone has to have a company promise of at least 12 months of security updates and updates on newer Android OS vers. (Due to ongoing developing, App debugging, etc.)
Where I come from (Slovenia-land) following are the phones which are available and achieve upper five features: Samsung Galaxy S, Samsung Galaxy S 2, Samsung Nexus S, HTC Sensation, HTC Desire S, LG Optimus 2X, Samsung I8000 Omnia II, .... (These are all phones available through telecommunications companies - i.e.: by investing into a 24 month usage plan. There's also a few other, promised, scheduled to be pushed on the market, phones. But without any certain launch dates, there's no point in me mentioning them!)
What I'm looking for is an advice from seasoned developers, who are / were already developing front-facing-camera Apps, which Android phone is best for me to buy (to be used for a whole App life-cycle: learning, developing, testing, updating)? Due to Android phone fragmentation this choice is really mind-boggling me, and is very difficult for me to make, and I would really not like to buy two or more phones right from the head-start. - For the past few months I've been reading a lot about Android development, and the thing that frightens me most is Android fragmentation. The way I understand negative effects of this fragmentation is: Let's say I develope an App, which exploits some front-facing-camera functionality (like a new skype, fring, or sth. like that), and start marketing it on various Android App Markets. Which phone is best for me to buy, to be able to avoid, those "doesn't work on my htc", "doesn't work on my gingerbread SGS", etc. negative Customer Experience and Evaluations? ... In short: I'd like to buy an Android phone w/ an Android OS, that would ensure me a developed App on that phone, is giving me confidence and peace of mind, that my App will work on all, or at least most, front-cam Android phones. I'm looking for an advice on which phone to invest in, so that my developed App will work on all, or at least most, Android 2.3.* (or later ver.) phones?
Currently I'm rooting for a Nexus S, but have read a few negative evaluations about them on Cnet and Google Customer Support forums . And I'd really not like to buy a $600 phone, which front camera or Wi-Fi doesn't even work the way it's supposed to! ...
I hope I'm not asking sth. that's not even remotely possible? And most certainly I hope I'm not shooting goats? ... Like I said, I am experienced in desktop Java, linux, etc. development, ... but the World of Android development is totally new for me! But I don't the have money to buy all of the latest front camera Android Phones out there.
I've searched this forums extensively, but found no answer to my thoughts and questions! I've also asked on fellow developer forums, got a few weak answers, but no strong ones. As You can see, I have a few blind spots in my knowledge ... And hopefully w/ Your help, I can fill these spots!
Thank You very much for any advice!
-- Lucky Star
Anyone? ... .. I'm just looking for an advice on which front-cam Android phone is best for me to buy for development purpose (to ensure that my App will work on all Android 2.3.* phones, i.e. best phone to fight Android fragmentation) ... Any kind of advice will do.
Thank you for your help.
Have a nice day,
-- Lucky Star
I think your best choice is the Nexus S as it is the official Google puppy and very easy to develop for.
Why is the Nexus S, as you say, "very easy to develop for"? - Is the development process on e.g.: SGS2 more difficult than Nexus S? They are using same OS, same SDK. SGS2 only has different UI.
2nd Question: How do I ensure my developed Apps on, let's say, Nexus S will indeed work on all, or at least most, front-cam Android 2.3.* phones?
Thanks for any and all advice!
Keep em' coming!
-- Lucky Star
+1 i am i also seekin a good suggestion
Bump ...
Come on people ... There must be some enthusiast on XDA developing Apps and exploring Android's FFC functionalities?
Still in search for a good advice ...
Many thanks!
Sgs 2.
Sent from SGS Captivate CM7 or MIUI with Escapist orTKGlitch using XDA premium app.
I know this isn't the proper use of code tags, but I figure(since there's no spoiler tag available) I should still give my fellow XDA'ers the opportunity to skip the backstory and letter format and get to the question:
Code:
Dear XDA-developers and members of Q&A,
I've been a software hacking enthusiast for 4 years now, ever since my father lent me his Motorola E680i and I figured out it ran Linux and I could hack it to increase its feature set. As I'm studying computer science and in my second year, I feel it may be time to start digging deeper than just the application layer.
My girlfriend has a Nokia N8, and in September we'll be able to get new phones, she'll finally get an Android phone and I might get a new one as well(depending on whether or not my Desire HD still satisfies me). As she'll be replacing her phone, I'll be able to do whatever I want with it, I decided I want to toy around with hacking it(and yes, foolishly I want to port Android to it).
My question to the developers amongst us is, how does hacking actually work, and how have you been able to port Android over to other devices?
Hello everyone, I'm 35, I'll no longer have the utility of this tablet. I would like it to become the playground for my 5 year old son.
In the best case, the most convenient for me and for him, and this sister if it stings him that the tablet would be completly configured child mode ignition to extinction.
What do you think ?
I'm crazy you tell me, but there exist a custom ROM in this direction?
The tablet runs on CM 12.1.
Can you help me ? The simplest would buy him a tablet adapted to his age but I fear it is very low-end models and too closed software level.
If a custom ROM just for our children does not exist ... how do you find an effective solution that would avoid me to put this tablet to the drawer and to benefit my kid?
I tried Potati application, really no, not at all suited to a 5 year old, full of pubs, not to mention the links INAPPROPRIATE links social networks ... There are really children of this age with Facebook ?? I also tested the Kidos application, not bad, it's what I mostly search for the good of my children, but very easy to leave the mode without using the password!
I hope to have attracted your attention, you'll be able to play without me think of sucide lol. I am French I pass by Google translation (lol lol) and unfortunately our French forums are turned on new propuits Marqueting.
Good end of year party you! (But I hope to have answers before )
Hello everybody. This is my very first post and I've been on xda for something like 30 min. Therefore if the post is inappropriate delete or move it. Thanx.
Now why ask here? Well, I'm sort of developer and sys admin and I've learnt that best answers come from tech people, so here I am!
As first let start with a broad question.
I'm coming from a moto g first gen. My phone expected life is 2 years according to previous phones I've owned.
What am I searching? Well I'm focusing on a bit of security in software. For those who know linux I'm the kind of guy who uses centos on servers, ubuntu LTS or debian stable on vms or desktop, I'm not in search for the latest and greatest but proper patch level adherence in android.
I don't really bother about void warranty. Lets face it: in my country (italy) consumers devices have no SLA nor you can expect anything from repair shops, so in case of damage I still need to buy a second phone for temporary patch.
I'm asking you: what alternatives are here to nexus? I've red that sony seems good at following patch levels. Cyanogen (in case I'll buy and root a phone) seems to release stables now and then without strict montly patches. What about other roms?
In the end which are the alternatives to nexus (both stock or aftermarket) for a proper security patch coverage? I'm I "cursed" to buy a nexus or may I pick from supported devices of any of existent roms?
to narrow specs: I'm searching for something in the range € 200-250, between 4.7'' and 5.2'', 16-32 GB disk, 2+ GB ram, decent camera, wifi N (2.4 is ok, never used 5 ghz), basically don't care so much about other specs, just get good battery runtime.
Thank you,
M
PS: Potential buy is Nexus 5X (supported by google for next 2 years, and available around € 230 on some italian on line shops) but battery runtimes are not so good
Welcome to XDA!
Gee, I didn't realize it, but there are (at least) two of these well established topics (and stickied) going on now:
One is right above yours, for general discussion
The other is in the Q&A sister subforum, more tailored for asks
Since your thread is geared more for asking which to buy, I would go for the latter.
Good luck, and hope this helps.
To help promote the use of the above threads, I will be closing this one now.
Hello there and welcome to my very first post in this Forum.
First of all I would like to thank so many Devs and Hackers here to do so much work and spending time in the ROMs or the hacks for some stuff.
Without the help of this forum I wouldn't have rootet and changed firmware on so many different devices.
Up to now I did not have a reason to register or post in here but now I have been put on a task by my father
Yes as it is always you have an IT guy in family he/she is responsible for anything from programming TV to hacking mothers Tablet XD
enough blah blah here's the task:
My father bought himself a Tablet and as it always is he did not ask me he just bought the cheapest one available a
"Hannspree HannSpad HSG1297"
In the first months it was ok than he found some things are not working without beeing able to store and run apps from the SDCard because that device
has as always with this devices a extremely tiny internal storage.
Despite my suggestions he made the next mistake he bought another Tablet.
Again a cheap one but now with the newer Android 7 the only thing he listened to me... *sadface*
This time it was an "Odys Xelio HD 10 LTE"
And here is the connection we both investigated these both devices and finally come to the conclusion they are both the same Tablet Barebone I would say just different
producers name and modell name.
The Hanns is only available with Android 4.4.x
The Odys is available with Android 7
The question is if our conclusion is right would it be possible to put the Android 7 from Odys to the HannsPad?
What would be required to do this?
I would appreciate any suggestions or tipps.
Sorry for Bumping this up but at least yes or no would be enough for me