Beginning Android 4

Beginning Android 4 is an update to Beginning Android 3, originally written by Mark Murphy. It is your first step on the path to creating marketable apps for the burgeoning Android Market, Amazon's Android Appstore, and more. Google’s Android operating-system has taken the industry by storm, going from its humble beginnings as a smartphone operating system to its current status as a platform for apps that run across a gamut of devices from phones to tablets to netbooks to televisions, and the list is sure to grow. Smart developers are not sitting idly by in the stands, but are jumping into the game of creating innovative and salable applications for this fast-growing, mobile- and consumer-device platform. If you’re not in the game yet, now is your chance! Beginning Android 4 is fresh with details on the latest iteration of the Android platform. Begin at the beginning by installing the tools and compiling a skeleton app. Move through creating layouts, employing widgets, taking user input, and giving back results. Soon you’ll be creating innovative applications involving multi-touch, multi-tasking, location-based feature sets using GPS. You’ll be drawing data live from the Internet using web services and delighting your customers with life-enhancing apps. Not since the PC era first began has there been this much opportunity for the common developer. What are you waiting for? Grab your copy of Beginning Android 4 and get started! What you’ll learn Develop Java-based mobile applications and games for a wide range of phones and devices. Create user interfaces using WebKit and the Android widget framework. Build location- and map-based applications drawing on live feeds over the Internet. Incorporate activities, services, content providers, and broadcast receivers into your applications. Support multiple Android versions, multiple screen sizes, and other device-specific characteristics. Build and experience the array of new WebM video and other multimedia APIs for Android and more. Who this book is for Beginning Android 4 is aimed at programmers new to Android application development who desire to create marketable applications for the burgeoning market of smartphone, tablet, and other Android device users. Table of Contents The Big Picture How to Get Started Your First Android Project Examining Your First Project A Bit About Eclipse Enhancing Your First Project Rewriting Your First Project Using XML-Based Layouts Employing Basic Widgets Working with Containers The Input Method Framework Using Selection Widgets Getting Fancy with Lists Still More Widgets and Containers Embedding the WebKit Browser Applying Menus Showing Pop-up Messages Handling Activity Lifecycle Events Handling Rotation Dealing with Threads Creating Intent Filters Launching Activities and Sub-Activities Working with Resources Defining and Using Styles Handling Multiple Screen Sizes Introducing the Honeycomb UI Using the Action Bar Fragments Handling Platform Changes Accessing Files Using Preferences Managing and Accessing Local Databases Leveraging Java Libraries Communicating via the Internet Services: The Theory Basic Service Patterns Alerting Users via Notifications Requesting and Requiring Permissions Accessing Location-Based Services Mapping with MapView and MapActivity Handling Telephone Calls Fonts More Development Tools The Role of Alternative Environments HTML5 PhoneGap Other Alternative Environments Dealing with Devices Where Do We Go from Here?