Pro Android 2 shows you how to build real-world and fun mobile applications using Google’s latest Android SDK. This new edition is fully updated for Android 2, covering everything from the fundamentals of building applications for embedded devices to advanced concepts such as custom 3D components, OpenGL, and touchscreens including gestures. While other Android development guides simply discuss topics, Pro Android 2 offers the combination of expert insight and real sample applications that work.

• Discover the design and architecture of the Android SDK through practical examples, and how to build mobile applications using the Android SDK.
• Explore and use the Android APIs, including those for media and Wi-Fi.
• Learn about Android 2’s integrated local and web search, handwriting gesture UI, Google Translate, and text-to-speech features.

Pro Android 2 dives deep, providing you with all the knowledge and techniques you need to build mobile applications ranging from games to Google apps, including add-ons to Google Docs. You’ll be able to extend and run the new Google Chrome APIs on the G1, the G2, and other next-generation Google phones and Android-enabled devices.

What you’ll learn

• How to use Android to build Java-based mobile applications for Google phones with a touch screen or keyboard (thanks to Cupcake’s inclusion as of Android 1.5)
• How to design and architect using Google’s latest Android SDK
• How to use the Android SDK to write mobile applications for embedded devices
• How to create 3D graphics with OpenGL and custom components
• How to build multimedia and game apps using Android’s Media APIs and OpenGL
• How to use Android’s location-based services, networking (Wi-Fi APIs), and security
• How to create and allow for more integrated local and web searches
• How to build handwriting gesture UIs
• How to incorporate Google Translate into your Android applications

Who is this book for?

This book is for professional software engineers/programmers looking to move their ideas and applications into the mobile space with Android. It assumes that readers have a passable understanding of Java, including being able to write classes and handle basic inheritance structures. This book also targets hobbyists.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introducing the Android Computing Platform…1
Chapter 2: Getting Your Feet Wet…25
Chapter 3: Using Resources, Content Providers, and Intents…57
Chapter 4: Building User Interfaces and Using Controls…123
Chapter 5: Working with Menus and Dialogs…171
Chapter 6: Unveiling 2D Animation…217
Chapter 7: Exploring Security and Location-Based Services…243
Chapter 8: Building and Consuming Services…289
Chapter 9: Using the Media Framework and Telephony APIs…327
Chapter 10: Programming 3D Graphics with OpenGL…363
Chapter 11: Managing and Organizing Preferences…421
Chapter 12: Exploring Live Folders…439
Chapter 13: Home Screen Widgets…457
Chapter 14: Android Search…491
Chapter 15: Exploring Text to Speech and Translate APIs…563
Chapter 16: Touchscreens…591
Chapter 17: Titanium Mobile: A WebKit-Based Approach to Android Development…627
Chapter 18: Working with Android Market…661
Chapter 19: Outlook and Resources…675

Check out the authors’ website, www.androidbook.com, for the latest updates and information.

Build unique mobile applications with the latest Android SDK

Written by an Android authority, this up-to-date resource shows you how to leverage the features of Android 2 to enhance existing products or create innovative new ones. Serving as a hands-on guide to building mobile apps using Android, the book walks you through a series of sample projects that introduces you to Android's new features and techniques. Using the explanations and examples included in these pages, you'll acquire the foundation needed to write compelling mobile applications that use Android, along with the flexibility to quickly adapt to future enhancements.

Professional Android 2 Application Development:

• Reviews Android as a development platform and¿best practices for mobile development

• Provides an in-depth look at the Android application components

• Details creating layouts and Views to produce compelling resolution independent user interfaces

• Examines Intents and Content Providers for sharing data

• Introduces techniques for creating map-based applications and using location-based services such as GPS

• Looks at how to create and use background Services, Notifications, and Alarms

• Demonstrates how to create interactive homescreen components

• Explores the Bluetooth, telephony, and networking APIs

• Examines using hardware, including the camera and sensors such as the compass and accelerometers

Wrox Professional guides are planned and written by working programmers to meet the real-world needs of programmers, developers, and IT professionals. Focused and relevant, they address the issues technology professionals face every day. They provide examples, practical solutions, and expert education in new technologies, all designed to help programmers do a better job.

wrox.com Programmer Forums

Join our Programmer to Programmer forums to ask and answer programming questions about this book, join discussions on the hottest topics in the industry, and connect with fellow programmers from around the world.

Code Downloads

Take advantage of free code samples from this book, as well as code samples from hundreds of other books, all ready to use.

Read More

Find articles, ebooks, sample chapters and tables of contents for hundreds of books, and more reference resources on programming topics that matter to you.

Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

Archos, award-winning for its constant technology innovation, now introduces its new Archos 5 Internet Tablet. This product combines all the multimedia know-how that Archos is famous for, with the Android operating system. It offers you an uncompromised Internet, Media and TV experience in a customizable interface. In perpetual evolution with the continuous arrival of new applications, you can personalize your Archos 5 Internet Tablet to perfectly reflect your tastes and needs.

All the multimedia know-how that Archos is famous for, with the ANDROID operating system. Click to enlarge.

HD Multimedia

Brilliant 5-inch Touchscreen
The Archos 5 features an 800 pixel-wide 5-inch touchscreen, an ultra thin design, and an accelerometer for portrait or landscape viewing. Whether enjoying media yourself or sharing with friends, it delivers outstanding image quality.

HD Video Formats
Don't compromise--the Archos 5 Internet Tablet is able to handle the widest range of video formats, even at HD 720p resolution (H.264 HD, MPEG-4 HD, and WMV HD5).

Your Music Everywhere
Enjoy more music formats directly on your device (MP3, WMA, WAV, AAC, AAC+, FLAC and OGG Vorbis). In addition, the unique Archos music browsing system allows you to create your playlists without using a PC. Who needs a tuner? Just plug your Archos 5 into amplified speakers and you're all set.

Experience Your Photos
Browse through your photos with a simple flick of your finger or play a slideshow with music and transition effects. The high resolution screen is great for zooming in on details.

Take It All
The devices features a 32 GB Flash drive and a microSD card slot for expanding the player's capacity, so you won't waste time choosing what files to bring along--take your entire media library with you.

Personalize your Archos 5 Internet Tablet with apps to suit your tastes and needs. Click to enlarge.

Find your destination with the on-board GPS. Click to enlarge.

Internet

Fast & Convenient Web Surfing
The Archos 5 lets you easily surf the Web. With a Wi-Fi connection (802.11 b/g/n) and the new OMAP3440 processor running at 800 MHz, you get quick and responsive Internet browsing just like on a laptop, without the endless waits for page loads. Enjoy the Web in full width thanks to the 800 pixel wide screen, with no need to zoom in or out.

3.5 G Mobile Phone Connection
If you own a standard mobile phone equipped with 3.5 G & Bluetooth technology, simply pair it up to your Archos 5 Internet Tablet via Bluetooth. This will give you easy access to Internet directly on your device anytime and anywhere.

Web TV and Web Radio
In less than 3 clicks, you can access nearly 1,000 Web TV channels, over 10,000 Web radio stations, and 100,000 podcasts. There's no downloading wait time. Radio and TV start streaming directly from a worldwide list of traditional and independent radio and TV stations.

Media Club
The Media Club remains the easiest way to get video and music content on the go. With an even richer library with new partners and some of the biggest industry names, you'll discover a large library of movies, documentaries, music albums, and games. Buy or rent your entertainment in a couple of clicks and start watching it on your Archos 5 Internet Tablet.

GPS

Full-Featured GPS
Whether you are walking or driving, you will always find your destination with the on-board GPS. The GPS includes voice assistance, points of interest, fast multiple-route calculations, and car/pedestrian/adventure modes based on the latest maps from Tele Atlas with 3D landmarks.

You can go to your account at anytime on the Archos website and purchase the available maps or cities.

3D Photo-Realistic City Navigation
Find your way around cities in 3D Photo Realistic mode. With multi-angle views and four zoom levels, you'll be able to recognize places as if you had taken your own photos from the sky. This is ideal when walking and visiting large cities in the US (available Q1 2010).

Free 7-Day Trial
Try the GPS for 7 days free of charge.

TV

HD TV-Out With the Optional DVR Station or HDMI Mini Dock
Turn your TV into a real web-connected multimedia platform. Enjoy all the Archos functions on the big screen of your living room. Watch your movies in HD (720p), listen to your music, share your high resolution pictures, play games or surf the Web.

Record your favorite programs with the Optional DVR Station
With the optional DVR Station, you have the perfect match for your Archos 5 Internet Tablet at home. Record TV shows and movies in one step using with the included remote control. Then you can enjoy your recording at home on your wide-screen TV or in the palm of your hand when you are out.

Add the DVR Station to record TV, play video back to your TV and charge your Archos. Click to enlarge.

Get extended playback and S-Video/Composite video with the Battery Dock. Click to enlarge.

Use the DVR Snap-on to record from almost any audio or video analog source when you are on the move. Click to enlarge.

Applications

Ready to go with pre-installed applications

Enjoy a selection of fun and practical applications for daily use right out of the box:

eBuddy IM: for instant messaging
The multi-platform instant messaging application. Chat from one place to all your friends on the various platforms. Supports MSN, Yahoo, Gtalk, Facebook, ICQ, MySpace and AIM (AOL)

DroidIn: for connecting to LinkedIn
Connect to your LinkedIn account to exchange information, ideas and opportunities. Stay informed about your contacts and industry. Find the people & knowledge you need to achieve your goals. Control your career online.

Twitroid: for instant micro-blogging
Twitroid is the industry-standard Twitter client for the Android platform. Easily access the famous free social networking and micro-blogging service that enables you to send and read tweets, publish short URLs and pictures.

Deezer: for music streaming
Enjoy 35 free web radio stations and the SmartRadio directly on your Archos 5 Internet Tablet.

Dailymotion: for viewing and sharing videos
Browse videos by searching tags, channels or user-created groups.

QuickPedia: for access to Wikipedia
Access to the free web-based and collaborative encyclopedia.

ThinkFree Mobile: for viewing Office documents
This application allows you to view, edit and create Microsoft Office 97/2000/XP/2003/2007 Word, Excel, PowerPoint and PDF documents. You will get a free update before year-end allowing you to also edit and create documents.

E-mail & contacts
Stay in contact by using the full integrated Email and contacts applications.

Moov: toggles easily between your apps
Moov wraps up your search needs all in one place, so you can quickly toggle between the product's contacts, Google, Wikipedia and the remaining Applications on your product.

CraigsPhone: for access to online classified advertisements
CraigsPhone is a centralized network of online communities, featuring free online classified advertisements--with sections devoted to jobs, housing, personals, for sale, services, community, gigs, resumes, and discussion forums.

High Paying Jobs: for access to a list of jobs (US & Canada only)
Browse through jobs lists directly on the Product. Search over 2 million jobs from all the leading jobsites.

Add-ons

DVR Station
This accessory allows you to record TV, play video back to your TV and charge your Archos. Recording your favorite programs has never been so easy. You can also surf the Web or stream web video to your TV while comfortably laid back on your couch using the included remote control as a keyboard and mouse pointer.

DVR Snap-on
Use our DVR Snap-on to record from almost any audio or video analog source when you are on the move.

Mini Dock
Transfer your files directly from USB keys, digital cameras, or other portable media players. Quickly charge your Archos with the included charger/adapter. Play video out to your TV with video output in high quality S-Video or standard quality composite.

HDMI Mini Dock
Optimize TV playback with HDMI output quality. Transfer your files directly from USB keys, digital cameras, or other portable media players from the standard USB port. Quickly charge your Archos with the included charger/adapter.

Battery Dock
Transfer your files directly from USB sticks, digital cameras, or other portable media players. Quickly charge your Archos with the included charger/adapter and get extended playback with the built-in backup battery. Play video out to your TV with video output in high quality S-Video or standard quality composite.

What's in the Box

Archos 5 Internet Tablet with Android (32 GB), headphones, Standard USB cable, DVR Station adapter, Quick Start Guide (QSG), legal and safety notice.

The Android development platform, created by Google and the Open Handset Alliance, is a platform in its truest sense, encompassing hundreds of classes beyond the traditional Java classes and open source components that ship with the SDK.

With Beginning Android 2, you’ll learn how to develop applications for Android 2.x mobile devices, using simple examples that are ready to run with your copy of the SDK. Author, Android columnist, writer, developer, and community advocate Mark L. Murphy will show you what you need to know to get started programming Android applications, including how to craft GUIs, use GPS, and access web services.

What you’ll learn

• Discover Android and how to use it to build Java-based mobile applications for a wide range of phones and other devices.
• Create user interfaces using both the Android widget framework and the built-in WebKit-powered Web browser components.
• Utilize the distinctive capabilities of the Android engine, including location tracking, maps, and Internet access.
• Use and create Android applications incorporating activities, services, content providers, and broadcast receivers.
• Support Android 1.5, 1.6, and 2.0 devices, including dealing with multiple Android OS versions, multiple screen sizes, and other device-specific characteristics.

Who is this book for?

This book is aimed at people new to mobile development, perhaps even to Java development itself.

ARCHOS now introduces a new large-screen Android™-based tablet, the Archos 7 501521 Internet Home Tablet. The Archos 7 501521 Internet Home Tablet product is specially designed to enhance the digital lifestyle in the home. The ARCHOS 7 home tablet bridges the gap between the smartphone and the desktop PC to provide always-on access to the web, customization through Android™ Apps, and multimedia content, all in a large-screen format.

The start-to-finish guide to Android development–from concept to market!

Android Wireless Application Development combines all the reliable information, sample code, and best practices you need to build, distribute, and market successful Android mobile applications. Drawing on their extensive experience with mobile and wireless development, Shane Conder and Lauren Darcey cover everything you need to execute a successful Android project: from concept and design through coding, testing, packaging, and delivery.

Conder and Darcey explain how mobile development differs from conventional development, how Android differs from other mobile platforms, and how to take full advantage of Android’s unique features and capabilities. They present detailed, code-rich coverage of Android’s most important APIs, expert techniques for organizing development teams and managing Android projects, and dozens of time-saving tricks and pitfalls to avoid.

• Master the latest Android development tools and Android SDK 1.5
• Use the Eclipse Development Environment for Java to develop and debug Android applications
• Design Android applications that are more efficient, reliable, and easier to use and offer better performance
• Work with Android’s optional hardware-specific APIs
• Use Android’s APIs for data, storage, networking, telephony, Location-Based Services (LBS), multimedia, and 3D graphics
• Leverage advanced Android capabilities such as Notifications and Services
• Ensure quality through solid test planning, efficient testing, and comprehensive defect tracking
• Make more money from your Android applications

This book is an indispensable resource for every member of the Android development team: software developers with all levels of mobile experience, team leaders and project managers, testers and QA specialists, software architects, and even marketers.

The super-smart Samsung Captivate for AT&T brings a fully integrated entertainment, messaging and social networking experience to your mobile phone, thanks to its open and innovative Android 2.1 platform. You'll be able to zip through the Web and multitask between a bevy of apps with the Captivate's 1 GHz processor and ultra-fast 7.2 Mbps 3G connectivity.

Enjoy brilliant video playback and gameplay with the 4-inch Super AMOLED touchscreen display.

Capture vivid still images and videos with the 5-megapixel camera with 720p HD video recording.

With integrated Google technology, the Samsung Captivate brings one-touch access to the popular Google mobile services millions use every day, including Google Search by voice, Google Maps with Street View, GTalk instant messaging (with presence capabilities), YouTube, and Picasa. The Captivate also provides easy access to both personal and corporate e-mail, calendars, and contacts supported by Exchange Server and Gmail. And through Android Market, you'll get access to thousands of useful applications, widgets and fun games to download and install on your phone, with many more apps being added every day.

The Captivate has a large 4-inch Super AMOLED touchscreen display that provides brighter, thinner, and higher-resolution than traditional screens. Samsung's innovative display technology makes watching movies, viewing videos and playing games come to life like never before, even in bright light and outdoor environments. And messaging is simple and easy with the Captivate's virtual QWERTY keyboard with Swype technology, which allows you to input text faster and in a more intuitive way with one continuous finger motion across the screen keyboard.

At 0.39 inches (9.9mm) thin, the Captivate is the thinnest Android smartphone on the market, and it packs in a 16 GB internal memory plus 5-megapixel camera/camcorder with auto-focus and HD video recording (720p resolution). Other features include fast Wireless-N Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g), Bluetooth 3.0 technology for hands-free devices and stereo music streaming, microSD memory expansion (for optional cards up to 16 GB in size), and just under 6 hours of talk time.

Samsung Social Hub

Offering one-stop shopping for all your updates, the Samsung Social Hub all your social networking services, messages, personal and business e-mail, calendars and contacts. It's built around Messaging and Contacts, both of which initiate the sending and receiving of information--whether it is e-mail, instant messaging, social network updates or SMS messages. Additionally, calendar information from portal calendars, such as Google Calendar, and social networking services are displayed together in one calendar with two-way synchronization.

The familiar text messaging experience is enhanced with group messaging and "reply all" functionality for up to 10 contacts, a threaded conversations format, a consolidated inbox, and enhanced multi-media display.

Powered by a fast 1 GHz processor, the Android 2.1 operating system, and AT&T's 7.2 Mbps 3G connectivity. Click here for a larger schematic image.

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Key Features

• Fast 3G connectivity via AT&T's HSDPA/UMTS network (850/1900 MHz bands; 3.6/7.2 Mbps speeds with network availability).
• Ultra-fast Wireless-N Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g/n) for accessing home and corporate networks as well as hotspots while on the go. Connect for free using one of the over 20,000 AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots nationwide.
• Powered by the Android operating system (version 2.1) with deep integration of Google services and access to thousands of apps to customize your phone via the Android Market.
• 1 GHz Samsung Hummingbird processor speeds up everything--from playing games to watching shows to opening files from work.
• Swype input system allows you to input text faster and easier by gliding your finger around the keyboard, moving from letter to letter in one continuous motion. The Swype technology then calculates what word you're intending to type (learn more below).
• Samsung Social Hub provides one stop for all your updates integrates all your social networking services, messages, personal and business e-mail, calendars and contacts.
• 4-inch Super AMOLED touchscreen display (480 x 800 pixels, 16 million color depth) is one of the thinnest, most responsive full-featured smartphones in the industry.
• 5.0-megapixel camera/camcorder with auto-focus and HD video recording (720p)
• Intelligent voice processor helps enhance voice and suppress noise for clear communications nearly anywhere. Like the human ear, the chip isolates your voice, and filters out all the unwanted background noise, for unsurpassed mobile call clarity without the noise from a busy street, loud public places, nearby conversations or even sirens going by.
• Multi-format digital audio player
• Next-generation Bluetooth 3.0 connectivity provides faster throughput while minimizing on power requirements. It's compatible with new Bluetooth 3.0-enabled devices as well as backward compatible with older Bluetooth-enabled peripherals such as headsets and printers. It includes profiles for communication headset, hands-free car kits, and the A2DP Bluetooth profile--enabling you to wirelessly stream your music to a pair of compatible Bluetooth stereo headphones or speaker dock.
• 16 GB internal memory
• Memory expansion via microSD card slot with support for optional cards up to 16 GB.
• YouTube app for streaming video over 3G and Wi-Fi connections.
• Rich HTML e-mail application seamlessly syncs your e-mail, calendar and contacts from Gmail as well as most other POP3 or IMAP e-mail services. The Gmail application provides features such as conversation view, spam filtering, search, and labels that Gmail users enjoy on their computer while offering new features such as integration with the phone's contact list. And it multitasks, so you can read a Web page while also downloading your e-mail in the background.
• Full HTML Web browser enables you to view more pages and enjoy better Web content delivered efficiently to your phone.
• Instant messaging support for Google Talk, as well as AOL, Yahoo! Messenger and Windows Live Messenger. It also supports advanced text messaging features, enabling you to easily flag, delete or move groups of messages and keep track of group conversations through threaded text messaging.
• Text (SMS) and picture/video (MMS) messaging
• Google Calendar app syncs with the Web-based version, so any event that you add to your phone will show up on the Web-based Google Calendar (and vice versa).
• Free AT&T Address Book service allows you to sync your contacts to an online address book, enabling you to access and manage your mobile contacts from your handset--or your PC. From the online interface, you can import contacts from other Web-based address books, such as personal e-mail accounts, as well as send text messages to your contacts' mobile numbers.

Vital Statistics
The Samsung Captivate weighs 4.5 ounces and measures 4.18 x 2.5 x 0.39 inches. Its 1500 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 5 hours, 50 minutes of talk time, and up to 340 hours (14+ days) of standby time. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE frequencies as well as AT&T's dual-band 3G network (850/1900 MHz; HSDPA/UMTS).

What's in the Box
Samsung Captivate handset, rechargeable battery, charger, wired stereo headset, USB cable, quick start guide <!--COMMENT: Service Section ========================== -->

AT&T Services

High-speed data connectivity via AT&T's 3G mobile broadband data network: The dual-band 850/1900 MHz 3G network provides up to 3.6/7.2 Mbps of download speed, making it possible to enjoy a variety of feature-rich wireless multimedia services, and it gives you the advantage of offering simultaneous voice and data services. In areas where the 3G network is not available, you'll continue to receive service on the AT&T EDGE network, which offers availability in more than 13,000 US cities and along some 40,000 miles of major highways. Providing average data speeds between 75-135Kbps, it's fast enough to support a wide range of advanced data services, including full picture and video messaging, high-speed color Internet access, and email on the go.

<!--COMMENT: Learn More Section ========================== -->

Learn More

Swype Keyboard

An alternative to the Android virtual keyboard, the Swype virtual keyboard allows you to input text by swiping the finger with one continuous finger or stylus motion across the screen keyboard. Based on testing, speed and accuracy are equal to or better than the traditional keyboard-tapping method. You can activate the Swype keyboard by pressing and holding in a text field, wait for popup to appear, click Input Method, and then select Swype.

In the image to the left, the word "quick" was generated from tracing the path shown above in a fraction of a second, by roughly aiming to pass through the letters of the word. A key advantage to Swype is that there is no need to be very accurate, enabling very rapid text entry.

Full Color!

In just 24 sessions of one hour or less, learn how to build powerful applications for the world’s first complete, open, and free mobile platform: Android. Using this book’s straightforward, step-by-step approach, you’ll build a fully-featured Android application from the ground up and master the skills you need to design, develop, test, and publish powerful applications. Each lesson builds on what you’ve already learned, giving you a rock-solid foundation for real-world success!

Step-by-step instructions carefully walk you through the most common Android development tasks.

Quizzes and Exercises at the end of each chapter help you test your knowledge.

By the Way notes present interesting information related to the discussion.

Did You Know? tips offer advice or show you easier ways to perform tasks.

Watch Out! cautions alert you to possible problems and give you advice on how to avoid them.

Learn how to…

• Develop Android applications quickly and successfully with Java
• Master Google’s Android SDK and development tools
• Leverage the Eclipse programming environment to develop Android projects
• Understand the Android application lifecycle
• Build effective, user-friendly user interfaces
• Retrieve, store, and work with application data
• Develop powerful network applications
• Add popular social features and location-based services to your applications
• Take advantage of Android device hardware like the camera
• Internationalize, test, and publish your Android applications

The M001 7 Google Android 1.6 Tablet Slate PC UMPC MID Netbook is an affordable 7 inch touchscreen tablet running Google Android 1.6. You will be able to surf the internet via Eken M001 built-in WiFi. The Eken M001 7 Google Android 1.6 Tablet has a 7 inch, 800 x 480 pixel display, a 600MHz ARM-based CPU, 2GB of storage, and an SDHC card slot for expasion. It also has 802.11b/g WiFi, and a navigation dial next to the power button. Theres also an accelerometer which allows the screen to auto-rotate between landscape and portrait mode