Visual representation of Android Development from March 2009 to Present day
Nov 21, 2011 Android App Development
Android App developers certainly have a treat waiting for them. Ever wondered how the development in AOSP (Android Open Source Project) from Cupcake to Ice Cream Sandwich would look like if it was visually represented? Look no further, as YouTube user xcco3x has put together a video of Android Development from March 2009 to the present day.
A brief Description from xcco3x about the video:
The graph represents the source tree. Non-leaf nodes are directories and leaf nodes are files where their color represents the type of file. Files appear as they are modified and disappear if they are not touched for 2.5 seconds.
In other words, each “blast” from a user is a commit. These commits come from both Googlers and contributors. The data was taken from stitching together the logs of all the many AOSP projects. It does not include the external/* and prebuilt/* projects which are dependencies of Android.
This visualization was created with gource – http://code.google.com/p/gource.
To view the video, click on the link below:
Android Development from March 2009 to November 2011
Tags: Android App Development, android development, Android Open Source Program, AOSP, Source code tree
Google TV add-on for Android SDK available for Android App Developers
Aug 23, 2011 Android App Development
At the Google I/O conference this May, Google announced that it would soon start to give Android support to the Google TV, which was good news for Android App Developers. Now we are a step closer to achieving this. Android developers can check out a preview released by Google of a Google TV plug-in for the Android SDK.
All Google TV Devices will be compatible with Android which creates new scope for Android App development. Android developers can develop applications for TV, optimize existing Android apps for TV and distribute them through the Android Market.
The new add-ons do not carry all features of Google TV.
Ambarish Kenghe, Product Manager for Google TV, said in a post “It enables developers to emulate Google TV and build apps using standard Android SDK tools. It also provides new APIs for TV interaction, such as TV channel line-up. Google TV emulation is currently supported on Linux with KVM only, and we are working on support for other operating systems. We’re very happy that through KVM we’ve been able to create a fast Android emulator for TV.”
Android Developers can run a test on their apps to determine if it is compatible with Google TV. Depending on its design and use case applications would be able to run on TV, else developers would have to tweak their apps for a good fit.
Developers can look forward to UI guidelines which would be soon published by Google to help with topics such as optimizing for D-pad navigation, presenting information for 10-foot viewing, designing apps that work well across devices, etc. It would also include information on how certain UI elements on Google TV differ from other Android devices.
Tags: Android app developers, Android App Development, android developers, Android SDK, Google TV
Android App Development to get a new look in the upcoming version, Android 3.2
Jul 12, 2011 Android App Development
Google is now concentrating its efforts on enhancing Android Applications to look better on large screens. In their latest blog post, Google announced that it improve the look and appearance of a Android phone app in the next version of Honeycomb.
Google’s lead tech writer, Scott Main said in the blog post, “Android tablets are becoming more popular, and we’re pleased to note that the vast majority of apps resize to the larger screens just fine. To keep the few apps that don’t resize well from frustrating users with awkward-looking apps on their tablets, a near-future release of Honeycomb is introducing a new screen compatibility mode to make these apps more usable on tablets.”
Two new viewing modes are introduced: one is “Stretch to fit screen”, which is the normal layout resizing and second is “Zoom to fill screen” which is the new compatibility mode.
The new screen compatibility mode does not resize the layout to fit the screen but instead
“When the user enables this new screen compatibility mode, the system no longer resizes your layout to fit the screen. Instead, it runs your app in an emulated normal/mdpi screen (approximately 320dp x 480dp) and scales that up to fill the screen—imagine viewing your app at the size of a phone screen then zooming in about 200%” says Scott Main.
No details of the release date has been mentioned though we could probably see this feature in the upcoming 7-inch Android Tablet which runs on the unannounced Android 3.2 version.
Tags: Android App Development, android applications, android developers, android development
Mobile Game Development opens up opportunities for Android and iOS developers
Jul 7, 2011 Android App Development
Games have been the one of the most popular categories in the App Stores. The main challenge now for developers is development and porting their games to various other platforms. With the rise in popularity of iOS game development, there are more opportunities available for porting iOS games onto the Android platform.
Zipline Games has launched its Lua-based Moai mobile game development platform in open beta. Moai’s SDK offers iOS and Android game developers a platform for easy integration between different platforms. It offers online game services, persistent storage and DLC and a Lua-based programming environment which allows developers to easily integrate between different platforms.
“From day one we’ve been focused on creating a mobile platform powerful enough for the world’s top studios without the limitations of closed frameworks,” said Todd Hooper, CEO of Zipline Games. “Every mobile game developer can now sign up for a Moai beta account and start using the same platform as these guys.”
The open source development environment is currently free during the beta stage but would eventually charge for usage of cloud services.
Android and iOS developers can create their beta account at http://www.GetMoai.com.
About Zipline Games
Zipline Games is a Seattle-based mobile games company and the creator of the Moai game development platform. Zipline was founded by game industry veterans experienced with the challenges of mobile games development and with the vision of making development faster and easier so developers can focus on creating innovative games with great gameplay. Zipline’s investors include Founders Co-Op, Benaroya Capital and Groundspeak.
Tags: Android app developers, Android App Development, android development, iOS developers
PapayaMobile’s program opens new market for Android Developers
Jul 5, 2011 Android App Development
The Chinese market for Android applications has always been a bit enticing but yet distribution of apps has been difficult. PapayaMobile have jotted down a few facts about the Chinese app market. Firstly, as users have limited access to the Android market on legally purchased smartphones, Android developers would have to manage relationships with atleast 10 different App stores. The billing process is complicated and language proves to be a barrier as well.
But now thanks to Mobile Social gaming network, PapayaMobile, Android developers can now target a Chinese audience. They have launched a new program that helps Android app developers to release their games for the Chinese audience. With already big name Android developers participating, PapayaMobile developed the program, “Gateway to china” to provide opportunities in the Chinese Market.
“With three years of experience working in China, PapayaMobile has established relationships with key handset manufacturers, app stores, wireless operators and press making Papaya the most widely distributed mobile Social Networking Service in this territory,” said Si Shen, CEO of PapayaMobile. “Our goal is to share these relationships with our developers so that they too can monetize off of the largest mobile market in the world.”
The program also offers other services such as free China localization services, Game Reviews and access to other marketing channels, distribution and management of games in China App stores. Developers can have easy access to China Billing Solutions through Papaya Social SDK.
To sign up for the developer program, visit http://papayamobile.com/china
About PapayaMobile
PapayaMobile is Android’s leading social gaming network, offering a full suite of social gaming features, Android’s most diverse set of monetization tools, and the fastest 2D OpenGL engine. Papaya’s products allows developers to maximize the return on investment of their games, while virally marketing to the large Papaya user base to instantly increase user acquisition. Founded in 2008 by Si Shen and Wenjie Qian, Papaya is headquartered in Beijing and has an office in San Francisco, Calif. For more information, please visit: http://www.papayamobile.com
Tags: Android app developers, android developers, papayamobile
Freeze Tag enters Android and iOS Development
Jun 24, 2011 Android App Development
The leading creator of family-friendly video games, Freeze Tag can easily port PC/Mac games to Android platforms as they have acquired rights to Cross-Platform technology framework that allows them to do so. Android Development costs are rapidly reduced with this technology as well as the time-to-market for the smartphones and media tablet markets. This also enables PC game porting to iOS devices.
“This framework allows us to develop once on the PC,” said Craig Holland, CEO of Freeze Tag. “Then from the same code base, we can create iOS and Android versions of our games and tap into these high growth markets.”
Over the past year, the number of users switching over to Android and iOS devices has almost been exponential. Research firm, Gartner has predicted that sales of media tablets that operate on the iOS (Apple) and Android (Google) operating systems will grow from 17 million units in 2010 to over 251 million units in 2015. Admob stats show us that more than 84% of users use their Smartphone’s for gaming.
“With brilliant color displays and interactive touch screens,” said Craig Holland, “Smartphone’s and media tablets are ideal gaming devices.”
About Freeze Tag, Inc
Freeze Tag is a leading creator of casual or “family” games. Freeze Tag’s “family friendly fun” games have been downloaded millions of times on mobile devices (iPhone/iPad, tablets), and PC/Mac computers.