Android - The mobile operating system

Running - "Hi Android : My first Android app - 2nd Attempt

2013-02-27T09:13:00.000-08:00

The problem related me preventing running the app was due to some missing connection with the device which I intend to run my app on.
There are clear 2 ways of running the App.

On a real device ( a phone or tab or any Android device )
Run on Emulator ( virtual device called AVD, Android virtual device , which represent a phone made out of the resources in a computer ).

I try the 2nd option first.
To do so, I need to create a AVD first in my computer.

This is available in Google android in this link.
http://developer.android.com/training/basics/firstapp/running-app.html

Steps.on Eclips , click on AVD menu or, execute it from file menu Window>AVD Manager

This will open up following dialog.

Then select New , to create a virtual device.

Give the necessary parameters. For example the parameters I ve given here , represent a virtual smartphone of ARM Processor, 512 MB internal memory, WVGA 800 like display.

Now my AVD is ready to run my program.
Click "Start " after selecting the AVD to "Start" the emulator.

There are some additional screen and dpi settings that you can customize here if needed.

Click "Launch"
It takes extremely long time to start and the first time I though it stuck or crashed.

Once it is loaded it looks like this.

Now I m going to run the program I wrote.

This is how it looks when running on Emulator..

In the next post, lets look at how to run the app we wrote in a real phone...

Upgrading, rooting and then installing custom ROM on Samsung Galaxy S1 Captivate

2013-02-12T10:27:00.001-08:00

First of all, if you ever want to , follow these information and try root, upgrade and install custom ROM on your valuable smartphone AT YOUR OWN RISK. I m by no means responsible for any damage that could cause to your phone.

I bought this phone from USA and it is designed to AT&T by Samsung. It was unlocked and was running with Android 2.1 ( Eclair ). Once I bring back to Sri Lanka powered it on and it was working fine until I charged it after which it was dead. Then I bough another phone and get it down here and replaced the motherboard. Then it worked. It was like this initially.

I wanted to upgrade it to Android 2.3 ( Gingerbread) , then root, then install the latest custom ROM.

First I downladed Samsung Kias Mini and connected to the phone and checked the latest upgrade and it is Gingerbread of course.

It is pretty easy and Kies Mini will just push the upgrade and finally restareting the phone will boot in to Ginger bread. Then first I needed to root this phone- for which I needed to download below files.

This includes ,
1. Clock work mod recovery ( CWM)
2. Ordin
3. Corn Kernel
First connect install Odin and then connect the phone to USB cable and then press volume +/- signs together with power on/off button. The phone will force on to download mode and the communication port will be identified by Odin.Then Select corn-kernel ...tar file and flash it to the phone and install CWM recovery.

Once it is done, the phone is rooted and CWM is installed. Then I found a custom ROM that suites to the phone. It was based on Jelly Bean 4.1.2 and one smart Engineer has tweaked the code to match to captivate. First this is how the CWM screen looks like.

This is ROM I downloaded .

Then I put this ROM file in to SD card and then select the option "Install ZIP file from SD card"

Once it is done , installing the custom ROM started. This process is critical, and need lot of care.

Once done the phone running with nice looking efficient and fast Jelly Bean custom version.

Keep in mind that if you ever want to do this to your phone , serch for what are the tools and roms and recovery tools more sucessful to your phone model, read a lot who has done and see if there are problems. If you are sure enough, then experiment. There is always a chance that your phone could become a "brick ". A brick can be recovered also ( in many cases say 80% of times as I knew from reading) , but if you are so unfortunate, there is a probability that it would actually become a brick.
Thanks for Reading..

Running - "Hi Android : My first Android app

2012-08-24T11:51:00.001-07:00

I m using this page to help myself to run " Hi Android" my first app. The tutorial I used is
http://developer.android.com/training/basics/firstapp/running-app.html
Please refer it for more detail.

The tutorial says that I will have all required source files available to immediately run the App.
Lets see...

It says , The app can run on,

1. Real mobile device ( a phone , tab )
2. On Android emulator

Let's see the files that are stored in this simple project ( these information are also from above tutorial).

src/ :Directory of Apps main source file.

res/: This folder has sub folders of App's resources.
drawable-hdpi/: Directory for drawable objects designed for high density screens

layout/: files that defines the user interface

values/: Folder for other xml files that contains information such as string and color definitions

AndoridManifest.xml : This file defines the fundamental characteristics of the App and its components.

It is said following happens when the App is run:

When you build and run the default Android app, the default Activity class starts and loads a layout file that says "Hello World." ".

So I change that text from "Hello World" to "Hi Android" coz my App says "Hi Android".

I need to change it below ( I think).

Now, I next thing is to run the App....
First , running on Eclipse
I just have to press

on the tool bar...

Now , click it..........................................
ERROR... :( as expected....

I m going to investigate more on this and will write it in next post.....

"Hi Android"-my first Android app

2012-08-19T03:56:00.004-07:00

Now I installed everything that say it is needed to develop Android apps (hopefully). Now I m going to create my first "Android App". :). What it would do? It will just write text,

"Hi Android"

in an Android phone display.Where to start.I will use following tutorial to help myself in doing so.

http://developer.android.com/training/index.html

I don't ve programming language experience what so ever but I know some basics. Let's see how it goes..

First I need to create a project with Eclipse.(All what I do below is with the help of http://developer.android.com/training/basics/firstapp/creating-project.html please use it for more information).

1. Opened Eclipse
2.Clicked new Android app project. See below,

3. This opened below dialog. Since I want to get this up and running I m not dare to change any defaults. So, I keep them as it is and enter "App name" and " Project name" as in the example.

Here, Application name is the App name to the users, where as project name is the name visible in Eclipse and it is the project directory name.I do not know what is the purpose of package name(if there is anyone - then please explain me :) ). Build SDK is the flat form Android version on which this program is built. Google says it better to be the latest so that my application can use all the latest features that latest android SDK offers.Minimum required SDK is lowest Android version that my application will support. So, this means the app I create with this settings will run on Android 2.2 Fro-yo with its minimum features while it runs on its full features on Android 4.1 Jelly bean.
I used above selections then press next to go to next step in the wizard. That step is called " Configure Launcher Icon"

I think this icon is the one which will be used as App icon. So I accept default settings and move forward with "Next",The next step is , "Create Activity".

what is activity, according to Google it is,"activity template from which to begin building your app".I don't get much idea of it. As advised , I select blank Activity. It seems like this gives basic structure of the App. Once I press "Next" , the next of of the wizard is for " New Blank Activity" Naming and settings.

As advised , I accept the defaults and press "Next", in next step I m asked to install Android support library.

I click "Install/Upgrade" button.Required files are then downloaded.

Once, downloaded , the packages that are downloaded need to be installed. Automatically a screen pop up after the down load to accept agreement. Once Accepted , packages are installed. Once that is finished, the finish button appears in the "Install Dependencies" step. Once I press finished, Eclipse set me up the project which looks complex but interesting ( of which I don't understand many ).

Google says , this has required source codes, so I can straight away run it. I ll update about it on next post. If any one of you reading there, pls give your feedback, corrections or questions.

Setting Up for Android Devolopment - 4

2012-08-01T10:31:00.003-07:00

Step 4: Installing Android SDK

This is what it says in http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html. "The Android SDK(Software Development Kit) provides you the API libraries and developer tools necessary to build, test, and debug apps for Android".

As I said in the previous post, once ADT installation is finished , Eclipse prompted me to download Android SDK.That was easy since it automatically come up and do everything. But I think it can be downloaded and connected to Eclipse also using above link.

What I got after ADT installation is following. I selected to install latest SDK and set up the target location.

If SDK is spearately installed I think I ve to use Use exisitng SDK .
In next step I got following.Here Google asked whether I m ok if they collect some usage statistics.I selected no for the time being. But I think there is no risk even if I allowed.

In next dialog , I accepted the licence and agreement and press Install to install the SDK.

Then installation started with a progress bar and Eclipse showing what being installed.

Once this is finished, there is a new menu item in Eclipse, "Android SDK Manager "

Once this it is opened , I can see all installed component, what more available to install and for what component updates are available.

Each time I start SDK Manager, it seems to be checking for updates online.

So I think everything in place now. What next? That is to right my first Android program "Hi Android". That is in next post.

Setting Up for Android Devolopment - 3

2012-07-31T10:41:00.002-07:00

Step 3: Installing ADT

ADT stands for "Android Development Tools". It is the plug-in designed to make Eclipse the most powerful Android App development environment. By Installing ADT, Eclipse is enabled and empowered to develop Android app of any sort.

To get more details , read : http://developer.android.com/sdk/installing/installing-adt.html

Ok, I m going to do it now...
I start Eclipse, and go to help>install new software

Then , I get a dialog like below, I click add button.

In add repository dialog that appears , I add following.

Then press "OK".

you will get 2 "Available Software"s. Developer tools are the one I need for the moment. NDK as I know stands for "Native Development Kit" which allow developers to include C++ code in to Android program code which I don't need (may be fore ever :) )

When I press next , the wizard shows the list of tools that will be downloaded.Press next,

Then accept the agreement and click finish.

ADT started downloading..I think things going ok.

Once ADT download is over, Eclipse is enabled for Android devolopment and it immidiately ask for Android SDK. See below.

What is Android SDK by the way? I will write in next post.

Setting Up for Android Devolopment - 2

2012-07-30T09:37:00.000-07:00

Step 2 : Installing JDK 6

JDK version 6 needed to run eclipse properly. If Eclipse is 64 bit then JDK has to be 64 bit.

Go to http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html#Requirements

I go to the link JDK 6 ( highlighted).

This directs to Oracle Java download page.http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/index.html.
Now I select Java SE 6 update 33.

Once I click download, I m directed to download page. http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/jdk6-downloads-1637591.html

Then I click on highlighted link since it is the 64 bit JDK version 6.

It is a 59.7 MB file and I download it.

Then I ran the file and the JDK and JRE was installed. Next I started Eclipse to see if it works.

Here we go...

Eclipse asks for a working directory at log on . This location will be used to store projects. I changed it to D:\Android\workspace. Now Eclipse Juno is up and running :).

Setting Up for Android Devolopment -1

2012-07-29T10:45:00.001-07:00

Step One : Installing Eclipse

Eclipse IDE can be used to develop Android and it is the most popular. That is where you write your Android code and make it to an Android App. Google recommends Eclipse Classic" version.

Read more at http://developer.android.com/sdk/installing/installing-adt.html.

I ll install Eclipse , go to http://www.eclipse.org/downloads/
You will see a page like this.

Then click on link for " Eclipse classic 4.2". I think I better install 64 bit version since my computer's operating system is 64 bit.

Once I click on "Windows 64 bit" for the classic version, I m directed to a mirror selection page.I select the first section.

Once I click on big green download sign, I m prompted to select a download location.

It is a large file ( 183MB ). So it will take a while to download.Once downloaded , it is shown as below in Firefox downloads dialog.

Once I open down load folder there is a folder called Eclipse. Once it is opened, there is an Application called " Eclipse"Then I run it.

Then I extract it. First problem :(

Google d the error. Found the reason could be my JDK installation being 64 bit. So, I m going to do it next. Uninstalling JDK and reinstalling it.
http://developer.android.com says JRE alone is not sufficienthttp://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html#Requirements. I need to install full JDK 6 (64 bit).

Android Versions...

2012-07-11T05:48:00.000-07:00

1 Android beta ( 2007 November)
The first released Android version.

2 Android 1.0 (2008 September)
The first relased commercial version.First Android device HTC dream ran this version.

3 Android 1.1(2009 February)

4 Android 1.5 Cupcake (2009 April)
First used the desert nickname.

5 Android 1.6 Donut (2009 September)

6 Android 2.0/2.1 Éclair (2009 October)

7 Android 2.2.x Froyo(2010 May)

8 Android 2.3.x Gingerbread (2010 December)

9 Android 3.x Honeycomb (2011 February)
The first tablet android update.

10 Android 4.0.x Ice Cream Sandwich (2011 October)

Samsung Galaxy Nexus running Ice Cream Sandwich.

11 Android 4.1 Jelly Bean (2009 July
The latest version.

I took all these infomation from Wikipedia(Big thank for those contributors) and summarized. If you need more details , pls see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_version_history

How Android was born?

2011-11-11T08:50:00.000-08:00

Even though a company named Android was stared in 2003 by three well known personalities ( Andy Rubin :co-founder of Danger; Rich Miner-co-founder of Wildfire Communications, Inc; Nick Sears - VP at T-Mobile) , the company operated secretly, revealing only that the company is working on a new mobile operating system.

In 2005 Google acquired Android Inc and the road map of the company was reset according the the interests of Google. Google basically wanted their powerful searching technologies to be on mobile devices and working hard towards achieving that objective through Android acquisition. In 2007, they applied to obtain several telephone technology related patents apparently proving this speculation.

In 2007, again several well known companies got together and formed an alliance known as " Open Handset Alliance" and the idea behind was to develop "open stand" for mobile devices. The companies that were involved were, Broadcom Corporation, Google, HTC, Intel, LG, Marvell Technology Group, Motorola, Nvidia, Qualcomm, Samsung Electronics, Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile and Texas Instruments .

As a result of all these efforts, first product , Android, a mobile device platform built on the Linux kernel version 2.6 was introduced.

Why Android?

2011-08-13T20:01:00.000-07:00

Reason 1 : It is the fastest growing mobile operating system according to some market research.

I created the graph showing market research trends for mobile operating systems.Other than Android rest of operating systems are desingined for those company headsets. Data are from en.Wikipedia where those data are taken from Gartner Inc (Gartner: Android leads, Windows Phone lags in Q1". Gartner, Inc. 2011-05-19. Table 2. http://news.cnet.com /8301-13506_3-20064223-17.html. Retrieved 2011-05-19.). There are 3 clear observations.

After the introduction of android in 2008 and after it got momentum in 2009 , already declining market leader Symbion( Nokia) started to decline in a faster rate and its continuing in the same trend in Q1 in 2011.
Blackberry was growing and in 2009 it started declining when Android gain momentum.
iOS still growing but slower rate than it was before 2009.

Microsoft and Other OS are already loosing it market shere but this treand could be different now as Microsoft now released new version of its mobile operating system...to be continued...

Coming up........."Why Android?"

2011-08-12T11:21:00.001-07:00

Why there is lot of talk about mobile operating system Android? What are the benefits and what is the use of it for developers?What are the similarities and differences advantages and disadvantages of Android when compared to Symbion and IOS?

What is AndroiD ?

2011-08-11T11:21:00.000-07:00

AndroiD is an operating system for mobile devices such as mobile telephones and tablet computers developed by Google Inc and the Open Handset Alliance.

Time Line

Android initially was developed by Android Inc.
Google purchased Android Inc in 2005.
Open headset alliance (consist of more than 80 ICT companies) funded and along with Google they unveiled the first version of Android in 2007.

Key Features of Android

Android is based on Linux Kernel.
Middleware libraries and APIs are written in C.
Application software is based on Java compatible libraries.
Dalvik VM is used to run Java complied Java codes just in time(JIT compilation)

Developer Community

Android has very large community of its "App" (application) developers.
These developers extend the functionality of Android with their Apps.
They mostly use Java for development.

If you would like to become one of them who develops Apps for Android then this bolg may help you to get a quick start...