Android Application Development

Android Application Development (with Kitkat Support), Black Book

The book android Application Development Black Book, is a one-time reference book that covers all aspects of Android application development in an easy-to-understand approach - For example, how to design user interface by using Views and ViewGroups, how to persistently store data by using content providers, how to design mobile applications displaying pictures and menus by using Views, how to develop Android mobile applications for sending messages and e-mails, how to work with location services and maps, how to run background services in the mobile applications, how to develop applications supporting audio, video and camera of a mobile device, etc. The book explores these concepts with appropriate examples and executable applications.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Getting an Overview of Android Introducing Android

• Listing the Version History of Android Platform
• Discussing Android APIs
• Describing the Android Architecture Application Framework
• Exploring the Features of Android
• Discussing about Android Applications
• The Application Components
• The Manifest File
• Downloading and Installing Android
• Downloading and Installing the Android SDK
• Setting up Android Virtual Device
• Setting up Android Physical Device
• Exploring the Development Environment
• The Java Perspective Using Eclipse
• The DDMS Perspective
• The Command-Line Tools
• Developing and Executing the First Android Application
• Using Eclipse IDE to Create an Application
• Running Your Application
• Exploring the Application
• Using Command-Line Tools
• Quick Revise

Chapter 2: Using Activities, Fragments and Intents in Android

• Working with Activities
• Creating an Activity
• Starting an Activity
• Managing the Lifecycle of an Activity
• Applying Themes and Styles to an Activity
• Displaying a Dialog in the Activity
• Hiding the Title of the Activity
• Using Intents
• Exploring Intent Objects
• Exploring Intent Resolution
• Exploring Intent Filters
• Resolving Intent Filter Collision
• Linking the Activities Using Intent
• Obtaining Results from Intent
• Passing Data Using an Intent Object
• Fragments
• Fragment Implementation
• Finding Fragments
• Adding, Removing, and Replacing Fragments
• Finding Activity Using Fragment
• Using the Intent Object to Invoke Built-in Application

Chapter 3: Working with the User Interface Using Views and ViewGroups

• Working with View Groups
• The LinearLayout Layout
• The RelativeLayout Layout
• The ScrollView Layout
• The TableLayout Layout
• The FrameLayout Layout
• The TabLayout Using the Action Bar
• Working with Views
• Using the TextView
• Using the EditText View
• Using the Button View
• Using the RadioButton View
• Using the CheckBox View
• Using the ImageButton View
• Using the ToggleButton View
• Using the RatingBar View
• Binding Data with the AdapterView Class
• Using the ListView Class
• Spinner
• Using the Gallery View
• Designing the AutoTextCompleteView
• Implementing Screen Orientation
• Anchoring the Views of the Current Activity
• Customizing the Size and Position of the Views
• Designing the Views Programmatically
• Handling UI Events
• Handling User Interaction with Activities
• Handling User Interaction with the Views
• Specialized Fragments
• ListFragment
• DialogFragment
• PreferenceFragment
• Creating Menus The Options Menu The Context Menu The SubMenus

Chapter 4: Handling Pictures and Menus with Views

• Working with Image Views
• Displaying Images in the Gallery View
• Displaying Images in the Grid View
• Using the ImageSwitcher View
• Designing Context Menu for Image View
• Using the AnalogClock and DigitalClock Views
• Embedding Web Browser in an Activity
• Notifying the User Creating the Toast Notification
• Creating the Status Bar Notification
• Creating the Dialog Notification
• Quick Revise

Chapter 5: Storing the Data Persistently

• Introducing the Data Storage Options
• Using Preferences
• Using the Internal Storage Exploring the Methods Used for Internal Storage
• Developing an Application to Save User Data Persistently in File
• Using the External Storage Exploring the Methods Used for External Storage
• Developing Application to Save File in SD Card
• Using the SQLite Database Creating the Database Helper Class
• Creating the Layout and Main Activity Class
• Creating the Layout and Activity for the Insert Operation
• Creating the Layout and Activity to Search a Record
• Creating the Activity Class to Fetch All Records
• Creating the Layout and Activity for the Update Operation
• Creating the Layout and Activity for the Delete Operation
• Executing the Database Operations
• Working with Content Providers
• Exploring the android.provider Package
• Creating User-Defined Content Provider
• Consuming User-Defined Content Provider

Chapter 6: Emailing and Networking in Android

• Building an Application to Send Email
• Networking in Android
• Getting an Overview of Networking Fundamentals
• Checking Network Availability
• Accessing Web Services Using HTTP Post
• Accessing Web Services Using the GET Method
• Working with Binary Data and Text Files
• Consuming JSON Services
• Sockets Programming

Chapter 7: Working with Location Services and Maps

• Working with Google Maps
• Exploring Google Maps External Library
• Creating an Application Using Google Maps Android API
• Disabling the Zoom Control Button
• Changing the Map Type
• Displaying the Specific Location and Adding Markers
• Handling Map Gestures Interaction
• Getting the Current Location of a User
• Working with Geocoding and Reverse Geocoding

Chapter 8: Working with Graphics and Animation

• Working with Graphics
• Drawing Graphics to Canvas
• Using the Drawable Object
• Referencing an Image File
• Defining Drawable in XML
• Using the Shape Drawable Object
• Working with the Nine Patch Drawable Graphics
• Understanding the Concept of Hardware Acceleration
• Working with Animations
• The Property Animation
• View Animation Drawable Animation

Chapter 9: Audio, Video and Camera

• Role of Media Playback Using Media Player Media Formats Supported by Media Player
• Preparing Audio for Playback
• Preparing Video for Playback
• Creating Application to Play Audio and Video Using MediaPlayer
• Recording and Playing Sound
• Use of Media Store Audio Recording Application
• Creating a Sound Pool Using Camera for Taking Pictures
• Creating Video Recording Application

Chapter 10: Threads and Services

• Introducing Threads Worker Threads Using AsyncTask Introducing Services Exploring Services Essentials
• Understanding the Lifecycle of a Service
• Exploring the Service Class
• Introducing the Service Class
• Creating a Bound Service

Chapter 11: Bluetooth, NFC and Wi-Fi

• Working with Bluetooth Exploring the Android Bluetooth APIs
• Permissions Required to Access Bluetooth
• Setting Up the Bluetooth for an Application
• Identifying the Bluetooth-Enabled Devices
• Querying the Paired Devices
• Discovering Devices Creating an Application Using Bluetooth Functionality
• Connecting the Devices Using Bluetooth for Data Transfer
• Connecting as a Server Connecting as a Client Working with Bluetooth Low Energy
• Working with NFC
• Exploring the Basics of NFC
• Developing an Application Using NFC
• Working with Wi-Fi
• Exploring the Wi-Fi APIs
• Creating an Application Using Wi-Fi

Chapter 12: Telephony and SMS

• Handling Telephony Displaying Phone Information Application Receiving Phone Calls Application
• Making Outgoing Phone Calls Application
• Handling SMS Sending SMS Using SmsManager
• Sending SMS Using Intent
• Receiving SMS Using the BroadcastReceiver Object
• Role of Default SMS Providers

Chapter 13: Hardware Sensors

• Introducing Sensors Exploring the Sensor Framework
• Managing Various Sensor Configurations
• Understanding the Sensor Coordinate System

Chapter 14: Widgets and Live Wallpapers in Android

• Home Screen Widgets
• Adding the Broadcast Receiver Class to an Android Manifest
• Using the RemoteViews and AppWidgetManager Classes
• Creating a Customized Clock Widget
• Collection View Widgets Collection View Widget Layouts
• Creating the Remote Views Service Class
• Creating a Remote Views Factory Interface
• Populating Collection View Widgets
• Live Wallpaper Creating Live Wallpaper Resource and Service
• Configuring Wallpaper Service
• Creating Live Wallpaper Application

Chapter 15: Working with NDK

• Introducing NDK When to Use NDK?
• Benefits of NDK Communication between Java and Native Code
• Installing the NDK
• Installing C/C++ Support on Eclipse
• Installing NDK Plugin through ADT
• Installing Cygwin
• Installing Android NDK
• Configuring Eclipse for NDK Programming
• Setting the Environment Variable
• Building the Basic NDK Application
• Chapter 16: Implementing JBoss Seam
• Signing the Android Application
• Exploring the Strategies for Signing the Application
• Obtaining the Appropriate Private Key
• Preparing the Application for Release
• Aligning the APK Package
• Signing and Aligning APK Using the Eclipse IDE
• Versioning the Android Application
• Setting the Application Version
• Specifying API Requirements of an Android Application
• Publishing the Android Application
• Releasing Applications on Google Play
• Releasing Applications through Email
• Releasing Applications through a Website
• Monetizing Applications Monetizing an Application through Advertising Platform
• Integrating the Google AdMob SDK with an Application
• Online Resource Available with the Book
• Bonus Chapters Available with the Book

Appendix A: Fundamentals of Java for Android Application Development

Appendix B: Getting Started with Android Studio – New IDE for Development by Google

Appendix C: Introducing Tasker