Ideas for Google Android Challenge - Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General

Hello all,
This post is in regard to the Google Android Challenge put out by Google to create/develop new software for the Google Android shell. If you haven't had a chance to read about it, it's basically a new OS created by Google to run on any type of PDAesque cellular phone. The challenge issued is then to develop new software for this OS (written in Java) so that when it is released it will have software available for it.
My question to all of you is what software would you like to see developed for this new OS? The reason I am asking for ideas is because I am a CS undergraduate student working in a research group to create one of these programs. Ergo, I figured asking you guys what you'd like to see created would be the best way to get ideas that will make sense and benefit the community.
Any ideas you submit here may be used in the creation of new software--if you require idea copyrights that can be worked out.
Thank you all in advance,
Jake
Jake Lake
Undergraduate Student at LCSC Lewiston, ID

Hello Jake,
We'll I'm a Java programmer too, not thinking of entering the challenge though. Had a quick look at the SDK for Android and it does'nt seem like pure java, more like a hybrid of C and Java does'nt it?
Since I have'nt had a thorough look at it, I'd like to ask you a few questions regarding the freedom to program on the platform.
Since it does'nt use the "normal" JVM but googles Davlik where theres no byte code but script code, does it allow better interaction with the hardware, and is it faster? Also can you implement equallizers and other effects in a media based application, which of course was not possible on J2ME. I was thinking on a All-round mediaplayer for Android, something like Rockbox which maybe found at www.rockbox.org which is a linux based program used on iPods etc.. but has been ported to Linux based EZX phones.
Regards,
Akshay

Related

Jython in Android?

Hey Folks,
I was wondering if anyone knew if it was possible to use Jython instead of plane Java for android development? I don't know much about Java development but I'm with Python. I was figuring that this might ease me into it better. Any thoughts?
Thanks,
-=GB=-
Have you had a look at the Android scripting environment?
http://code.google.com/p/android-scripting/
http://google-opensource.blogspot.com/2009/06/introducing-android-scripting.html
http://code.google.com/p/android-scripting/wiki/PythonAndroidAPI
Regards,
Akshay
Thanks aksd,
I don't know how I didn't find that before. Perhaps I should have just searched for Python and Android as opposed to just Jython and androind.
Anyway, this is very cool for prototyping and simple scripting. However, the main thing I was hoping for was writing apps in Python (via Jython) that could then be distributed on the Marketplace. It's kind of to bad. It doesn't look like anyone is really trying to port Jython to Android because ASE is sort of Google's official response to the whole thing. On the whole, a really great thing for people who just want to script Android but not really for App development.
In all of this searching I did find some interesting information about how to link in C libs so you could code some of the hardcore speed sucking elements in C (like a game engine) and then make calls into it via Java. I didn't know that was even possible so... Pretty cool stuff.
Hey ngrava,
I'm not much into scripts, so dont really follow whats happening with scripting and Android.
If you wanted a bit of a performance gain you can use the NDK and call the JNI to execute native libraries or code. been there for awhile but few use them. Java is just so much easier than C .
Theres a lot of interesting stuff going on on the Android platform, Mono being ported to Android, Scala being ported to Android, I'm actually currently working on profiling the performance of scala code on android.
Regards,
Akshay
On the Google DevFest on Argentina, Google´s ingeneers afirmed that they are working to make more languages availeable on Gingerbread, they specifically mentioned Ruby. We just have to wait to see if this is true and if we are going to be able to ship apps of other languages to the market, and I´m not sure if they will be backwards compatible with earlier versions of android as well.
PD: Oops, sorry for reviving this old post, I just realised i clicked last page instead of next

Financial Application Development

I have barely developed anything since the BASIC days on the C64 and Amiga, and now feel inspired to create some financial applications for the Australian market - such as superannuation projections.
How hard is it to develop? A few standard calculations like you would see on a spreadsheet would work, with some graphing.
Most financial applications I have found are pretty basic and don't account for inflation in rising wages and fees, etc.
I believe I could attract at least a dollar for a well developed application for superannuation alone.
I have installed the Android 2.2 SDK and have no idea where to start. I presume this is some sort of emulated Android device I can test my applications on.
Are there any tutorials on how to get started? What's the development language?
All I need to do is create a simple text interface to input a few parameters to run some complex financial calculations on the back end.
A really sophisticated application would pull live interest rates or other data and enter that in.
Start with this:
developer.android. com/resources/tutorials/ hello-world.html
(take away the spaces, I cant post links yet )
These are all great tutorials that will walk you through the basic processes and applications/layouts. The only issue you will have is when/if you decide to go through the "Tabs View" tutorial, there are a lot of errors in the code, and I have no idea why no one have changed it, but you can PM me for the correct version.
If you want some basics on Java, just do a google search, there are a lot of great tutorials out there for beginning Java. I recommend doing this first, just so you have a good understanding of Java(which is the development language), it will *REALLY* help out. You can incorporate other languages, but for the time being, stick with Java.
Yes, the SDK comes with an emulator so that you can test your programs without having to install them on a real device. In addition to what Jimmy said (and I can't stres highly enough that you should start with the Android Developer's website and tutorials), you can go to Stack Overflow which is a programming Q&A website. People there are generally very helpful, as long as you've shown you've actually put some effort into solving your problem before you posted your question.
Fair enough... So it's basically about learning to programme for Java? How hard would it be, realistically, for someone with no application development experience?
You need a basic grasp of objected oriented design & programming, along with an understanding of the Java language. When it comes to gui aspects & all communication with other apps/data on the device, you have Android, rather than the usual Java class libraries such as awt or swing.
How hard? It's doable, imo, but will depend on aptitude. Start with Java & then add in Android when you feel like more material to get your head around.
So basically getting started requires me to learn application development like on any other platform, in OO and Java. I may as well do a course or something then. Would a few weeks doing some sort of intro course help?
I'm sure an appropriate course could be very helpful. Though I'd steer clear of those short courses claiming to turn anyone into a valuable skilled programmer in only xx weeks, if only because the tutor will probably know less than you on the subject. Better one which makes credible claims regarding its introductory nature. A couple of degree level intro modules on OO or Java should be of help.

Eclipse + Android SDK + JDNI/LDAP Access

Hi All,
For sometime I have been looking for a suitable Active Directory Management tool on a mobile device, however have never found anything which quite cuts the mustard. For this reason I have decided to give it a bash myself. I am the proud owner of a lovely shiny new Desire and it feels like it's just crying out for an app of this nature.
Just hoping I might be able to discuss a matter which requires some expertise. I have the latest versions of the Eclipse IDE for Java Developers and the SDK installed, so far I'm having much success with my first GUI builds after following a cracking tutorial Although I can handle the GUI elements (which I normally hate), I'm struggling to forge my first LDAP connection.
I have found info about the "Java Naming and Directory Interface" for java (*however no download) and just wondering if anyone else has had any success using it to code an Android app? I'm not digging for too much info for the moment, just trying to get some assurance that what I am trying to achieve is actually possible.
Not everyone's cup of tea, I know.. But decided it'd be worth asking.
Much Love,
Futurian

Connect Android to Enterprise Java Bean

Hi!
Im sorry if this is a dumb question but I googled some stuff about it and never found a straight YES/NO answer.
Im a student in my final year and as a semestral project I have an electronic voting system built on Java Enterprise technology with enterprise java beans (EJBs) running on Glassfish.
For my final work id like to create an app for android that could communicate with those beans on a Glassfish server and thus a people could vote by a cell phone.
My question is Is this even possible? Over the past three days ive been googling stuff concerning this matter but nothing really helped. Id really appreciate a straightforward answer because my time for choosing a final project is almost up and I dont want to end up doing something that is impossible.
Don't take it bad, but it looks like you are a student who doesn't even know what he's working with. Not that it surprises me, but I'm willing to help you.
Answer these straight questions.
1. What is an EJB?
2. Who "runs" an EJB?
3. Where does an EJB "live"?
If and when you answer these three questions you'll know what is needed for a project where "people could vote with a cellphone".
What I can tell you in the most straightforward way is that it is possible for you to have people using their android phones to vote with your Glassfish server.
Android <-> Glassfish
I am looking for the same thing - to write Android apps that communicate with session beans on an app server (i.e. Glassfish). Since I will own both ends of the app, I am looking for a simple approach (e.g. RMI) as opposed to a lot of unnecessary bru-ha-ha (e.g. why turn Java objects into SOAP, just so we can turn them back into the same Java object ... not that Android really supports SOAP).
It looks like Google, for some reason, crippled the Android's ability to communicate. About the only built-in mechanisms I've found are REST (and I don't like REST) or writing my own protocol and using servlets.
Surely, by now, someone has come up with a simple, concise, mechanism for addressing this issue ... I just can't find it.

Develpoing GUI in Java

Hi everyone,
some days ago, i was substancially forced to join an Android project by my professor.
The fact is that his course was about C++ (your equivalent of that course should be Compuer Science II, and i have a good knowledge of C++), and this project is in Java. I have a little experience in Java (in fact, one of the courses that i am attending is focused on Java). Now, i think that in order to be a Computer Science engineer i have to fit myself to the situation ( i have some docs about the project) but i have no experience in Android app development and a very little knowledge of XML, so i ask you some help :good:.
What i have to do is to realize some GUI for his application. It is not very difficult, but i have no idea about from where i have to begin. In these 2 days i have managed to start some very simple application from Eclipse on my smartphones, but that's all, nothing more. So, is there any book or (better) some short guide or video to follow?
I use, as IDE, Eclipse (because i usually use it for Cpp, but some people said me that Android Studio should be better). I know that Eclipse is a really god IDE (For Cpp i tried also CodeBlocks, VisualStudio and Netbeans), but i know too that it raises some error that newbie user could not managed to solve easily: one of them is a java.lang.nullPointerException raised in every main.xml file...
Moreover, the project has to connect to a IBM Bluemix-stored database.
Last but not least please share a comment about my English (that, i have to admit, is not very good). I would really like to know how it - really - is.
(Excepting the typo in the thread title).
So, i ask you to kindly share resources (video, guides ...) about realizing GUI in Android.
Well first i'd recommend using android studio since it is the official ide for android by google, and I have worked with eclipse for 2 years and the android plugin is just too buggy.
About designing the ui it is usually done in xml rather than in code since its more intuitive and there is a preview.
You should start learning the basics and from there they teach you how to design the ui.
Try the official guide in the google developers section for android "developers android training"
Are you talking about https: //developer .android.com /training/index .html ?
Yes exactly, they have some nice guides there.
Here is a very nice guide for creating your first app in Android Studio: http://www.raywenderlich.com/78574/android-tutorial-for-beginners-part-1
Here is a layout tutorial: http://code.tutsplus.com/tutorials/android-user-interface-design-layout-basics--mobile-3671
Here is a compilation of Android beginners tutorials: http://www.sitepoint.com/12-android-tutorials-beginners/
If you give a more focused description of what you are trying to achieve (what are you intending to display and how do you want to display it), more focused tutorials can be suggested.
Best of luck
EliteRazor said:
Hi everyone,
some days ago, i was substancially forced to join an Android project by my professor.
The fact is that his course was about C++ (your equivalent of that course should be Compuer Science II, and i have a good knowledge of C++), and this project is in Java. I have a little experience in Java (in fact, one of the courses that i am attending is focused on Java). Now, i think that in order to be a Computer Science engineer i have to fit myself to the situation ( i have some docs about the project) but i have no experience in Android app development and a very little knowledge of XML, so i ask you some help :good:.
What i have to do is to realize some GUI for his application. It is not very difficult, but i have no idea about from where i have to begin. In these 2 days i have managed to start some very simple application from Eclipse on my smartphones, but that's all, nothing more. So, is there any book or (better) some short guide or video to follow?
I use, as IDE, Eclipse (because i usually use it for Cpp, but some people said me that Android Studio should be better). I know that Eclipse is a really god IDE (For Cpp i tried also CodeBlocks, VisualStudio and Netbeans), but i know too that it raises some error that newbie user could not managed to solve easily: one of them is a java.lang.nullPointerException raised in every main.xml file...
Moreover, the project has to connect to a IBM Bluemix-stored database.
Last but not least please share a comment about my English (that, i have to admit, is not very good). I would really like to know how it - really - is.
(Excepting the typo in the thread title).
So, i ask you to kindly share resources (video, guides ...) about realizing GUI in Android.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can take a look at vogella web site tutorials
They have very usable tutorials, easy to understand.
Thanks everyone, i'll give a look to these resources

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