Sunday 9 January 2011

You are going to need Java more than it needs you

Android applications are written in Java. You will need to know Java. I knew this before I started but knew very little Java. So whilst learning to develop Android applications I knew really I would be learning Java. I had hoped that the various Android development books would also be a nice introduction to Java along the way... but no.

I have been doing my Java learning in the background, using a book (see left) and a great set of video tutorials. The videos are even more suited to the aspiring Android developer because whilst learning Java you are also learning how to get the best out the Eclipse IDE which most Android development books/tutorials recommend. The only downside of the videos is that they are in SWF format. I spent a little bit of time converting them into something I could watch on my Advent Vega tablet.

The book (Beginning Programming with Java) is about to get a revision so it might be worth while you holding out for it. To be honest the video tutorials are in my opinion a better introduction to Java. Plus they are FREE!

Wednesday 5 January 2011

Two months? Really!?

Blimey, has it really been two months since my last blog post? My apologies. A few things have gotten in the way of Android development. A new toy (Advent Vega Android 2.2 based Tablet), Christmas, New Year, Holiday planning, HTC Desire ROM testing... all excuses, I know!

But Santa did bring me:

So I plan on starting that in the next few days so watch out for a quick review of the first few chapters. A quick flick through has shown that early chapters talk more about the bits I didn't understand from the previous book. I hope also to be able to develop apps for both phone and tablet forms, coupled with that my phone now runs Gingerbread (Android 2.3) I am prepared for most areas of Android development that the current platform presents.