Category Archives: Android- Books

Description and Review of Android Books

Jan 28 2012

Learn Java for Android Application Development- These Titles can Help You

You might have heard that programming android app is based on Java programming language.  In my earlier post, I've suggested you some  books to learn Java for Android App Development. Those java titles I've recommended to you were,

1. Head First Java

2.Sams Teach Yourself Java in 24 Hours &

3. Sams Teach Yourself Java 6 in 21 Days

The later two are written by Rogers Cadenhead and newest editions of those books are gonna be released. But how will it help those who want to learn Android Development? Let us see.

The newest edition (6th edition) of these titles are based on Java 7 , the latest java version and are written in a way to give special emphasis on Android Application Development which is now the major field of application of Java programming. If you are one with little Java knowledge and want to become an Android Programmer then these great books are for you. I know this will be a good news for all those who need a thorough base in Java before diving into Android programming world.

Lets now check the features of the books one by one,

1. Sams Teach Yourself Java in 24 Hours (Covering Java 7 and Android) (6th Edition) 


Sams teach yourself java in 24 hours

This book consists of 24 chapters, each taking one hour or less to complete. Its core audience is beginners who want to quick learn java. The chapters are too simplistic so that anyone can understand and the author is actually spoon feeding the readers. As I said before,this book is only for beginners and those who are seeking advanced Java are not adviced to use this one.

The book is broken down into 6 simple modules and a set of appendices

Part I: Getting Started- Becoming a Programmer, Writing Your First Program, Vacationing in Java, and Understanding How Java Programs Work.

Part II: Learning the Basics of Programming- Storing and Changing Information in a Program, Using Strings to Communicate, Using Conditional Tests to Make Decisions, and Repeating an Action with Loops.

Part III: Working with Information in New Ways- Storing Information with Arrays, Creating Your First Object, Describing What Your Object is Like, and Making the Most of Existing Objects.

Part IV: Programming a Graphical User Interface- Building a Simple User Interface, Laying Out a User Interface, Responding to User Input, and Building a Complex User Interface.

Part V: Moving into Advanced Topics- Creating Interactive Web Programs, Handling Errors in a Program, Creating a Threaded Program, and Reading and Writing Files.

Part VI: Writing Internet Applications- Reading and Writing XML Data, Creating Web Services with JAX-WS, Creating Java2D Graphics with Xrender, and Writing Android Apps.

Appendixes- Using the NetBeans Integrated Development Environment, Where to Go from Here: Java Resources, and This Book's Website.

2.  Sams Teach Yourself Java in 21 Days (Covering Java 7 and Android) (6th Edition) 

Sams teach yourself java7 in 21 days

Sams Teach Yourself Java in 21 days is one of the most popular and best selling Java title in the market. The newest edition of the books gives special importance to Android programming. It covers Java 7 and there is one chapter exclusively for Android Programming Fundamentals.

This Title has not been Released yet, You can pre-order it at Amazon and they will deliver you when the product arrives.

Jan 17 2012

How to Learn Android Development/ Best books to learn android for beginners

I'm writing this post out of my personal experiences when I first tried to learn android development.Android programming is with Java. Therefore programming for android will be easier if you know java well. Eventhough programming language is Java, it runs on a custom Dalvik Virtual Machine than a JVM. Therefore knowing java will help you to headstart on syntax and common java libraries. If you are new to java, I recommend these titles to you as i found them very simple and effective to learn.

 

1. Head First Java from O'Reilly Media

Kathy Sierra and Bert Bates

Head First Java 2nd Edition


 2. Sams Teach yourself java in 21 days

Rogers Cadenhead & Laura Lemay
Sams Teach Yourself Java in 21 Days (6th Edition)


 

 3.  Sams Teach Yourself Java in 24 Hours (5th Edition)

Rogers Cadenhead
Sams Teach Yourself Java in 24 Hours

Once you get a base in the java language, then you can dive into the android programming world. Most professionals suggest the Official Android Developers Guide as the most simple way to learn. It includes a pretty simple introduction and many example applications explained. But if you are more comfortable in learning from a book than from developer documentation, then try these titles. This is a list of 5 android programming titles that I found simple and useful

Click on the links to view the details of the book on Amazon


 

1. Head First Android Development

Jonathan Simon

Head First Android Development

2. Beginning Android 3 

  Mark L Murphy

Beginning Android 3

3. Hello Android

  Ed Brunette

Hello Android by Ed Brunette


 4. Beginning Android Application Development

Wei-Meng Lee

Beginning Android Application Development

5. Android Programming Tutorials

Mark Murphy

Android Programming Tutorials

Jan 17 2012

Head First Android development- Early Release Available for Download

Head First Android Development

 

Head First Android development is the newest arrival on the Head First Series of books published by O'Reilly Media . It has not been released yet, but the early release of the book is available for download at the O'Reilly Media site and .


The description of the book as seen in Amazon is as follows:

Android devices are stealing market share from the iPhone with dramatic speed, and you have a killer app idea. Where to begin? Head First Android Development will help you get your first application up and running in no time with the Android SDK and Eclipse plug-in. You'll learn how to design for devices with a variety of different screen sizes and resolutions, along with mastering core programming and design principles that will make your app stand out.

Whether you're a seasoned iPhone developer who wants to jump into the the Android Market, or someone with previous programming skills but no mobile apps in your resume, this book offers a complete learning experience for creating eye-catching, top-selling Android applications.

You'll learn how to:

  • Install the Android SDK and Eclipse plug-in and get started building apps
  • Add buttons, edit text fields, and build your own navigation options in the Android menu
  • Customize the look of your app with theming and adding image resources
  • Use Android's content provider mechanism to add images and contact information to an app, and establish permissions for their use
  • Work with the Android devices camera, GPS, and accelerometer
  • Experiment with different Android emulator configurations to simulate different devices with a variety of screen sizes
  • Optimize, test, and distribute your application in the Android Market

We think your time is too valuable to waste struggling with new concepts. Using the latest research in cognitive science and learning theory to craft a multi-sensory learning experience, Head First Android Development uses a visually rich format designed for the way your brain works, not a text-heavy approach that puts you to sleep.


The complete release of the book will be published on April 22, 2012