Introduction to Android

In this guide we will present the main issues concerning the development of applicazoni Android platform.
Since the development of mobile applications consists of many topics, this guide deliberately neglect the most advanced aspects of programming, since our aim is to provide a starting point for those who looks for the first time to the development of applications for Android devices.

What is Android?

Android is an open-source operating system based on a Linux kernel and designed to run exclusively on mobile devices like smartphones and tablet.

As we all know that Google Android is released, but the authorship of the project is a small company called Android Inc..
Google, seeing the potential of the project, decided to acquire the company in 2005 with the intent to support its work. The developers of Android Inc. finished the first release of the project in November 2007.

The Android operating system is now a very complete system: it has a SQLite database, using the libraries SGL for 2D graphics and also supports the standard for the famous graphic library OpenGL ES for 3D graphics.

Android Market: The marketplace of applications

Android offers a great opportunity for all developers, since you can make sale applications produced in the 'Android Market: an online store where you can find many applications, both free and pay to download to your device.

To publish an application to register as svluppatore and wait until your application is approved.

To register as a developer simply fill out the form in this page and enter all the information that is required.
When you open the page linked above you will be asked to login with your Gmail account e-mail. If you are not holders of an account of this type is necessary to create it, the operation is extremely simple and only take a few minutes. Returning to register as a developer, once you have authenticated with a Gmail account, we are prompted to enter some personal data.

As mentioned, just follow the steps to end the upcoming registration.
Without this, you must make a payment of $ 25 as registration fee and then accept the rules for publication of applications.

Why choose to develop for Android?

Many developers choose this platform because principalemnete the number of applications offered for sale on the Android Market is much lower than the number of applications for sale, for example, Apple's App Store for iPhone OS platform devices.
Fewer applications mean less competition and therefore a higher probability of being noticed in the store with your application.

We must, however, say that the revenues produced by the application on the App Store are much higher than those for sale on the Android Market. This is because, according to studies conducted by many companies, it appears that the percentage of users who buy Android application fee is very low compared to Apple users. Since, however, that the market share of mobile phones fitted with Android is constantly increasing not be ruled out a change in the trend of what I just said.

Premise

To continue reading this guide is not, of course, must register as a developer nor is it necessary to have an Android device, as it will simply download the simulator to test directly on your computer, our applications.

In the next chapter will present the tools and show the reader where to find them and how to install on your computer.

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