Android App Development For Beginners

Steps to Build Your Own Android Application

If you are reading this tutorial, it means you are probably new to the Android app development services. Don't worry, we will divide this tutorial into different parts to make it easy for you. The guide offers easy and useful information regarding android app development for beginners. Let's get started by following these steps:

Before you start, there are three important things that you should know, such as:

Android OS is created using Java, so knowledge about Java is always a benefit if you want to develop an app for Android.

Then, you will need to get Android SDK, which is Android's basic app writing program like Android Studio or Eclipse, the Java Software Development Kit (JDK). The built-in features of Android SDK provide the base needed to build some great mobile applications and providing a great opportunity for developers and entrepreneurs.

Now, you are all set to start!

Step 1: Start with Android Studio

The most common IDE for Android development is Android Studio, which comes directly from Google itself. The amazing thing about Android Studio is that it is designed specifically for Android app development services.

Step 2: Installation of Java Development Kit (JDK)

After the installation of Android Studio, it's time for some more positive action! You also need to install Java on your machine to use Android Studio. The JDK is able to interpret and compile your code for the application development.

Step 3: Start Your Project

Choose 'Start a new Android Studio Project' option. Enter the name you want for your application and your 'company domain'. All these elements will be used to create your package name in a format like:

com.companyname.appname

This APK ('Android Package File') that you'll in the end upload to the Google Play Store.

Step 4: Select Activity

Moreover, you'll be given the option to pick the way you want the app to look at the beginning. This will be the look of your main 'Activity Module' which is basically the main page of your app. There are various fields available which you have to choose according to your app needs, such as templates, title, access to Google maps, full-screen activity, blank activity etc. As per my view, it's better to go for 'Basic Activity' to keep things as simple as possible and for all intents and purposes.

Step 5: Selecting the Layout

Now, you have to choose a layout name for the selected activity. This will define that where elements like images and menus go and what fonts you'll use. Choose a name for the menu and title as well. Pick something attractive for the title, as your users will be able to see this at some points.

Step 6: Edit the Welcome Message

Go to the activity_main.xml tab if it is not open. Click and drag the "Hello, world!" from the upper left corner of the phone display to the center of the screen. Then go to the values folder, and double-click the strings.xml file. In this file, find the line "Hello world!" and add "Welcome to my App!"

Step 7: Adding Button to your Activity

In the Palette menu to the left of display, find Button. Click and drag Button to be positioned beneath welcome message. Afterward, go to properties and find the field for text. Change the text from "New Button" to "Next Page".

Now go back to your content_main.xml and click on the button. In the right corner, where you have your parameters for the button, you will catch an option called 'onClick'. Click on this and then select the 'onClick'. By doing this, you have told Android Studio that you want to associate the section of code with the button created.

Step 8: Test your App

Finally, all that's missing to do is run the app you just made. Simple go to 'run' along the top and then select 'run app' from the drop-down menu. Follow the steps to launch the emulator running your app.

I hope the above information will surely help in android app development for beginners. Besides, there are numerous ways to develop Android apps. With a lot of information and services at your disposal, you have the opportunity to make your "dream app" a realism!

By Priti Singh

Visit: mobile app development company, Android App Development in Lucknow.

8 Things To Consider When Electing A Mobile App Development Platform

The increase in the use of smartphones has led to a significant rise in the demand for mobile applications. Enterprises have recognized that mobile apps can help them increase the value of their brand, and also enhance their business offering to their customers.

Before developing a mobile app, however, it's important to decide which mobile app development platform the app is going to be built on. And choosing which mobile app development platform to go with is one of the most vital decisions when it comes to developing an app.

Do you go for a native app or a cross-platform app? Are Windows and Blackberry phone worth your attention? Or do you just focus on iOS and Android? If you do this, which of the two do you pick - Android or iOS? Do you pick both?

There's a lot you need to think about when choosing between mobile development platforms.
So, if you're wondering which MADP to pick, here are a few for starters:

1. Market Share

The first way to decide on the right mobile app development platform is by learning about each of their market shares. For instance, Android by Google runs 80% of the world's mobile devices. On the other hand, Apple's iOS runs about 14% of worldwide mobile devices. However, this doesn't take iOS out of the running. iOS is preferred by users from countries like the US, Japan, and Australia. And so, if they are your target audience, you should consider iOS. Android is preferred by users in Asian and African countries and is the better mobile app development platform if you're looking to reach users in these regions.

2. Demographics

When choosing from a variety of mobile development platforms it's also important to consider demographics. Android users are usually those from a lower income group and prefer Android, as these devices are quite affordable. In addition to this, Android mobile devices are usually owned by people from an older age group. However, because a bulk of Android apps is available for free, there is less engagement with them. iPhones on the other hand, are preferred by users who belong to a medium and higher income group. These users are generally younger, educated individuals who are open to spending money when it comes to buying digital products like mobile apps.

3. Content

Content categories also play an important role in deciding which mobile app development platform to choose. Research has found that those who own iOS devices tend to explore a variety of app categories when looking to download a mobile application. Right from gaming and entertainment, to social media and education, iOS users have the tendency to download different kinds of apps. It has also been found that Android users, unlike iPhone users, generally download solely social apps. That's why, when choosing a MADP, it's important to take content categories into consideration.

4. Browsing-to-Buy Conversion Rates

Browsing-to-buy conversion rates should always be taken into consideration when choosing between mobile development platforms. Studies have shown that this rate is higher among iOS users. 23% of iPhone users are more likely to make purchases from their smartphones. Android users, on the other hand, are less likely to do this.

5. Generation of Revenue

As mentioned in one of the previous points, iOS users are more willing to purchase apps. This is why iOS apps generate higher revenues as compared to Android apps. Hence, if you're looking to create an app that is a product all by itself, like a gaming app, then the mobile app development platform you need to pick is iOS.

6. Development Costs

The costs that come with different mobile development platforms vary. For instance, when an Android app is being developed, the developers are required to write 40% more code, and this, in turn, costs the app owners 30% more.

7. Customization

This also plays an important role when picking the right MADP. Android is the better option here, as this platform allows developers to add a lot more features and customizations to their apps, whereas iOS can be quite limiting.

8. Launching the App

If you're looking to easily launch your app on an app store, then Android is the mobile app development platform to choose. This is because, it's much simpler to launch an app on Google Play, than Apple's App Store, as Apple requires every app to go through an exhaustive approval process.

By Kiran W

I am a developer and writer. I would like to write in-depth guides and case studies that teach users to guide mobile application development

How Developing A Mobile App Can Drive Revenue For Your Business

For entrepreneurs, turning their vision into a business is a big dream and it does not come easily. There are varied challenges that come from different corners and with the development of technology the chances of success have also increased. Mobile marketing is the new trend and various mobile apps can now help businesses engage their customers in a better way and also keep their employees well connected and boost the bottom line. In simple words, taking advantage of new innovations and mobile technology ensures that your company remains ahead of the market competition.

From implementing specific features like GPS down to the fact that people are carrying computers in their pockets, today smartphones also open up a world of opportunities for businesses both large and small.

Here is how a mobile app can help you

Geo targeted push notifications:

It was earlier suggested that mobile devices would present users with information all over the world in an automatic way. Today, geo targeted push notifications can be used in various ways in businesses:
• Notify fans about events, concerts and updates about the availability of tickets
• A national chain can send city or region based notifications about specific discounts or offers based on the user's interest.
• Retailers can boost their loyalty by sending special offers to their customers who have been purchasing for the past few years.
• Businesses owners can also announce sales or discounts on their products during specific seasons.

Mobile apps offer additional sales opportunities: 

Another biggest opportunity for businesses using mobile apps is to open up a whole new world of customers and engagement opportunities. Interactions with the customers has become geo-agnostic and mobile apps maximize the opportunity to reach the users within no time. There are push notifications that might remind the users of a nearly abandoned shopping cart and also bring them back and offer a more seamless experience for storing login information, which means an easier path to purchase and make transactions.

Data gathering:

Another powerful advantage of mobile apps for online business is that they can easily trace the behavior of the customer and what they actually want. Important things that can keep the users engaged or even at times turn them off can be analyzed. Tracking signals from mobile devices are opening the world of data gathering and analytics for the marketers. It is by using this data that advertisers can understand the behavior of the visitors and also use the information collected to make essential changes in the marketing strategy.

Dynamic sale offers: 

Once you get tied up with technology and start using push notifications, you will observe that many magical things will start to happen. Businesses can now gather essential customer data and track the ad campaigns to deliver best sales offers at the right time. Various mobile apps enable businesses to do varied things and implement dynamic sales strategies to boost revenues. For example, there are certain seasons when people do a lot of online shopping. Giving them discounts during festive seasons often increases the sales and ultimate revenues.

Wearable devices are drawing attention:

As per the International Data Corporation, the market for wearables is assumed to experience a composite annual growth of about 20.3%. From body sensors, wearable cameras to healthcare tracking devices, wearables are gaining popularity and are going beyond the healthcare industry and is going to be one of the most promising mobile app development trends of 2017.

Pushing through the funnel:

There are many customers who browse through the store, check various products and then walk out to another store without making a purchase. This is called bounce and online users bounce for various reasons and the reasons are even greater when it is on mobile. Some reasons are that the users might not have a credit card handy, or typing the information may be too tedious or there may be some other distractions and they may simply put their phone back in their pocket. One way to restrict this transaction abandonment is through automated address filling. Using the GPS of a phone, the transactional app can easily detect the user's location and automatically fill the address data. Such mobile applications make the transactions easier and reduces the bounce rates.

Become competitive: 

Many showroom owners complain that shoppers visit the physical store to inspect the goods in person and then after finalizing on the product, they purchase it online where the prices are usually cheaper. Price comparison tools help the retailers drive additional website traffic and sales and mobile apps are helping businesses to increase ROI by increasing their efficiency. With the apps, users can be narrowly targeted and customers can be lured back to make a purchase. All these efficiencies result in generating more revenues and enhance the overall customer's experience.

When it is all about mobile app technologies, business owners can gain great benefits of capturing their targeted audience and reaching out to them in an effective manner. Their chances of success also increase with access to various business data and helps to make an impact through applying various mobile technologies.

By Prince N

Learn How To Make A Mobile App In Less Than 25min

Watch Harrison as he builds a mobile app using AppMakr with no coding. He walks through the entire mobile app development process from signing up to publishing an app into iTunes and Google Play. This is an updated version of Jay Shapiro's previous "How to make a mobile app in under 25min" video, with over 1 million views. In this version Harrison shows how AppMakr (acquired by Infinite Monkeys in 2013) can have easy to make icons and functions for his mobile web site, his blog, click-to-call and many others. If you've been wondering how to develop an Android app, but don't have the programming skills, this video will show you the free and easy way to get started with AppMakr

Why A Mobile App Is Necessary For Your Business

Willing to develop a mobile app for your business but aren't aware of its exact benefits? By this post, you will come to know about the mobile apps precisely.

Fundamentals of Mobile Application

As we all are aware of the age of smartphones. We cannot imagine a life without a smartphone as it has become an inseparable part of our lives. They come with the pre-loaded features that you can access anytime and anywhere. These are music, games, videos, internet and so on.

With the advancement of the technology, smartphones are also getting smarter day by day. The most important reason why all the features are accessed on a smartphone is it is portable than the PCs and laptops.

It has become an indispensable part of human life, not only limited to define a status symbol but has become a necessity of the time. It has influenced various aspects of human life and businesses are one of them.

As the main goal of a business is to reach to the maximum number of people for attaining a consistent growth by serving them all. Mobile applications are the latest forms to connect with the customers.

Mobile apps are the combination of self-contained programs designed to enhance the functionality of a mobile device.

Due to their advanced functionality and easy accessibility, they are very helpful for the businesses in their growth.

Types of Mobile Apps

Technically, there are two types of mobile apps, that are listed below:

• Native apps

• Hybrid apps

Native apps

These are the apps developed specifically for use on a particular platform. This is a mobile application which is coded in a specific programming language such as Java and Objective-C for android and iOS mobile operating systems respectively.

These apps have fast performance and a high degree of reliability. These can also access the other features of the phones such as Camera, GPS, Contact list and so on. The examples of these apps are Android, iOS, Windows, Symbian, etc.

Hybrid apps

These apps are like native apps and their programs are coded in the container of native apps. Like native apps, they also use the features of the mobile device such as Camera, Contact list and Phone storage, etc.

They also allow cross-platform development such as the same components of a program can be reused on different mobile operating systems.

By the following points, you will come to know how mobile app development service is beneficial for your business:

1. Keeps your Brand Ahead in this Techno-Race

As I have stated above that it is an age of technology and smartphones.

It is the necessity of a business to reach to the maximum number of clients. Therefore, a mobile application will assist a business to reach to its targeted customers in a better and convenient manner.

So, avail the mobile app development service and an assistance of technology to grow your business at its best without putting any extra potential in it.

2. Promotes your Business Indirectly

A mobile app is very helpful in the promotion of a business as it can be easily downloaded and operated as well. If a person finds something interesting and new then he'll also share it with others. Thus, if your mobile app is user-friendly then the user will surely suggest it to the others.

Hence, your business is getting benefit from the users and it will be an external advertisement of your brand without any charge.

Another reason is, people always prefer the new methods and technologies; these are the newest in the market, thus their chances of preference are more than any other conventional methods.

3. Provides a Better Platform to Reach a Large Chunk of Customers

The number of mobile phone users is more than PC users, therefore if you wish to target them then you must have a mobile application so that they can access your services/products on their mobiles. So, it is a better platform for your business to grow by increasing the number of

customers.

4. Convenient for a Business and its Beneficiaries

Mobile apps not only reduce the effort of customers but also tend them to perform smart work by saving their time as well.

Neither the customer not the business needs to interact with each other and a customer can avail the products/services of a company by ordering it through the mobile app of the same company.

5. Helps in the Improvement of your Business

It is very important to add a feedback form about your services in your business mobile app. By which, the customers can provide their valuable feedback and hence you will come to know about your business drawbacks. Thus, you can improve your services by knowing them. The customers' feedbacks will help you in improving your business.

Where can you get the quality mobile application development service from?

For getting a quality mobile app development, you will have to hire an expert mobile application development company that can develop a mobile application as per your business requirement.

Take the help of internet and find the top five mobile app development companies nearby you. Contact them and tell them your requirement and ask them whether they can develop a mobile application as per your requirement at an affordable cost or not? If yes, you can go with the same and get a mobile

application for your business betterment.

Conclusion

Does your business require a mobile app? If you are not sure then by going through the above post you will come to know why your business needs a mobile application these days.

In short, a mobile application will assist you in the promotion and improvement of your business. It will also keep your brand ahead in this race of technology.

So, if you really want to see your business growing then hire an experienced mobile app development company and develop a mobile app for your business betterment.

The post is written by Rakeysh Kumar. He has tried to aware people about the Mobile Application and their benefits for a business by this post.

By Rakeysh Kumar

How To Build A Mobile App From Idea To Build...To Monetization...To Scaling {VIDEO}

In this video Sharnee Bennett shows you how to take your mobile app idea to designing & building it and most importantly monetising your idea so you can build a real business that is bringing you money. It is actually very easy to build a mobile app. The hardest part is coming up with the idea and then next hardest part is following through & executing fully.

All You Need To Know About Cross-Platform Development Tools

It's certainly a difficult thing to select between operating systems like iOS or Android while going for application development especially for corporate needs. However, getting an application separately built for each platform would be a very costly affair. So the best alternative is cross-platform mobile application development. In this process, mobile apps are developed once and are run on all available platforms like Apple, Android, Windows or Blackberry. So, with a single shared code base developers can easily create device independent applications that can run on any mobile platform. It's an affordable approach for the businesses to target various platforms for huge audience base for corporate needs like marketing or sales. Lesser time, costs and efforts are required to develop cross-platform apps that can work really well on any mobile device and hence, enable businesses to expand their reach and promote their business much effectively. Moreover, maintenance costs are also reduced because here one has to maintain and invest only in one application without having to go for multiple apps targeted for various platforms.

So, what does this type of development require? What are the tools that can help developers to create such awesome applications that run seamlessly on all available operating systems and devices? Have you ever thought about it? Here's the answer.

Let us now consider a few important mobile app development tools that are widely used by the mobile app developers for this purpose:

Phonegap

PhoneGap is a popular open source framework that helps mobile developers to build mobile apps for platforms of their choice using standard web APIs. Android, iPhone, Blackberry, Symbian and Palm are the platforms for which a PhoneGap developer can create mobile apps for. Based on the popular technologies like HTML, CSS3, JavaScript and other distributed system technologies, this is just a perfect framework for development of cross-platform apps.

Xamarin

Xamarin is a good technology supporting the development of apps that can run on various platforms. Based on C# technology and sharing the code base with platforms like iOS, Android, Windows and Mac, Xamarin allows for easy and rapid development of platform independent applications that provide high performance and greatly improve user experience. Real time bugs, crash and exceptions can be found and well-managed with this platform.

RhoMobile

RhoMobile is an open source, cross-platform application development framework based on Ruby. Using this highly integrated platform, app developers can build some really awesome native apps for platforms like native apps for Windows Phone, Android, Symbian, RIM and iOS. The framework comes with the comprehensive range of features of mobile gadgets, so developing mobile applications for all types of operating systems becomes a lot easier.

MoSync

Mo-Sync is an easy-to-use open source framework for developing apps for a diverse platforms. The framework supports technologies like C/C++, Python, PHP, JavaScript, Ruby and Java and hence, is a good choice for mobile app development. With MoSync it's really easy to develop native applications no matter what type and category they belong to.

EliteMobileApp.com is a cross platform mobile application development services provider company in USA. We work on diverse technologies and provide our customers with end to end mobile solutions.

By Ronak B

Mobile App Design Tutorial {VIDEO}

In today's project we create a mobile app for a backpack company. I designed the app to fit an iphone 6. The design of the app is a little flat, based on colors and background image. However, the mobile app gets a little into material app design with drop shadows on buttons creating depth. This mobile app design tutorial shows you the general process and steps for creating a cool mobile app.

Top 10 Cross-Platform Mobile App Development Tools For Enterprises

The mobile app development has become imperative for enterprises success nowadays. The continued growth of the smartphones provides businesses a unique opportunity to connect with potential customers via mobile apps. With so many mobile devices storming the market each day, it's no treat for developers to create apps that can work on multiple platforms.

In the past few years, the popularity of cross-platform mobile app development tools has increased in a big way. These tools enable developers to write code once and run it on multiple platforms, including Android, iOS, and Windows. According to a recent study by Forrester, 60% of enterprises are already using cross-platform development. Cross-platform mobile app development tools will grow by leaps and bounds in the coming years. As per the predictions of IDC, by 2017, the market for cross-development tools will reach $4.8 billion, increasing at a compound rate of 38%.

Below is the list of top 10 cross-platform mobile app development tools which have made the lives of developers a lot easier.

1. Xamarin

Xamarin is a cross-platform app development tool that offers several amazing features such as the ability to add components directly from an interface, native API access, integration with backends, and forms interfaces for sharing the code. This tool empowers developers to build native apps for multiple platforms (Android, iOS, and Windows), with a single shared C# codebase. Moreover, developers can use the same APIs, language, and IDE everywhere. Xamarin has been used by several big names, including Dow Jones, IBM, Foursquare, and Microsoft.

2. Adobe

Adobe offers PhoneGap Build (cloud-based) and PhoneGap (an open source solution based on Apache Cordova).

The developed applications can access native, specific device functions across various device platforms, using Cordova, an open-source set of device APIs. With Cordova's cross-platform plug-ins and APIs, developers can build and code apps using Java Web languages - HTML5, and CSS3. Using Cordova, developers can create an app with a single codebase. The apps that are created once can be run on all devices- be it iOS, Android or BlackBerry.

3. Ionic

Ionic is an open-source SDK that comes with default JavaScript and CSS components. It helps developers to build cross-platform mobile apps using web technologies like SASS, HTML5, and CSS. Ionic framework comes with more than 120 native device features, including Fingerprint Auth, HealthKit, and Bluetooth. It also features TypeScript extensions and Cordova/PhoneGap plugins.

4. Sencha

Sencha Touch, an MVC-based JavaScript framework, provides a high level of responsiveness for your app and is compatible with all the latest versions of iOS, Android, and Blackberry. Developers can use Sencha to develop apps in HTML5, which can be further translated to cross-platform apps with the help of PhoneGap. Sencha comes with high-performance UI widgets for toolbars, lists, menus, and forms.

5. Appcelerator

Appcelerator is based on the concept of "write once, run everywhere" and offers a single JavaScript codebase for its applications. Apps can be created with fewer lines of code using Appcelerator. It also supports real-time mobile analytics and can be used to build Android, iOS, browser-based HTML5, and Windows apps. Appcelerator supports over 5,000 devices and the MVC framework Alloy, the Eclipse-based IDE Studio, and OS APIs.

6. RhoMobile

The RhoMobile framework is used for developing native and cross-platform enterprise and consumer mobile apps. Applications written on RhoMobile Suite can be run on Android, iOS, and Windows. This tool consists of a broad API set, a built-in MVC (Model View Controller) pattern, integrated data synchronization, an Object Relational Mapper for data-intensive apps, RhoGallery, RhoConnect, RhoStudio, RhoElements, and Rhodes. Mobile app development services using RhoMobile are provided on the cloud and comprise of synchronization, hosted build, and application management.

7. NativeScript

NativeScript has supported integration with Visual Studio Code and it allows developers to build the cross-platform native mobile apps from a single JavaScript codebase. This open-source framework gives developers a direct access to every component from Angular, TypeScript or JavaScript and native platform API. The structure part and coding style of NativeScript apps resemble HTML-based web apps. Gartner has named NativeScript as a "Leader" in the 2017 Magic Quadrant for Mobile App Development Platforms.

8. MonoCross

MonoCross is an open-source cross-platform mobile app development framework that lets developers create engaging apps on Android, iPhone, iPad, Windows, and Webkit enabled phones. With MonoCross, you have the flexibility to write one app for all supported architectures and platforms and have a custom user interface for each platform. MonoCross uses the Mono framework, C#, and Microsoft.NET and you are not required to have knowledge of the low-level elaborations of all platforms.

9. Codename One

Codename One enables rapid development of applications and deep integration with the native platform. The flexible architecture of Codename One lets the UI work seamlessly across all platforms. The code is written in Java and the app is verified and tested with Codename One's test automation tools and simulator devices. This framework supports popular IDE's like IntelliJ IDEA, Eclipse, and NetBeans. It ensures compatibility with upcoming iOS versions as it uses ParparVM. The developers can build native Windows and native iOS apps without Windows PC or Mac machine.

10. Convertigo

Convertigo enables developers to develop mobile apps once and run on iOS, Android, and Windows. This platform offers four solutions - Convertigo Server, Convertigo SDK, Convertigo Studio, and Convertigo Cloud. It comes with various connectors like web services or SQL databases to connect to enterprise data. Convertigo has full sync data replication feature due to which data can be accessed offline.

Cross-platform mobile app development is based on the popular languages like JavaScript, CSS, and HTML. The cross-platform mobile app development tools are quite versatile and let developers develop apps in one environment and run them on multiple native platforms, including iOS, Android, and Windows.

Which tool will you prefer to get your apps developed? Reply in the comment section.

By Seema Sharma