Android apps on your Windows machine

   Following a three-month alpha phase and a well-received CES 2012 demo, BlueStacks has launched the beta version of its innovative Android emulator for Windows XP, Vista and 7. Using a patent-pending binary-translation technology, BlueStacks allows x86-based PC users to access the growing wealth of apps designed for devices powered by ARM's processing architecture and Google's mobile OS.
On the flip side, BlueStacks provides developers with a massive secondary install base without having to port their software. "A billion PCs is a huge potential market for any developer," said HandyGames CEO Markus Kassulke. "There is the potential to make good money from the additional app discovery and usage. The best part is, we don't have to do any work. Our apps run without any modifications."
During alpha, BlueStacks was downloaded more than a million times in over 100 countries. Users ran over 4.5 million apps with multi-protocol IM applications Kakao Talk and WhatsApp being the most popular in Korea and the US, while the multi-player game Wordfeud was the most used app in Germany. Games appear to be the beta's largest attraction, as they weren't widely available in the previous build.

Credits:http://www.techspot.com/news/48002-bluestacks-hits-beta-runs-android-apps-on-your-windows-machine.html

Google Nexus Tablet

A Google Nexus tablet is all set to go, an Android enthusiast site claims. And it's even cheaper than the Kindle Fire, so the story goes.

The latest scuttlebutt about the rumored Google tablet makes the case with a lot more certitude. In fact, an Android enthusiast site goes so far as to say it's a "done deal," citing sources. The Asus MeMo 370T which appears to be the template for the Google tablet--has been "scrapped after Google contracted with Asus to produce their 'Nexus tablet,'" the report begins.
"Earlier reports said the device would retail for $199-$249, but we are now told the target price is $149-$199." That of course lands it right in Amazon's wheelhouse: the Kindle Fire has been a hit due, in no small part, to its $199 price.

Credits:http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-57399239-64/google-nexus-tablet-a-done-deal-claims-report/

Android 5.0 – Jelly Bean

Jelly Bean Features

• Toggle Options
• Efficient File Management
• Themes
• A Better Browser
• Screen Lock
• Upgrade Procedure 
• Improved Operating System
• Keyboard Issues: A standard keyboard is a must for the new Android 5.0 as in the absence of any specific Google-designed keyboard.

How to create app widget in android?

What is app widget?

App Widgets are miniature application views that can be embedded in other applications (such as the Home screen) and receive periodic updates. These views are referred to as Widgets in the user interface, and you can publish one with an App Widget provider. An application component that is able to hold other App Widgets is called an App Widget host. The screenshot below shows the Music App Widget.


To create an App Widget, you need the following:

AppWidgetProviderInfo object

Describes the metadata for an App Widget, such as the App Widget's layout, update frequency, and the AppWidgetProvider class. This should be defined in XML.

AppWidgetProvider class implementation

Defines the basic methods that allow you to programmatically interface with the App Widget, based on broadcast events. Through it, you will receive broadcasts when the App Widget is updated, enabled, disabled and deleted.

View layout

Defines the initial layout for the App Widget, defined in XML.

Additionally, you can implement an App Widget configuration Activity. This is an optional Activity that launches when the user adds your App Widget and allows him or her to modify App Widget settings at create-time.
The following sections describe how to setup each of these components.

Declaring an App Widget in the Manifest

First, declare the AppWidgetProvider class in your application's AndroidManifest.xml file. For example:

<receiver android:name="ExampleAppWidgetProvider" >
    <intent-filter>
        <action android:name="android.appwidget.action.APPWIDGET_UPDATE" />
    </intent-filter>
    <meta-data android:name="android.appwidget.provider"
               android:resource="@xml/example_appwidget_info" />
</receiver>

The <receiver> element requires the android:name attribute, which specifies the AppWidgetProvider used by the App Widget.
The <intent-filter> element must include an <action> element with the android:name attribute. This attribute specifies that the AppWidgetProvider accepts the ACTION_APPWIDGET_UPDATE broadcast. This is the only broadcast that you must explicitly declare. The AppWidgetManager automatically sends all other App Widget broadcasts to the AppWidgetProvider as necessary.
The <meta-data> element specifies the AppWidgetProviderInfo resource and requires the following attributes:

• android:name - Specifies the metadata name. Use android.appwidget.provider to identify the data as the AppWidgetProviderInfo descriptor.
• android:resource - Specifies the AppWidgetProviderInfo resource location.

 credits:developer.android.com

Exploring the Android Project Files

.

AndroidManifest.xml—The central configuration file for the application.

.

ADT plug-in. Do not edit this file.

default.properties—A generated build file used by Eclipse and the Android

.

Android ADT plug-in. Edit this file to configure your code optimization and

obfuscation settings for release builds.

proguard.cfg—A generated build file used by Eclipse, ProGuard, and the

.

/src folder—Required folder for all source code.

.

application, named

default launch activity in the Android manifest file.

/src/com.androidbook.droid1/DroidActivity.java—Main entry point to thisDroidActivity. This activity has been defined as the

.

source file. Do not edit this file.

/gen/com.androidbook.droid1/R.java—A generated resource management

.

in the project.

/assets folder—Required folder where uncompiled file resources can be included

.

Application resources include animations, drawable graphics, layout files,

data-like strings and numbers, and raw files.

/res folder—Required folder where all application resources are managed.

.

sizes for different device screen resolutions.

/res/drawable-*—Application icon graphic resources are included in several

.

organize controls on the main application screen.

/res/layout/main.xml—Layout resource file used by DroidActivity to. /res/values/strings.xml—The resource file where string resources are defined

Developing Android Projects

Open Eclipse and follow these steps to create a new project:

1.

on the Eclipse toolbar.

The first time you try to create an Android Project in Eclipse, you might need to

choose File, New, Project… and then select the Android, Android Project. After you

have done this once, it appears in the Eclipse project types and you can use the

method described in Step 1.

2.

3.

select the Create New Project in Workspace radio button.

4.

select the version of Android most appropriate for the devices used by your

target audience and the needs of your application. If you are planning to use

the Google add-ons (for example, Google Maps), be sure to choose the Google

APIs version for your target platform. For this example, the Android 2.3 (API

level 9) build target is sufficient.

Select a build target for your application. For most applications, you want to

5.

call the application

Specify an application name. This name is what users will see. In this case,Droid #1.

6.

for Java. Because all code in this book falls under the

Specify a package name, following standard package namespace conventionscom.androidbook.*

namespace, use the package name

com.androidbook.droid1.

7.

default launch

Check the Create Activity check box, which instructs the wizard to create aActivity class for the application. Call your activityDroidActivity

8.

the build target by default (for example, Android 2.3 is API level 9). If you want to

support older versions of the Android SDK, you need to change this value. For example,

to support devices with Android 1.6, set the Min SDK Version to API Level 4.

Confirm that the Min SDK Version field is correct. This field is set to the API level of

9.

Click the Next button.

10.

with your Android application. For this example, a test project is unnecessary.

However, you can always add a test project later by clicking the Android Test

Project creator icon, which is to the right of the Android Project Wizard icon

( ) on the Eclipse toolbar.

The Android project wizard enables you to create a test project in conjunction11. Click the Finish button..Choose a location for the project source code. Because this is a new project,Choose a project name. In this case, name the project Droid1.Choose File, New, Android Project or click the Android Project creator icon

Eclipse for android

Begin by writing a simple Android “Hello, World” application that displays a line of

text to the user. As you do so, you will also take a tour through the Eclipse environment.

Specifically, you will learn about some of the features offered by the Android

Development Tools (ADT) plug-in for Eclipse. The ADT plug-in provides functionality

for developing, compiling, packaging, and deploying Android applications.

Specifically, the ADT plug-in provides the following features:

The Android Project Wizard, which generates all the required project files

.

Android-specific resource editors including a Graphical Layout editor for designing Android application user interfaces

.

The Android SDK and AVD (Android Virtual Devices) Manager

.

The Eclipse DDMS perspective for monitoring and debugging Android applications

.

Integration with the Android LogCat logging utility

.

Integration with the Android Hierarchy Viewer layout utility

.

Automated builds and application deployment to Android emulators and handsets

.

ProGuard support for code optimization and obfuscation

Application packaging and code-signing tools for release deployment, including

Familiarizing Yourself with Eclipse