Datasheet

Chapter 1: Developing Spectacular Android Applications

Cross-compatibility

Android can run on many devices with different screen sizes and resolutions.

Besides being cross-compatible, Android comes with the tools that help you

develop cross-compatible applications. Google allows your apps to run only

on compatible devices. If your app requires a front-facing camera, for exam-

ple, only phones with a front-facing camera will be able to see your app in the

Android Market. This arrangement is known as feature detection. (For more

information on publishing your apps to the Android Market, see Chapter 8.)

For Android devices to be certified compatible (devices have to be compat-

ible to have access to the Android Market), they must follow certain hardware

guidelines. These guidelines include but are not limited to the following:

✓ Camera

✓ Compass

✓ GPS (Global Positioning System) feature

✓ Bluetooth transceiver

See the Compatibility Program Overview page at http://source.

android.com/compatibility/overview.html for specific device con-

figurations that are considered to be compatible. Compatibility ensures that

your apps can run on all devices.

Mashup capability

A mashup combines two or more services to create an application. You can

create a mashup by using the camera and Android’s location services, for

example, to take a picture with the exact location displayed on the image!

It’s easy to make a ton of apps by combining services or libraries in new and

exciting ways.

The roots of Android

Most people don’t know this, but Google didn’t

start the Android project. The initial Android

operating system was created by a small start-

up company in Silicon Valley known as Android,

Inc., which was purchased by Google in July

2005. The founders of Android, Inc., came from

various Internet technology companies such as

Danger, Wildfire Communications, T-Mobile,

and WebTV. Google brought them into the

Google team to help create what is now the

full-fledged Android mobile operating system.

05_9780470770184-ch01.indd 1105_9780470770184-ch01.indd 11 11/2/10 8:51 AM11/2/10 8:51 AM