Develop Reference

Create Android app in multiple languages

I have submitted an Android app to Google Play and I see that I can create different descriptions for each language it supports. My question is: can I create a different APK for each language? Alternatively, how can I detect the user's preferred language, so that I can automatically activate that language for the user in the app?

Here is the official tutorial for localizing your app. :)

You can create a different apk for each language ( split-apk ) - but I would not recommend this. Better use the platform function for this and put your strings file in the right path ( values- ) - after this everything is automagically done

no just use the /res/values/strings.xml
for example to choose english language create a folder in same directory of values and call it values-en, for frensh values-fr and so on. the default language of the app is under values/

And if (for some reason) you still need to know witch is the devices language use
Locale.getDefault().getDisplayLanguage();

Convert android project to multi-language

I have an Android project that I developed one year ago. I didn't think in do the project multi-language and now I need support it.
There are any easy way to detect all strings and generate the XML file? Or I need modify the project string for string?
The project is developed in Eclipse.

Android provides a very simple way to localize apps: string resources.
You need to provide several strings.xml files.
Each in a directory called /res/values-xy, where xy is the language (i.e.: es, fr, en, de, it, ...).
Then just refer these strings in your project, like R.string.my_string_name (in Java) or #string/my_string_name (in xml)
For reference: http://developer.android.com/training/basics/supporting-devices/languages.html
[EDIT]
Same goes for arrays: just use /res/values-xy/arrays.xml
Note: the names strings.xml and arrays.xml are just conventional ones can be changed to anything you like better.

AFAIK You need to modify the strings in your project manually. If you have hard-coded strings in your layouts then you can use Lint to find out all the hard-coded strings. Put them then into values/strings and the translation should go to the respective folder of each language.
EDIT:
If you're running Eclipse you can use the search feature to help you track all your hard-coded String. Check this topic

Android Multilanguage support

I have android application developed in English language and also have content in English. Is this possible that all texts are converted in other language like in Chinese or Japanese, then How? some sample code or tutorial will help me lot.
I am able to get language selected through setting with code as follows.
Locale.getDefault().getDisplayLanguage()

The usual way to do this is to:
Enter your strings in a strings.xml file in the /res/values/ folder of your project. You can then define different localizations of your string file by added them to the localized /res/values/ folders. ( /res/values-jp/ or /res/values-en/ etc.)
See: Developer Android

We can also use translation api. Refer this Link
http://www.creatiosoft.com/how-to-use-microsoft-translation-api-in-android/

Using the same values folder for different (specific) languages in Android

My default app language is English so strings.xml is located under res\values.
My app should also support Hebrew, so I put a Hebrew copy of strings.xml under res\values-he.
My problem is that on some devices, Hebrew is defined as "iw" (instead of "he").
Is there a way to save me the trouble of another copy of strings.xml under res\values-iw, but to have one folder to handle he,iw and use the default values folder for all the rest?

It's a known issue and already answered here:
CyanogenMod: Translate a Project
So if you want full support on all devices, you have to include both versions.
It's just copy & paste, where's the trouble? :)

Translation tool

am wondering if is possible to use a feature on my app that can translate the app to other languages so the user can select through a list of languages so as he can read the app even if he doesnt speak English, thanks a lot

If you use the framework's localization facilities, this will happen automatically based on the user's language setting on their device
http://developer.android.com/guide/topics/resources/localization.html
Basically, instead of using string literals in your code (ie. txt.setText("Something") or android:text="Something"), you create these in your strings.xml file and use the automatically created reference id's.
res/values/strings.xml:
<string name="something">Something</string>
Then, you create alternate res/values folders for the other languages you support and create a similar strings.xml file there.
res/values-es/strings.xml
<string name="something">Algo</string>
Then your layouts and codes would have txt.setText(R.string.something) or android:text="#string/something".
You can do the same thing for drawable, layout, menu, etc.

"to use a feature on my app that can translate the app to other languages"
I do not think such feature exist from Google. But if you write the app according Google's localization guide then you can use our Nativer app, which is designed exactly for that. It takes you language resources - translates with a machine and then let's the crowd to correct it. All these happens in runtime - so you do not need to bother when the language translation finished by the crowd. You can find further info here transround.com
Peter