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Android application backend

I want to make an android application which will display an external message (For example: some quotes, proverbs etc) daily.
The message should be retrieved from some place other than the client device and I would like to configure the messages from back end
These messages should also change everyday.
How should the back end be and how can the android application retrieve the configured message ?
Do I need a server at the back end for the same or can avail some cloud services for the same ?
What is the best approach to do?

If you want to avoid having to set up and manage a server on the backend yourself you can take a look at a 'backend as a service' offering.
Two example candidates are:
https://parse.com
http://aws.amazon.com/lambda/
Both Parse and Amazon provide SDK's to allow you interact with the backend from your Android app.
You will likely want to study this a little to decide if you want this type of solution or to build your own server as Brian suggests - I think there are pros and cons to each approach and you'll have to choose which is best for your case.

Yes, you will need a server. You can start building the server software on the same machine as your Android emulator and create them in parallel. You'll need to choose a language and most likely a web server framework that suits your thought process and style.
If you want to use REST, for instance, google some for "best REST server framework". You will get hundreds of answers that don't mean much, but look at the communities that surround the frameworks that come back. Look at the user lists and how many questions about it exist on this site. That will give you a better idea of whether you can ask questions and get answers when they arise. You are making an investment by learning a framework, spend a little time deciding which one you are going to use, possibly by trying a few of them for a very simple site that returns the kind of data you are looking for.
Other than that, you really need to ask specific questions once you've chosen a language and a framework. Hope that helps.

Pushing data into the cloud with android

I am trying to push some sensor data from android onto the cloud. There seems to be certain existing sites like xively, thingsspeak,nimbits which do all of this. But the thing is I need to be able to dynamically create new devices without logging into the site and also push data from the android phone to those sites. I can do the latter easily but the former seems to be an area where there is a lot of restriction. I also need to describe my sensor data very accurately so I would probably need several extra fields. Taking all this into consideration I have come to the conclusion that creating my own database would probably be the best way to proceed. However I would like to know if this option is the right way to proceed?
Also are there any easy to use libraries which help me contact an external sql database easily in android?

Yes, you should probably have your own backend for something like this. Google App Engine has a feature called Cloud Endpoints that makes it easy to write an Android backend and auto-generate an Android code for communicating with it. And it automatically handles the serialization/deserialization, so that you don't need to parse/serialize XML or JSON in order to send the data.

Android and Elevation Data

I'm trying to build a simulator which needs to know what the terrain looks like in front of a given location.
I know that we can get elevation data from the National Elevation Dataset, but once I have it.. I'm pretty lost.
I was reading through the comments on this question, and the answers make sense, but I can't run a Postgres server for the data on Android like they can for a website that needs the same information.
I need to be able to load the elevations for points a given distance in front of my current GPS lat/long, so I need to be able to search the dataset.
Additionally, I need this to work without a data connection, so it has to all be on the phone with no network needed other than a GPS connection.
Where should I start? I'm pretty much lost =\
I guess, what I need is.... I have the elevation data in ArcGRID or GRIDFLOAT format from the USGS. Now what? I can't find good examples of working with the data.

Android has SQLite baked right in so you can use this to store your data and then search through it as required. Start here and I'm sure you'll find what you're looking for.
You can also review the "searchable dictionary" example Google has up for a good how-to on searching within a content provider.
Update: For working with the ArcGRID stuff, again, this is beyond my realm of expertise, but I did find a general Java based toolset called GeoTools that has code that works with spatial databases. You may be able to pull this code down and analyze how it's working with the other data providers and then base your design on SQLite to emulate this? There is also a tutorial on querying.
Update 2: Check out the Android Documentation on GeoTools. Some good information there as well.

Whats the best solution for a database used in conjunction with Maps in Android?

Could someone please point me in the right direction. My project involves a database where users enter their address and other info from my website. This database is then referenced in my android application to show the locations of these addresses in my database.
I have yet to start and just came up with this idea. My question is, what would be the best method to create a database easily modified through my website (mySQL, php, etc), and also easily referenced easily through Android and the Google Maps API? I need some ideas on the languages I will need to use to create this database and website so I can go buy the necessary books to start reading up.
Thanks so much

I believe the best way for you to go with this one is:
a database cache on the device
that means you can use XML if you don't have many complicated requirements from storing the address
or SQLite if you want to be able to query the database and do more fancy things
on the server side
if you only need to get the data from your server on the device, then a simple XML with a unique address per user should do it
if you need to push addresses from your device to the server then a REST system needs to be implemented
So, now you just need to figure out exactly what you need from your system and then start googleing on one of the solutions I gave you! Good luck! :)

Google App Engine would probably work for that. GAE supports Java and Python. Maybe use the Restlet framework (compatible with GAE) to implement a REST architecture.

allow users to create forms within android survey/data collection app

I'm trying to develop an Android app that could be used by advocacy groups or campaigners such that they would be able to create their own forms (surveys) for which they can go out canvassing and collect opinion data from people who don't have Internet connections and thus can't take surveys/polls online. Could also be used at events or anything else that requires data collection "in the field"
The benefit is allowing data collection on the spot without having to transfer data from paper to the office computer by hand.
I've been looking over this tutorial by Frank Abelson: http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/xml/tutorials/x-andddyntut/section6.html
And have also been pouring through the Open Data Kit, but the ODK is a little more intense than I am prepared for and the Abelson tutorial doesn't discuss much how users could create their own forms.
I suppose users could just create their own XML files for custom forms in the office and store them on the server, but I was wondering if there was a way for them to do this on the Android app?
Just a hint about possible architecture or simple resources would be helpful, I am having a hard time picturing the solution at the moment.

i'm one of the developers of open data kit. odk has been successfully deployed by organizations all around the world for exactly what you describe.
we have a graphical form designer (and good alternatives in purcforms and xls2xforms), a server to host the forms, and an android mobile client (and good alternatives in javarosa). all the pieces are free, open source, and are driven by an active community.
if you could list what specifically about odk doesn't fit your needs (say, a need form design on the phone), i'd be could recommend alternatives...

ODK is a fantastic open source solution. A potential commercial alternative you can also try is Canvas at http://www.gocanvas.com which allows you to replace paper based forms with your mobile device.
It currently runs on Android, Windows Mobile and BlackBerry with iPhone and iPad support coming soon.
To get a quick overview of how to use Canvas:
Build a standard data collection app in 5 minutes and see it running on BlackBerry
Build a signature capture app in 5 minutes and see it running on Android
Hope that helps some,
-Chris

You should look into Fulcrum. I believe there is a 30 day trial period see if this software works for you. This is a one stop shop for mobile data collection teams. You can easily build your data collection forms right from your web account to include photo fields, text entry fields, choice fields, form sections, and repeatable sections. Repeatable, meaning parent-child relationships within a single data point.
They even have an App Gallery with a exemplary apps (forms) that allow you to use as a sort of "cheat-sheet" to get started. Here is the political canvassing survey they posted.
-P.Reyes

Check my project here: https://github.com/AndreiD/surveylib
PROS: Simple solution, open source, without any overkill, you don't have to display any logos, it doesn't cost a thing, it's easy to be extended, material design etc.
CONS: You must have the server part, for the transmission of the answers data.