I'm about to start Android development. After a bit of research it seems that the Sony Xperia Play is probably the most suitable Android-based gaming device.
Is it possible to develop for the Xperia Play like on any other Android-based phone, or does it require special licensing or other certification from Sony?
All information needed to developer for Xperia Play is available as Sony Ericsson Developer World http://developer.sonyericsson.com/wportal/devworld/technology/android/xperiaplay/overview?cc=gb&lc=en
From what I can tell, the Play will have the Android Market on it, so that means that normal Android apps can be downloaded and installed on it. Although for development, you'll want to make sure that you can "sideload" (install apps by transferring the .apk file to the phone without using the Market) apps onto the phone so that you can test your apps on the real hardware.
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There shows an application development kit exists for Samsung smart TV. But my doubt is that will it support android applications. Does all the smart TV's are Google powered? will they all support android application.
Samsung's 2012 TV range will be running the Google TV software in some fashion (I'm not sure what fashion, but I believe it will sit alongside or on top of Samsung's existing system).
Google TV is Android powered.
You won't be able to take advantage of it if you want to support TVs released in 2011 or earlier.
On normal 2012 Samsung models you won't run Android app too.
Samsung and Google has signed agreement, but it will be only for one or two TV sets models as it is with Sony and LG.
So if you want to make applications for Samsung - forget about android apps, use HTML/JavaScript.
And I mentioned it already here https://stackoverflow.com/a/10881869/364483 - you can also make HTML/Javascript Apps for Google TV.
I am working on a project which requires the use of Google Maps and is aimed for tablet PCs running the Android OS. We have purchased an Archos 101 Internet Tablet to test our implementation, but what I have quickly noticed is that any application that I install which uses Google Maps immediately crashes on startup (throwing a ClassNotFoundException on the class which extends MapActivity). I then learned that Archos is not a "Google-certified" device and apparently does not support the Google Maps API.
I understand that we may need to acquire a Tablet which is confirmed to work with Google APIs for Android.
I wanted to know if anyone has ever tried to develop a Google Maps application on one of these tablets?
As a follow up, what tablet would you suggest for developing a Google Maps application?
EDIT: I have tested the same implementation successfully on both the Android Emulator and a Nexus One phone. I want to stress that the issue seems to be the lack of support for Google Maps on the Archos 101 tablet. Also, this is just a prototype, and we are not developing anything for the market quite yet, so the workaround is acceptable in this case.
I wanted to know if anyone has ever tried to develop a Google Maps application on one of these tablets?
ARCHOS tablets do not have Google Maps, and so you cannot develop apps that use the Google Maps add-on using those tablets. You can, however, display classic Web-based Google Maps in a WebView or something.
As a follow up, what tablet would you suggest for developing a Google Maps application?
Any tablet that legitimately has Google Maps and the Android Market. If you have an Android Market developer account, if the device shows up in the filter-out-these-devices list, then it legitimately has the Android Market.
I'd seriously consider a Honeycomb tablet, as that will be the OS flavor that most tablet devices will be running in the future.
Despite all the research I had been doing pointing to the conclusion that this was impossible, my peers persisted, and I did end up finding a workaround that I thought I should share.
I found a package which installs the necessary components onto the Archos for it to support Google Apps functionality. The version I used can be downloaded here.
After installing the apk using adb install, I ran the app and clicked "Install only core apps". After rebooting, I tried to run my Google Maps program again, and it worked.
EDIT: This "workaround" may no longer be valid as the link to the package has been taken down. Try searching Google Apps Installer for Android (version number).
Is it true that ANY Android phone can be used for App development and testing?
I'm trying to find some inexpensive off-contract hardware for development and testing of our Apps. I've found some devices I can buy New with No Contract for $150 to $300 (like the HTC Aria or the Huawei Ascend). Is there anything that would prevent me from using these devices for USB debugging and app testing? I guess I'm concerned because I've read how the HTC Aria has been locked down by AT&T to limit applications. I suspect this won't affect me loading apps using ADB, but I'd like to be sure.
Yes, you can use any phone for testing applications via the Android development tools. This includes the HTC Aria of what I've read.
You can read more here: http://developer.android.com/guide/developing/device.html
And it is not true what Sam Dufel wrote. A developer phone have messaging and phone features. It's just as any other ordinary unlocked phone. The only difference between the dev-phones is that they have unlocked bootloaders so you can install and customize your own Android-system and install it. It is rooted by default.
Google actually sells development phones - after you create a developer account, they give you an option to buy one of a couple different models. You don't get any messaging / phone features though, obviously.
I'm currently stuck on AT&T due to my wife having a new iPhone so I've been eagerly waiting for a phone to come out on AT&T that would be working picking up. That time comes this Sunday with the Samsung Captivate... but I'm concerned with something. With AT&T locking up it's phones to non-Marketplace apps... does that hinder me in any way on developing on the phone?
Sorry if that seems like a stupid question or doesn't belong here... hoping a user with an AT&T phone (HTC Aria or... something) can help.
I'd be surprised if ATT not allowing you to install non market apps would make it so you can't use the phone for testing/debugging. Before you buy an ATT android phone, check out Settings -> Applications -> Development and if you can enable USB debugging then you will be able to use the phone to test your applications.
Hope this helps.
Update: It looks like the HTC Aria has been rooted too which would allow you to basically whatever you want with the phone. This is why Android is the superior mobile OS :)
It is required, for an device to be able ship with Android Market, for it to be usable as a development target. That means full adb support (including installing apps with adb) for integration with the development tools.
ATT is still disabling installation of non market apps so you will not be able to install apps from places other than the market.
You can still develop apps and test/debug on the emulator that comes with the SDK tools though.
I'm thinking of doing some work in the Android space and was looking at the Verizon Motorola Droid. My question is simple: Can/How do I directly deploy applications I am developing and testing to my personal phone or I limited by some other third party as to how I can access my own phone?
You compile your programs to .apk files, which you can upload directly to your phone. You can even plug in your phone by usb and debug your code on it, instead of using the emulator.
If you want to make your applications available for the rest of the world, you have to upload them to the Android market, which incurs a one time $25 registration fee for developers.