Develop Reference

Android App Ad Integration - Best Approach

I've been looking at many posts on integrating ads into an Android application. There doesn't seem to be any straight forward answers but a lot of choices to pick from. I'm looking for advice on which one would be the best to use!!
I want to integrate ads into my application and looking for the best one to choose. There are lots of posts that give examples of these ads (e.g. AppsZoom, AdBuddiz, Admob, Adwhirl, MobFox, MobClix, etc....). From what I am reading, Admob seems to be the best approach. Would anyone have any thoughts on this as I don't want to waste time on looking into alternate solutions if they are not worth it.
I'm just looking for a nice clean, quick integration that could potentially generate a bit of money per install, per click or whatever the best approach would be.
Appreciate any comments and thanks for taking the time to read.

I recommend you use Ad Mob, now known as Google Mobile Ads, because the integration is very easy (see https://developer.android.com/google/play-services/ads.html)
Knowing when to show ads is also extremely important, so I suggest you spend some time thinking about this, which is why I recommend using AdMob, as at this stage, you're better off spending your time thinking about when to show the ads than which ad network to choose (you can always do some A/B testing between networks in a later release of the app).

I recommend you use Appodeal, because they combines defferent ad networks and choose the best targeted ads to show. They currently have around 10-12 networks in their mediation plan through one API (www.appodeal.com).

Clicking the ads for solution of the game

I am new to android development and i have developed a puzzle game with about 50 levels. I know that users will hate my app if they stuck at a level for a long time. so i like to implement a strategy like - 'if you click on 2 ads from the ads below you will get the solution for that level'. can i do it. is it legal? i haven't saw any app using this strategy- why? is there any drawback in it? wont i make much money through this strategy? or is it impossible to implement this strategy through code or something?

It is against the Admob publisher policies:
Publishers may not ask others to click their ads or use deceptive implementation methods to obtain clicks. This includes, but is not limited to, offering compensation to users for viewing ads or performing searches, promising to raise money for third parties for such behavior or placing images next to individual ads.

I would strongly advise against it, while I couldn't find anywhere where admob explicitly mentions encouraging users to click on your ads, I know adsense has strict policies against encouraging users to click on ads and will ban you for life for these types of schemes.

How can I implement AdMob interactive video on Android app?

I have read a few places that Google is going to bring interactive video advertisements to their AdMob platform for Android developers. However, on their site, I cannot find any information on how to implement it, how much they usually pay per impression/click (average, not actual earnings), and there is even such a service from them. No SDK, no resources, no webpage, and no code; it seems non-existent. However, I have found a lot of sites that state that Google is bringing thease to Android.
What could be going on? Did they cancel it? How can I implement these if I want to? Do I use the normal SDK? Does anybody know any of the average/typical earnings with this per impression or click?
EDIT: I found this article and it says that there is a new SDK, but they are only bringing it to certain apps?!?! Any advice would be appreciated.

I believe you mean Admob interstitial ads. These are available now using the Admob SDK. Instead of using an instance of AdView you want to use an instance of com.google.ads.InterstitialAd but otherwise it is not too dissimilar.
You are paid on a CPC basis unless Admob has specifically tapped you on the shoulder for a pay per impression service (you need a fair amount of traffic for that). I find that eCPM for the interstitials is about 3 to 5 times that of banner ads.

AdMob and how does it work?

I'm confused about AdMob. I just signed up and I want to put ads in an app. I went to add site/app thinking this was it. There is a question and field that says Android package url. I clicked the question mark and it talks about formatting it like this market://details?id=. First, it talks about how it will link my app to ads so if someone clicks on it then it will go to my app in the marketplace. Well I haven't put the app in the market place yet and I don't think that is even a correct URL and I trying to get adds in my app not me make an add about my app. Can someone please enlighten me on how this all works and how to get it set up where I can have ads on an app. Thanks

When signing up for AdMob they want to see where your application currently is, but this isn't an essential part of the process from your point of view.
Basically, for AdMob (as well as a whole slew of other similar sites) you download a small SDK that you include in your Android application. This SDK usually has a View that you can plop on one of your Activities. You give that control some information, like a private AdMob key (so it knows which person you are) and then that control will provide an ad from the server. Note: it usually doesn't work right off the bat and there is a "development mode" setting you can set to always pull back a fake ad while you are just working on it.
You may also want to sign up for multiple sites and check out AdWhirl which allows you to manage the ratio of ads you display from each site, since you will find that some sites will generate more revenue for you than others.
Good luck!

Though its an older post, but still if it helps anyone who wants to display ads in their app. Based on many of findings with friends I would suggest to look for other ad network than admob. Imagine you set all things right, follow rules correctly, feel happy about your earnings through ads on your admob console and then suddenly one fine day you get an email from google admob that your account is suspended for invalid activity. Well what does it mean? In simple terms, it means google don't tell you what did you do wrong and will keep all your earnings. It's natural for every newbie developer to settle with admob being google's own ad network. But dont fall for this trap, if you don't want to lose your money better avoid admob.
It would be nice if readers share their experience with other ad network. It can help all of us I think.

Edit: I put this in a comment originally, but seemed suited better as an answer.
Google keeps switching the location of the Admob integration instructions which is driving me nuts. It has moved 3 times in the past 6 months. It originally was nicely done in wiki format, then moved to a PDF and now it is part of the Google code website which is here.
On this site you will find what you need, but unfortunately, you will have to dig a bit to get everything you need.

android and ads

Alright, I've done my googling and found this article to help me out with my small app. However, that one is getting old so I just have to ask, do I really need admod and adwhirl accounts and jars to display simple google ads?
From what I understand I could have used simple adsense .. if my app was a webapp, which it isn't.
Are all those steps still necesarry?
regards

I just setup AdMob in my Android application for the first time last night. I used their developer guide and it was really easy to get everything setup and working. It only took like 30-45 mins start to finish (in an app I already had written).
I didn't feel like it was too much setup.

If you just want Admob or adsense ads, then you certainly don't need to use AdWhirl. The main reason to use ad mediators and other ad networks is to get better paying ads (or make sure you get a higher fill rate).