This question already has answers here:
How can I send an Android app that I'm developing to someone over e-mail?
(10 answers)
Closed 9 years ago.
Hey, this might be simple but I dunno how to go about it. I have an app that I'm working on, and I'd like my friend to take a look at it. How can I go about sending them the apk package so they can play with the app?
You can send it as an email attachment, for instance. The process for installing it is the same as if you get the app from a source other than Market, and is documented in many places. This is the first hit that I got on Google.
You can find the .APK file in the bin directory of the Eclipse project. Also, keep in mind that if you don't sign your application with a valid certificate your friend will have to explicitly enable the 'install third party applications'; otherwise the SO won't let you install it.
Send it to them and use appsinstaller (available from the market) if android os < 2.2. Or onymous (cant remember the spelling, but a market search of installer pulls it up) if using android os 2.2 +.
From my experience, I am unable to save email attachments (if sending the apk via email and using the default email app). Otherwise, they could use their browser and download the attachment and use the programs above to install it.
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We have an Android app (.apk) published to a publicly accessible URL, any user who knows the URL can download and install the app.
The app is already installed on the relevant user phones and allowing sideload option from the settings is turned on.
How can I force the app, on start, to check for update and replace the existing app if found, then restart the app (to pick up the latest version)?
Is there a standard solution or a software package? Should I be thinking in a different way?
I am using Xamarin Forms, however, I am happy with Xamarin Android or any Java-based solution.
One thing you could do is to have a small plain text file in the same server where the APK is, that contains the version number of the APK available on the server. The runing app then just reads that text file and compares against its own version number.
If the version on the server is newer (has a higher version number), you simply download the new APK to a temp dir and install the APK programatically using the method outlined here: Android: install .apk programmatically
The way to go is HockeyApp. It´s a distribution system that does exactly what you are looking for. Besides, you get a useful crash logger and some statistics, etc. It´s free for 2 apps.
Once you install and configure their SDK in your Android app, an activity will popup telling the user a new update is available if there is any.
The user can install the new version with a button tap. Simple.
The setup process involves installing a nuget package and write a few lines of code in your main Activity class.
Does phonegap allow us to update the app we created if I want to add or change something later on?
For example, I created an app and installed on my Android cellphone. Now I want to change some content of this app. Is that possible to achieve that without installing the full .apk file again?
A similar question here: How to update app with phonegap
However,the answer "update them in your project then submit a new apk to Google Play" still makes me confused -- submitting a new apk to google then my installed app would know there is a new version? and would update??
It's impossible. You cannot update the app in user cellphone unless your app force user to update the app. IBM Worklight can do force update.
One way would be to put you html files on live server and change it from there. Suppose your files are in www.example.com site. Like www.example.com/main.html You can refer to this link from your phonegap app. And you can control it as you wish without forcing any installation.
But it comes with a price. Your app user have to be connected to internet for full time.
This question already has an answer here:
To protect the apk
(1 answer)
Closed 9 years ago.
I want to make my android app apk to be install only once and it should not run on other device if it is copied from first device.Is it possible to do this in android?
Thanks in advance.
No, it is not possible. Apps can be installed and removed as many times the users want them to. Also our code comes into control only after our application gets installed. Hence we cannot determine whether we are getting installed or removed.
You don't have any way to do that if you want your user to be able to install the application
A possible workaround would be to test the DeviceID, and allow the app to proceed only if the DeviceID has been authorized.
Obviously you would have to manage this in your code, and that could become quite cumbersome if you need to authorize numerous devices. Plus I am not sure every device has a DeviceID
see Is there a unique Android device ID? for more information about this
and even take a look at licensing
Its not possible in android ,By using application signature you can't install same signature app if a same signature app is already there.but you can't restrict it to getting installed in other devices.
Just think about it. The application doesn't know whether it is installed already or not.
If you are using an web based application, then assign a value to the database after the installation. (This value should only be known by the device inserting the value at database)
So when your application open next time on another device check the value and prohibit the user. This is the way you can block it.
I have downloaded the appinventor_extras_setup.exe from net and installed the complete package. But whenever I type the URL http://appinventor.googlelabs.com it starts asking a survey.. Is that because I haven't connected my phone with the PC.. What if I m a developer with an android phone.. can't I use appInventor?
http://appinventor.googlelabs.com is taking applications to get involved with App Inventor. It is in a limited beta release right now. I and others are waiting patiently for our opportunity to play with App Inventor, as Google processes the invitations.
If you downloaded appinventor_extras_setup.exe from anywhere other than http://appinventor.googlelabs.com, it may not be an authorized copy.
Is that because I haven't connected my phone with the PC
It is probably because you are not part of the beta program.
What if I m a developer with an android phone.. can't I use appInventor?
Fill in the survey and wait to join the beta program.
Now that some time has passed ;-)
The App Inventor invites are getting processed pretty fast.
You do not need an Android phone. There is an emulator that does a lot.
I use the emulator that comes with the Android SDK from Eclipse rather than the one you install if you follow the installation instructions for AI.
It's not open yet. You need to register to it, and they may send you an invite to the beta when it starts.
The header to the "survey" is pretty clear:
« We will be granting access to App Inventor for Android over the coming weeks. Fill out this form (only your Gmail address is required) and we’ll have you building apps soon! »
It is necessary to have your Android phone attached to use the appinventor app and to use appinventor at this time you need to be part of the beta
I agree with previous answers, but it stated that you need an Android device to be able to download the applications to.
Could someone explain how to start Appinventor after installing?
I downloaded the file and placed in folder as indicated in the provided instructions but am unable to find the launching icon for the Appinventor editor.
http://appinventor.googlelabs.com/about/
You need to sign up for an invitation. That is just the extras folder. Go to the main page, submit your email, and wait.
go to beta.appinventor.mit.edu and sign up if you haven't already. Download the setup provided in the 'support'. This download just supports functioning of the blocks editor and emulator (virtual device).
there isn't any icon on your PC, you need to go to the earlier mentioned link and that is your workspace - all on the cloud.
earlier answer from Blaze:
of course they can be placed on the Play Store. Why not?
There isn't an icon like say MS Word or Excel. It's based on the web. So you go to http://www.appinventorbeta.com/about/ and log in to your Google Account and start creating an app from there. All your projects are stored on the web, so you can work on them where ever you are.
This questions refers to Appinventor version 1 which had to be installed on the client. This version 1 is not available any longer, Version 2 is a web service and requires no installation at all.
The Appinventor main page is here: http://appinventor.mit.edu
and the Application for creating Apps here: http://ai2.appinventor.mit.edu
You only need to register with a Google Account in order to start.
Maybe the whole question should be removed as it is some kind of misleading?
Just sign up for a google ID (if you don't already have one) and google it (or go to the more selection under the "More>>" menu)
I believe that the apps made by the AppInventor cannot be places on the Android Market, I know this from personal experience