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Archive for category: Unlocking Android
First draft of Unlocking Android 2.0 is complete
Posted by: Frank Ableson in General Business, Software Development, Technology, Android, Unlocking Android on September 06, 2010
Unlocking Android, Second Edition, is under review. A bunch of edits to take care of over the next week or so, then on to the copy-editing process that is exciting for the editors but challenging for the authors... and then on to the printer before too long. The book should be on shelves sometime in November or December of this year.
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Drive your Lego Mindstorm NXT Robot with Android
Posted by: Frank Ableson in Fun, Software Development, Technology, Android, Unlocking Android on September 02, 2010
We have just published a free demonstration application to the Android Market named SenseBot. This application was written as a demonstration for the Unlocking Android Second Edition title soon to be published. The application demonstrates the use of the Bluetooth and Orientation Sensor functionality of the Android platform.
The application connects via Bluetooth to a Lego Mindstorm NXT robot in a "stock" configuration: two motors connected to the B and C ports of the robot.
Once the application is connected to the Robot (which must be named NXT) you simply tilt the phone to drive the robot. Tilt forward, back, left and right. Even though it is arguably not the most attractive or best performing remote control -- it is a bit addictive and fun.
Search the Android market for "Lego Mindstorm" or "SenseBot".
The application requires a minimum level of Android 2.0 as that is when the Bluetooth data functionality was made accessible to third party developers.
MSI Services provides consulting and software development for iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, and on occassion Palm WebOS.
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Monitoring Android Events
Posted by: Frank Ableson in Linux Magazine, Software Development, Technology, Android, Unlocking Android on August 31, 2010
This week's Linux Magazine Upward Mobility column demonstrates the use of a BroadcastReceiver. OK, so what is that you ask? A BroadcastReceiver is a coding mechanism within the Android operating system permitting you to avoid polling -- in other words, it is your friend. The article demonstrates listening for power connection events.
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Handling user interface clicks with Android Buttons
Posted by: Frank Ableson in Linux Magazine, Software Development, Technology, Android, Unlocking Android on August 24, 2010
There are a number of "right" ways to perform certain programming practices. In fact, the whole topic of which way to write code is closer to religion than science. In this week's Linux Magazine Upward Mobility column we review three different techniques for setting up Buttons in an Android Activity.
MSI Services, Inc.
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Launching Android Applications
Posted by: Frank Ableson in Linux Magazine, Software Development, Technology, Android, Unlocking Android on August 11, 2010
One of the strengths of the Android platform is the ease with which one application may launch another. The latest installment of Upward Mobility @ Linux Magazine demonstrates techniques for expanding the reach of your Android application.
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FITC Android presentations
Posted by: Frank Ableson in Software Development, Technology, Android, Unlocking Android on July 26, 2010
Frank Ableson, President of MSI Services, Inc. will be making two presentations at the FITC Mobile conference taking place in Toronto in September. On the first day of the event, Frank will lead an all-day hands-on Android programming workshop. Participants will create an RSS reader with Twitter sharing features. During the normal speaking series, Frank will make a presentation covering the Native Development Kit (NDK) for Android which permits writing C code to augment the Java based Android SDK. All materials will be posted to this blog entry after the event is conducted in September.
MSI Services is a full service Information Technology firm, offering Managed Services, Application Hosting, Web and Mobile development services.
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Exploring the AppWidget
Posted by: Frank Ableson in Linux Magazine, Software Development, Technology, Android, Unlocking Android on July 19, 2010
One of the features that sets Android apart from the crowd of smart phones is the ability to write interactive code for the hone screen. The latest installment of the Upward Mobility column @ Linux Magazine demonstrates a simple debugging utility for Android applications in the form of an AppWidget.
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Bringing your application to the home screen of Android
Posted by: Frank Ableson in Linux Magazine, Software Development, Technology, Android, Unlocking Android on June 22, 2010
One of the ways in which mobile software is changing the way we live and operate day to day is with the desktop application or widget. In Android they are called AppWidgets. In this week's Upward Mobility column, Frank demonstrates building a simple AppWidget. In future articles this example will be expanded to create a more comprehensive application, suitable for network monitoring tasks.
Frank Ableson
MSI Services, Inc
IT Leadership, Consulting, & Technical Support
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Localizing an Android Application
Posted by: Frank Ableson in Linux Magazine, Software Development, Technology, Android, Unlocking Android on May 31, 2010
This week's Linux Magazine mobile contribution covers localizing an application for a specific language and region. Just like their desktop counterparts, mobile devices need to play on a global playing field with users from all over the globe. Giving some thought to this process early on in the development process makes a lot of sense to save time down the road. Read more here.
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Everybody wants a Frozen Droid.
Posted by: Frank Ableson in Linux Magazine, Technology, Android, Unlocking Android on May 25, 2010
I often hear remarks about my cell phone when I make or receive a call. Sometimes it is my wife or children saying "put the phone down, it is dinner time". Or I have to resist the urge to check for email in the middle of a meeting -- habit forming devices these are. Often I hear someone say "is that a droid"? Yes. And No. I've got the Nexus One -- aka the Google Phone. Google recently released Android version 2.2 which was code named "Froyo". This version is a nice step forward in Android's maturation. Faster. Better memory management. And even MS Exchange calendar synch!. To read more of my thoughts on this latest member of the Android family, have a look at this week's Linux Magazine Upward Mobility column.
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