developers - Android Community

Tagged: developers

Google’s Android Emulator improves with better CPU performance

By Michael Crider
on 9 Apr, 2012

It wasn't that long ago that Google introduced Ice Cream Sandwich support for the emulator in the official Android SDK, but with the update to Android 4.0.4, they've taken it one step further. After a series of tweaks and enhancements in the way that the emulator runs ARM-based software on x86 or x64 PC hardware, the Android development team says that the new version should utilize the computer's CPU with double the efficiency. The end result? A faster emulator - something that anyone who's actually tried it out will appreciate.

Qualcomm releases more drivers for Adreno, should help ICS development

By Cory Gunther
on 29 Mar, 2012

The entire discussion about fragmentation and old devices not getting updated is a hot topic in the world of Android. A lot of the problem is based around older phones not having the hardware to support such updates. While many manufacturers don't issue updates, the modding community does. With Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich that task got a little harder, but Qualcomm is helping out.

Google I/O registration open now – get in while you can

By Michael Crider
on 27 Mar, 2012

Google's mega-popular Android and software conference Google I/O is scheduled for June this year in San Francisco, and registration is open right now. If you want to get tickets to Google I/O, run, don't walk to the registration page, and have your Google+ and Google Wallet accounts ready. Google I/O is always a sellout event, thanks to sneak previews at future Android versions and features, great workshops for developers, and (last but not least) the prospect of free giveaway gadgets.

Android SDK tool updated with native x86 emulator support

By Michael Crider
on 21 Mar, 2012

If you're an Android developer and/or a dedicated modder, you'll want to hear this. Google's Android dev team has just updated the official SDK tools to version 17, with a host of new goodies for developers to try out when creating new Android apps or builds. There's a lot of tweaks for performance and stability, but the major addition doesn't even come from Google: they've borrowed some code to make the Android emulator that comes with the tool package run natively on x86 systems.

Qualcomm releases Adreno graphic drivers for ICS – let the custom ROMs flow

By Cory Gunther
on 19 Mar, 2012

Good news appeared over the weekend for many HTC smartphone owners, especially the ones with slightly older devices running Qualcomm processors. While Qualcomm hasn't been the friendliest group to modders and the Android Community, they have tried. With all the changes to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich modders have had a hard time building fully operational and smooth ROM's with Android 4.0 ICS. Over the weekend Qualcomm made this entire process much easier for smartphones running their platform.

Google I/O 2012 registration officially opens March 27 at 7 AM

By Cory Gunther
on 13 Mar, 2012

Google has just officially announced the details for those interested in the Google I/O 2012 developer conference. Along with the time, date, pricing, and new rules to name a few. Google I/O 2012 tickets will go on sale March 27th at 7 AM PDT, and you better be ready because last year they sold out in a matter of minutes. More details and links available below.

Valve’s Portal for Android port canceled due to legal issues

By Cory Gunther
on 8 Mar, 2012

For all those fans of Valve's extremely popular and mind stimulating game Portal, we have some bad news. After tons of excitement of the possibility of Portal being ported to Android, and tons of progress not to mention playable levels from the developers it has apparently been canceled. This was being ported by a few genius developers out of Russia but after some legal threats all bets are off.

Adobe Shadow helps tune up your webpages for any mobile device

By Sam Koutroulakis
on 7 Mar, 2012

Adobe has just recently announced Shadow, their new toolkit to help developers make their web page perfectly functional on any mobile device. With so many different Android devices currently on the market, this is going to work wonders for web professionals when trying to find problems in their code. As you navigate through each page and link, Shadow lets you know what will be compatible with different screen sizes.

Android Market app size limit pushed to 4GB from 50MB

By Sam Koutroulakis
on 5 Mar, 2012

Prior to now, Android applications have been limited to 50MB, and developers have had to trim down their work to fit that criteria. The new maximum application size of 4GB doesn't necessarily mean the size of the APK will be increased, but rather the Android Market will host the application's expansion files. This will help the Google keep a closer eye on when a user completely finishes the download of a large application to properly start the refund period.

Google posts Ice Cream Sandwich stencils for app developers and designers

By Michael Crider
on 29 Feb, 2012

One of Android 4.0's less-publicized but no less appreciated features is its focus on a refined interface, and Google'staking that to heart by making parts of it required for access to the Android Market. Those restrictions are for manufacturers, not developers, but a good dev always strives to make his or her app seamlessly fit in with the target OS. To that end, the Android Developers team has released a new set of digital stencils for app developers. T Hey can use this series of buttons, icons, shapes, colors and gradients to make their apps seamlessly flow with Ice Cream Sandwich.