Android Bootcamp developer training: What’s the best way to learn?

One of the key factors in Android’s favor is the fact that it’s open-source, meaning developers are free to code their own apps for the platform and go on to release them through the Android Market.  What, though, if your ambitions and ideas are more impressive than your coding skills?  Interestingly, there’s a growing industry in Android-specific developer training .

One such project is the Android Bootcamp, which promises a week long intensive course of Android-themed developer training, under the tutelage of Mark Murphy, founder of CommonsWare and author of The Busy Coder’s Guide to Android Development, among other titles.  Taking place in Atlanta, the course costs $3,500 including lodging, meals and classes, though not your airfare.

“You will not only learn the basics of setting up activities and UI widgets, but the advanced capabilities that make Android compelling, such as GPS, mapping, Web service access, and on-device search”

I’m curious to know your opinion on courses like this.  Obviously $3,500 is a whole lot of money; do you think this is the best way to get into developing for Android – or for any platform, for that matter? 

Press Release:

Register for Android Bootcamp

Atlanta, GA – January 15, 2009 – Get Your Android Training at the Big
Nerd Ranch, March 16-20, 2009

The biggest idea in new technology comes in the smallest package.

When Google announced it was entering the mobile device market with
Android, developers got excited. Really excited. Now, the recent
partnership between Google and T-Mobile has spurred top-tier mobile
device manufacturers to start developing devices for Android, setting
the stage for Android to become a dominant mobile application
platform. Based in Java, Android boasts an open architecture with an
open source foundation that stands out from any other mobile
development platform, with untapped potential for software
development. For entrepreneurs wanting to tap that potential, the Big
Nerd Ranch, premier provider of intensive, week-long classes for
programmers, web developers and system administrators, is now offering
Android Bootcamp, March 16-20, 2009.

The Android training class is taught by one of the top names in the
mobile development industry, Mark Murphy, founder of CommonsWare and
author of The Busy Coder’s Guide to Android Development (Version 2.0)
and The Busy Coder’s Guide to Advanced Android Development (Version
1.0), slated to be released in March or April of 2009. The ebook
version of the book was released June 3, 2008 and has become a top-
selling guide to Android programming. Mark has more than 25 years
experience as a development trainer and consultant, building real-
world applications for top companies. He is a frequent contributor to
the Android support Google Groups.

“Android is significantly different from any other mobile development
platform or Java-based environment,” said Android instructor, Mark
Murphy. “This class will immerse you in the Android platform,
leveraging your existing Java expertise, so you walk away able to
build Android GUIs and related components. You will not only learn the
basics of setting up activities and UI widgets, but the advanced
capabilities that make Android compelling, such as GPS, mapping, Web
service access, and on-device search.”

Mark draws upon his extensive mobile development experience and
leverages students’ existing Java expertise to immerse students in the
Android platform and guide them in building sophisticated Android GUIs
and components. By the end of the week, students attending the class
will be to:

• Create professional Android user interfaces using XML
• Connect Android applications to the Internet, embed browsers into
applications and create database-driven applications
• Utilize content providers to publish data to Android applications
and communicate with other applications to use their data
• Use services to build long-running Android processes
• Integrate advanced Android features like mapping, search, and
location-based (GPS) services into applications
Read more about Android Bootcamp (including the complete syllabus) or
our instructor Mark Murphy.

The Big Nerd Ranch incorporates intensive training classes for Unix
and Mac OS X programmers in a retreat setting outside Atlanta, GA.
Class price of $3500 includes lodging, all meals, original instruction
materials, 24-hour lab access, and transportation to and from the
Atlanta airport. Students are encouraged to bring independent projects
to class, allowing for input from classmates and individual instructor
attention. For more information, call (404) 527-6211 or visit www.bignerdranch.com