Chapter 12: Finale! Publishing Your Android App

Chapter 12: Finale! Publishing Your Android App

Objectives

In this chapter, you learn to:• Understand Google Play• Target various device configurations and languages• Prepare your app for publishing• Create an APK package by exporting an app• Prepare promotional materials• Publish your app on Google Play

2Android Boot Camp for Developers using Java

Understanding Google Play

• There are many distribution networks• Apps can be published to:

– Google Play (Google’s Android Market, the largest marketplace)

– Amazon Appstore– AppBrain– SlideME


Understanding Google Play(continued)

Steps to publish the App:1. Test your app.2. Prepare the app for publication.3. Create an APK package and digitally sign your

application.4. Prepare promotional materials.5. Publish your app to Google Play.


Understanding Google Play(continued)

• Google Play is the online storefront for paid and free Android apps– https://play.google.com – Contains features and services of the Android

Market, Google Music, and Google e-books– Provides free cloud storage services– Used by over 130 countries– Apps install directly on the Android device– Part of the default setup on new Android devices


Targeting Different Device Configurations and Languages


– Reach a larger audience by translating your app into multiple languages• Create two resource directories in the strings directory

(the strings.xml file) to write one app that recognizes many local languages

• Use http://translate.google.com to translate into 58 different languages

– Note: translation is not perfect!

• Use the Eclipse built-in emulators to test design and functionality

• Check real-world functionality by using the Android Debug Bridge (adb), which will communicate with a connected Android device

Testing Your App on an Android Device


Testing Your App on an Android Device (continued)


• Creating an APK Package– An Application Package File (.apk) is similar to a

zip file • Contains the application, the manifest file, and all

associated resources, such as image files, music, and other related content

• Created by the Eclipse Export Wizard• All Android apps must be digitally signed with a

certificate that identifies the author and establishes trues relationships between applications


Figure 12-2 Export dialog box Figure 12-3 Exporting an Android application



Figure 12-4 Selecting the project Figure 12-5 Selecting the keystore




Figure 12-6 Keystore file is selected

Figure 12-7 Entering a password



Figure 12-8 Key Creation formFigure 12-9 Destination APK file


• Google Play requires images from your app to assist with marketing

• Your image should standout• Use screen shots

Preparing Promotional Materials to Upload

Figure 12-10 Angry Birds Space Android from Google Play

• Providing Images• Application icon size should be 512 X 512 pixels• Stored in a PNG file• 2 screen shots are required

– 480 X 320, 800 X 480, or 854 X 480 PNG files– Up to 8 screen shots can be uploaded– Videos can be used to demo the app

» Should be between 30 seconds and 2 minutes


Preparing Promotional Materials to Upload


Preparing Promotional Materials to Upload (cont.)

Figure 12-11 Angry Birds Space Android app Overview tab



• Providing a Description– An app description provides a quick overview to the

purpose of the app and what it does• Include features the app provides • You want to sell the app to the widest audience possible• Motivate users to download the app• Revise the description as you update the app


Figure 12-12 Angry Birds Space app description



• Including App Information


Table 12-1 Application categories

Registering for a Google Play Account


• A Gmail account is needed• Register at

http://play.google.com/apps/publish• A one-time payment of $25 is required to

register as an Android application developer and enrolls you in a Google Checkout account– If you charge for apps, Google Checkout

disperses revenue for application sales• You get 70 % and the phone carriers get 30%

Registering for a Google Play Account (cont.)


Figure 12-13 Google Checkout registration

Figure 12-14 Google Play Android developer console



Figure 12-15 Developer Distribution Agreement

Figure 12-16 Google Play registration fee



Figure 12-17 Google Play Account Order



Figure 12-18 Add Users to a Google Play account

Uploading an App to Google Play (continued)


Figure 12-19 Upload application

Figure 12-20 Upload new APK dialog box



Figure 12-21 Edit Application page



Figure 12-22 Listing details



Figure 12-23 Publishing options



Figure 12-24 Contact information and consent sections

Figure 12-25 Developer Program Policies page

Summary

• Google Play is the storefront for Android devices and apps, and provides access to Android Market, Google Music, and Google e-books

• To reach a larger audience within the Google Play market, you should target multiple Android devices and translate your app into multiple languages

• Provide alternate resources such as strings of text translated into multiple languages that change depending on the default locale detected on the device


Summary (continued)

• Before publishing an Android app, test it on various devices

• Using different built-in emulators in Eclipse, you can test the design and functionality of your application on a wide range of devices and see how your development application performs in a real-world environment

• Using the Android Debug Bridge (adb) tool in Eclipse, you can develop and debug an Android application on an Android device


Summary (continued)

• After testing an Android app, you must create an .apk file (application package file), which is a release-ready package that users can install and run on their Android phones and tablets

• An .apk file is a compressed archive that contains the application, the manifest file, and all associated resources, such as image files, music, and other required content. Using the Eclipse Export Wizard, you can build a release-ready .apk file that is signed with your private key and optimized for publication


Documents

Chapter 12: Finale! Publishing Your Android App