Books » The Best Book on Finding & Developing Your Android App Idea

The Best Book on Finding & Developing Your Android App Idea

by Eddie Kim

What's in the book?

Bestselling Android App developer Eddie Kim shares his secrets to uncovering and developing a winning Android App

The revenue potential of Android application development.
The best ways to go about conceptualizing an idea for an application.
How to ensure you create a polished, high-quality application.
The best resources for both fledgling and veteran developers.
Advice on which Android development tools to use.
Where and how to hire programmers and developers to help you with your app.
Useful tips to reduce development time.
Advice on the best testing methods for Android applications.
How to make a name for yourself on the Android Market, and what alternative markets exist.
Dealing with piracy.
Social networking and app development: do’s and don’ts.

Video

Description

Android can seem intimidating, if not downright overwhelming, for a first time developer. In The Best Book On Finding & Developing Your Android App Idea, Edward Kim walks Android rookies through the process, from conceptualization straight through to the Android market, helping them through the basics so they can get right down to what’s important—their application.

FAQs

I’m already established and successful in the Android marketplace. Will this book tell me anything I don’t already know?

It’s quite possible that it might. While The Killer App is mostly intended for Android rookies, that doesn’t make the advice contained within any less valuable. Even the best developers out there can learn a thing or two about making a great application, after all. Maybe you’ll find a resource or tool that you didn’t know existed. Maybe you’ll notice an elementary mistake that you didn’t even realize you were making. Either way, you’ll benefit.

I’m a first-time developer, but I’m looking to start somewhere other than Android. Is this book still worth a look?

While this book mostly focuses on Android, the fundamentals of development are pretty much identical between platforms, to my knowledge. Unfortunately, that doesn’t really justify a purchase—all of the resources, advice, and marketing tips are Android-centric. So unless you’re an Android developer or prospective Android developer, I don’t think this book’s really for you.

Exactly how will this book help me up my game as an Android developer?

When I wrote this book, I paid special attention to the most common mistakes developers on the marketplace make- anything from sloppy interfaces to not being unique enough to being unique and cool but not the least bit useful. Reading this book will give you a deeper understanding of both the development and marketing process, in addition to teaching you everything you need to know as a first-time developer.

I’m looking to get into game development, but this book seems to focus mostly on functional applications. Is it still worth purchasing?

Definitely. While a lot more goes into game development than functional app development, the basic tenets are still the same, and the resources I’ve provided in the book are still of great use to you. Functional apps might be the focus, but games aren’t entirely neglected, either.

Letter From The Author

Dear First-time developer, First, I’d like to thank you for taking the time to get involved in the Android development community. It’s always good to see a fresh face, and I’m excited to see what sort of great apps you’ll turn out once you get into the swing of things—something which I hope this book will help you to do. I’ve been an Android developer for almost 3 years now, and I’ve loved every minute of it. I won’t lie to you—unless you’re a complete prodigy, application development isn’t easy. It’s a time-consuming, and often gruelling process, in which you’ll spend hours upon hours poring over your code and trying to figure out what went wrong or fiddling with your interface so it looks exactly the way you want it. But you know what? At the end of the day, it’s all worth it. If you’re just starting out, the prospect of developing an application on your own might seem pretty daunting—if not downright overwhelming. It’s for this reason that I’ve collected all the knowledge, all the information I’ve gained from my years as a developer into this eBook—everything from idea generation to marketplace best practices to social networking, and it’s all structured in a logical, easy-to-read format. Even if you’re not a rookie, this book’s got something for you: I’ve compiled a formidable database of Android resources, along with top-notch advice on every step of the development process. And don’t worry, this book isn’t going to waste your time with false, lofty promises, or needless extrapolation. It’ll get right to the point, so that you can get to what’s important—putting together your application. Purchasing this book doesn’t guarantee a successful application—it just gives you the tools with which to make one. What you do with those tools is entirely up to you. See you on the Marketplace; Eddie Kim

Things You'll Learn:

Just how successful is Android?
The truth behind what makes an application successful. Here’s a hint—it’s not just the programming that matters.
Android’s strengths and weaknesses versus iOS, Blackberry, and Facebook.
Advice on how to get through the most critical stage in the development process—figuring out what you’re going to be creating.
What “originality” really means in the context of the Android Marketplace.
Functional Apps Versus Games: What’s the difference? Believe it or not, the process for creating a game isn’t all that different from the process of creating a functional app.
Advice on which of the two you should start with as a first-time developer.
The 4 revenue models for Android applications, and when you should use each one.
A collection of the best resources available for first-time developers wanting to learn more about the Android platform.
The Best Android Development Tools to use.
How To Hire The Best Programmers: How to hire great, affordable programmers to help you develop your application, where to find them, and how much to pay them.
How To Hire The Best Designers: How to hire great, affordable designers to help you develop your application, where to find them, and how much to pay them.
Impressions Are Everything—Logo/Icon Design.
Sounds And Pictures—Royalty Free Media.
7 Things You Can Do To Reduce Development Time.
The difference between Android Tablets and Android phones, explained from a developer’s perspective.
How To Test Your Android App.
8 things you positively must do before your application’s ready for the market.
A simple walkthrough of how to register as an Android developer, and how to submit your application to the Android market.
Simple steps you can take that make your application more difficult to pirate.
How To Increase Your Market Rating And Getting Featured.
How to go about porting your application off of Android, and when you should consider doing so.
Alternative Markets For Android Apps.
The do’s and don’ts of social media—when you should add social integration, and when you should avoid it.

Table of Contents Click on the links below to read actual chapters from the book for free!

cat 1
cat 2
Chapter 1: The Pre-Boot Phase
- What To Consider First
- What Makes An Application Successful?
Chapter 2: Pros & Cons Of Developing For Android Vs. Other Platforms
- Developing For Android Vs. Other Platforms
- The Advantages of Developing For Android
- Disadvantages of Android
Chapter 3: Fill A Need: Android App Ideas That Sell
- Android App Ideas That Sell
- Coming Up With An Application Idea
- Android Contests
- Once You Have Your Idea
- The Importance Of First Impressions: Coding Your First App
- Android Games
Chapter 4: Originality And Android
- Do What Other Apps Do (But Better!)
- It’s All In The Presentation
- Unique Features And Utility
- Impossible Competition: When Not To Move Forward
- Originality And Games
Chapter 5: Functional Apps Vs. Games
- Functional Apps Vs. Games
- Functional Applications
- Android Games
Chapter 6: Android App Revenue Models
- Android App Revenue Models
- Setting Your Price
Chapter 7: Learn To Android
- Suggested Resources For Android Noobs
- The Android Developer Website
- Additional Resources
Chapter 8: The Best Android App Development Tools
- Development Tools
Chapter 9: How To Hire Programmers
- Talented & Affordable Programmers
- The Ideal Candidate
- Idea Generation and Development Teams
- Where To Find Programmers/Developers
- Rate of Pay
Chapter 10: How To Hire Designers
- Talented & Affordable Designers
- The Ideal Designer
- Where To Find Designers
- What To Pay Designers
Chapter 11: Logo/Icon Design
- Dos and Don’ts Of Designing Your Logo/Icon
- Where To Start
- Designing your Logo
- The Story Behind The Icon: How I Designed My Logos
- Five Of The Best Logos On The Market
Chapter 12: Sounds And Pictures
- Royalty-Free Media
- Sources Of Royalty-Free Media
Chapter 13: Reducing Development Time
- 7 Tips To Reduce Your Development Time
Chapter 14: Android Tablets Vs. Android Phones
- Tablets Vs. Phones
- Optimizing Smartphone Applications For Tablets
- Developing For Tablets
- The Market
Chapter 15: Android App Testing
- How To Test Your Android App
- How To Test Your App For Bugs
Chapter 16: Before Launching Your Android App
- Pre-Launch Checklist
Chapter 17: Getting To The Top
- Increasing Your Market Rating and Getting Featured
- Title Optimization
- Description Optimization
- Multiple Categories
- Market Rating And User Rating
- Getting Your App Featured
Chapter 18: Getting Started On The Market
- Getting Your Android App On The Market
- Registering As an Android Developer
- Submitting Your Application To The Android Market
Chapter 19: How To Deal With Piracy
- Dealing With Piracy
- Taking Prevention Too Far
Chapter 20: Porting Your App To Other Platforms
- Porting Your App
- Why Port?
- The Challenges of Porting
Chapter 21: Alternative Markets For Android Apps
- Alternative Markets
- The Amazon App Store
- The Verizon Media Store
- Other Markets
Chapter 22: Adding Social Integration To Your App
- Social Integration
- When You Shouldn’t Add Social Network Integration
- When You Should Add Social Integration
- Which Networks To Connect To
- How Social Integration Can Help You

Price: $25

Lifetime guarantee
100% refund
Free updates

About the Author(s)

After graduating from Stanford in 2005, Edward Kim worked for Volkswagen Electronics Research Lab, where he did next-generation research for Audi navigation and speech recognition systems—he would eventually leave to form his own company, Picwing.com—a subscription-based photo printing service. In 2009, he signed up for the Android Developer Challenge, where his first application, Car Locator, placed third—cementing his place in the Android community for years to come. Before getting into Android development, he graduated from Stanford University in 2005. In 2009, he signed up for the Android Developer Challenge. His first application, Car Locator, ended up placing third; cementing his place in the Android community for years to come. Today, Edward Kim is a successful application developer, pulling in an average of $300,000/year from his 11 applications. His apps have received numerous accolades for their design, and he has won over $100,000 in prize money from various Android contests, including 1st place in Verizon's Power Your App. As a result of his success, he's been featured in publications which include Wired Magazine, Techcrunch, and Capital. In his free time, Eddie loves to bike, run, sail, and play tennis. He also enjoys traveling. What inspired you to develop Android Applications? I got my first Android phone and was really excited for the platform as a whole. When I heard about the Android Developer Challenge, I decided that it would be a great opportunity to learn something new, and possibly make a little bit of money. I ended up winning 3rd place in the developer contest and the rest is history from there. What's the weirdest app idea you've ever come up with? Did it work? I made an app called “Scare and Share”. It pretends to be a puzzle app, enticing uses to stare intently into their phone's screen. All of a sudden, a freaky image accompanied by a shrill scream scares the living bejeezus out of the user. Secretly, it records the user's reaction using the front-facing camera on the phone, and then shares the video on Facebook. I thought it was a great use of front-facing camera, which developers were just given access to. Unfortunately, the app doesn't do very well. What's is the craziest thing that has ever happened to you? I once got a skunk stuck in the engine of my car. My car wouldn't start one day and I didn't know why. After popping the trunk, I realized there was a dead skunk stuck in the engine fan, preventing the engine from starting. It didn't help that the skunk sprayed my car! What is your favorite quote and why? “You can complain because roses have thorns, or you can rejoice because thorns have roses”. I'm not sure who said this, but I like the quote because I'm a perpetual optimist. It's good to always look at the positive side of things. What did you want to be when you were growing up? One of the first things I wanted to be was a plumber. When I was a kid, we had a clogged toilet. My grandpa promptly came over and fixed it. I was really impressed, and my grandpa told me plumbers make a lot of money, so I wanted to be a plumber. Book edited by Nicholas Greene

Hyperink in the Press