What to expect by a novice android developer?

Hi Satya & Dave,

I am very much new to Android developement.
Recently I bought a new Android phone and would like to develop Android applications in future.

So, what do you guys think, how well could a novice android developer get benefited from this Pro Android 3, by keeping in mind that he/she didn't read/know the earlier versions of the books?

Thanks,
~Sujoy

Sujoy,

This Pro Android3 is a superset of previous releases. (Except we took the Titanium chapter out due to space constraints)

I think this edition is much better.

it is an excellent book if you already know Java and would like to learn Android as a beginer.

So the pre-requisites are clearly just

a) Java
b) Eclipse IDE

Given those two the 1100 pages of Pro Android3 takes you concept by concept (the way I and Dave learned) and API by API and develop simple projects that demonstrate those concepts.

Our focus audience are

a) java programmers but beginers for Android
b) Intermediate to Advanced to Android programmers

it will start you slow but also gradually ask you very fundamental questions on the behavior of Android (especially its multi-threading model of programming).

What helps you if you are a beginer are

a) Good coverage of basic fundamental concepts: intents, resources, content providers, dialogs, menus, controls (25% of the book)
b) Process and threading model: threads, components, handlers, receivers, long running services (25% of the book)
c) Advanced APIs that are explored chapter by chapter: animation, opengl, touch, sensors, text to speech, search, contacts, widgets, live folders, 3.0 fragements, framgment dialolgs, drag and drop, action bar (50%)

Especially the menus and controls chapters gives you the very basics of a workable application.

what helps you to take you to the next level are "b" and "c" above.

Three authors spent over 2 and 1/2 years to write teh book and we wrote as we learned and discovered and fumbled. Hopefully the hardknocks are remembered adn documented.

See if this is helpful..

Satya

Thank you very much.
That is what I exactly wanted to know.