Unleash the power of the Android OS and build the kinds of brilliant, innovative apps users love to use If you already know your way around the Android OS and can build a simple Android app in under an hour, this book is for you. If you re itching to see just how far you can push it and discover what Android is really capable of, it s for you. And if you re ready to learn how to build advanced, intuitive, innovative apps that are a blast to use, this book is definitely for you. From custom views and advanced multi-touch gestures, to integrating online web services and exploiting the latest geofencing and activity recognition features, ace Android developer, Erik Hellman, delivers expert tips, tricks and little-known techniques for pushing the Android envelope so you can: Optimize your components for the smoothest user experience possible Create your own custom Views Push the boundaries of the Android SDK Master Android Studio and Gradle Make optimal use of the Android audio, video and graphics APIs Program in Text-To-Speech and Speech Recognition Make the most of the new Android maps and location API Use Android connectivity technologies to communicate with remote devices Perform background processing Use Android cryptography APIs Find and safely use hidden Android APIs Cloud-enable your applications with Google Play Services Distribute and sell your applications on Google Play Store Learn how to unleash the power of Android and transform your apps from good to great in Android Programming: Pushing the Limits.

Unleash the power of the Android OS and build the kinds ofbrilliant, innovative apps users love to useIf you already know your way around the Android OS and can builda simple Android app in under an hour, this book is for you. Ifyou're itching to see just how far you can push it anddiscover what Android is really capable of, it's for you. Andif you're ready to learn how to build advanced, intuitiveinnovative apps that are a blast to use, this book isdefinitely for you.From custom views and advanced multi-touch gestures, tointegrating online web services and exploiting the latestgeofencing and activity recognition features, ace Androiddeveloper, Erik Hellman, delivers expert tips, tricks andlittle-known techniques for pushing the Android envelope so youcan:* Optimize your components for the smoothest user experiencepossible* Create your own custom Views* Push the boundaries of the Android SDK* Master Android Studio and Gradle* Make optimal use of the Android audio, video and graphicsAPIs* Program in Text-To-Speech and Speech Recognition* Make the most of the new Android maps and location API* Use Android connectivity technologies to communicate withremote devices* Perform background processing* Use Android cryptography APIs* Find and safely use hidden Android APIs* Cloud-enable your applications with Google Play Services* Distribute and sell your applications on Google Play StoreLearn how to unleash the power of Android and transform yourapps from good to great in Android Programming: Pushing theLimits.

Introduction 1Part I Building a Better Foundation 7Chapter 1 Fine-Tuning Your Development Environment 9Chapter 2 Efficient Java Code for Android 33Part II Getting the Most Out of Components 55Chapter 3 Components, Manifests, and Resources 57Chapter 4 Android User Experience and Interface Design 77Chapter 5 Android User Interface Operations 93Chapter 6 Services and Background Tasks 111Chapter 7 Android IPC 131Chapter 8 Mastering BroadcastReceivers and Configuration Changes151Chapter 9 Data Storage and Serialization Techniques 165Chapter 10 Writing Automated Tests 191Part III Pushing the Limits 205Chapter 11 Advanced Audio, Video, and Camera Applications207Chapter 12 Secure Android Applications 231Chapter 13 Maps, Location, and Activity APIs 249Chapter 14 Native Code and JNI 267Chapter 15 The Hidden Android APIs 287Chapter 16 Hacking the Android Platform 299Chapter 17 Networking, Web Service, and Remote APIs 319Chapter 18 Communicating with Remote Devices 349Chapter 19 Google Play Services 369Chapter 20 Distributing Applications on Google Play Store389Index 403