Soft-Tech
GoogleLabs App Inventor
What better way to kick start my new blog, Here is my own review of the App Inventor by Google Labs.
This is a fantastic tool for creating apps for the android platform, it does have its limitations but then it is still in BETA. The promise is lots more updates which will undoubtedly be packed with new features, thus making it easier and easier to create android applications. Who knows, you could even publish your very own creations to the market and make yourself some money or just do it for a laugh. You don’t even need to have an android device to, not only create but also test your apps, to iron out any bugs, as the app inventor comes with a emulator.
App Inventor is very easy to use with a clean and simple user interface, which does all the programing for you. All you need to do is download the software package from google labs and install using default settings. the software package comes with drivers for the following phones.
T-Mobile G1* / ADP1
T-Mobile myTouch 3G* / Google Ion / ADP2
Verizon Droid (not Droid X)
Nexus One
You can obtain drivers for other phones using this link.
If your just going to be using the emulator then of course no need to worry
Next make sure your browser is configured correctly, simply go here for a test, make sure the notepad app runs before you move on. now point your browser here and bookmark it.
You will be presented with the first part of the program the ‘design’ stage (in your browser). This is where you add everything and move it about. Using the palette on the left, simply select an option/function and drag it over, then using the properties on the right hand side you can add more detail.
The second part of the program is the back end so to speak. The Blocks Editor, this is where you tell the app how to work and put it in the correct order. Simply select the desired action and drag the block from the left into the main window, then add more blocks to it.
Example
Drag ‘when.screen1.initilize.do’ to the main pane, this is what the app will do when its first started, now drag ‘set.screen1.backgroundcolour .to’ and clip it into ‘when.screen1.initialize.do’ you will hear a clicking noise and it should snap into position now select a colour block and clip it onto Really Long Link fire up the emulator by clicking the ‘New emulator’ button once its started click the ‘connect to device’ button to the right of ‘New emulator’ and select the emulator. the app will automatically start and you will be presented with a simple black sceen. Well its just an example but hopefully you will get the gist of just how easy this is to use
Once you have had a play around and your happy with your new application, its time to package it and get it saved onto your pc, Go to the app inventor in your browser and hit the ‘Package for Phone’ in the drop down menu select ‘Download to this Computer’. It will take a short while for your application to be packaged, as we all know it all depends on the file sizes, once the packaging process is complete, it will download to your PC and finally be ready for distribution! Have fun.
This is a fantastic tool for creating apps for the android platform, it does have its limitations but then it is still in BETA. The promise is lots more updates which will undoubtedly be packed with new features, thus making it easier and easier to create android applications. Who knows, you could even publish your very own creations to the market and make yourself some money or just do it for a laugh. You don’t even need to have an android device to, not only create but also test your apps, to iron out any bugs, as the app inventor comes with a emulator.
T-Mobile G1* / ADP1
T-Mobile myTouch 3G* / Google Ion / ADP2
Verizon Droid (not Droid X)
Nexus One
You can obtain drivers for other phones using this link.
If your just going to be using the emulator then of course no need to worry
App Inventor
Next make sure your browser is configured correctly, simply go here for a test, make sure the notepad app runs before you move on. now point your browser here and bookmark it.
You will be presented with the first part of the program the ‘design’ stage (in your browser). This is where you add everything and move it about. Using the palette on the left, simply select an option/function and drag it over, then using the properties on the right hand side you can add more detail.
Blocks Editor
The second part of the program is the back end so to speak. The Blocks Editor, this is where you tell the app how to work and put it in the correct order. Simply select the desired action and drag the block from the left into the main window, then add more blocks to it.
Example
Drag ‘when.screen1.initilize.do’ to the main pane, this is what the app will do when its first started, now drag ‘set.screen1.backgroundcolour .to’ and clip it into ‘when.screen1.initialize.do’ you will hear a clicking noise and it should snap into position now select a colour block and clip it onto Really Long Link fire up the emulator by clicking the ‘New emulator’ button once its started click the ‘connect to device’ button to the right of ‘New emulator’ and select the emulator. the app will automatically start and you will be presented with a simple black sceen. Well its just an example but hopefully you will get the gist of just how easy this is to use
Once you have had a play around and your happy with your new application, its time to package it and get it saved onto your pc, Go to the app inventor in your browser and hit the ‘Package for Phone’ in the drop down menu select ‘Download to this Computer’. It will take a short while for your application to be packaged, as we all know it all depends on the file sizes, once the packaging process is complete, it will download to your PC and finally be ready for distribution! Have fun.
