I've read(reading) the Professional Android app book and the Android Wireless app book. Both are decent introductions to Android. Both do about the same in explaining the majority of how Android works, intents, threading, views, layouts, actions, etc. I've yet to see any book explain much about details on SurfaceView and how to use it or openGL in detail when working on a game. I've found a few tidbits around the net on a game loop, and such, but there seems to be almost nothing on more advanced topics like game level animation, timing, music app stuff like mixing multiple audio channels and background music (for example, games that play music + multiple sound FX at the same time), and so forth. I would love to see a more advanced book on these types of topics, because frankly, games and music apps on mobile devices seems to be a much bigger draw to most than any other use. Most of the teens/20s and many adults are all about what sort of games and/or music capabilities are possible. I myself am working on a music app and am thus far stumped on how to handle many sounds at once without it bogging down the phone. I am hoping iPhone quality games and apps will be possible on phones like the Moto Droid and beyond, but so far it seems the Java/JVM/GC thread issue is hurting the possibilities. I am in no way a supporter of "Java is slow", but until we see a much better showing of solid games that don't hiccup when the JVM GC kicks in, and can make good use of solid timing, game loop threading, sound mixing, and animation all with AI, collision detection and so forth going at once, I at least feel like it's difficult at best to do some of the things I'd really like to. :(
I am all ears for anyone that has suggestions, pointers, links, etc to good info on these types of more advanced apps. I am especially keen on the music apps, but game programming would be great too. On Sun, Dec 6, 2009 at 4:23 AM, Sanjeev <[email protected]> wrote: > Dear Members, > I am planning to start development on android shortly. Please let me know > which book to follow and any relevant documentation. > > I hear good reviews about the following books. > > 1. Professional Android Application Development (Wrox Programmer to > Programmer) > 2. Unlocking Android: A Developer's Guide by Frank Ableson, Charlie > Collins, and Robi Sen > 3. Android Wireless Application Development by Shane Conder and Lauren > Darcey > 4. The Busy Coder's Guide to Android Development by Mark L. Murphy > > Confused on which one to buy. > > Regards, > Sanjeev > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > Groups "Android Beginners" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected] > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]<android-beginners%[email protected]> > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/android-beginners?hl=en -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Android Beginners" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-beginners?hl=en
