Hello Bob, I have also just started and could share my experience so far. I am an experience Windows developer (C/C++/C#/VB.NET), and played with Java years ago.
I was asked at workplace to start preparing for projects on Android... 1. Thought I needed to refresh my weak knowledge of Java, my old Java books were all for Java 1.3 and could not take me far, so I ordered "Learn Java for Android Development" http://www.amazon.com/Learn-Java-Android-Development-Friesen/dp/1430231564/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1306536378&sr=1-8 The organization of the book is very poor, and very frustrating to read. But, I managed to patch my Java and could work comfortably with the Android books. So, please get a good beginner book in Java to start with. 2. Bought the book "Android in Action" but could not go far, a good book but not something a beginner needs or can understand. After many days of trying to follow the projects without understanding the basic principles in Android, I stopped reading it. 3. Bought the Kindle version of the "Beginning Android 2 by Mark Murphy", but returned it the same day. The formatting is very poor and very unprofessional for an ebook. The source codes were all placed in as images and so font size changes or zoom has no effect. Since I have not read much of it I cannot really tell its usefulness, but the start is not greatly impressive, and does not use Eclipse. 4. Bought the Kindle version of the "Learning Android by Marko Gargenta", and this is the book I will highly recommend. It is well written and projects are very practical. A twitter-like system, which will walk you through all the basis of Android framework. For instance, in the "Android in Action" it started using Handler class before trying to tell you what it is. But in the "Learning Android" it allows you to write the program and let you see it falling to work as Android will force it to close, and then teach you why you really need a thread, the thread model and then a rework of the sample to work properly. The Kindle version is the best, with links (as you might expect) to reference sites. My recommendation is to get a book beginner book in Java that teaches the language, you do not need most parts especially the GUI of Java. Use the Google Android Developer Guide to install the Android SDK in Eclipse and try reading the getting started tutorial over there. Get the Learning Android book and start working yourself through as you read (for me without Eclipse experience, it has very useful tips to guide you through). Keep reading the technical articles in the Android Developer Guide, it is the best guide I have seen so far in programming SDK (never used Apple's stuff and cannot compare). Also read the references to get more on any class that is used in that book. Android Framework is really fun working with, the tools may not be as easy as the Microsoft developer tools, but the framework is just easy to use. Happy coding. Best regards, Paul. On Sat, May 28, 2011 at 7:28 AM, Brandon Newsome <[email protected]> wrote: > Mark Murphy's commonsware books are an excellent place to start especially > if you have experience programming....I'm on my phone so I can't link you > but just Google mark Murphy commonsware > > On May 27, 2011 5:55 PM, "Bob Keeland" <[email protected]> wrote: >> OK, I'm new to Android and intend to write some scentific apps for >> smartphones. I need some advice. I have never used Java (mostly Visual >> Basic) so I guess I need to learn Java. Any suggestions on learn-java books? >> I've downloaded Java SE and several Android related things, and I've got the >> Professor Eck tutorial for Java. So far the tutorial seems to be very basic. >> Any suggestions on the best procedure for moving on (even if it's just PUNT >> and leave this to someone who knows what they are doing)? >> Bob Keeland, Ph.D. >> Research Forest Ecologist >> Louisiana, US -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Android Discuss" 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-discuss?hl=en.
