Though the book is titled Advanced Android application development, it can be referred to by nonprogrammers wishing to implement advanced concepts for Android application design and development based on their individual requirements.

Several key concepts for mobile application development, such as threading, animation, hardware, databases, and graphics, are covered. The optional features of the Android platform are also covered in detail and would help developers extend their applications beyond standard Android specifications.

The first couple of chapters address the standard design principles for Android user interfaces. The second module covers Android application programming interfaces (APIs) used for common application development, such as for networking, web design, multimedia, Google cloud messaging, Google in-app billing, Google Play game services, and so on. The third module is intended for programmers wishing to include graphics components in their Android application development environment. The next module addresses Android’s distinguishing features and how these could be leveraged by the developer. Module 5 addresses advanced topics for developers, including proposed techniques for protecting applications against software piracy.

The appendices are well structured and provide detailed steps for quickly starting application development on the Android platform. The deployment and use of the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) is presented in a detailed manner with easy-to-follow outlined steps for Android debugging. In addition, a quick-start guide on SQLite is presented, alongside an interesting example of a student grade database. The third appendix provides how-tos for Java development on the Android platform. Importantly, the fourth appendix provides a thorough walkthrough for the Android Studio, essential for Android application developers.

The source code used for the hands-on applications presented in the book is available for free download at the book’s website, thus ensuring rapid application development and overall convenience for readers.

Overall, the book is a very good reference for advanced-level Android application development and will prove to be a valuable resource.

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