How to make an Android App if you can’t program
Jay Shapiro, AppMakr, 8th Oct, 2013
Introduction • More than 1.5 million new Android devices being activated every day • Android app applicable for business, sports team, music band, community group, etc • Aim to
– Keep in touch – Deepen relationship – Increase interaction
Past versus Today • Expensive • Programming skills
• Cost-effective • User-friendly tools
Steps to make an Android App
1 What app to build
2 Mobile App software search
3 Use the selected Mobile App software
What app to build: Have a clear picture • Decide on what type of app • What is it for? • Who is your target audience?
Search the internet for App Software •
Appcelerator Titanium • • • •
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Runs on cross platforms (Android, iPhone and Windows) Uses Javascript Require some background on Java Java tutorials (http://www.w3schools.com/js/)
MIT App Inventor
• A Massachusetts Institute of Technology Drag-and-Drop tool • Uses Open Block interface for building logic, similar to the programming education tool, Scratch • Involves a mid-level learning curve and is limited to producing apps only for the Android platform.
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AppMakr (The Machine)
• Web-based tool (Easiest to use amongst 3 suggested options) • Simple Drag-and-Drop interface • Runs on cross-platform (Android, iPhone and HTML5 smartphones)
Get Started 1. Go to www.appmakr.com • • •
Enter app’s name Get Started Sign in using Gmail, Google account, Facebook, Twitter account, or your Yahoo ID
Using the Machine (Step 1) 2. Fill in the details on the first page. Step One (Basic Info) • Contact Information • Name of the App • Overall Colors & Design (Colors of background, title and text) • Background Image of the app interface • Splash-screen image (this image will appear when the app is loading). • App Demographics (Region, Country or State that your app targets)
Note: You can upload your own design or image; or select from The Machine’s library of free images. Do note that the image uploaded should have recommended dimensions of 768 pixels wide X 1024 pixels high.
Using the Machine (Step 2) 3. Click the “Next” button Step Two (App Creation) • In this step, you’ll find out that the app you’ll be creating for your Android phone is actually a collection of customised and pre-made functions. • Here are a few examples of the functions you can include in your app: a. b. c.
Calendar Community Documents
Using the Machine (Step 2) a. Calendar: A function that lets you share schedules and events with others. Check the calendar on your phone and find the Settings or Preferences page. Set the calendar settings to public. Find the iCal link, which ends in “.ics�, and copy this link. In most phone calendars, it can be found near the bottom of the settings page. Go back to the Machine and click the Events drop down menu. Drag the Calendar icon to the phone interface area (the middle of the screen). Paste the iCal link in the URL field on the lower right part of the page.
Save your work.
Using the Machine (Step 2) b. Community: A function that resembles the Facebook Wall or Timeline feature. This is where users of the same app can post shout outs and leave messages for everyone involved using the Community feature.
Find the User Interactions drop-down menu at the left side.
Click and drag the Community icon into the center screen.
You can personalize this app with your own icon, page background, and even your own welcome message.
Save your work.
Using the Machine (Step 2) c. Docs – Need to share forms, documents with the parents? Click on the “Custom Content” category on the left panel and select the “Docs” icon.
Drag the “Docs” icon and drop it anywhere into the centre panel of the interface.
At the bottom of the right panel, under Specs/Info; click on Add/Edit Files. A pop-up window will appear, and this is where you can upload your document, along with title and description text. It take take files such as Word reader or PDF files.
You can also upload multiple file formats into the folder.
You can preview the mobile website as much as you want by clicking on the “Live Preview”. (Then click on the individual icon to preview the details).
Publish your App (Step 3) Step Three (Publish your App)
Once you’re done with the app’s customization details, you can finally publish and download your app.
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Choose your Icon Write a Description Write a Welcome message Add some additional info Add some Tags (Improve your results in search engine and make your app more searchable)
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Pick your HTML5 Domain (eg. fanapp.mobi, churchapp.mobi, ourcondo.at, bhealthy.mobi,..etc)
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Publish Categories (eg. Books & Reference, Accounts/Tax, Education, Games, Social networks, etc)
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Publish your App (Step 3) Step Three (Choose your subscription method) •
FREE – Publish on Android & HTML5 platforms
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$1/month – –
Publish on Android & HTML5 platforms Ad-free
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$9/month – Publish on all platforms (Android, iPhone, HTML5)
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$99/one time fee – Publish on all platforms (Android, iPhone, HTML5) – –
Enables you to sell your app for a price Requires self-publishing
Download your App & Share • Lastly, simply download the app from the URL or QR Code provided, and you’re done.
Tips • Always save your work every time you create changes on your app. • You can actually have your own personalized application where you can combine all your favourite links, contacts and photos in one place. (Great for creating private space for families) • The Step-by-Step tutorial video in each step is a great help, and is available in ten different languages, if you get a little lost.