Wednesday, May 16, 2012

25. Deployment

25.1. Overview

In general there are you restrictions how to deploy an Android application to your device. You can use USB, email yourself the application or use one of the many Android markets to install the application. The following describes the most common ones.

25.2. Deployment via Eclipse

Turn on "USB Debugging" on your device in the settings. Select in the settings of your device ApplicationsDevelopment, then enable USB debugging.
You may also need to install the a driver for your mobile phone. Linux and Mac OS usually work out of the box while an Windows OS typically requires
For details please see Developing on a Device . Please note that the Android version you are developing for must be the installed version on your phone.
To select your phone, select the "Run Configurations", select "Manual" selection and select your device.
The Android Run Configuration on the Target Tab, selecting the "Manual" flag.
Show the selection of the real device to deploy on it.
Android application must be signed before they can get installed on an Android device. During development Eclipse signs your application automatically with a debug key.
If you want to install your application without the Eclipse IDE you can right click on it and select Android ToolsExport Signed Application Package.
This wizard allows to use an existing key or to create a new one.
Please note that you need to use the same signature key in Google Play (Google Market) to update your application. If you loose the key you will NOT be able to update your application ever again.
Make sure to backup your key.

25.4. Via external sources

Android allow to install applications also directly. Just click on a link which points to an .apk file, e.g. in an email attachment or on a webpage. Android will prompt you if you want to install this application.
This requires a setting on the Android device which allows the installation of non-market application. Typically this setting can be found under the "Security" settings.

25.5. Google Play (Market)

Google Play requires a one time fee, currently 25 Dollar. After that the developer can directly upload his application and the required icons, under Google Play Publishing .
Google performs some automatic scanning of applications, but no approval process is in place. All application, which do not contain malware, will be published. Usually a few minutes after upload, the application is available.

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