Office Hours — Today, June 28

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Jun 28
3:55 PM
Mark M.
has entered the room
Mark M.
turned on guest access
David
has entered the room
Mark M.
howdy, David!
David
Hi
View paste 
On Android, I want to run a map like 
http://www.shopwillowbend.com/mall_directory/map
which is a flash app running on the website.
How can I implement a map like this?
Should I use Flex SDK? Or Are there any methods in Android SDK?
Should I use OpenGL?
4:00 PM
Julius
has entered the room
Mark M.
you only use Flex if the whole app will be in Flex and if you're willing to limit yourself to Flex-compatible devices
this looks like 2D graphics to me
David
Yes. that is 2D.
How can I implement it in Android?
Mark M.
use 2D graphics
Canvas
like games, etc. use
David
Each store has irregular shape.
Mark M.
so?
David
Should I add each image to ImageView?
How can I set the location of images that composes the whole map?
Mark M.
you draw them
using graphics drawing primitives
I presume
this isn't my area of expertise
(btw, howdy, Julius!)
Julius
(howdy!)
David
Is it part of OpenGL?
Mark M.
no
you're welcome to use OpenGL if you're more comfortable with that
David
OpenGL is for 3D.
It is overkilled.
4:05 PM
David
Is Flex a good solution?
Mark M.
some Android games went the OpenGL route, even for 2D stuff, because it was graphics accelerated and 2D not
David
I see.
Mark M.
Honeycomb adds 2D graphics acceleration, so OpenGL will be less necessary going forward for that
and performance isn't a huge issue for a mall map
David
ok
Mark M.
you're welcome to use Flex, *if the whole app will be in Flex*
you cannot mix and match Flex and Java the way you might mix and match Flex and HTML/JS
David
I see.
Do mean I have to use Flex Builder.
Mark M.
I have no idea
I have not developed anything with Flex on Android
I know it gets packaged into an APK, which is why the mix-and-match option is not available
David
Ok. Thanks
Mark M.
Julius: do you have a question?
Julius
hi yes
I was wondering with fonts, are OTF and TTF fonts supported in all versions?
Mark M.
TTF, yes
OTF support was added later, not sure when off the top of my head
Julius
ah right
Mark M.
it's possible a font editor could convert an OTF into a TTF
4:10 PM
Julius
ah didn't know that
thanks for the tip
Mark M.
I don't either
Julius
btw - just started looking into Fragments and are using the style in your book
Mark M.
I'm just speculating
Julius
(no sure; possible)
Mark M.
David: do you have another question?
Julius
(it's seems a bit easier to understand than the style on the developer site)
Mark M.
well, bear in mind that the full picture is covered over two books
_The Busy Coder's Guide to Android Development_ covers some fairly simple scenarios
the Advanced Android book gets into more elaborate stuff
Julius
righyt
we're going to have to convert one application which is going to be easy in parts and tricky in others
we're wondering about new applications, whether to start using Fragment and FragmentActivity from the get go
it's hard to know if you don't know how things will be laid out on a tablet
(if that's not specified)
also we're thinking that we'll have to make good use of the layout folders when ice cream sandwich comes along
Mark M.
I'd lean towards starting new projects with fragments, if the project is of decent size
(e.g., more than a couple of activities)
Julius
(assuming ActionBar will exist for phones in ICS)
Mark M.
and isn't a game or something that is orthogonal to the whole fragment thing
I expect ICS to have an action bar
Julius
oh yeah no game stuff
right
4:15 PM
Julius
so we'll need to use v12 (or whatever) along with xlarge or whatever
Mark M.
build target=API Level 11
targetSdkVersion="11"
and a suitable <supports-screens> for whatever you're supportign
er, supporting
Julius
right
mmm
well I'm going to attempt to do all the Action BAr stuff over the next few days
thenm just convert one Activity to a Fragment based one
I have one large TabActivity in this specific project which is going to be tricky... :/
ah well
thanks for getting the documentation out early
Mark M.
sure
that's the benefit of my publishing model
Julius
we had a discussion about books at the last Android group and 3 of us are using your books
and unanimously agreed they were the best
:)
Mark M.
wow, thanks!
Julius
well we're wanting to grow the community and make good apps!
anywho I better get started on these ActionBArs
thanks again
bfn
Julius
has left the room
Mark M.
David: do you have another question?
David
No more questions.
Mark M.
OK, if you think of one, chime in
David
Thank for your advice all the time.
4:20 PM
Mark M.
you are very welcome
David
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4:35 PM
fitz
has entered the room
fitz
Hello
Mark M.
howdy, fitz!
how can I help you today?
fitz
well I have Google calendar showing a list of calendars in Android - no details of the calendar but it is progress - slow but progress :)
Mark M.
congrats!
are you using that beta JAR?
I just watched the I|O video on Android+Google APIs a week or so ago
fitz
just checking in no specifics - was at java show last week and meet up with manning publishers - they know of you
Mark M.
they weren't sticking pins into the left shoulder of a voodoo doll, were they?
fitz
ya it is json atom stuff
no do not know history with manning they seamed to know of what your doing - they produce a book called Android in Action - heard of it?
Mark M.
oh, yeah
I was just joking
4:40 PM
Mark M.
no particular history with Manning
fitz
ok well I do not have specific questions so will catch you next time - have a good one
Mark M.
see ya!
fitz
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fitz
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fitz
forgot - which one of the books has something on web services - or do they not touch on that
Mark M.
nothing specific to Web services, per se
Android doesn't have built-in support for SOAP and stuff
fitz
ok thanks
Mark M.
so it's mostly just HTTP
fitz
ok thanks
Mark M.
plus finding a third-party JAR that implements the API you want
fitz
has left the room
4:55 PM
Mark M.
turned off guest access

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Office Hours

People in this transcript

  • David
  • fitz
  • Julius
  • Mark Murphy