Android operating system of Google is enjoying the largest share of mobile devices these days. All the major manufacturers of mobile device offer a variety of Android smart phones that attract the customers. Android phones are available in different sizes and various models. If compared they are cheaper than Apple and are more reliable.
Android apps are mainly developed using Java and Google Android SDK. One of the popular IDE that is used for Android app development is Eclipse. There are commercial IDEs like IDEA from Jetbrains provide the specific features that help an engineer for designing and developing the software, testing it and debugging the application.
You can test your Android apps on the Android smart phones even if you have not registered yourself with Google. When you think that your application is ready you need to get listed in Google Play store. You have to pay onetime fees i.e. $25 for signing up and making an Android developer account.
The major advantages of developing Android Apps are:
- + Android smart phones are very popular these days and by developing these apps you can reach your potential customers very easily.
- + You can send your message to your targeted audience in your own way.
- + Eclipse and other various IDEs are available for Android apps development and you can run them on both on your PC as well as on Mac.
- + Java is easy to work on as compared to C.
- + Helps in reinforcing your brand
- + Improve your visibility
- + It lets you to solve issues of getting stuck into the spam folder
- + Increased accessibility
- + You get more exposure across mobile devices
Like every coin has two faces Android too have some disadvantages. Let us look at the bad side of the Android apps:
- + Continuous internet connectivity: When you deal with Android Applications, you need continuous internet connection. You cannot work without GPRS internet connection in your area.
- + Battery backup is very low because of the constant use of the application. It is obvious that when you have a smart phone you would love to play games on it or will keep on using the applications. This reduces the battery of your phone and you have to charge it again and again.
- + It is free and there is no control of the manager. Hence the chances for malware are more.
- + Advertisements during the applications are also a major drawback because it slows down the whole process.
Like any platform Android has its drawbacks but the number of benefits is so high that it can very easily overshine the faults.