How to: Android App Inventor

App Inventor from Google is a very useful tool when it comes to prototyping applications for an Android device, in this Instructable we look at Installing the components needed to create them.

 

Step 1: Step 1: Equipment

You will need:

A computer with internet.

System requirements:

Computer and operating system

Macintosh (with Intel processor): Mac OS X 10.5, 10.6
Windows: Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7
GNU/Linux: Ubuntu 8+, Debian 5+

Browser

Mozilla Firefox 3.6 or higher
Apple Safari 5.0 or higher
Google Chrome 4.0 or higher
Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 or higher

Comments

[rimar2000]

This is an excellent guide! I was able to install the App Setup Software Inventor, but when I get to step 4 I struck me, because I do not know which device to choose. I have a Lindsay A-1A Tablet PC , it is not a phone.

[rimar2000]

OK, I did all steps (without identifying phone)

I started a project, I need to open and read a TXT, but can not find anything like this in the options on the left.

[JCTech35]

Seems as though the second link is broken : /

[REA]

for the Mac users who are good with HTML and javascript, PhoneGap is a good dev kit.

[TheSmartLemon]

In fact one of my instructables that I am working towards is about dreamweaver. I also believe PhoneGap have a good development kit, especially since it is cross platform

[TheSmartLemon]

Thanks for your comment, I have spent about an hour figuring it out and I'll put an instructable up for you in a few hours ( I have to write a report about a java program I wrote for an assessment ) I'll try and get it done as soon as possible for you. Any other questions I'm keen to answer. Btw your device should be able to connect, just plug it in with USB and if you have the drivers installed for it and the software installed correctly you should be able to click on "Connect to device" and click on your MAC address and you should see an app named "AppInventorApp" come up on your device, it might take a while but it should come up, be patient, also if your device is ready to be connected the little mobile icon in blocks editor next to "connect to device" should turn green

[rimar2000]

My tablet is a cheap one, but I have not drivers for it in my notebook. I connected them via USB, I can see disks F and G with read-write rights.
I think I have not all elements needed to create an app. The problem is compounded by my limited knowledge of English.

My notebook have Windows XP.

I don't see a "Connect to device" button in the tablet, maybe it is a vertical arrow pointing down over a thick line, but when I click it, the tablet shows date and time.

What I wanted to do is TXT reader that allows searching for a word, which I have not found among the free available on the web.

Good luck with your program, and not worry about me anymore.

[TheSmartLemon]

I will be able to develop you an application to do this over the next few weeks, it might not be glamorous but it will work, you speak Spanish right?

[rimar2000]

If you want, I can translate your programs to spanish. I am not professional translator, but can do it well. You have goodwill, I reciprocate...

[rimar2000]

I speak spanish only, I live in Argentina.

My need is to open two files .txt simultaneously, but in my tablet I can not do this with the eBook reader. I tried some other txt readers, but they lack of search. I want that feature to find words in dictionaries. Another pesky problem are the latin characters, many readers don't recognize them.

The Android Version is 1.6, the vendor of the tablet says that don't upgrade it because then the device will not functions anymore.

[TheSmartLemon]

I know this comment was a while ago but I have advanced highly in the past year, I can help you with any of your endeavours if you need help, I'm keen to help

[rimar2000]

Thank you for your offer, but my Android tablet broke and do not think I will buy another for a while.

Congratulations for having learned a lot from Android!

[TheSmartLemon]

Hmm, do you know what happened to it? software or hardware malfunction ?

[rimar2000]

The problem was hardware, or perhaps my brain software: the tablet was in the pocket of my jacket, on the backseat of the car, and I did not realize and threw the extinguisher above. Split the screen into countless splinters. Repair it is not easy, and costs more than I want to pay.

[TheSmartLemon]

Wow that really sucks, how much did it cost you?

[rimar2000]

Almost two years ago, it cost me about U$S 150.

[TheSmartLemon]

I will see what I can do over the next few weeks, I'll try my best and try for the best result for you, I do not usually use app inventor for making applications as it is limited to a certain extent, I write code in Java mainly because it is used for Android development, I believe strongly that I can do this for you also including a search option for you, latin characters shouldn't be a problem if your device runs Android applications

Spanish translation:

Veré lo que puedo hacer en las próximas semanas, voy a tratar lo mejor posible y tratar de obtener el mejor resultado para usted, no suelen utilizar el inventor de la aplicación para la solicitud, ya que se limita en cierta medida, que escribir código en Java, principalmente porque se utiliza para el desarrollo de Android, creo firmemente que puedo hacer esto para usted también incluye una opción de búsqueda para usted, caracteres latinos no debería ser un problema si el dispositivo se queda aplicaciones de Android

[rimar2000]

Thanks, ThaSmartLemon, you are very friendly.

I reiterate my offer to translate your programs. If you put all literals in a "resource file" with language key for each, it is very easy.

Do not worry to translate your answers into Spanish, because I can read them without problems if they are "normal" English. Of course, if you use slang, I don't understand, with rare exceptions.