Chapter 4. Permissions, Certificates, and Installation

It is your work in life that is the ultimate seduction.

Pablo Picasso

As a mobile application developer, you are a retailer in a global virtual storefront. You can make applications that live in people’s pockets. This is exciting.

In Chapter 2, you created an application and installed it on your device. Now it is time to put the application out there for the world to see.

The first and most important consideration is the value of your application as a mobile experience. After that discussion, we will review the various files that compose your Android Package (APK) file, and discuss the process of becoming an official Android developer and putting an application in the Android Market. Finally, we will discuss how to make money from your hard work.

Why Mobile?

The mobile marketplace is a cruel world. Users often download an application on impulse, try it once, and may never open it again if their first impression is negative. You should aim for excellence and simplicity. Define your application in one sentence. Find your niche. Make it unique, if not in concept, then in execution.

Also, you should analyze mobile consumption. An application is often only used for a few minutes at a time. Tasks should be completed quickly or in incremental steps saved on the device. Whatever you do, do not attempt to replicate your existing website. Instead, adapt it for mobile or create a companion application.

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