Android App inventor is going to be a game-changer. I have been an Android fan-boy since I started using Android based smartphone. We are now into a world where, Software (Mobile OS) is becoming more important than the hardware of the phone.
To be honest, Android as a Mobile OS is not matured as Apple OS – but the progress it has made in last 2 years is phenomenal. I am sure in next 12 – 18 months it can come to par with Apple iOS.
A mobile phone can be extended to have any functionality that you want on a phone, thanks to free and paid apps that are available in Mobile App stores that every major Mobile OS has currently.
Infact, many developers make a living out of it by developing Mobile Apps. But now Android has gone ahead and given the power of developing apps to everyone, even if you are not a developer and you don’t know anything of programming – Imagine that !
The new product launched by Google – Android App inventor – can be a game changer for the Industry. Here is what Google says about the App inventor.
To use App Inventor, you do not need to be a developer. App Inventor requires NO programming knowledge. This is because instead of writing code, you visually design the way the app looks and use blocks to specify the app’s behavior.
The App Inventor team has created blocks for just about everything you can do with an Android phone, as well as blocks for doing "programming-like" stuff– blocks to store information, blocks for repeating actions, and blocks to perform actions under certain conditions. There are even blocks to talk to services like Twitter.
Have a look at this video to see how easy it is to build an App (This is seriously simple !)
I am taking off to make an App :) – It will be my first Mobile App…woohoo !
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{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
These kind of tools are always promising but are not easily adopted or used to build products. With the right marketing/tutorials/demos they do stand a chance. Demo videos are always simple but it will be great to know how your app turned out. A video on the same (along with the experience) will be great :-)
Agree with Mitul.
It’s a good tool, but I doubt if it can help to make great apps. And it is only for android.
When Dot com was booming, we had the DIY website template softwares. They are not in picture now. Just like for the good website, the (killer) apps need lot of custom design & differentiators… Will it be possible with such DIY tools?
@Mitul, Sagar,
With all due respect, I am excited about the possibilities of creating my own apps be it on Android or Apple iOS. The more easier they make it to create and adopt to the common man, the wider its going to be accepted. Of course, if one wants to create cool game apps with fantastic colors, explosions and sounds etc., its going to take expertise to do that. If one wants to build basic stuff and configure some apps to one’s needs, this is a great opportunity.
This reminds of the programming language BASIC. We learned that in college 20 years ago. 10 years ago it was C. Today it may be PHP. Next generation may probably learn iOS and Android programming as the building blocks.
I don’t think dot com boom was negative. It unleashed lots of potential apps to the world. Pet rock was bad. Cisco, Yahoo or Google were good. So, its a matter of time when the dust settles and we see what thrives versus what’s just hype. But the fundamental shift is happening from PC’s to smartphones/ tablet pc’s (think iPad etc.) and it is undeniable.
Madhav,
Extremely well put across and exactly echoing my thoughts….I am just excited that I can build and Android app – probably something like a trak.in blog app, where users can communicate / comment / discuss our topics.. that would be awesome. What say ??
@Madhav
I totally agree, all I am saying is that with past experience I have found this concept difficult to get it right. The concept is great in theory but for it to be practical, a lot has to go right. Simplicity and functionality are usually inversely proportionate (repeat, usually not always.. :-) ). Just read the review on TC in which a non programmer tried this out which supports what I believe: http://techcrunch.com/2010/07/12/android-app-inventor-demo/
Arun also mentioned he was trying this out so will like to hear his experience.. Arun?
@Mitul,
like with anything…I have registered with Google App inventor account..waiting for them to give me access…once that happens, I will surely put up a review of how easy or difficult it was…
@Arun
1.5 years later, I want to ask you, how was your AppInventor experience.Where is the review you mentioned that you will put up? Just remembered this after reading: http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/23/google-mit-bestow-app-inventor-to-the-unwashed-masses/
1.5 years is far too long… App inventor did not evolve after the initial hype. I tried, but the apps you can create with it are very limited. and it is also not as easy as it was expected to be. I have not touched it in last year, so cannot really comment on what it is now..
I don’t have an Android phone, or else I would love to try my hand at these things.
@Madhav
You need not have an android phone. Use any desktop based android simulator/emulator like this: http://developer.android.com/guide/developing/tools/emulator.html
@Mitul, Thanks for sharing the link. I will check it out.
thanks for the article. can’t wait to develop my first app (for my HTC Desire).
Thats great news. Now nobody will left out and depend on developers to create apps
Open free resource is essential factors for all round growth and use of particular mobile operating system.
Hy, been “puzzling” with app inventor for the last week and feels real great writing your own apps. Power to the people from google itself and free too. Never seen my htc desire smile like this before :P
@Arun
Did you get a chance to try out the app-inventor?
App Inventor is really great for even novices can create apps and need not learn programing for years.
Thanks to Google.
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