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I Wish I’d Known That When I Started Chris Haseman AndroidTO Monday, October 29, 12
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Page 1: Android to

I Wish I’d Known That When I Started

Chris HasemanAndroidTO

Monday, October 29, 12

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AndroidTO

I’ve got more experience than many of you in one thing...

9 Years in Mobile Development

Monday, October 29, 12

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AndroidTO

9 Years in Mobile Development

Screwing Up

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You’ll do it too...

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Myths of Android Development

✦ Android applications are ugly✦ Simplicity is a matter of doing less✦ Phones have an ‘always on’, reliable connection✦ Users will trust applications from the Play Store

I still hear these even now...

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Android can be stunning.

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Gingerbread isn’t by Default.

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Visual Design

Learn the rules, so you can break them:

✦ Read about Android’s Design Patterns✦ Think of it as learning a new vocabulary✦ Anything you dream up, we can build✦ Don’t let a developer tell you ‘No’

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Smart layouts can adapt.

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Visual DesignEngineers, put on your artist hat!

✦ Don’t be afraid to ask for help✦ Avoid anything default in Gingerbread✦ ActionBarSherlock and HoloEverywhere ✦ Gingerbread is still 50% of the install base✦ Don’t be afraid to ‘borrow’ from things you like

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Simplicity and Responsibility

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SimplicityMaking things ‘clean’ is essential.

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SimplicityMaking things ‘clean’ is essential.✦ Small screens require clean interfaces✦ Applications are used in Motion✦ Challenging lighting situations✦ You have limited, large touch rectangles✦ Short attention span

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Simplicity and Responsibility

How I’ve Done It Wrong:Too Many Settings

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Simplicity and ResponsibilityKilling clutter means making choices.✦ There are an infinite set of possible features✦ Kill or fix unused features✦ Don’t be afraid to experiment✦ Settings should be a bonus, not a requirement✦ Every feature you add is one you must support

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Simplicity and ResponsibilityBad user choice can be a cop-out.

Do not offload the app’s complexity.Make good decisions for your users.

Analytics can help you see what’s used.Simplicity is the result of your good choices.

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Efficiency and Preparation

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Information and Latency

✦ Your phone tells you it’s always online -- it lies ✦ Mobile OS design makes waiting painful✦ Fetching data consumes resources

The Myth of the Connection:

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Efficiency and Preparation

How I’ve Done It Wrong:Loading Spinners...

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Getting Data is ComplexYour job is to make it look easy.

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Getting Data is Complex

✦ Users should never worry about their connection✦ Attention is precious, don’t waste it on failure✦ The connection is unreliable, hide it✦ Don’t ‘lie’ to your users, you’ll be caught

Your job is to make it look easy

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Waiting Sucks

✦ Get new data before you notify users ✦ Use SyncAdapters to pre-fetch data ✦ Avoid progress bars and spinners ✦ Use a persistent data cache!✦ Have separate presentation and sync layers

Make data transaction look instant.

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Preparation and Efficiency

Phone’s lie. Help maintain the myth.Be mindful of user attention.

Obsess over your battery use.Make it your job to hide complexity.

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Trust and Awareness

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Marketing in the Wild West

✦ Any application can destroy a days worth of battery

✦ While the freedom to innovate is amazing, it also means building trust is now on you

✦ Apps can execute bad behavior anonymously

The Freedom of the Play Store:

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Trust and Awareness

How I’ve Done It Wrong:The Vocal Minority

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Building Trust

✦ Let users try before they buy✦ Monitor your permissions vigilantly✦ Make sure every permission has a clear user-

facing purpose✦ Support, Support, Support

Trust must be earned, it’s not given...

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Beware the Trolls

✦ Angry users will threaten, cajole, and bargain✦ Clearheadedness is hard in the face of rage✦ Contented users will remain quiet✦ Your silent majority is hard to track✦ It’s easy to appease the loudest

Angry users are LOUD.

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Frustrated Users

✦ There are a LOT of Android phones, your app cannot work perfectly on all of them

✦ Look for themes in negative reviews✦ Helpful error messages and friendly support

can help your rating a LOT

can actually help...

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Never Waste a Mistake

✦ They’re written by angry users who care✦ Rage is always better than apathy✦ Look for stacked issues if the service goes down✦ If they mention a competitor, investigate✦ Respond, in any way, if you can

Hidden benefits of 1-star reviews:

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Trust and Awareness

Build and maintain trust.Be free with returns. Give out rewards.

Ignore the Trolls. Fight for your majority.Work with Google --

Staff picks are mighty.

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This leads me to one last thing...

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The Last Thing

Google does not control Android.Carriers do not control Android.OEMs do not control Android.

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We help shape the future of Android.Take responsibility.

Be prepared.Build a community.

Make something incredible.

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I Wish I’d Known That When I Started

[email protected]

Chris Haseman

Thanks!

My Book:Creating Android Applications

http://bit.ly/tGgDRh

Monday, October 29, 12