I Wish I’d Known That When I Started Chris Haseman AndroidTO Monday, October 29, 12
Nov 01, 2014
I Wish I’d Known That When I Started
Chris HasemanAndroidTO
Monday, October 29, 12
AndroidTO
I’ve got more experience than many of you in one thing...
9 Years in Mobile Development
Monday, October 29, 12
AndroidTO
9 Years in Mobile Development
Screwing Up
Monday, October 29, 12
AndroidTO
You’ll do it too...
Monday, October 29, 12
AndroidTO
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...
Monday, October 29, 12
AndroidTO
Android can be stunning.
Monday, October 29, 12
AndroidTO
Gingerbread isn’t by Default.
Monday, October 29, 12
AndroidTO
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’
Monday, October 29, 12
AndroidTO
Smart layouts can adapt.
Monday, October 29, 12
AndroidTO
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
Monday, October 29, 12
AndroidTO
Simplicity and Responsibility
Monday, October 29, 12
AndroidTO
SimplicityMaking things ‘clean’ is essential.
Monday, October 29, 12
AndroidTO
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
Monday, October 29, 12
AndroidTO
Simplicity and Responsibility
How I’ve Done It Wrong:Too Many Settings
Monday, October 29, 12
AndroidTO
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
Monday, October 29, 12
AndroidTO
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.
Monday, October 29, 12
AndroidTO
Efficiency and Preparation
Monday, October 29, 12
AndroidTO
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:
Monday, October 29, 12
AndroidTO
Efficiency and Preparation
How I’ve Done It Wrong:Loading Spinners...
Monday, October 29, 12
AndroidTO
Getting Data is ComplexYour job is to make it look easy.
Monday, October 29, 12
AndroidTO
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
Monday, October 29, 12
AndroidTO
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.
Monday, October 29, 12
AndroidTO
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.
Monday, October 29, 12
AndroidTO
Trust and Awareness
Monday, October 29, 12
AndroidTO
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:
Monday, October 29, 12
AndroidTO
Trust and Awareness
How I’ve Done It Wrong:The Vocal Minority
Monday, October 29, 12
AndroidTO
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...
Monday, October 29, 12
AndroidTO
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.
Monday, October 29, 12
AndroidTO
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...
Monday, October 29, 12
AndroidTO
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:
Monday, October 29, 12
AndroidTO
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.
Monday, October 29, 12
AndroidTO
This leads me to one last thing...
Monday, October 29, 12
AndroidTO
The Last Thing
Google does not control Android.Carriers do not control Android.OEMs do not control Android.
Monday, October 29, 12
AndroidTO
We help shape the future of Android.Take responsibility.
Be prepared.Build a community.
Make something incredible.
Monday, October 29, 12
AndroidTO
I Wish I’d Known That When I Started
Chris Haseman
Thanks!
My Book:Creating Android Applications
http://bit.ly/tGgDRh
Monday, October 29, 12