The proliferation of the cellular phone has revolutionized the way we connect to the world and communicate with one another. It is the foundation of a mobile lifestyle.

Although the evolution of cell phone technology is progressing thanks to hardware manufacturers and platform engineers, the unveiling of its potential is in the hands of application creators.

Toward that end, Google and the Open Handset Alliance have developed Android, an operating system that runs on many mobile devices. Adobe and the Open Screen Project offer AIR as a development tool for various mobile systems. Both efforts bring some uniformity to this fragmented world.

This book is about developing for the Android platform using Adobe AIR. My goal is to provide in-depth information on the various topics specific to mobile development. My wish is that this book will help you create quality applications.

Put your ActionScript 3 skills to work building mobile apps. This book shows you how to develop native applications for Android-based smartphones and tablets from the ground up, using Adobe AIR. You learn the entire development process hands-on, from coding specific functions to options for getting your app published.

Start by building a sample app with step-by-step instructions, using either Flash Professional or Flash Builder. Then learn how to use ActionScript libraries for typical device features, such as the camera and the accelerometer. This book includes ready-to-run example code and a case study that demonstrates how to bring all of the elements together into a full-scale working app.

• Create functionality and content that works on multiple Android devices
• Choose from several data storage options
• Create view and navigation components, including a back button
• Get tips for designing user experience with touch and gestures
• Build a location-aware app, or one that makes use of motion
• Explore ways to use audio, video, and photos in your application
• Learn best practices for asset management and development