Basic4andorid offers special package for teaching Android programming in academic institutions

Anywhere Software offers a 50 percent discount for academic institutions wishing to use Basic4android for teaching students how to develop Android applications.

Due to its ease of usage for beginning developers the software has already gained growing popularity among various universities around the world, which are using it as part of their digital curriculum.

The new offer is part of the official launch of the new 1.5 version of Basic4android, which adds strong debugging capabilities to the already powerful features of Basic4andorid, enabling developers to quickly locate and reduce the number of bugs during the development process.



The debugger works with Google emulator and real devices over ADB or B4A-Bridge. The new feature allows developers to test their applications directly on all Android-based mobile and tablets devices.

The 1.5 version of basic4android also includes a new code module, DBUtils, which is aimed specifically at simplifying common tasks related to databases. The new code makes the whole process of integrating SQLite databases into programs much easier.

"The new version of Basic4android was primarily designed to further simplify the development of Android-based applications. By constantly adding special features, Basic4android has become an even more powerful tool for those wishing to quickly and efficiently develop new applications," said Erel Uziel, CEO of Anywhere Software. " with the new 1.5 version we push Android application development to the next level."

Android databases are made simpler

Anywhere Software designed a new code module, DBUtils, which is aimed specifically at helping developers of Android-based applications by simplifying common tasks related to databases. 

The new code makes the whole process of integrating SQLite databases into programs much easier.

DBUtils code module

 The DBUtils tutorial together with the addition of a charts framework and the tutorial for connection to MySQL databases assist enterprise users to easily develop powerful database driven applications. 
  
The new code includes methods to extract and display data from databases in a Spinner view, ListView view or as an Html table. 

It contains a set of methods for common SQL tasks and issues such as escaping strings and identifiers are handled automatically.

Users of the new DBUtils commented on the company's forum saying that they found it to be extremely useful. So for example one of the users said that this is "an amazing addition to an amazing product.  

Another user that he has ripped out about 30 percent of his rather inflexible code and replaced it with calls to DBUtils adding that he finds it to be "absolutely superb." 

Basic4android enables adding charts to Android apps

Anywhere Software is widening its offerings to Android enterprise developers by launching a charts framework, making it easier to incorporate appealing charts in Android-based applications, and adding a tutorial for connection to MySQL databases.

Bar Chart

The framework is aimed at allowing developers to easily add different types of charts. It currently supports pie charts, line charts and bar charts. The new charts framework is written in Basic4android as a code module, allowing developers to customize it according to their own specific needs. The code demonstrates several concepts including usage of custom types, drawings, string measurements and region clipping. 

The Android connection to MySQL databases tutorial explains the basic concepts required for creating a connection between an Android-based device and a remote server (MySQL database).

Until now, Android devices couldn’t connect directly to the database server. The new feature is a simple Web service that forwards the requests to the database and returns the response. Like the charts framework, it is also written in Basic4android as a code module allowing developers to customize it.

“The new additions are part of our ongoing efforts to widen the services offered to Android enterprise developers,” said Erel Uziel, CEO of Anywhere Software. “Our aim is to allow developers to constantly add cool and useful features to their applications.”

A simple way to create sliding layouts for Android apps

A new module, created by Anywhere Software, allows developers of Android-based applications to easily add a sliding panels feature to their new apps.

Android SlidingPanels

By using the Android Sliding Panels, developers can create a layout made of a number of panels, adding a cool and exciting feature to their apps. 

Currently, by using the Animation library, developers can animate single views and panels that hold other views. Adding the Android Sliding Panels code further simplifies the whole process.  

While using it, once a new application is loaded, the existing panel slides out and the new panel, with the application, slides in. As panels can load layout files, developers can create complex layouts by loading a different layout file for each panel.

Android Sliding Panels is made of two components.

• The Main activity 
• The Sliding Panels code module

Users need to add the Sliding Panels code module to their project and add a reference to the Animation library. The main activity code explains the several integration points required. In order to complete the process Animation library v1.02 is required. 

It is recommended to take a look at the code, even for developers who are not particularly interested in sliding layouts, as it demonstrates the power of custom types, which enable developers to easily group many objects.

The code module can be easily changed to meet specific requirements and can be used directly by touching the touch screen. 

New tool enables faster, universal testing of Android applications

One of the main problems that Android application developers face is that the Android Emulator is very slow and does not support all devices. To deal with this problem Anywhere Software has introduced Basic4android (B4A) Bridge, a new free tool for Android developers allowing them to test their applications directly on all devices without using the Emulator.

By using B4A Bridge, developers can now test new applications faster and more efficiently. 

Currently developers test their applications in two different ways during the development process:

• Working with the Android emulator
• Connecting to a real device if it supports ADB debugging 

As the Android Emulator is known to be extremely slow when compared to a real device (especially during applications installation), most developers find it easier to work with a real device. The main problem, however, is that certain devices do not support ADB debugging. 

The new B4A-Bridge Tool is aimed at solving this particular problem. It is made of two components: one runs on the device, while allowing the second to connect and communicate directly with the device. The connection requires a wireless network as the connection is done over the network. 

Once connected, B4A-Bridge supports all of IDE features including:

• Installing applications
• Viewing LogCat 
• Watching the visual designer

“By using B4A Bridge developers can save time and complete the whole development process with no added frustration,” said Erel Uziel, CEO of Anywhere Software. “There is no need for a special driver and developers can run their applications directly on the device. Users have already indicated that it works very smoothly and the connection is easy to establish.” 

Android apps made simple: New programming tool enables beginners to develop Android applications

Looking to enter the fast-growing market of Android-based applications, Robert  Brenner, CEO of Requio Web Design, an Okinawa, Japan-based studio specializing in constructing websites,  searched for the shortest and easiest way to start developing his own apps for Android devices. 

Requio Astronomy App

Brenner discovered Basic4andorid, a simple and powerful development environment for developers of Google Android-based applications. The new tool allows mobile application developers, including those who lack previous experience in creating Android apps, to easily develop advanced applications for the most advanced smartphones. 

Brenner started using Basic4andorid for developing new mobile applications in the fields of astronomy, sciences, GPS and eBooks. 

“Basic4android is a must for those wishing to create their own mobile phone apps in virtually no time. Basic4android provides you with the true look and feel of an Android phone, eliminating the need for learning Eclipse and Java,” said Brenner. “Moreover, both product support and the online community are outstanding.”

The Basic4android language is similar to Visual Basic with additional support for objects. All its compiled applications are native Android applications and there are no extra runtimes or dependencies. The software has already been downloaded by thousands of users, and has led to the creation of an active online user community, providing further support for the product. 

“With Google’s Android becoming the world’s leading smartphone platform, a growing number of  developers are looking for an easy and powerful way to develop public and private applications for Android-based devices,” said Erel Uziel, CEO of Anywhere Software. “Basic4android allows these developers to easily create native and market-compatible applications without having to write any XML, achieving a performance that is similar to Java written applications.

Anywhere Software offers a trial version for 30 days which can be downloaded free. After the trial period, Basic4andorid is now being offered at a special introductory price. The Standard Version, which includes two months of free upgrades, a Single developer license and full access to the forum, can be purchased for only $39. The Enterprise Version, which includes an additional two years of free upgrades, is being offered for $99.