OS - Android: Difference between revisions

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Android is a mobile OS commonly used on smartphones and tablet computers.
<metadesc>Communicate over USB with sensors, controllers and relays with Phidgets! Program in Android using Android Java.</metadesc>
[[Category:OS]]
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==Getting Started with Android==
Welcome to using Phidgets with Android!


==Recommended Languages==
If this is your first Phidget, we highly recommend working through the Getting Started guide for your specific Phidget device, which may be found in its [[:Category:UserGuide|user guide]]. If you are ready to go, the first step to creating an Android application with Phidgets is downloading the Phidget libraries on your development machine!
Android OS programs are written in '''Java''' using the Android SDK and the Phidgets library.
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==Download==
The Phidget libraries for Android development are available here:
*[https://cdn.phidgets.com/downloads/phidget22/libraries/android/phidget22-android.zip Android Java Libraries]


==Installing Libraries and Drivers==
Download and unpack the libraries. You will need to reference these files from your project in order to use Phidgets. This step is covered in detail in the [[Language - Android Java | Android Java page]]. If you need to access older versions of the libraries, [https://www.phidgets.com/downloads/phidget22/libraries/android/ click here].


Development for your Android OS Phidget application can occur on Linux, Mac OSX, or Windows.
==Direct USB Connection==
For directly controlling a Phidget with your Android device (i.e. plugging a Phidget directly into your device), you will need to ensure the device is capable of being a USB host. Just having a port that the USB cable can fit into does not necessarily indicate that the port can host a USB device. On the other hand, some phones can use an OTG (on-the-go) cable to allow plugging USB devices into their charging port. Some tablets (like the Samsung Galaxy Tab, for example) have the large 30-pin connectors that can be changed into a USB host using an adapter.


=== Setup ===
The best way to know before getting your hands on a device is to check its specifications for whether it can serve as a USB host. Alternately, a quick way to figure out if your device can serve as a USB host is to try plugging other devices (such as a mouse, or USB memory stick) into your Android device.


You will need the following:
==Network Server==
In applications where you aren't plugging Phidgets into your Android device directly, you must have a host computer that is running the Phidget Network Server.


# The JDK and Java on your development system
[[Image:android-connection.jpg|link=|center]]
# The Android SDK package for your development system
#*See the download link at [http://developer.android.com/sdk/installing.html http://developer.android.com/sdk/installing.html]
#*For 64-bit Linux, you will need the <code>ia32-libs</code> package as well
# The Eclipse plug-in for Java development
#*[http://www.eclipse.org/downloads/ http://www.eclipse.org/downloads/] for Windows or MacOS
#*<code>sudo apt-get install eclipse</code> (for Linux)


=== Step One: Install the Android SDK ===
*Host computer: the computer that is physically connected to the Phidgets via USB and is running the Phidget Network Server.
*Client computer: a computer running a Phidgets application that accesses Phidgets connected to the host computer. When developing for Android, your Android device acts as the client.


Google's instructions for installing the Android SDK may be found here:


[http://developer.android.com/sdk/installing.html http://developer.android.com/sdk/installing.html]
In this case, you will need to install the Phidget libraries on your host computer, and get the Phidget Network Server up and running. Follow the ''Getting Started'' guide, and continue with the ''Network Server'' guide for your operating system. When you are done, come back and finish this guide!
*[[OS - Windows| Windows]]
*[[OS - OS X| macOS]]
*[[OS - Linux| Linux]]
*[[OS - Phidget SBC| Phidget Single Board Computer]]


That link contains help and code for:
==Programming Languages==
* Installing the SDK and platform emulators
* Connecting the SDK into Eclipse, which is useful for following the example descriptions later


=== Step Two: Run Google's Hello Android Application ===
Now that you have the basics set up, check out the [[Language - Android Java|Android Java]] page for information on how to write code for Phidgets to run on your Android device.
 
To check that the JDK, the Android SDK, and Eclipse have all been configured correctly, use the Google HelloAndroid example:
 
[http://developer.android.com/resources/tutorials/hello-world.html http://developer.android.com/resources/tutorials/hello-world.html]
 
Once you have confirmed that the Android SDK has been correctly installed, you are ready to begin developing applications with the [[Language - Android Java | Android Java]] libraries and language.


Note that Android Java is NOT the same as mainstream Java.  Any Java programs you have will probably need significant modification before they run on Android, including our [[Language - Java|mainstream Java]] Phidget Examples.
<!--
==Common Problems and Solutions==
==Common Problems and Solutions==
 
-->
If you are having trouble, ensure your Phidget libraries are ''up to date''.
 
*List relevant problems from "Common Problems and workarounds" doc
*List common problems for this OS from support forums
 
==Limitations==
 
Android 3.1 and later can run Phidgets directly plugged into a local USB port.
 
Other versions of Android can remotely control Phidgets via the [[Phidget Webservice]].  This has been tested down to Android version 2.1.

Latest revision as of 22:03, 17 October 2023

Getting Started with Android

Welcome to using Phidgets with Android!

If this is your first Phidget, we highly recommend working through the Getting Started guide for your specific Phidget device, which may be found in its user guide. If you are ready to go, the first step to creating an Android application with Phidgets is downloading the Phidget libraries on your development machine!

Download

The Phidget libraries for Android development are available here:

Download and unpack the libraries. You will need to reference these files from your project in order to use Phidgets. This step is covered in detail in the Android Java page. If you need to access older versions of the libraries, click here.

Direct USB Connection

For directly controlling a Phidget with your Android device (i.e. plugging a Phidget directly into your device), you will need to ensure the device is capable of being a USB host. Just having a port that the USB cable can fit into does not necessarily indicate that the port can host a USB device. On the other hand, some phones can use an OTG (on-the-go) cable to allow plugging USB devices into their charging port. Some tablets (like the Samsung Galaxy Tab, for example) have the large 30-pin connectors that can be changed into a USB host using an adapter.

The best way to know before getting your hands on a device is to check its specifications for whether it can serve as a USB host. Alternately, a quick way to figure out if your device can serve as a USB host is to try plugging other devices (such as a mouse, or USB memory stick) into your Android device.

Network Server

In applications where you aren't plugging Phidgets into your Android device directly, you must have a host computer that is running the Phidget Network Server.

Android-connection.jpg
  • Host computer: the computer that is physically connected to the Phidgets via USB and is running the Phidget Network Server.
  • Client computer: a computer running a Phidgets application that accesses Phidgets connected to the host computer. When developing for Android, your Android device acts as the client.


In this case, you will need to install the Phidget libraries on your host computer, and get the Phidget Network Server up and running. Follow the Getting Started guide, and continue with the Network Server guide for your operating system. When you are done, come back and finish this guide!

Programming Languages

Now that you have the basics set up, check out the Android Java page for information on how to write code for Phidgets to run on your Android device.

Note that Android Java is NOT the same as mainstream Java. Any Java programs you have will probably need significant modification before they run on Android, including our mainstream Java Phidget Examples.

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