The New Jersey Institute of Technology is going to start offering a course in Android development. This maybe the single greatest college course offered in America today, it is called “The Android Operating System Application Development Course” and you can register for it up until the 17th of January.
According to the class syllabus you will be getting into developing for the Android 2.2 and lower platform, so I guess they just forgot about Android 2.3? Other than that simple fact, this course looks amazing. One downside that I can see right now, is the fact that for a completely online course it is going to run you $1,050 and is non-accredited.
While I personally do not have the money anymore to be able to attend this class, I would more than likely highly recommend anyone who is looking into getting involved with Android development to take a look into this, not only that though but I do some development myself and I hate being told I do things wrong. The full press release is below, and also a link to the syllabus so you can take a look at the course yourself.
Want to learn more about creating and deploying the world’ s fastest growing mobile operating system? Then consider enrolling in NJIT’s newest non-credit, 30-hour online course offering Android applications for software simulators and hardware devices.The Android Operating System Application Development Course, which starts Jan. 18, 2011, is open to the public and will offer the skills and tools needed for designing and implementing software using the Android 2.2 environment. The cost is $1,050: register by Jan. 17, 2010 at http://cpe-njit.mobi/ or call 800-624-9850.
“Consider this course an excellent way to get a start on developing applications for a tablet operating system,” said instructor Tim Kellers. During the past year, Android systems have demonstrated a 35 percent increase in market share. “As new smart phones and tablet devices appear, there is a growing competitive opportunity to design and market commercial Android-based apps,” added Kellers.
The Android operating system is the marketplace’s response to Apple’s iPhone/iPad ios4 operating system. Android developers, however, are not limited to developing for only one hardware manufacturer. Android operating systems are now distributed on more than 20 brands of hardware and are available to any cell phone service provider.
Because the Android operating system is based on open source software, no proprietary restrictions or license fee payments are required to use its software and open-source development tools. There are also no charges for using the software of the development environment tools.
The Android market is the clearinghouse for user-designed apps, offering developers a fast and convenient way to be paid for their distributed software. The Android market already has upwards of 100,000 apps available for purchase or free download. Within two years, the projected demand for Android-based application software is expected to exceed the capacity of Apple’s highly successful AppStore. The combined annual revenues paid to developers from both platforms are annually expected to exceed $3 billion.
NJIT will award three continuing education units (CEUs) upon the successful completion of the course. Study topics will include getting started, Android controls using XML, table layout in Android, interface themes, creating background services and using the WebKit. More topics include user interfaces, programming services and investigating multi-threading. Each student will design their own final project application, a culmination of performed tasks and assignments included in each module.
To get started, you’ll need a dial-up or broad-band Internet connection in addition to a computer capable (or higher) of running the 2.2 Android Software Development Kit plus a supported operating system. Such systems include Windows XP (32-bit), Vista (32- or 64-bit), or Windows 7 (32- or 64-bit); Mac OS X 10.5.8 or later (x86 only); Linux (tested on Linux Ubuntu Hardy Heron); the Eclipse development environment.
Click here for class syllabus