Thick Client - GCC Mapz (Google Android / Java )  

Google Android represents one of the most recent entries into the mobile application development market with Android enabled cell phone due to hit the market in October 2008. Google is one of the darlings of technology and currently recognized as one of the most powerful and technologically creative companies in the technology market space. The Google Android development environment has been available for some time. Using a Linux operating system and a combination of code developed by Google and open source products which have been stables in the marketplace (i.e. SQLite).  Development is done with Java using the Google Android Toolkit.  The approach is similar to the Java Wireless Toolkit but whereas Java runs across most mobile operating systems, Android runs only on a Linux platform with Android libraries and applicaiton framework ( see http://code.google.com/android/what-is-android.html for a good introduction).

The best thing about my experience with Google Android is the wealth of examples and documentation availalble for Android.  Even though it is a newer product than the Java Wireless Toolkit, it seems much more mature in terms of providing information for the new Android programmer.  From a UI standpoint, it is more like the .Net options.  Still not as rich with controls as .Net it does seem to support more controls (views) and rich content possibilities. The Eclipse IDE (recommended by Google) is also an excellent Java development tool and provides a lot of help to the programmer.  I believe I will be able to create a version of GCC Mapz with Android that is just as robust as the .Net version.

More Information: Intoduction to Android  - http://code.google.com/android/

The GCC Mapz application lets the user view the entire campus map (a little difficult to make out specific buildings) and quadrant images which represent roughly one quarter of the screen.  The user can also search a building based on the builder name selected from a combo box (note: since this is a test system, not all buildings are loaded).

The screen shots are of a cell phone emulator that comes with Eclipse Platform, Version: 3.4.1, Build id: M20080911-1700; Google Android Development Kit - 0.8.0 v2008922

Main Start-Up Screen  with expanded menu (Version one)


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