Bitstopr Forum - Busiest Online Entertainment Forum

Bitstopr Forum - Busiest Online Entertainment Forum

Android Development Tutorials : Part 2

Posted: 04 Apr 2012 10:24 AM PDT

How to develop Android Applications?


Android applications are primarily written in the Java programming language. The Java source information are converted to Java class files by the Java compiler.

Android provides a tool called "dx"" which converts Java class files into a dex (Dalvik Executable) file. All class files of one application are placed in one compressed .dex file. During this conversion process redundant information in the class files are optimized in the .dex file.

The .dex file and the resources of an Android project, e.g. the images and XML files, are packed into an .apk (Android Package) file. The program aapt (Android Asset Packaging Tool) performs this packaging.


The resulting .apk file contains all necessary data to run the Android application and can be deployed to an Android device via the "adb" tool.

The Android Development Tools(ADT) allows that all these actions are conducted transparently to the user; either within Surpass or via the command line.

Forget Farmville, who's more energy efficient?; Palo Alto rolling out 'social energy'

Posted: 04 Apr 2012 02:50 AM PDT

Conserving energy in Palo Alto just got personal.
On Tuesday, the city announced the beta launch of the Opower "social energy" Facebook app, which aims to promote energy efficiency through friendly competition. The app allows residents to compare their monthly usage with similar households, as well as share tips and tricks for lowering bills.
"Palo Altans generally like to compete in these types of things," said City of Palo Alto Utilities spokeswoman Joyce Kinnear, "so we think it will be very effective."
The utility is among 16 participating in the app's rollout to an estimated 20 million households, according to energy information software maker Opower.
"The level of enthusiasm we're seeing from people who are excited about getting better context about their energy use, and share -- even brag -- about their energy efficiency within their social networks is inspiring," said Dan Yates, CEO and cofounder of the Arlington, Va.-based company.
The concept derives from social science research on human behavior and energy use, the company said in a statement. Word-of-mouth proved to be an effective tool in getting people to be more energy efficient during the Natural Resources Defense Council's Hood River Conservation Project of the 1980s.
"The application's use of this kind of behavioral science combined with energy information, and Facebook's global platform for connecting and sharing has the potential to create a dialogue and

action about energy efficiency among hundreds of millions of people," the company said.The NDRC, along with Facebook, partnered with Opower to design the social energy app. The agency estimates that a 1 percent reduction in household energy use across the country would result in a savings of $1.6 billion.
The app represents a step forward from the bimonthly energy reports Opower has been producing for City of Palo Alto Utilities customers since fall 2011, said Utilities Director Valerie Fong.
"When our customers engage online with others using this easy, fun tool, they are helping our entire community move toward more energy savings, reduce utilities bills and a more sustainable daily life," Fong said.
The city's climate protection plan also stands to benefit as a result of the app, said Deborah van Duynhoven, assistant to the city manager. This year, the plan calls for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from city operations and the community collectively by 5 percent of 2005 levels.
"It's a playful way of thinking about being more sustainability," said Duynhoven, adding that she plans to provide an update on the climate protection plan at the city council's April 16 meeting.
Former mayor Yoriko Kishimoto, who emphasized sustainability from the council dais, said she plans to use the app.
"I think it will stimulate a lot of thinking and friendly competition," she said. "Peer to peer is the most powerful learning environment."
In the meantime, residents can achieve significant savings simply by adjusting their daily habits, said Kishimoto, adding that she lives in a "drafty, old house" built in 1908. In January, her home was in the top 5 percent of 100 similar residences in terms of energy efficiency.
"If I can do it, anybody can do it," she said. "Though, I will say that my family wears a lot of sweaters during winter."
Initial features of the Opower app:
• Compare use to similar homes: People will be able to benchmark their home energy use against a national database of millions of homes. All benchmark comparisons are done on an aggregate level, ensuring complete data privacy.
• Compare energy use among friends: People will be able to invite friends to compare their energy use against their own, show how energy efficient they are and share tips on how to improve
• Publish conversations about energy to Facebook: People will be able to share information about their energy use, rank, group participation and tips.
• Group development -- cooperative and competition: Communities of people will be able to help each other achieve collective goals.
• Automatically import energy data: Customers of participating utilities, such as Palo Alto, will be able to import their energy data into the application automatically, if they so choose.

Source: City of Palo Alto Utilities

Tell us: Who would you want at No. 2 in the NBA Draft 2

Posted: 04 Apr 2012 02:42 AM PDT

I'm No. 2! I'm No. 2! You don't have to be a Mensa member to know that Anthony Davis is going to go No. 1 in the NBA Draft. But what then?ANTHONY DAVIS:
Sometimes teams luck into the No. 2 pick.
Would Oklahoma City have taken Kevin Durant or Greg Oden in 2007 if they had the No.1 choice?
Sometimes teams don't get it right. Portland took Sam Bowie No. 2 in 1984 after Hakeem Olajuwon. The guys who followed in the draft? Michael Jordan. Sam Perkins. Charles Barkley.
Darko Milicic was No. 2 (LeBron James was the top pick) in 2003 with Carmelo Anthony going No. 3.
The team that wins the most ping-pong balls this year will have it easy. All they have to do is set the GPS for Lexington, Ky.
No. 2 won't be as clear at say a Robert Griffin III choice.
Davis' teammate Michael Kidd-Gilchrist was pretty impressive in his own right. But if you are not a fan of the national champions there is Thomas Robinson of Kansas; Andre Drummond of Connecticut and Jared Sullinger of Ohio State.
Forward Harrison Barnes of North Carolina and freshman guard Austin Rivers of Duke have also created some buzz.
Maybe you've got a sleeper nobody else knows about. If you were a GM who would you put on your draft board?
While we w

মন্তব্যসমূহ

একটি মন্তব্য পোস্ট করুন