How exciting - just got an email giving me access to Google's App Inventor

quantumsheep

Will go check it out now!

QS

Rob2

Yahooo...me too...who needs the big ( maybe almost perhaps one day ) picture anyway...

AfterBurnett

Why'd you get it? They ignored me Let us know what it's like!!!!!

quantumsheep

POLYGAMe said:
Why'd you get it? They ignored me Let us know what it's like!!!!!

Yeah, I warned 'em about you...

Just reading through the docs now. I may have to get me an unlocked android phone

*scans ebay*

tenrdrmer

I got nothing from google either and i signed up for that. bastards. LOL

Chaser

Still waiting for my response also!

chosenonestudios

Damn it, forgot to sign up!

tenrdrmer

QS when did you request it? I requested that like a month ago at least.
Google site says:
"We are receiving a large number of requests for access to App Inventor. We're working hard to increase our capacity, but it may take several weeks before we can accommodate these requests."

quantumsheep

It must have been about a month ago - maybe a little more - for me.

QS

Chaser

YO
QS and Rob
Did you claim to be an educator when you filled out the form?

quantumsheep

Nope!

That would be... lying...?

QS

Chaser

quantumsheep said:
Nope!

That would be... lying...?

QS

Not to say you couldn't be as you have schooled some of us. Thought they maybe were focusing on educators as some stated. I didn't either!

nulo

good news QS! keep us informed about it!
if you could compare it to gamesalad (when you get more in depth with it) that would be nice too!

Photics

I got an invite and I didn't even fill out the form. I just posted on the Google Group asking if the software was free. I didn't get an official answer. I haven't used the software yet because (in addition to not knowing if the software is free) I'm under the impression that you can't actually make Android Market apps with it yet.

Rob2

@QS I think we can set up an AVD (Android Virtual Device) but any suggestions on cheap phones would be interesting..

butterbean

I've been WAITING forever for an email from them! As soon as I get one, I'm using it!

AfterBurnett

Me too! Seems they'll get around to everyone... I mean if QS got in... they really ARE scraping the bottom of the dev barrel. TEE HEE HEE, kidding, sheepy

AfterBurnett

Photics said:
I got an invite and I didn't even fill out the form.

That's because you're amazing.

quantumsheep

I just ported over Kraken to Android in 10 minutes with the power of my mind!!!



It's interesting. Confusing, as it's something new. Seems to be mainly web based. You do everything from within your browser.

Here's a 'hello' from the dark side:



QS

danlbryant

I got an invite a week after it was announced, I don't think it's very powerful. It lacks a lot of features. It needs lotsa work

Breezeonhold

What that's not fair! I signed up a month ago and still haven't got accepted. I'm so jealous of you qs lol

butterbean

QS: very cool!! It sounds like a mixed bag, I heard people getting access right away, like a week later, and others weeks and weeks later, so I guess we'll have to wait!

You have to use a Gmail account to request access right?

quantumsheep

Breezeonhold said:
What that's not fair! I signed up a month ago and still haven't got accepted. I'm so jealous of you qs lol

All I can do is put a pic up at the moment of my logo - that's it!

Buttons aren't moving to where I want them. I don't even know how to 'preview'

I'm just mucking about with it - should read the tutorials really

QS

@BB
You have to use a Gmail account to request access right?

Yep - I've had mine since they first came out. I doubt that has anything to do with the selection process though.

Weswog

No email here either after months or a month and a half

Cheers, Weswog

quantumsheep

I think you need an android phone in conjunction with this.

Just did the first tutorial and it's not doing what it's supposed to. It keeps referring to checking what you've done in the browser on the actual phone that should be connected.

I'll see if I can pick up a phone on ebay and give it a go. It's certainly interesting, and has some real potential.

We'll see.

So - excitement dampened just a little.

Who needs a Big Picture post, eh?

QS

Edit: Just saw this as part of the first tutorial:

"When an app is initially built, it works only when the phone is connected to the computer, using some magic from App Inventor."

Weswog

There is a emulator that tests it to almost the same as the phone itself

Cheers, Weswog

Rob2

download the android sdk and launch a virtual device.

quantumsheep

You're absolutely right, Rob!

After a little digging, I worked out how to do it - no need to buy another phone just yet!

I'm very proud to present to you all, my first Android app! Here's a sneak peek trailer of 'Sheep Petting QS' - available soon for $4.99



So, er, yeah, it's just a modified 'hello world' thingy - but hey, I got it running. And if *I* can, any of you can too

I found this guy's videos to be very helpful in setting it all up:



Check out his channel for the follow up vid to that.

Now I've got the emulator installed, I'll take a closer look at the app inventor thingy over the weekend i think. Lots to read and try out. Should be fun!

Hope that helps people that get to try it out!

QS

StormyStudio

Got my invite too...

Woo...but Woe is me...

Just read FAQ and have seen this which confirms what others were saying on Gizmodo:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Am I able to upload my app to the Android Market?

Currently there are technical limitations to being able to upload an App Inventor app to the Andorid Market but we are actively evaluating the best way to integrate with the Market.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ah well, sounds like they might change it at some point...Until they do I don't think I'll be putting in the time to learn the software...

.....

@QS one day the Kraken could be everywhere, first the iphone, ipad, then android then finally appearing as a bloody 3D spectacular at a retro drive in movie theatre. 'AAAAahhhh!!! It's The 8 bit Kraken Run!!!!' and so the dialogue would continue...

FranzKeller

The question is - does App Inventor have the "game logic" type features we'd want to use?
Or is "reinventing the wheel" required?
I like the fact that we are using a "language / dev kit" designed FOR game production.

I don't think I know anybody with an Android phone yet,
though proabably somebody I don't realize has it it.

I'll do it when: Number of Users % Ease of Creation, Dist, Selling = a good number ;-)

For the moment, iPhone seems to be the fastest growing platform for interesting software,
thus, we are here on this message board. ;-)

iPad has put a "fun" back in computers that's rarely been seen since the 8 bit era,
I knew I had to be be part of it.

StusApps

Yeah I signed up from an educational point of view a long time ago. It really doesn't seem like this is going to ever be a games making tool kit. From the faq it doesn't look like you can even make an app with more than 1 screen without some trickery. I think this is (as it says) aimed at educational simple utility apps. Especially being web based as well. Think about google docs, its a handy word processor for something functional but I wouldn't try and make something attractive or visual on it.