My latest book has arrived: Droid 2 For Dummies. It covers how to use one of the most popular smartphones, and one of the few out there that comes with a munchkin keyboard.
This book had quite a journey. It started out as Droid For Dummies, written for the original Droid. I completed that book back in June or so, and it was at the publisher’s being edited and reviewed.
Then all of the sudden . . .
Motorola announced the Droid X! The publisher said, “I want a book on the Droid X!”
So they stopped editing Droid For Dummies, and I ended up writing a book on the Droid X phone.
Eventually, Droid X For Dummies was published.
Then all of the sudden . . .
Motorola discontinued the original Droid and announced the Droid 2.
So took the original Droid For Dummies text and did a rollover into the Droid 2 For Dummies book.
All told, I’ve written four phone books this year:
The Nexus One For Dummies book was never published here in the US, because Google discontinued the phone before I could finish the book. (The book is beings old overseas, though I don’t know exactly where.)
Droid For Dummies was never published.
Droid X For Dummies was published.
Droid 2 For Dummies was published.
In a typical year, I try to do four books, though have only been able to do two or three a year recently. This year, in addition to the four phone books, I also did a revision of the Troubleshooting & Maintaining All-In-One Desktop Reference, and I’m currently working on another Android book. Both titles should be released early next year.
That’s six books, which is a lot.
My record is seven books in a year, which was a long, long time ago. That was a lot of work.
Next year is already stacking up with at least four titles I’m aware of, two of which are programming titles. I’ll tell you more as I get around to writing them.
All-in-all, it’s been a very busy year!
what programming languages are the 2 programming books going to be?
Comment by BradC — December 16, 2010 @ 7:48 am
C and Objective C.
Comment by admin — December 16, 2010 @ 8:24 am
excellent Dan!!
There really are no easy beginners books out for obj-C, in fact there are hardly any books at all that teach obj-C, Kochan’s being the only one Im familiar with. Im sure your obj-C book will sell huge, good idea to do this language.
Im curious how you are going to write about C when C for Dummies All-In-One Desk Reference already does a good job of covering the language. I guess this will be an intermediate book.
Comment by BradC — December 16, 2010 @ 8:52 am
The new C programming book is different, and I’ll wait until it gets underway before I explain exactly what the approach it. Glad that you’re excited!
Comment by admin — December 16, 2010 @ 12:02 pm
I recently bought a Viewsonic G Tablet that runs Android 2.2 and have been looking for something that goes into using these devices. I bought your “Droid 2 For Dummies” in the hope that I can use at least some of it since the operating system is about the same. I’ve just started browsing the book and will try some things soon, but it sure would be a help to have something specifically about these tablets. I’ve used Microsoft OS’ since the early versions of DOS but am just not sure where nor how to start out with this one.
Do you know of any online sites that might provide some answers to help with this problem?
Comment by Dick — December 17, 2010 @ 7:27 pm
Thank you for your purchase, even though it’s the wrong gizmo you may still be able to get something out of the book. I hope!
There are plenty of support sites out there for Android devices. For general stuff, there’s the Android forums:
http://androidforums.com/
You may also be able to find some specific forums for your gizmo by searching Google. I’m not a big forums contributor, though I enjoy reading them and often times they do have solutions for specific problems.
For Droid news I go to Droid Life:
http://www.droid-life.com/
Though that’s not for support info, just what’s happening in the world of Android.
I wonder if there is a DOS emulator for Android…
Thanks for joining the forums! And for buying my book!
Comment by admin — December 17, 2010 @ 8:57 pm