Key Points

1. Android apps can be developed, tested, packaged on MAC, Windows or Linux
2. Multiple choices for emulators to test Android apps
3. Generally testing Android apps requires admin authorities on the host

References

Key Concepts

Android Phone Screen Copy to PC

https://github.com/Genymobile/scrcpy

genymobile - android screen copy -g drive

https://www.genymotion.com/blog/open-source-project-scrcpy-now-works-wirelessly/

For convenience, we also added some mouse shortcuts?:
• middle-click presses the HOME button,
• right-click presses the BACK button (on turn the screen on),
• double-click on black borders resize the window to fit the device screen.

But a specific feature was much requested: make it work over Wi-Fi.

Script to start scrcpy after setting path

cat scrcpy_start.sh

#!/bin/bash
echo ' '
echo 'scrcpy_start.sh -- start scrcpy utility to access mobile device '
echo ' '
echo ' run Android File Transfer first to device to get storage approval '
echo ' '
echo '   utility from genymobile.com '
echo ' '
export scrcpy_loc = '/usr/loca/bin/adb/'
export PATH = $scrcpy_loc:$PATH
echo $PATH
echo ' '
echo ' starting scrcpy '
scrcpy

Google Android Development Tools

https://developer.android.com/studio

https://developer.android.com/studio/releases/platform-tools

Android SDK Platform-Tools is a component for the Android SDK. It includes tools that interface with the Android platform, such as adb, fastboot, and systrace. These tools are required for Android app development. They're also needed if you want to unlock your device bootloader and flash it with a new system image.

Although some new features in these tools are available only for recent versions of Android, the tools are backward compatible, so you need only one version of the SDK Platform-Tools.

Downloads of tools

If you're an Android developer, you should get the latest SDK Platform-Tools from Android Studio's SDK Manager or from the sdkmanager command-line tool. This ensures the tools are saved to the right place with the rest of your Android SDK tools and easily updated.

But if you want just these command-line tools, use the following links:

Although these links do not change, they always point to the most recent version of the tools.

Android Studio Tools - Android Emulator

https://developer.android.com/studio/releases/emulator

Android Emulator is included with Android Studio.

Versions of the emulator prior to 25.3.0 were distributed as part of the Android SDK Tools.

To ensure you have the latest version, check the SDK Manager for updates.

For Android Emulator versions prior to 25.3.0, see the Android SDK Tools release notes.

For details of bugs fixed in each release, see the Android Studio release updates blog.

Run the Emulator in Android Studio

The Android Emulator can now be run directly in Android Studio. Use this feature to conserve screen real estate, to navigate quickly between the emulator and the editor window using hotkeys, and to organize your IDE and emulator workflow in a single application window.

Visual Studio Tools - Android Emulator 

https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/vs/msft-android-emulator/

Android Debug from Windows or Mac using adb.exe

use google adb.exe tool

the process is a little work if you want to try.

https://pruvan.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/202717265-How-to-get-an-Android-System-Log

basically there is a tool called ADB that can pull the log file from the device once you have it connected to your laptop for example.

How to get an Android System Log

Sometimes there's a hardware issue that is specific to a single device or a device model that we can not reproduce in our office. In these situations we will need a system log from the device that...

i can try to get you a log if you need one too from our cloud provider. i just need the exact device and OS version of Android and what build you want me to try

Sometimes there's a hardware issue that is specific to a single device or a device model that we can not reproduce in our office. In these situations we will need a system log from the device that is having the problem to try and figure out what is going wrong. These instructions can be used to create that log and send it to us.

1. Install your device driver

• Your device driver should install when you connect your device to the computer over USB. If it does not you may need to locate and install the driver from your manufacturer's website. Once you get to Setup the Log step 7 (6 for Mac) you will know if you need a different driver.
  
  ( For Samsung Note 8 I had to manually search the Web for the right USB debug driver. )

2. Connect your device

1. Plug in your device via USB to your computer

2. Go to your Settings app

3. Scroll down to the bottom and tap on Developer Options

   • If this option is not there then:

     1. Scroll down to the bottom and tap on About Phone (or Device)

     2. Scroll down to the bottom and tap repeatedly on Build Number

        • Stop once the message says you've unlocked Developer Mode

     3. Tap back

4. Make sure Android Debugging is checked

3. Setup the log

Windows

1. Download Platform-tools from Google

   • Windows - http://dl-ssl.google.com/android/repository/platform-tools_r20-windows.zip

2. Create a folder in your C drive called 'adb'

3. Unzip the Platform-tools zip file to this folder

4. Press the win+r on your keyboard

5. In the run window type cmd.exe and press enter

6. in the CMD window type 'cd c:\adb' and press enter

7. Type '
   adb devices
   ' and press enter

   • This should write a line to the CMD window that says '009ab325109378df7e device' or something like that

   • If it says that there aren't any devices, then you need a different device driver

8. Type '
   adb logcat > android.log
   ' and press enter

   • This will just show the cursor (blinker) sitting on a new line (with no 'C:\adb' in front), blinking. This is good.

Mac OS

1. Download Platform-tools from Google

   • Mac OS - http://dl-ssl.google.com/android/repository/platform-tools_r20-macosx.zip

2. Create a folder in your hard drive called 'adb'

   • This will be next to folders like; 'users', 'applications', 'system', etc..

3. Unzip the Platform-tools zip file to this folder

4. Go to the Utilities folder and run Terminal

5. in the Terminal window type 'cd \adb' and press enter

6. Type 'adb devices' and press enter

   • This should write a line to the Terminal window that says '009ab325109378df7e device' or something like that

   • If it says that there aren't any devices, then you need a different device driver

7. Type '
   adb logcat > android.log
   ' and press enter

   • This will just show the cursor (blinker) sitting on a new line (with no '\adb' in front), blinking. This is good.

4. Recreate the issue

1. Pick up your device

2. Open the your app to test

3. Take photos or do what every you need to in the app to create the error(s)

5. Finish up

Windows

1. Click inside of the CMD window on your computer

2. Press ctrl-c

   • This will stop the log

3. Open a folder on your computer and go to C:\adb

4. Attach android.log to a reply email for your open ticket

Mac OS

1. Click inside of the Terminal window on your computer

2. Press cmd-c

   • This will stop the log

3. Open your hard drive and go to the adb folder

4. Attach android.log to a reply email for your open ticket

Find USB debug drivers for different phones

Get USB debug driver for a phone if it didn’t automatically download on Windows USB connect

best site for Note 8 USB driver install

https://www.mobileheadlines.net/samsung-note-8-usb-driver/

MACOS Android Emulators

Windows Android Emulators

Bluestacks

Android is one of the most popular mobile computing operating systems and powers a diverse range of phones, including the low-end ones and the high-end flagship. The good thing about Android is that other than running it on mobile devices, it can also run on the desktop with a suitable emulator. In case you have an ancient Windows machine and want to convert it into something useful, running Android on it can give your ancient Windows machine a new lease of life.

There are many free Android emulators for PC (Windows) on the market but only a few of them could match up to our expectations. Listed below is a carefully curated list of the best Android emulators for your PC.

1. Nox

It may be a little dated when it comes to the version of Android it runs (Lollipop 5.1.1, though a test version of Android 7.1 is available), but Nox is one of the most stable and accurate Android emulators around.

It’s good enough to emulate most games (you’ll want to use get the Android Nougat build for maximum compatibility), and very easy to get running. It’s highly customizable, and its UI does a great job of accommodating keyboard-and-mouse controls in place of touch controls.

One thing that might concern more privacy-focused users is that Nox phones home to a Chinese IP, and installs some of its own crapware apps that you can’t remove. There’s no malicious code or anything like that, but it still removes a degree of control from what’s otherwise one of the top Android emulators out there.

Bluestacks

https://www.bluestacks.com/

Bluestacks has been one of the most sought-after Android emulators thanks to its easy installation and the ability to accept third party apk’s by double clicking on them. This app supports one of the most exhaustive lists of applications and is a natural choice if you are on a quest for an Android emulator to run apps and play Android Games.

As we said earlier, Bluestacks comes packed in a single file which can be installed directly, and unlike other programs it doesn’t need a third-party virtualization tool.

Use your keyboard and mouse or gamepad to improve your accuracy. Play with BlueStacks' preset game controls or customize your own.

Installed on MAC

needed special permissions on the install

Nox - Android app player for PCs - Windows or MAC

https://www.bignox.com/

supports Android 7 not version 9

but Nox is one of the most stable and accurate Android emulators around.

It’s good enough to emulate most games (you’ll want to use get the Android Nougat build for maximum compatibility), and very easy to get running. It’s highly customizable, and its UI does a great job of accommodating keyboard-and-mouse controls in place of touch controls.

Issue >> Nox links to Chinese server

One thing that might concern more privacy-focused users is that Nox phones home to a Chinese IP, and installs some of its own crapware apps that you can’t remove. There’s no malicious code or anything like that, but it still removes a degree of control from what’s otherwise one of the top Android emulators out there.

Nox FAQS

https://support.bignox.com/en/often

Windows version

https://support.bignox.com/en/101/SystemRequirement

MAC version download

https://www.bignox.com/blog/tag/mac/

Mobile Software Development Open-Source Tools

https://www.softwaresuggest.com/blog/free-open-source-mobile-app-development-software/#

eos-mobile-app-tools-12 Best Free and Open Source Mobile App Development Software.pdf

Flutter

Xamarin 

Phone Gap

Android Studio 

Felgo

Potential Value Opportunities

Potential Challenges

Candidate Solutions

Samsung Kies or Smart Switch to transfer phone data to another device or computer

https://www.samsung.com/africa_en/support/smart-switch/

Data backup, restoration, synchronisation, and software updates are now managed in one place.
Enjoy the new Smart Switch. Updated menus make it even easier to use.

ATT Phone insurance

ATT Active Armour

fraud protection on calls ( not texts )

wifi protection

secure personal data in apps

Upgrade option

Everyone can upgrade to AT&T Unlimited Premium℠ or Extra℠ for advanced security features like Public Wi-Fi Protection, Identity Monitoring, and Reverse Number Lookup.

ATT Smart Home Manager

Smart Home Manager app offers advanced protection that monitors suspicious behavior across all connected devices, blocks malicious sites, and scans your network for vulnerabilities. Plus, it provides the ability to manage your Wi-Fi password, network name, and control access.

Step-by-step guide for Example

sample code block

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