android: test app on a real device

Question

My client wants to dogfood my android app. They don't have eclipse and don't want to install it. Is there a more convenient way to send my apk to them? Can I send it via email and let them open the attachment in mobile device? Will it start installing itself automatically?

Answer 1

I've never sent an APK as an attachment (I normally send a link to an APK on the internet) but I expect it would work. Just click to open it, and you well get the same prompts about permissions that you get in the Market application.

The APK does need to be signed though (this can easily be done in Eclipse with Android Tools -> Export Signed Application Package). Also make sure android:debuggable="false" is set in your application tag in AndroidManifest.xml.

Answer 2

Upload the APK to a Web site, configure the Web server to serve .apk files with the proper MIME type, and send the URL to the tester via an email, SMS, tweet, etc.

Answer 3

CommonsWare's answer is a great way to do it. Another way that I've used in the past to get a few people to beta test my apps is have them put the apk file on the phone's SD card. Then use an app like Astro File Manager to browse to the file and install it.

I've also had a few other developers email me their APK files to test, and this is the method I used to install their apps on my phone. Note that I'm just opening the email on my PC, and saving the attachment to the SD card on the phone via USB.

Answer 4

Using the default google mail application on an android phone you have the option to preview attached files, however no option to save them. Attempting to preview the attatched apk file will launch the package installer but it will fail with "There is a problem parsing the package".

Tested on my phone with android 1.5 (the apk will install if transfered via usb)

Answer 5

I always used this app. Worked flawlessly every time.