Requirements for Android devices for App Inventor

Brand new to App Inventor and looking to get my students plugged in.  Have a small grant to purchase some Android devices and want to take advantage of some seasonal specials.  Are their minimum reqs for the actual device?  I am sure they have to be listed here somewhere but I must not be asking the correct search question?

thanks-

These are things to consider Kevin.   Perhaps someone else will post more recommendations/cautions.

This is the minimum recommendation for phones/tablets from the MIT web site:

Phone or Tablet (or use the on-screen emulator)

• Android Operating System 2.3 ("Gingerbread") or higher

Things to consider:  

You should be able to find an older reconditioned or used Tablet for around 100$ .   Most teachers have students share devices.

To develop phone apps and test them, students will need a phone, not a Tablet 

to develop Tablet apps, you will connect via WIFI or USB.   If you use a phone you possibly will require a 'contract' for monthly use.  I am aware a few teachers are using phones without a contract with the sim card removed ... be aware, this can only be done with some phones and I have no personal experience with which ones might work without a contract.

If you connect via USB to the device, you need to make sure Development USB drivers are available for your device.  The drivers are actually installed to your Mac. You can search the Internet for your tablet choice with term like   the product name  and development USB drivers.   Some inexpensive Tablets do NOT work with AI2 with a USB connection though they do work with WIFI .  If you do not find the manufacture providing drivers, that is a red flag but not necessarily an issue; generic drivers work with SOME devices, but NOT all.

WIFI is frequently a huge issue on school networks ... for you to determine if that is an option in the event you settle on a device without USB support.

Tablets that work well that I am familiar with:

Samsung Tab II 7"   (in its various flavours)... be aware there is one version of the Tab that does not have a gps receiver(the least expensive)

Nexus Tablets ... what MIT uses as a test bed

Moto X Tablet ...

If you want the students to work with gps, the tablet has to have a gps receiver; most tablets do not, so review the specifications.

Look at the following  AI2 free online eBook  http://www.appinventor.org/book2 ... the links are at the bottom of the Web page.  If you do not have it or have not read it, it outlines the type of things that can be done with AI2.  Some things REQUIRE a phone for all the controls available in AI2 to work; others work fine on any device.

Hope this helps.

Kevin responded by email..

Steve-

Thanks for your insight regarding Android device system requirements.  I appreciate it!

I am actually looking at Android phone devices rather than Tablets.  And as you mention, I will have students share devices or use their own. 

Likely USB for the direct connection rather than use our school wireless. it is inconsistent even with our own teacher MacBooks!

Here is the one I have in mind as it is very cheap right now.

http://www.target.com/p/virgin-kyocera-event-prepaid-cell-phone-black/-/A-14768180

Do you think this would suffice?

I have a Kyocera - Rise...from Virgin . It is very similar to the Event and it also has Android 4.0 operating system. it works OK, however, be aware, you  have to pay the monthly fee and activate the phone.  My Kyocera Rise could not be used with AI2 until after activation.  Once the phone activated and then if you let the activation lapse-what happens?   I do not know.  

 The phone would be OK.  I had to disable some of the Virgin add ons to make it acceptable to me and disable lots of Virgin specific apps that were annoying.  You will have to discuss with Virgin whether their prepaid phones can be used with USB for data if you do not pay the fee.  I expect not.   The price is great, it is the monthly fee that is expensive.

Check with someone from Virgin and ask them.  Tell us what you find.    Personally, I would think buying a few online Tablets would be a better deal and perhaps letting students that have phones (and their own accounts) do developing on their phones.    In the long run, an on sale Tablet has lots of advantages, it can do email by not the phone stuff.  For myself, no loss but to the students?

Good luck.

Steve .... please respond in the forum; please DO NOT send me emails.  Thank you.