Google App Inventor for Android: Idea to app, no skillz required
You can now build your own Android app thanks to Google's App Inventor for Android -- all you need is a good idea
Google has announced an ultra-simple app builder for Android. The open-source operating system for mobile devices has a thriving (if slightly shonky) market for apps, and now anyone can build them thanks to App Inventor for Android.
You don't need any tricksy programming knowledge to build your app. Once you have a good idea, App Inventor offers a what-you-see-is-what-you-get interface that uses blocks to perform actions within the app.
Apps can use the phone's sensors, so the app can work out where you are, and announce information using Android's text to speech capabilities. Click play on this video to see how it works:
Sign up for the App Inventor beta at services.google.com/fb/forms/appinventorinterest -- you'll need a Gmail address -- and get your app thinking cap on. We're planning an app that makes everybody ready to leave for lunch at the same time, which is usually beyond us. Honestly, it's like herding cats. Tell us your app ideas in the comments -- we promise not to steal them. Unless they're really good.