To help aspiring Android developers get off the ground and develop our next dream app, and after having massive success with our O'Reilly partnership, Android Police has partnered with informIT to give away a multitude of Android books to our readers. Each week or so, we're going to be giving away a different informIT Android book, asking for nothing but a minute of your time in return.

Android Wireless Application Development, 2nd Edition

To start things off, we're giving away Android Wireless Application Development, 2nd Edition, which was written by Shane Conder and Lauren Darcey and published by Addison-Wesley Professional in December 2010.

The book is very comprehensive and contains almost 800 pages (!), so those of you after detailed guides which double as weapons that can kill medium-sized animals will be quite happy. For the hands-on types, the authors have included a ton of example code as well as more tips and tricks than you'll ever find need for.

You can take a gander at the first few pages via Amazon, look at the table of contents on informIT's website, or read the book's full description below:

The start-to-finish guide to Android application development: massively updated for the newest SDKs and developer techniques!

This book delivers all the up-to-date information, tested code, and best practices you need to create and market successful mobile apps with the latest versions of Android. Drawing on their extensive experience with mobile and wireless development, Lauren Darcey and Shane Conder cover every step: concept, design, coding, testing, packaging, and delivery. The authors introduce the Android platform, explain the principles of effective Android application design, and present today’s best practices for crafting effective user interfaces. Next, they offer detailed coverage of each key Android API, including data storage, networking, telephony, location-based services, multimedia, 3D graphics, and hardware.

Every chapter of this edition has been updated for the newest Android SDKs, tools, utilities, and hardware. All sample code has been overhauled and tested on leading devices from multiple companies, including HTC, Motorola, and ARCHOS. Many new examples have been added, including complete new applications. This new edition also adds

  • Nine new chapters covering web APIs, the Android NDK, extending application reach, managing users, data synchronization, backups, advanced user input, and more
  • Greatly expanded coverage of Android manifest files, content providers, app design, and testing
  • New coverage of hot topics like Bluetooth, gestures, voice recognition, App Widgets, live folders, live wallpapers, and global search
  • Updated 3D graphics programming coverage reflecting OpenGL ES 2.0
  • An all-new chapter on tackling cross-device compatibility issues, from designing for the smallest phones to the big new tablets hitting the market
  • Even more tips and tricks to help you design, develop, and test applications for different devices
  • A new appendix full of Eclipse tips and tricks

This book is an indispensable resource for every member of the Android development team: software developers with all levels of mobile experience, team leaders and project managers, testers and QA specialists, software architects, and even marketers.

Android Wireless Application Development (2nd Edition) is on sale for .17 on Amazon, but we're giving away not one, but five free copies - read on for complete instructions.

How to Win

This contest is now over. We have selected the winners - see if you are one of them here.

In the vein of past book giveaways, this contest does not involve social media. To enter, simply leave a comment here in this post (not on Facebook) and tell everyone what kind of app you're thinking of making as your first project.

The winner will be selected by the Android Police and informIT panel after July 8th 11:59 p.m. PT. Make sure you use your real email in your comment, as that's what we'll use to contact the winner.

Oh, and we try to fight for this every time we do a giveaway, so I'm happy to report that this contest is open to anyone in the world!

Good luck, and may the best aspiring developer win!