Testing app on Android devices : how?

Solar2D Android
#1

Hi 

I’ve just published my new app Music4Kids on the app Store. 

I would like now to publish it on Google Play and Amazon.

My app works fine on Corona simulator (Droid, Nexus One, Sensation, Galaxy Tab, Kindle Fire, Nook Color)

But I have a little problem : I don’t have any Android device, and my budget is tight…

I’d like to hear your advices and experiences on the subject.

Are there good services for testing app on Android devices?

If not, which device(s) is (are)  a “must have”?

What is the best strategy?

Thank you for your help and Merry Christmas ! 

Best,

Olivier

#2

I might be interested in testing your app on my Nexus S, Nexus 4 and the original Galaxy Tab 10.1, if you wish, as my wife is teaching kids music and this might be interesting for her. Not a universal solution, but still… :slight_smile:

Merry Christmas!

Alex 

#3

There is a group on Facebook called Corona BETA testers.  It’s a group of Corona programmers who have volunteered to help test apps.  You could ask there:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/102481146589254/

and see if someone can help you.   You can also look to pick up a referbed Kindle Fire or other 1st gen device like a Google Nexus 7 off of eBay or Craigslist to get into a cheap test device.

Rob

#4

Ah, yes, forgot to mention, I also have a Kindle Fire HD, and it’s one of my favourite devices :slight_smile:

#5

@Sundraw : Thank you very much, it’s very kind of you, I’ll contact you when I am ready in January :slight_smile:

@Rob : Thank you very much Rob!

Best

Olivier

#6

I might be interested in testing your app on my Nexus S, Nexus 4 and the original Galaxy Tab 10.1, if you wish, as my wife is teaching kids music and this might be interesting for her. Not a universal solution, but still… :slight_smile:

Merry Christmas!

Alex 

#7

There is a group on Facebook called Corona BETA testers.  It’s a group of Corona programmers who have volunteered to help test apps.  You could ask there:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/102481146589254/

and see if someone can help you.   You can also look to pick up a referbed Kindle Fire or other 1st gen device like a Google Nexus 7 off of eBay or Craigslist to get into a cheap test device.

Rob

#8

Ah, yes, forgot to mention, I also have a Kindle Fire HD, and it’s one of my favourite devices :slight_smile:

#9

@Sundraw : Thank you very much, it’s very kind of you, I’ll contact you when I am ready in January :slight_smile:

@Rob : Thank you very much Rob!

Best

Olivier

#10

If the app appears to work in the Simulator on all the different models - if you test on several devices (though not all types) that you have access too - should  you only publish on the one’s you actually tested on a physical device?    

It seems hard to believe that people would have access to so many different devices.  I would think if it looks good and tests out fine on a few physical devices and all devices in the simulator that would be sufficient.   

Thoughts?

Thanks

Lori

#11

On our side we test on most Apple iPhone and iPad devices and on Android we test on the mainstream tablets and phones as they are too many devices available.

But, something important for our QA team is to ensure that we test on various OS versions as most of the problem that we found are directly related to specific OS versions. We are using Google, Apple and Flurry statistics to help us defining the main OS version we must test on our apps.

Nick

#12

Thanks

#13

It’s impossible to test on every android device. Test on what you have, get involved in beta testing groups and get more people to spread the testing out.

Rob

#14

I’m trying to figure out how to test on a Android Device.  I am reading the documents Building and Distribution (Android).  It gives me three options.  I downloaded the Android SDK as noted below.  When I open Android Studio I do not see anything close to add install.

I also tried downloading App Installer from Google on my MAC  and the program  was trying to get me to go from my device to my computer; but I want to go from my computer to the device.  I also downloaded app installer on my device and it was also looking for apk’s on my device.

I would appreciate any help.  Thanks Lori

Device Installation  (This is from the Building and Distribution)

There are three methods to install an app on an Android device. You can not simply copy the .apk file over to the device.

Android SDK

If you have already installed the Android SDK, use adb install -r your-app.apk.

App Installer

Obtain an app installer from Google Play to assist with the process.

#15

@lgalcott, the fastest way is to simply copy the apk to your Android device. Connect your Android device to your computer and copy the APK file to the folder of your choice in your device. Then simply navigate to this folder within your device and click on the APK to install it.

If you want beta user to test it, you can also use a service like testFairy ( to help you with this process.

Hope this help

Nick

#16

Thank you for the quick response.

That did the trick

Thanks

Lori

#17

If the app appears to work in the Simulator on all the different models - if you test on several devices (though not all types) that you have access too - should  you only publish on the one’s you actually tested on a physical device?    

It seems hard to believe that people would have access to so many different devices.  I would think if it looks good and tests out fine on a few physical devices and all devices in the simulator that would be sufficient.   

Thoughts?

Thanks

Lori

#18

On our side we test on most Apple iPhone and iPad devices and on Android we test on the mainstream tablets and phones as they are too many devices available.

But, something important for our QA team is to ensure that we test on various OS versions as most of the problem that we found are directly related to specific OS versions. We are using Google, Apple and Flurry statistics to help us defining the main OS version we must test on our apps.

Nick

#19

Thanks

#20

It’s impossible to test on every android device. Test on what you have, get involved in beta testing groups and get more people to spread the testing out.

Rob