During my stay at NEXT Berlin 2012 and just before my departure, I’m fallen over a little guide called “Mobile Developer’s guide to the Galaxy”, edited by the German 
company enough software.
First edition of the guide was released during Mobile World Congress 2009, after noticing that developers and decision makers felt lost in the jungle of mobile applications development. The idea was to provide an objective overview on mobile technologies and help people better define their mobile strategy.
The guide provides an outline of applications platforms, explains the process on how to program on every platform (from Android to J2ME to Windows 8) and covering at least what are the prerequisites, the testing and distribution mechanisms.
The book also gives you some tips on how to develop accessible apps, implement rich media, location-based services, NFC, haptic vibration and security measures. It describes some means to a rather non-exciting part of application development: testing.
The Mobile Developer’s Guide also contains some insights on monetization (how you get $$$) and basic strategies for appstores.
Lastly, the guide makes light on the 2 things you have to consider before choosing a development environment: market reach (business’s perspective: market shares of each platform) andtechnology (developer’s perspective: how much time do you need and how many people are on each platform).
I’m a huge fan of this non-profit initiative: finally, the mobile application dilemma of a junior software developer will be less nightmarish. And for more senior ones, the guide helps have a better understanding of other platforms, so everyone benefits from the amazing efforts of the 20 writers who just want to make your life easier. And for business guys, it gives a better understanding of the complexity of mobile app development.
You can download the 10th edition or order a free hardcopy (which are sold out, by the way… But I’ve managed to get some for you!) by registering to my newsletter. I’ll be happy to send it to you for free (at least in Switzerland – for those abroad, let’s discuss)!
What are you waiting for? I just have 50 guides left, so you’d better hurry up!