> Your product manager has just asked for screenshots of the developer’s build. The developer is busy and can’t get them to you until tomorrow. What do you do?! As of this writing, Android has no built-in way to take screenshots
Of all the little things that hurt the Android Market, this lack of screenshot taking is probably one that Google engineers did not realize would be so big.
How do we expect bloggers and normal people to write about and share an app they like if they don't have an easy way to take screenshots like iOS' Power + Home?
I'm an iPhone user and have very little experience with Android, and I'm pretty surprised to find this out.
I was trying to help someone set up his email on an Android device yesterday and the setup guide I found featured clumsy photos of the phone and its various set up screens. I was wondering why someone would take that approach vs. grabbing screen shots. I guess that question is answered.
I'm curious because I remember going into the tmobile store in the mall and purchasing the G1 back in 2008. I had the phone and email setup before getting back to my car.
I think it depends on the phone but I'm pretty sure most Android devices can do that by now.
Mine can take screenshots by pressing the Home+Power buttons.
This is actually a intentional move by the android team. It is a security issue to implement screen shots because any android app or service could immitate user actions and save the image. Imagine malware that took screenshots every time you logged onto your bank account.
That doesn't even make sense. iOS has a hardware method for taking screen shots. You physically press the power and home buttons and a screenshot is taken and sent to your Photo album.
I would assume that the screenshot functionality would be implemented as an OS-level, highly protected service (one that <uses-permission> in the manifest would not be able to grant an app access to).
Of course, if the phone is rooted, it's the Wild West and any app can potentially run the screenshot service.
Of all the little things that hurt the Android Market, this lack of screenshot taking is probably one that Google engineers did not realize would be so big.
How do we expect bloggers and normal people to write about and share an app they like if they don't have an easy way to take screenshots like iOS' Power + Home?