Game developer tip 3: Installing large APK files to the SD card
This is the third in a series of tips that supplement the XperiaTM game developer recommendations. This tip expands on Packaging recommendation PK3 in the list of game developer recommendations: Any APK file larger than 5MB should be installed directly to the SD card.
Background
When designing your game for the Xperia™ PLAY or other Android™ devices, consider making a large APK file (5 MB or larger) install to the device’s SD card. Installing on the external storage is ideal when dealing with large application files such as gaming files, since they are not tightly integrated with the system. Installing the gaming files, or even just enabling the option to move gaming files, to the SD card increases the performance of the device. This also maximizes the number of games or apps that can installed in the phone memory of the device.
Special considerations
To make an application install directly to the SD card, use the attribute android:installLocation=”preferExternal” in order to make your application install to the SD Card by default.
For information on allowing applications to be installed on external storage, refer to the Android Developer topic on App Install Location.
Example
About the Game developer tips
The XperiaTM game developer recommendations offers guidance in developing games for XperiaTM devices such as XperiaTM PLAY. The tips in this series provide additional information about some of the significant recommendations in that document. Each tip provides the following information:
Background. This is a fuller description of the recommendation. It answers the questions “why should I follow this recommendation?” and “when or where should I follow this recommendation?”.
Special considerations. This describes any special considerations, such as device-specific considerations or application type-specific considerations that pertain to the recommendation.
Examples. This shows screen captures or code snippets that further illustrate or explain the recommendation.
Background
When designing your game for the Xperia™ PLAY or other Android™ devices, consider making a large APK file (5 MB or larger) install to the device’s SD card. Installing on the external storage is ideal when dealing with large application files such as gaming files, since they are not tightly integrated with the system. Installing the gaming files, or even just enabling the option to move gaming files, to the SD card increases the performance of the device. This also maximizes the number of games or apps that can installed in the phone memory of the device.
Special considerations
To make an application install directly to the SD card, use the attribute android:installLocation=”preferExternal” in order to make your application install to the SD Card by default.
For information on allowing applications to be installed on external storage, refer to the Android Developer topic on App Install Location.
Example
About the Game developer tips
The XperiaTM game developer recommendations offers guidance in developing games for XperiaTM devices such as XperiaTM PLAY. The tips in this series provide additional information about some of the significant recommendations in that document. Each tip provides the following information:
Background. This is a fuller description of the recommendation. It answers the questions “why should I follow this recommendation?” and “when or where should I follow this recommendation?”.
Special considerations. This describes any special considerations, such as device-specific considerations or application type-specific considerations that pertain to the recommendation.
Examples. This shows screen captures or code snippets that further illustrate or explain the recommendation.
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