How to Make Your Own Android Apps Without Coding (Sorta)

Have you ever thought to yourself- "Self, I wish my phone could do X."

Then maybe you got into a conversation with yourself and it might go something like this-

YOU: "But my phone doesn't do X."

ALSO YOU: "Well, have you tried look for X-doing app on the Internet?"

YOU: "Yes, there's nothing. Apparently X just isn't cool enough for anyone to make an Android app about it.

ALSO YOU: "Well self, you know who IS cool enough? YOU."

And then you might say to yourself, "But I don't program!"

In which case you should say to yourself-

"That's what we have smart actions."

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One of the greatest new built-in apps for ICS on Android is Smart Actions. This is an app that lets you add new "rules" to control how your phone works.

So, here's you go about making a smart action. You should figure out what sort of smart action you want to make first. You can browse the various possibilities in smart actions, but if you go in with an idea of what you want, it will go smoother.

Here's an example:

How to Make a Calendar Alarm "App" (Smart Acton)

The standard calendar app on Android is pretty terrible. There are other apps that are good and add new features, but I have yet to find one that will play music for you when an event is happening. In ICS anyway,when you have an appointment coming up, all you get is a pathetic little icon popping up at the top of the screen.

This isn't very helpful when you have got to be somewhere. So what can you do if you can't find another app to do something for you? Well, you make your own android app (sorta).

Step 1-   

Open "Smart Actions" on your Android phone. This is an app that lets you make "rules" that function similar to the way an app does. Click on "Apps" on your phone's home screen, then select it from the list there.

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Step 2

Click on the plus sign in the top right corner of the app, and then select "Blank rule" from the dropdown list.

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Step 3

Hit the "+" sign next to where it says "Triggers." Here is where you'll add your trigger-the event that makes the smart action activate. In this case, it will be a calendar event that you really can't miss. Like your funeral! Just kidding.

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Step 4

Select the trigger you want. In this case, "Calendar Events" is the right one. But feel free to experiment with others. Such as "headphones" if you want the action to trigger as soon as you insert headphones, for example.

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Step 5

Change any settings you want to in Calendar. The default is for the action to be triggered any time you have any calendar event happen. You can click "View Matching events" to make sure the events you want will go off. Click "done" int he top right to add the trigger.

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Step 6

Back in  the main screen, click on the "+" symbol next to "Actions. Select your actions from the list. For example, if you want to play music when you have a calendar event to go to, select "Play a playlist" from the list. It's the one with the right facing arrow. You can also scroll down a bit and select the "open app" option. You could make your action start up a radio station like Pandora, for example. Or alternatively, some kind of light app that fires off dizzying disco ball lights that tells you it's time to go visit the Optomologist. 

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Step 7

 Type in a name for your rule where it says "New rule." Then click "Save." Your rule is now active and you'll be reminded to go to all of your appointments from now on. What better way to remember to go to voice lessons than having "Gangnam Style" belt out from you trusty phone?