Make Android apps with no programming knowledge.
Google has launched an intriguing new service called App Inventor for Android, which lets people build their own Android apps with coding skills required.
"App Inventor requires NO programming knowledge," explains its official website. "This is because instead of writing code, you visually design the way the app looks and use blocks to specify the app's behavior."
Google says the platform can be used for everything from games and quizzes to social apps. It also lets people tap into Android features like GPS and text-to-speech, as well as external sites like Twitter.
"The educational perspective that motivates App Inventor holds that programming can be a vehicle for engaging powerful ideas through active learning," continues the site.
Education appears to be one of the big factors in Google's launch of the service - the New York Times reports that it's been tested with several groups of students of all ages.
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In that sense, it's a different kettle of fish from Nokia's Ovi App Wizard, which lets people build their own apps from RSS and social feeds, but doesn't aim to stimulate their interest in development.
Here's a video demo:
