I cannot find the .android file on my Mac, where I'm trying to find the debug.keystore. Is it in the adt bundle which is installed on my MAC HD. I tried to utilize the terminal Go -> Home -> ./android/debug.keystore but to no avail. I'm enabling the Google Maps API for debug using the video tutorial but am stuck looking for this data.

It can be tricky to find, and then sometimes I find it, and then can't find it again! For a Mac, and I'm doing this from memory, if you open up Finder, then go to Users, your name, you should find a .android folder, which will have the debug keystore in it. Unless you need to sign an apk with this keystore to distribute to others for testing, or you're trying to get a Maps key with it, you really don't need it. For running an app on a device you have attached to Eclipse, it'll automatically sign it with a debug keystore, so you don't have to worry about doing it explicitly. Mark

I want to sign the apk for debug/testing for a friends device. I want to use dropbox to share the debug version of the app. Never done this before. I thought I had to do the whole Google maps API thing as referenced in the twenty minute video tutorial:Enabling Google Maps in the Android Emulator in order to get the maps to display correctly. So, can I simply generate an apk file, sign it with a debug keystore and use dropbox to distribute the app to my friend who has an Android device?

You don't have to get a Google Maps API key unless you have a map in your app. However...unless you're already obtained one, it's too late for the v1 key, as they're no longer available with the move to v2. And, buzztouch doesn't support v2 quite yet, so your stuck with respect to maps. You can use any debug.keystore you want as they are the same for everybody. I can send you a copy of mine if you can't find yours...send an email to MrkFleming at gmail dot com. Ultimately, you are correct. You can sign the apk with the debug keystore, drop it in DropBox, and your friend can use it. I believe they need debugging enabled on their device. You can also sign it with a release keystore. It doesn't matter, so long as it's signed. Mark

Thank you, Mark, Ok, I have a release key signing ready... I can forget the whole debug.keystore signing....great! Now, how do I get the darn "signed" apk file to dropbox after signing it for release? FYI, I found the .android folder and the debug.keystore...for future ref. (Probably will never use it if it doesn't matter how it's signed) As for V1, I'm good as long as the maps in my app all work. (fingers crossed) Great video, BTW.

The maps will only work if you have a v1 key, which was generated with the same release keystore you're using. But it sounds like that's the case. To get the apk to your friend, just create the apk as you normally would, then upload it (or copy to) whatever folder in DropBox you want. Then you can get a public link to that folder which you can share to your friend, and they can pick it up. If the app is small enough, you could just email it to him! Thanks for the props on the video! Mark

I don't know how to create an apk in Eclipse, I never have done this.

I just figured it out, thank you, Mark. Do you want to try my App?

Sure! Send me a link, and I'll give it a run when I get home. MrkFleming at gmail dot com.

Sent it along, thank you.