Hi, besides using parse.com, can i just create a database in my ipage php admin and use it to store my apps information?

Hi. I'm not aware of parse.com, however, the answer you are looking for would be yes and no ;) Allow me to explain.

a) YES you can store data in your external database and retrieve them using various methods. b) Worry about security. If you include your credentials to login to your mysql database in the app, note that any decent developer with a "rooted" device can actually decode your apk and see those. (Use encryption and preferably "proguard")

if you really need to use external data, i would suggest creating a small php (Or other) api to request data via url (You can then use okHttp as seen in the Treehouse weather app)

If storing data externally is not a pre-requisite, note that you can use internal device storage by using SharedPreferences and store any data locally as well as retrieve (Note this data resides even after the app is closed and re-opened)

Hope this helps a bit in deciding your route. Happy to elaborate if you need further assistance.

cheers

Thank you. It helped alot.