title: On Android's Support Package, use it or not?
body: <p>I've been thinking about the pros and cons of using Android's Support Package when targeting the latest API and setting the min SDK to 7, for example.</p>
  
  <p>The <a href="http://developer.android.com/sdk/compatibility-library.html" rel="nofollow">Android documentation</a> states "The goal is to simplify your development by offering more APIs that you can bundle with your application so you can worry less about platform versions"; however, I'm having some doubt on whether it will make it simpler.</p>
  
  <p>Consider the TabActivity, which has been deprecated. The alternative to using TabActivity is through Fragments and by looking at the <a href="http://developer.android.com/resources/samples/Support4Demos/src/com/example/android/supportv4/app/FragmentTabs.html" rel="nofollow">example</a> to get a tabular view working, it doesn't look simpler. Besides, I have to use reflection anyways when deciding on to use the Fragments class versus the FragmentActivity class, so why not just use TabActivity. I was hoping to get your opinion on this. I'm leaning towards not using it, but I would like to know if I'm missing out on any benefits.</p>