diff --git a/core/definitions.mk b/core/definitions.mk
index 17ec646..5631fb9 100644
--- a/core/definitions.mk
+++ b/core/definitions.mk
@@ -1122,7 +1122,11 @@
     $(addprefix -P , $(PRIVATE_RESOURCE_PUBLICS_OUTPUT)) \
     $(addprefix -S , $(PRIVATE_RESOURCE_DIR)) \
     $(addprefix -A , $(PRIVATE_ASSET_DIR)) \
-    $(addprefix -I , $(PRIVATE_AAPT_INCLUDES))
+    $(addprefix -I , $(PRIVATE_AAPT_INCLUDES)) \
+    $(addprefix --min-sdk-version , $(DEFAULT_APP_TARGET_SDK)) \
+    $(addprefix --target-sdk-version , $(DEFAULT_APP_TARGET_SDK)) \
+    $(addprefix --version-code , $(PLATFORM_SDK_VERSION)) \
+    $(addprefix --version-name , $(PLATFORM_VERSION))
 endef
 
 ifeq ($(HOST_OS),windows)
@@ -1250,6 +1254,9 @@
 #      A list of dynamic and static parameters;  build layers for
 #      dynamic params that lay over the static ones.
 #TODO: update the manifest to point to the package file
+#Note that the version numbers are given to aapt as simple default
+#values; applications can override these by explicitly stating
+#them in their manifest.
 define add-assets-to-package
 $(hide) $(AAPT) package -z -u $(PRIVATE_AAPT_FLAGS) \
     $(addprefix -c , $(PRODUCT_AAPT_CONFIG)) \
@@ -1257,6 +1264,10 @@
     $(addprefix -S , $(PRIVATE_RESOURCE_DIR)) \
     $(addprefix -A , $(PRIVATE_ASSET_DIR)) \
     $(addprefix -I , $(PRIVATE_AAPT_INCLUDES)) \
+    $(addprefix --min-sdk-version , $(DEFAULT_APP_TARGET_SDK)) \
+    $(addprefix --target-sdk-version , $(DEFAULT_APP_TARGET_SDK)) \
+    $(addprefix --version-code , $(PLATFORM_SDK_VERSION)) \
+    $(addprefix --version-name , $(PLATFORM_VERSION)) \
     -F $@
 endef
 
diff --git a/core/version_defaults.mk b/core/version_defaults.mk
index 902afed..ca8487f 100644
--- a/core/version_defaults.mk
+++ b/core/version_defaults.mk
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@
 # Guarantees that the following are defined:
 #     PLATFORM_VERSION
 #     PLATFORM_SDK_VERSION
+#     PLATFORM_VERSION_CODENAME
+#     DEFAULT_APP_TARGET_SDK
 #     BUILD_ID
 #     BUILD_NUMBER
 #
@@ -55,11 +57,24 @@
 endif
 
 ifeq "" "$(PLATFORM_VERSION_CODENAME)"
-  # This is the current development code-name, if the build is not a final
-  # release build.  If this is a final release build, it is simply "REL".
+  # If the build is not a final release build, then this is the current
+  # development code-name.  If this is a final release build, it is simply "REL".
   PLATFORM_VERSION_CODENAME := Donut
 endif
 
+ifeq "" "$(DEFAULT_APP_TARGET_SDK)"
+  # This is the default minSdkVersion and targetSdkVersion to use for
+  # all .apks created by the build system.  It can be overridden by explicitly
+  # setting these in the .apk's AndroidManifest.xml.  It is either the code
+  # name of the development build or, if this is a release build, the official
+  # SDK version of this release.
+  ifeq "REL" "$(PLATFORM_VERSION_CODENAME)"
+    DEFAULT_APP_TARGET_SDK := $(PLATFORM_SDK_VERSION)
+  else
+    DEFAULT_APP_TARGET_SDK := $(PLATFORM_VERSION_CODENAME)
+  endif
+endif
+
 ifeq "" "$(BUILD_ID)"
   # Used to signify special builds.  E.g., branches and/or releases,
   # like "M5-RC7".  Can be an arbitrary string, but must be a single