create gradient.xml in /res/drawable:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<shape xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:shape="rectangle">
<gradient
android:startColor="#FFFFFF"
android:endColor="#00000000"
android:angle="45"/>
</shape>
and in your main.xml layout file in /res/layout:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:orientation="vertical"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="fill_parent"
android:background="@drawable/gradient"
>
</LinearLayout>
you can specify the angle by replacing the android:angle value and start/end colour by replacing android:startColor and android:endColor