I have read a lot of similar questions but none seem to answer directly my issue. I am working on a project and want to implement a way to launch 3rd party apps from within a web app. I have found SOME URISchemes and got these launching fine on iOS and some on Android devices by looking in the info.plist file. I have noticed however that a LOT of apps, (most of the ones I've tested to be honest) don't have a URIScheme that I can find to launch the app (I may be looking in the wrong place). There is not really a set list of apps I want to launch, as this will be differ when it is being used by different people. I really would like the ability to launch ANY app installed on the phone/tablet. All the web app will do is link to a database I create as I get feedback from those editing and using the web app which I will manage.
So my question is this, how can I launch ANY app from within the web app?
Apps I'm looking at are not on lists like http://handleopenurl.com/scheme etc.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Related
I am trying to understand at a little bit lower level how Android Instant Applications work, as well as analyse a bit the security aspect. I know you create an app, it has its modules and activities, and you need to specify an URL entry-point for each feature module. Now, I have my application, I have my link, I browse to it. Two questions here:
1) How does Android, my browser, DNS, whatever parses that link, know that it's not a normally browsable internet link, but that it's actually an instant app and and should open it like an instant app using the android framework, download base and feature modules, isntant-compilation, etc. ?
2) What does it actually do after it understands it's an instant app? What calls are made? WHERE exactly is the application contained? We start from the browser we use to search and find that link, after that? Is it contained in that browser's sandbox? Does it create a new container for that app? From a security perspective, this information would be quite important and interesting.
How can I gather more info about all this? Are there any tools that allow me to see into these load procedures? Any link to some extra documentation or knowledge of how this particular aspect of android works?
I suspect there won't be much public info because even though they were introduced in the end of 2016, Instant Apps is still a very new and explored feature, but that's exactly what I'm working on. If there is anything that can allow me to see what's going on, tools, debuggers, stuff I don't even know it exists, please let me know.
This is my first question on Stack Overflow, so sorry in advance if I asked the question in the wrong place or messed up.
I have this project where I am repurposing an old android tablet for the project. I need to make an app which will always be open on the tablet. The problem is, I am not proficient in making apps for Android. So, I thought let me run an iOS emulator (like iemu or Cider APK). Then, I realized I don't know how to put my app on the emulator.
I was thinking of ad hoc, but I am not sure if it will work. Then I though about stuff like Snapchat ++ or Instagram ++. How do they distribute it? For those who are unfamiliar with it watch this video starting at 1:55.
So in short, can I put my iOS app on the emulator or is it just better to get better at making android apps?
Thanks in advance
Based on my quick research I checked just briefly bunch of articles about Cider APK or iEMU APK and also comments and I downloaded one app but didn't run it because its basically distributed from some google drive account and looks quite dangerous to run on my phone.
But based on my understanding how this is actually doable https://appetize.io looks like only way, as this is merely some remote virtualization solution and they have business model instead of ad scam business model as those others. appetize.io runs in browser and has a free plan with limitations but usable , also they allow to upload your apk to their server to run it on their iOS devices that is basically visible in web browser, while quite slow but working and its real thing and useful.
I am guessing you would get Cider APK or iEMU APK.
I have never done it myself but I know it's doable. Read their documentation.
Install the emulator in your IDE and run by choosing the desired destination.
Hope this helps.
http://www.androidcrush.com/run-ios-apps-on-android/
I need some guide and help from you guys, What i want is as follows:
Replace the device home screen with a customizable screen that limits users to selected applications only. This should allow the administrator to select the applications from available list of applications.
Specify a URL for device redirection (in case of browsing)
Create a whitelist of acceptable URLs (no other URLs will be accepted)
Enable/Disable native Samsung Android device following features.
Android Market (App Store)
Camera
WiFi
Bluetooth
Microphone
Access Point
Now can anybody guide me what to do and where to start in android?
Your help will be really appreciable.
Thanks
As mentioned by Evan, this is really the domain of Mobile Device Management (MDM) and involves a pretty heavy-handed control from the app.
There are a number of solutions already available such as Air-Watch or Good who specialize in exactly this sort of thing.
I think building your own from scratch would certainly not be trivial, though there is a lot of discussion which could help in getting you started (check here for instance).
Good luck!
To archive that, I think you must build your own Android ROM. If you only want to install your HOME app to a device, user can easily get back old home screen.
I work at a large company that is looking at building apps for internal use only (iPhone/iPad). We are looking for a SIMPLE way of creating apps that essentially are just a web browser with a predefined URL and no address bar/tabs, etc. Essentially a very dumbed down browser with a custom logo. What is the easiest way to accomplish this?
We would obviously be distributing these oursevlves and they wouldn't be available in the App Store, so app guidelines aren't an issue. We are on Windows boxes and are Java/Web developers so we'd rather not get into too much C sharp if at all possible, fyi. Basically it'd be nice if the tool (if one exists), were to allow us to give it a URL, an icon image, and it builds the app from there.
And while we are starting out with Apple devices, we need to be cross platform compliant with whatever tools we use because I can imagine the day when they decide to buy Android or WindowsPhone devices later on.
MobiOne? PhoneGap? Appcelerator Titanium SDK? Can either of these do what we need? Something else?
A big 'No' for MobiOne. I bought it for 99 dollars. As they advertised, I was able to create a static app within hours. But that's pretty much what MobiOne can do. The moment you start using html, javascript or even audio, all sorts of problem seem to creep up. And there is no support in their forums either. My basic question about using the audio player remains unanswered for a month now.
Here is the worst part:
The tool has a poorly built emulator. Often times, my app worked fine in the emulator but failed to run when deployed to a real device. And at times, i have seen the vice versa too.
Since then, I switched over to PhoneGap(which is free). It took me 2 days to just set my environment right. But once I had the environment setup, it took only minutes to deploy my app in to a virtual device.
Looking at your requirement, I would say that your safe bet is PhoneGap.
I don't have a working knowledge in Titanium but I read in a lot of forums that it supports less platforms when compared to PhoneGap. Titanium seems to give a more native feel to the app but that also means you cannot port it to multiple platforms without changing the code.
Apple may reject your app if all it does is wrap a web site in a WebView. You need to have more functionality in your app than just loading a web page.
From the app review guidelines for iOS:
2.12 Apps that are not very useful, are simply web sites bundled as apps, or do not provide any lasting entertainment value may be rejected
You would need to add additional screens to the app like an about page and a contact us page in order for your app not to be rejected.
As you say you know JavaScript, look into appcelerator.com it allows you to build cross platform apps and only writing your code once.
I would re-evaluate your reason for wanting to create these projects as an app in the first place. What app functionality do you want that you don't have now with your web page? You didn't mention anything in your question that would indicate this needs to be an app.
On Apple devices, you could create an icon that points to a web site. You could define the pages in a way that hides the address bar. Lastly, the web pages could easily be cross-platform already.
Wrapping this into an app would just possibly complicate the process. You may need to deploy updated app code to the device, where a refresh in a browser works just as well.
I have an app in Android Market which is a standalone app that's essentially a full conduit to an SQLite Database(add, change, delete, inquiry). Some of my potential clients have asked to see a sample of my work, but they don't have an Android device.
Other than just showing them screenshots etc., is there a way I could have them go to a website where they can actually run it & check it out.
I'm thinking there would be a programming element involved (convert app to a mobile website essentially?), hence posted this question here.
Not quite sure where to get started. Any help would be appreciated.
You can use one of the patterns like MVC/MVP/MVVM to create your core library and then develop additional UI variants for different clients: Android, java applet etc.
Alternatively you can develop a mobile web site as you suggested and use simple android app to navigate built-in browser to it. This might be somewhat transparent to most users. I think Android MSN client uses such an approach.
I see 2 relatively easy options.
Give them an .apk designed to only
run on the emulator (you can check
the ID, the emulator ID is 00000...)
and they can boot up an emulator and
run it. If you're worried about them
reverse engineering your .apk you
probably shouldn't go down this
route. Or if you don't want them to
have to install the emulator
Set up a virtual machine and let
your clients remote desktop into it.
Give them permissions to only run
the emulator or however you want to
set it up