Develop Reference

Android Overlay View makes some applications pause

I have created an overlay activity the requests permission to create a window of type TYPE_APPLICATION_OVERLAY and then starts a service that creates the window. This all works fine and I can interact with it and the launcher home screen behind the view (It's just a search text box with interactive results as you type).
The problem is, I have found one application that when I have this overlay running, the application is frozen like it's paused (it's a game). But I have tried my overlay over other applications and it works fine like google maps and even another game.
Here is how I'm creating the window in the service
//Add the view to the window.
final WindowManager.LayoutParams params = new WindowManager.LayoutParams(
WindowManager.LayoutParams.MATCH_PARENT,
WindowManager.LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT,
WindowManager.LayoutParams.TYPE_APPLICATION_OVERLAY,
WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_NOT_TOUCH_MODAL,
PixelFormat.TRANSLUCENT);
//Specify the view position
params.gravity = Gravity.TOP | Gravity.LEFT; //Initially view will be added to top-left corner
params.x = 0;
//Add the view to the window
mWindowManager = (WindowManager) getSystemService(WINDOW_SERVICE);
mWindowManager.addView(mFloatingView, params);
I've also tried other apps like facebook chat heads on top of this problem application and the app works with them so it has to be doable.
Has anyone run into this before? I'm really new to Android programming so I'm just not sure what to look for
Thanks!
EDITI found that if I use FLAG_NOT_FOCUSABLE then the problem app works underneath it. But then I can't interact with the overlay :/

That application might have some code written in its onPause() method to freeze it. Usually games pause themselves in onStop() or in onPause(), so that user doesn't accidentally lose their progress. Like if a phone call comes, or they press the home or recents button.

I figured it out based on this class of the Floaties library.
https://github.com/ericbhatti/floaties/blob/master/FloatiesLibrary/floaties/src/main/java/com/bezyapps/floatieslibrary/Floaty.java
The window manager can update view params via the updateViewLayout method. Just have to remove the FLAG_NOT_FOCUSABLE and re-add it in the two different states of my overlay when I want to be able to input text or not

How to create a floating back button in Android?

I am trying to create an app similar to Samsung assist menu or Pie Control app.
I created the floating button using WindowManager.
WindowManager.LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT,
WindowManager.LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT,
WindowManager.LayoutParams.TYPE_PHONE,
WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_NOT_FOCUSABLE,
PixelFormat.TRANSLUCENT);
And then I created simple list of options to perform using dialog box.
This is how I perform going to home button using following code:
Intent startHome = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_MAIN);
startHome.addCategory(Intent.CATEGORY_HOME);
startHome.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
startActivity(startHome);
Now I would like to know how to perform back button action similar to hardware back key of the device that is NOT rooted.
I would appreciate any help.

Overlay navigation bar & status bar on fullscreen activity

I am creating a lock screen application right now. I have been searching and trying some tricks to do it but still can't find the best approach. My previous approach that I used is to use TYPE_SYSTEM_ERROR. it worked well. it prevents navigation and status bar to get any touches. it also run any other app behind my app, including the power off options dialog.
unfortunately I think this is bad because when the app got freeze or not responding, user can't do anything but force restart his/her phone.
I have been looking and analyze some existing lock screen apps in play store. They use different ways to lock the phone but I found one app that I think I can follow. It makes the nav and status bar overlay the app. nav and status bar still can be clicked but it's all opened behind the lock screen. and when I tried to open the power off dialogs, the NavigationBar still overlay the lock screen.
I changed my app to follow that approach. I am able to make the bars overlay my lock screen but I am still not able to:
1. make other app run behind my lock screen (lock screen always on top)
2. the NavigationBar stays overlay when power off dialog appear and when user move to home as well. in my case, the NavigationBar pushed up the screen and my screen looks ugly (some components move to wrong place) and after the Dialog dismissed, it doesn't move back to original position. it's fixed but I noticed a similar problem when I touch the home button and still searching to fix this.
Here's a snippet of my codes (updated):
params = new WindowManager.LayoutParams(
WindowManager.LayoutParams.MATCH_PARENT,
WindowManager.LayoutParams.MATCH_PARENT,
WindowManager.LayoutParams.TYPE_PHONE,
WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_NOT_FOCUSABLE,
PixelFormat.TRANSLUCENT);
params.gravity = Gravity.TOP;
if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.LOLLIPOP) {
getWindow().addFlags(WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_DRAWS_SYSTEM_BAR_BACKGROUNDS);
} else {
getWindow().addFlags(WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_TRANSLUCENT_STATUS);
}
mOverlay = (RelativeLayout) inflater
.inflate(R.layout.main, (ViewGroup) null);
mOverlay.setFitsSystemWindows(false);
getWindow().getDecorView().setSystemUiVisibility(
View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_LAYOUT_STABLE
| View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_LAYOUT_HIDE_NAVIGATION
| View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_LAYOUT_FULLSCREEN
| View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_HIDE_NAVIGATION
| View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_FULLSCREEN
| View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_IMMERSIVE_STICKY);
mWindowManager = (WindowManager) context
.getSystemService(Context.WINDOW_SERVICE);
mWindowManager.addView(mOverlay, params);
And here a screenshot of app in PlayStore that I want to follow:

How can I make sure a window always showing above soft keyboard?

I add a view by WindowManager above soft keyboard with TYPE_APPLICATION_PANEL, but it doesn't work on some phones, neither TYPE_SYSTEM_ALERT. What should I do to make it happen on all phones?

TYPE_SYSTEM_ALERT windows do not work on some devices at all, but if they work they should be placed above the IME window. I would recommend you to try TYPE_TOAST windows. Toasts work on all devices and are shown above keyboard. But on some Android versions like 4.1 toasts do not accept user input such as touches or key events.
TYPE_PHONE might also be a good candidate for solving your problem but I think it will not work on devices where TYPE_SYSTEM_ALERT doesn't work.
UPDATE: Another thing you may try is to add WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_ALT_FOCUSABLE_IM to WindowManager.LayoutParams.flags. This flag tells Android to position a window so that it can cover IME. In this case WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_NOT_FOCUSABLE flag must be unset. In this configuration the window will be focusable and should be positioned in front of IME.
Another option is to have just WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_NOT_FOCUSABLE flag set and WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_ALT_FOCUSABLE_IM flag unset. It will also make your window positioned in front of IME but the window will not be focusable.

Removing the notifications tray in android

Some background information:
My app will be used by guests at an event to perform self check-ins. They should not be able to navigate away from the page, access the device's settings, etc. This means that it has to enter a Kiosk Mode of sorts.
I need to disable the notifications tray completely, meaning even if the user swipes downward from the top of the screen, the status bar should not appear. It's the one which shows your battery life, WiFi/3G connection, etc.
I have already made my application fullscreen, which hides the status bar, but somehow the status bar still appears once the user swipes downward from the top of the screen. Performing another swipe will subsequently open the notifications tray.
My device runs on Jelly Bean, but is aimed to cater to devices as old as Ice Cream Sandwich.
How should I go about disabling the notifications tray? Is there code that can help me, or is it as simple as advising the user to disable some settings of some sort (like how the iPad can simply disable gestures in the device's settings)?
Thanks in advance,
Rei

Take a look at this.
View disableStatusBar = new View(context);
WindowManager.LayoutParams handleParams = new WindowManager.LayoutParams(
WindowManager.LayoutParams.FILL_PARENT,
<height of the status bar>,
// This allows the view to be displayed over the status bar
WindowManager.LayoutParams.TYPE_SYSTEM_ALERT,
// this is to keep button presses going to the background window
WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_NOT_FOCUSABLE |
// this is to enable the notification to recieve touch events
WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_NOT_TOUCH_MODAL |
// Draws over status bar
WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_LAYOUT_IN_SCREEN,
PixelFormat.TRANSLUCENT);
handleParams.gravity = Gravity.TOP;
context.getWindow().addView(view, handleParams);