How can the Android 4.2 multiple user API be used remotely? - android

The new Android 4.2 offers a feature called multiple users where users can have separate accounts, settings, and data.
I was wondering if there is a way for this API to be used remotely. For example, can users be made remotely rather than from the settings menu?
Thanks in advance.

For example, can users be made remotely rather than from the settings menu?
If by "remotely" you mean "through some API", there is nothing in the Android SDK for this, sorry. It's conceivable something might be added in the future in the device admin APIs, but I would not count on it.

Related

Android intercept/disable recent apps button

I am trying to create a kiosk type app so when you press the recent apps button I dont want the user to be able to go to a different app. I have been googling around but cannot find anything on this matter. There is this solution in this
thread Recent apps button in android
However this does not seem to work for me on Android 6.0
Can someone please point me to the right direction on how to do this?
Thanks
In the link you provided yourself can find the answer:
Is that possible to override recent apps button in android? Not from
an ordinary SDK app.
You are welcome to build your own custom ROM that modifies the
overview screen, then convince people to install your custom ROM on
their devices.
So your answer is no in the app written by Google provided SDKs.
It is not possible. You can not control recent app AND home button in Android. You can't allow user to not leave the app. It is user's choice.
Edit: The only way you will be able to control those buttons is if you have system level permissions. To have system level permission for the device, you have to have system certificates and you won't have that unless you created the Android ROM on the device.
there's a app called "All in one Gestures" that can make the physical recent apps button without blocking some alternate way to trigger recent apps (like assistant menu in accessibility settings), i'm not the developer of that app but using APK editor, i see that the app are using accessibility service

Methods of auto-updating an Android business app?

I'm currently developing a small Android app that will not be on the Play Store. It is a private business application that will be used for a non-emergency transport company. The Android app will show drivers a list of pickups and drop-offs that they will have throughout the day and allow them to update the status of those trips. What I'd like to do is have some method of updating the app during off hours or when the device is idle. Ideally, it would be great if someone has already written some kind of Android updater that can run as a service. However, I certainly wouldn't mind writing this on my own.
Either way, all it needs to do is pull an APK from our servers and install that APK. I usually don't like doing things sneaky like this, but our clients want it to be this way so that they won't have to go to each device and press OK on permission prompts and they don't want to leave the responsibility of updating the software to the drivers.
I understand the security concerns, but it seems to me that there should be some way to allow an app to auto-update itself if the user permits it. Also, our app is signed and includes a certificate on the device to verify that the downloaded app is legit.
As CommonsWare mentioned it's not supported by standard android. If you take the path of creating your own firmware and installer take a look at the existing PackageInstaller. The required changes are not so complicated.
I did it for a couple of custom versions and it works.
Either way, all it needs to do is pull an APK from our servers and install that APK. I usually don't like doing things sneaky like this, but our clients want it to be this way so that they won't have to go to each device and press OK on permission prompts and they don't want to leave the responsibility of updating the software to the drivers.
This is not possible, except via custom firmware or on a rooted device.
it seems to me that there should be some way to allow an app to auto-update itself if the user permits it.
You are welcome to build your own customized version of Android that has this capability. Stock Android does not offer this, except to the firmware itself.

Best practice for shared subsrciption billing for iOS and Android

I would just like to ask if there are any best practices for a shared subscription billing for iOS and Android.
Right now, we are developing a mobile app both on Android and iOS (both native sdk, not cross-platform). And we have this certain feature in the app which you need to subscribe in order to access. But this will be a shared subscription. A one time payment regardless of what device a user is using to subscribe.
Sorry, but I am not really good in explaining things so maybe I will give you a scenario. I hope it helps you to understand what I am talking about.
For example, a user has two phones, an Android phone and an iPhone. He then installed our app in both his iPhone and Android phone. Now, he opens our app in his iPhone and he wants to access that certain feature so he subscribed. With this, what we want as a developer is to make it so that when he opens the app in his android phone, he will already be able to access that certain feature since he has already subscribed when he used the iPhone app.
We are still hesitant to continue since Google and Apple have different billing schemes. But maybe there are solutions for this, or are there?
I am hoping that someone could give us light on how to do this in the best practical way possible.
Thanks in advance...
I am currently facing the same issues. That's what I have so far.
There seem to be cross-platform solutions but none of them seem to work through Google Play or Apple payment methods..
You can use your API/backend service to flag the current user subscription state and sync it across all your platforms (that might violate Apple in-app system conditions).
I'm currently looking for a way to communicate to both Google Play and Apple in-app payment system that the item has been already bought in a different platform. There should be a way but as said, still looking for it.
We'll keep that up to date.

How can i integrate a app into the phone settings?

Nova Launcher has an integration with cm9 settings like settings-->launcher
now i want to access an application through settings & i don't want any icon in app drawer..is this possible..can someone point me to a tutorial or an example..
I dont think its possible. Because System Settings itself is an app and you cannot push-in your contents into another app unless there's any interface available for this, which in this case Not.
The reason why cm9 has it because its a custom ROM and the developers have customly tailored its setting's section to integrate options from its supported packages at one place.
I don't think you can do that with a stock ROM, as you say Nova Launcher does it on Cyanogen.
Similar question: Integration into android's settings
I'm not sure about CM9-specific APIs (which may or may not exist).
In stock Android, your app can appear under Settings > Accounts & sync if you implement AccountManager. You will need to create a mock account if your app does not require sign in. I remember HTC Sense doing this with some of their apps (e.g. weather) at some point, not sure about the most recent versions though.

Possible to protect settings menu with an android app?

My employer has told me to create an android app to do the following:
The ability to password protect specific submenus in the Settings menu (i.e. specifically Privacy, Applications, and Location & Security).
Is this possible without rooting?
Not without Root-Access :-)
And if you require Root-Access many Users will not have the possibility to use the App. It may also occure that this App will not be allowed to the Marketplace.

Categories

Resources