Develop Reference

how to stop a service running multiple instance?

I am developing a android app, which will update device location after 4 seconds interval and depending on the response received from the server it will open specific activity.
Problem 1) In some case it will open up a activity like incoming phone call with sound. I am facing problem when I am removing the app from recent app. I noticed the poll function is running twice at the same time, and multiple media is playing at the same time.
Problem 2) I am using Service intead of IntentService(I am a beginner and not sure which will be better). The background service should run even the phone goes to sleep mode, just like WhatsApp or other messenger run.
As the file is big enough, I am attaching only important part
public class TaxiNorrService extends Service implements LocationListener {
...
...
final Handler poll_handler = new Handler();
private NotificationManager mNM;
private final Actions actions = new Actions();
public Ringtone r;
private String newtext;
private Runnable BreakRunnable;
private Runnable poll_runnable;
private Handler BreakHandler;
#Override
public int onStartCommand(Intent intent, int flags, int startId) {
poll_runnable = new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
if(!App.isAutoBreak()){
if(BreakHandler !=null){
BreakHandler.removeCallbacks(BreakRunnable);
}
if(r != null) {
if (r.isPlaying()) {
r.stop();
}
}
}
if (actions.checkPermission(getApplicationContext())) {
checkGPS();
if(isNetworkAvailable()){
if(App.isPollOn()){
poll(latitude, longitude);
}
}else{
if(BreakHandler !=null){
BreakHandler.removeCallbacks(BreakRunnable);
}
boolean foregroud = false;
try {
foregroud = new ForegroundCheckTask().execute(getApplication()).get();
} catch (InterruptedException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
} catch (ExecutionException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
boolean background = isMyServiceRunning(TaxiNorrService.class);
if(foregroud == true && background == true && App.isAppForground()){
if(!App.isLoadingVisible()){
Intent intent = new Intent(TaxiNorrService.this, Loading_activity.class);
intent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
startActivity(intent);
}
}
}
}
poll_handler.postDelayed(this, 4000);
}
};
return Service.START_STICKY;
}
private void poll(double lat, double lon){
//Connected to API endpoint
}
...
...
#Override
public void onDestroy() {
if(r != null) {
if (r.isPlaying()) {
r.stop();
}
}
poll_handler.removeCallbacks(poll_runnable);
super.onDestroy();
}
}

I found the answer for my questions. The code written in the onStartCommand should be within onCreate function. This is because onCreate will execute when service starts first time, and onStartCommand will execute every time when you start the app. Please follow this topic,
Android - running a method periodically using postDelayed() call

Using Google Drive to backup and restore SQLite Database

I've managed to create a backup of my database on an SD card and restore from there but realized that the purpose of my backup is to ensure the safety of the data and in this case if the physical device itself is damaged, lost, or spontaneously combusts so will the backup on the SD card. So having the backup in the same place as the original in this case, quite frankly defeats the purpose of having a backup.
So I thought of using Google Drive as a safer place to keep the db file, that and it's free. I've taken a peek into Google's quickstart demo which I got working just fine. But I still have no idea how to get this done for my case.
I've found some code to fiddle with but it's still using some deprecated methods and so far I've only managed to run it when omitting the deprecated area but it only creates a blank binary file in my Google Drive so I think that deprecated area is where it actually uploads the DB backup content. If anyone could help out that would be greatly appreciated.
I'll leave it down below in case anyone can use it to explain things to me better. I've also marked the deprecated method below, it's near the end.
public class ExpectoPatronum extends Activity implements ConnectionCallbacks, OnConnectionFailedListener {
private static final String TAG = "MainActivity";
private GoogleApiClient api;
private boolean mResolvingError = false;
private DriveFile mfile;
private static final int DIALOG_ERROR_CODE =100;
private static final String DATABASE_NAME = "demodb";
private static final String GOOGLE_DRIVE_FILE_NAME = "sqlite_db_backup";
#Override
public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
// Create the Drive API instance
api = new GoogleApiClient.Builder(this).addApi(Drive.API).addScope(Drive.SCOPE_FILE).
addConnectionCallbacks(this).addOnConnectionFailedListener(this).build();
}
#Override
public void onStart() {
super.onStart();
if(!mResolvingError) {
api.connect(); // Connect the client to Google Drive
}
}
#Override
public void onStop() {
super.onStop();
api.disconnect(); // Disconnect the client from Google Drive
}
#Override
public void onConnectionFailed(ConnectionResult result) {
Log.v(TAG, "Connection failed");
if(mResolvingError) { // If already in resolution state, just return.
return;
} else if(result.hasResolution()) { // Error can be resolved by starting an intent with user interaction
mResolvingError = true;
try {
result.startResolutionForResult(this, DIALOG_ERROR_CODE);
} catch (SendIntentException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
} else { // Error cannot be resolved. Display Error Dialog stating the reason if possible.
ErrorDialogFragment fragment = new ErrorDialogFragment();
Bundle args = new Bundle();
args.putInt("error", result.getErrorCode());
fragment.setArguments(args);
fragment.show(getFragmentManager(), "errordialog");
}
}
#Override
public void onActivityResult(int requestCode, int resultCode, Intent data) {
if(requestCode == DIALOG_ERROR_CODE) {
mResolvingError = false;
if(resultCode == RESULT_OK) { // Error was resolved, now connect to the client if not done so.
if(!api.isConnecting() && !api.isConnected()) {
api.connect();
}
}
}
}
#Override
public void onConnected(Bundle connectionHint) {
Log.v(TAG, "Connected successfully");
/* Connection to Google Drive established. Now request for Contents instance, which can be used to provide file contents.
The callback is registered for the same. */
Drive.DriveApi.newDriveContents(api).setResultCallback(contentsCallback);
}
final private ResultCallback<DriveApi.DriveContentsResult> contentsCallback = new ResultCallback<DriveApi.DriveContentsResult>() {
#Override
public void onResult(DriveApi.DriveContentsResult result) {
if (!result.getStatus().isSuccess()) {
Log.v(TAG, "Error while trying to create new file contents");
return;
}
String mimeType = MimeTypeMap.getSingleton().getExtensionFromMimeType("db");
MetadataChangeSet changeSet = new MetadataChangeSet.Builder()
.setTitle(GOOGLE_DRIVE_FILE_NAME) // Google Drive File name
.setMimeType(mimeType)
.setStarred(true).build();
// create a file on root folder
Drive.DriveApi.getRootFolder(api)
.createFile(api, changeSet, result.getDriveContents())
.setResultCallback(fileCallback);
}
};
final private ResultCallback<DriveFileResult> fileCallback = new ResultCallback<DriveFileResult>() {
#Override
public void onResult(DriveFileResult result) {
if (!result.getStatus().isSuccess()) {
Log.v(TAG, "Error while trying to create the file");
return;
}
mfile = result.getDriveFile();
mfile.open(api, DriveFile.MODE_WRITE_ONLY, null).setResultCallback(contentsOpenedCallback);
}
};
final private ResultCallback<DriveApi.DriveContentsResult> contentsOpenedCallback = new ResultCallback<DriveApi.DriveContentsResult>() {
#Override
public void onResult(DriveApi.DriveContentsResult result) {
if (!result.getStatus().isSuccess()) {
Log.v(TAG, "Error opening file");
return;
}
try {
FileInputStream is = new FileInputStream(getDbPath());
BufferedInputStream in = new BufferedInputStream(is);
byte[] buffer = new byte[8 * 1024];
DriveContents content = result.getDriveContents();
BufferedOutputStream out = new BufferedOutputStream(content.getOutputStream());
int n = 0;
while( ( n = in.read(buffer) ) > 0 ) {
out.write(buffer, 0, n);
}
in.close();
commitAndCloseContents is DEPRECATED -->/**mfile.commitAndCloseContents(api, content).setResultCallback(new ResultCallback<Status>() {
#Override
public void onResult(Status result) {
// Handle the response status
}
});**/
} catch (FileNotFoundException e) {
// TODO Auto-generated catch block
e.printStackTrace();
} catch (IOException e) {
// TODO Auto-generated catch block
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
};
private File getDbPath() {
return this.getDatabasePath(DATABASE_NAME);
}
#Override
public void onConnectionSuspended(int cause) {
// TODO Auto-generated method stub
Log.v(TAG, "Connection suspended");
}
public void onDialogDismissed() {
mResolvingError = false;
}
public static class ErrorDialogFragment extends DialogFragment {
public ErrorDialogFragment() {}
public Dialog onCreateDialog(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
int errorCode = this.getArguments().getInt("error");
return GooglePlayServicesUtil.getErrorDialog(errorCode, this.getActivity(), DIALOG_ERROR_CODE);
}
public void onDismiss(DialogInterface dialog) {
((ExpectoPatronum) getActivity()).onDialogDismissed();
}
}
}

Both APIs used to access Google Drive deal with a binary content. So the only thing you have to do is to upload your binary DB file, give it a proper MIME type and a NAME (title).
The selection of API depends on you, GDAA behaves like a 'local' entity with uploads / downloads handled by Google Play Services, REST Api is more low-level, giving you more control, but you have to take care of networking issues (wifi on/off, etc), i.e. you usually have to build a sync service to do so. With GDAA it is done for you by GooPlaySvcs. But I digress.
I can point you to this GitHub demo, fairly recent (GooPlaySvcs 7.00.+), I use to test different REST / GDAA issues.
The MainActivity is a bit complicated by the fact that it allows for switching between different Google accounts, but if you get through these hurdles, you can use either REST or GDAA CRUD wrappers.
Take look at this line. The byte[] buffer contains binary JPEG data and it goes with "image/jpeg" mime type (and a time-based name). The only thing you have to do if is load your DB file into a byte[] buffer using a construct like this:
private static final int BUF_SZ = 4096;
static byte[] file2Bytes(File file) {
if (file != null) try {
return is2Bytes(new FileInputStream(file));
} catch (Exception ignore) {}
return null;
}
static byte[] is2Bytes(InputStream is) {
byte[] buf = null;
BufferedInputStream bufIS = null;
if (is != null) try {
ByteArrayOutputStream byteBuffer = new ByteArrayOutputStream();
bufIS = new BufferedInputStream(is);
buf = new byte[BUF_SZ];
int cnt;
while ((cnt = bufIS.read(buf)) >= 0) {
byteBuffer.write(buf, 0, cnt);
}
buf = byteBuffer.size() > 0 ? byteBuffer.toByteArray() : null;
} catch (Exception e) {le(e);}
finally {
try {
if (bufIS != null) bufIS.close();
} catch (Exception e) {le(e);}
}
return buf;
}
I don't remember the MIME type for SQLite DB now, but I am sure it can be done since I was doing exactly that once (the code is gone now, unfortunately). And I remember I could actually access and modify the SQLite DB 'up in the cloud' using some web app.
Good Luck
UPDATE:
After I wrote the rant above I looked at the demo you're talking about. If you have it working, the easiest way is actually to plug your DB file right here, set the correct MIME and you're good to go. Take you pick.
And to address your 'deprecated' issue. GDAA is still being developed and the quickstart is over a year old. That's the world we live in :-)

You need to replace the deprecated code with:
contents.commit(api, null);
See https://developer.android.com/reference/com/google/android/gms/drive/DriveContents.html

onServiceConnected sometimes not called after bindService on some devices

I've looked at a number of other threads with similar titles, and none seem to cover my problem. So, here goes.
I'm using the Google market expansion files (apkx) library and sample code, with a few modifications. This code relies on receiving callbacks from a service which handles background downloading, licence checks etc.
I have a bug where the service doesn't get correctly attached, which results in a softlock. To make this more unhelpful, this bug never happens on some devices, but occurs about two thirds of the time on other devices. I believe it to be independent of Android version, certainly I have two devices running 2.3.4, one of which (a Nexus S) doesn't have the problem, the other (an HTC Evo 3D) does.
To attempt to connect to the service, bindService is called and returns true. OnBind then gets called as expected and returns a sensible value but (when the bug occurs) onServiceConnected doesn't happen (I've waited 20 minutes just in case).
Has anyone else seen anything like this? If not, any guesses for what I might have done to cause such behaviour? If no-one has any thoughts, I'll post some code tomorrow.
EDIT: Here's the relevant code. If I've missed anything, please ask.
Whilst adding this code, I found a minor bug. Fixing it caused the frequency of the problem I'm trying to solve to change from 2 times in 3 to about 1 time in 6 on the phone I'm testing it on; no idea about effects on other phones. This continues to suggest to me a race condition or similar, but I've no idea what with.
OurDownloaderActivity.java (copied and changed from Google sample code)
public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
...
//Test the licence is up to date
//if (current stored licence has expired)
{
startLicenceCheck();
initializeDownloadUI();
return;
}
...
}
#Override
protected void onResume() {
if (null != mDownloaderClientStub) {
mDownloaderClientStub.connect(this);
}
super.onResume();
}
private void startLicenceCheck()
{
Intent launchIntent = OurDownloaderActivity.this
.getIntent();
Intent intentToLaunchThisActivityFromNotification = new Intent(OurDownloaderActivity
.this, OurDownloaderActivity.this.getClass());
intentToLaunchThisActivityFromNotification.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK |
Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TOP);
intentToLaunchThisActivityFromNotification.setAction(launchIntent.getAction());
if (launchIntent.getCategories() != null) {
for (String category : launchIntent.getCategories()) {
intentToLaunchThisActivityFromNotification.addCategory(category);
}
}
// Build PendingIntent used to open this activity from Notification
PendingIntent pendingIntent = PendingIntent.getActivity(OurDownloaderActivity.this,
0, intentToLaunchThisActivityFromNotification,
PendingIntent.FLAG_UPDATE_CURRENT);
DownloaderService.startLicenceCheck(this, pendingIntent, OurDownloaderService.class);
}
initializeDownloadUI()
{
mDownloaderClientStub = DownloaderClientMarshaller.CreateStub
(this, OurDownloaderService.class);
//do a load of UI setup
...
}
//This should be called by the Stub's onServiceConnected method
/**
* Critical implementation detail. In onServiceConnected we create the
* remote service and marshaler. This is how we pass the client information
* back to the service so the client can be properly notified of changes. We
* must do this every time we reconnect to the service.
*/
#Override
public void onServiceConnected(Messenger m) {
mRemoteService = DownloaderServiceMarshaller.CreateProxy(m);
mRemoteService.onClientUpdated(mDownloaderClientStub.getMessenger());
}
DownloaderService.java (in Google market expansion library but somewhat edited )
//this is the onBind call that happens fine; the value it returns is definitely not null
#Override
public IBinder onBind(Intent paramIntent) {
return this.mServiceMessenger.getBinder();
}
final private IStub mServiceStub = DownloaderServiceMarshaller.CreateStub(this);
final private Messenger mServiceMessenger = mServiceStub.getMessenger();
//MY CODE, derived from Google's code
//I have seen the bug occur with a service started by Google's code too,
//but this code happens more often so is more repeatably related to the problem
public static void startLicenceCheck(Context context, PendingIntent pendingIntent, Class<?> serviceClass)
{
String packageName = serviceClass.getPackage().getName();
String className = serviceClass.getName();
Intent fileIntent = new Intent();
fileIntent.setClassName(packageName, className);
fileIntent.putExtra(EXTRA_LICENCE_EXPIRED, true);
fileIntent.putExtra(EXTRA_PENDING_INTENT, pendingIntent);
context.startService(fileIntent);
}
#Override
protected void onHandleIntent(Intent intent) {
setServiceRunning(true);
try {
final PendingIntent pendingIntent = (PendingIntent) intent
.getParcelableExtra(EXTRA_PENDING_INTENT);
if (null != pendingIntent)
{
mNotification.setClientIntent(pendingIntent);
mPendingIntent = pendingIntent;
} else if (null != mPendingIntent) {
mNotification.setClientIntent(mPendingIntent);
} else {
Log.e(LOG_TAG, "Downloader started in bad state without notification intent.");
return;
}
if(intent.getBooleanExtra(EXTRA_LICENCE_EXPIRED, false))
{
//we are here due to startLicenceCheck
updateExpiredLVL(this);
return;
}
...
}
}
//MY CODE, based on Google's, again
public void updateExpiredLVL(final Context context) {
Context c = context.getApplicationContext();
Handler h = new Handler(c.getMainLooper());
h.post(new LVLExpiredUpdateRunnable(c));
}
private class LVLExpiredUpdateRunnable implements Runnable
{
LVLExpiredUpdateRunnable(Context context) {
mContext = context;
}
final Context mContext;
#Override
public void run() {
setServiceRunning(true);
mNotification.onDownloadStateChanged(IDownloaderClient.STATE_LVL_UPDATING);
String deviceId = getDeviceId(mContext);
final APKExpansionPolicy aep = new APKExpansionPolicy(mContext,
new AESObfuscator(getSALT(), mContext.getPackageName(), deviceId));
// Construct the LicenseChecker with a Policy.
final LicenseChecker checker = new LicenseChecker(mContext, aep,
getPublicKey() // Your public licensing key.
);
checker.checkAccess(new LicenseCheckerCallback() {
...
});
}
}
DownloaderClientMarshaller.java (in Google market expansion library)
public static IStub CreateStub(IDownloaderClient itf, Class<?> downloaderService) {
return new Stub(itf, downloaderService);
}
and the Stub class from the same file:
private static class Stub implements IStub {
private IDownloaderClient mItf = null;
private Class<?> mDownloaderServiceClass;
private boolean mBound;
private Messenger mServiceMessenger;
private Context mContext;
/**
* Target we publish for clients to send messages to IncomingHandler.
*/
final Messenger mMessenger = new Messenger(new Handler() {
#Override
public void handleMessage(Message msg) {
switch (msg.what) {
case MSG_ONDOWNLOADPROGRESS:
Bundle bun = msg.getData();
if ( null != mContext ) {
bun.setClassLoader(mContext.getClassLoader());
DownloadProgressInfo dpi = (DownloadProgressInfo) msg.getData()
.getParcelable(PARAM_PROGRESS);
mItf.onDownloadProgress(dpi);
}
break;
case MSG_ONDOWNLOADSTATE_CHANGED:
mItf.onDownloadStateChanged(msg.getData().getInt(PARAM_NEW_STATE));
break;
case MSG_ONSERVICECONNECTED:
mItf.onServiceConnected(
(Messenger) msg.getData().getParcelable(PARAM_MESSENGER));
break;
}
}
});
public Stub(IDownloaderClient itf, Class<?> downloaderService) {
mItf = itf;
mDownloaderServiceClass = downloaderService;
}
/**
* Class for interacting with the main interface of the service.
*/
private ServiceConnection mConnection = new ServiceConnection() {
//this is the critical call that never happens
public void onServiceConnected(ComponentName className, IBinder service) {
// This is called when the connection with the service has been
// established, giving us the object we can use to
// interact with the service. We are communicating with the
// service using a Messenger, so here we get a client-side
// representation of that from the raw IBinder object.
mServiceMessenger = new Messenger(service);
mItf.onServiceConnected(
mServiceMessenger);
mBound = true;
}
public void onServiceDisconnected(ComponentName className) {
// This is called when the connection with the service has been
// unexpectedly disconnected -- that is, its process crashed.
mServiceMessenger = null;
mBound = false;
}
};
#Override
public void connect(Context c) {
mContext = c;
Intent bindIntent = new Intent(c, mDownloaderServiceClass);
bindIntent.putExtra(PARAM_MESSENGER, mMessenger);
if ( !c.bindService(bindIntent, mConnection, 0) ) {
if ( Constants.LOGVV ) {
Log.d(Constants.TAG, "Service Unbound");
}
}
}
#Override
public void disconnect(Context c) {
if (mBound) {
c.unbindService(mConnection);
mBound = false;
}
mContext = null;
}
#Override
public Messenger getMessenger() {
return mMessenger;
}
}
DownloaderServiceMarshaller.java (in Google market expansion library, unchanged)
private static class Proxy implements IDownloaderService {
private Messenger mMsg;
private void send(int method, Bundle params) {
Message m = Message.obtain(null, method);
m.setData(params);
try {
mMsg.send(m);
} catch (RemoteException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
public Proxy(Messenger msg) {
mMsg = msg;
}
#Override
public void requestAbortDownload() {
send(MSG_REQUEST_ABORT_DOWNLOAD, new Bundle());
}
#Override
public void requestPauseDownload() {
send(MSG_REQUEST_PAUSE_DOWNLOAD, new Bundle());
}
#Override
public void setDownloadFlags(int flags) {
Bundle params = new Bundle();
params.putInt(PARAMS_FLAGS, flags);
send(MSG_SET_DOWNLOAD_FLAGS, params);
}
#Override
public void requestContinueDownload() {
send(MSG_REQUEST_CONTINUE_DOWNLOAD, new Bundle());
}
#Override
public void requestDownloadStatus() {
send(MSG_REQUEST_DOWNLOAD_STATE, new Bundle());
}
#Override
public void onClientUpdated(Messenger clientMessenger) {
Bundle bundle = new Bundle(1);
bundle.putParcelable(PARAM_MESSENGER, clientMessenger);
send(MSG_REQUEST_CLIENT_UPDATE, bundle);
}
}
private static class Stub implements IStub {
private IDownloaderService mItf = null;
final Messenger mMessenger = new Messenger(new Handler() {
#Override
public void handleMessage(Message msg) {
switch (msg.what) {
case MSG_REQUEST_ABORT_DOWNLOAD:
mItf.requestAbortDownload();
break;
case MSG_REQUEST_CONTINUE_DOWNLOAD:
mItf.requestContinueDownload();
break;
case MSG_REQUEST_PAUSE_DOWNLOAD:
mItf.requestPauseDownload();
break;
case MSG_SET_DOWNLOAD_FLAGS:
mItf.setDownloadFlags(msg.getData().getInt(PARAMS_FLAGS));
break;
case MSG_REQUEST_DOWNLOAD_STATE:
mItf.requestDownloadStatus();
break;
case MSG_REQUEST_CLIENT_UPDATE:
mItf.onClientUpdated((Messenger) msg.getData().getParcelable(
PARAM_MESSENGER));
break;
}
}
});
public Stub(IDownloaderService itf) {
mItf = itf;
}
#Override
public Messenger getMessenger() {
return mMessenger;
}
#Override
public void connect(Context c) {
}
#Override
public void disconnect(Context c) {
}
}
/**
* Returns a proxy that will marshall calls to IDownloaderService methods
*
* #param ctx
* #return
*/
public static IDownloaderService CreateProxy(Messenger msg) {
return new Proxy(msg);
}
/**
* Returns a stub object that, when connected, will listen for marshalled
* IDownloaderService methods and translate them into calls to the supplied
* interface.
*
* #param itf An implementation of IDownloaderService that will be called
* when remote method calls are unmarshalled.
* #return
*/
public static IStub CreateStub(IDownloaderService itf) {
return new Stub(itf);
}

Implementation of IntentService using LinkedBlockingQueue?

I'm trying to download multiple files using IntentService. The IntentService donwloads them okey as expected one at a time, the only problem is that when the Internet is down the intent service will not stop the donwload rather it will get stuck on the current thread. If I manage to stop the current thread it will continue running the other threads stored in its queue even though the internet connection is down.
It was suggested in another post that I use LinkedBlockingQueue and create my own Worker thread that constantly checks this queue for new threads. Now I know there are some increased overheads and thus performance issues when creating and destroying threads but that's not a concern in my case.
At this point, All I want to do is understand how IntentService works which as of yet I don't (and I have looked at the code) and then come up with my own implementation for it using LinkedBlockingQueue controlled by a Worker thread. Has anyone done this before ? Could provide a working example, if you feel uncomfortable providing the source code, pseudo code is fine by me. Thanks!
UPDATE: I eventually implemented my own Intent Service using a thread that has a looper which checks the queue which in turn stores the intents passed from the startService(intent).
public class MyIntentService extends Service {
private BlockingQueue<Download> queue = new LinkedBlockingQueue<Download>();
public MyIntentService(){
super();
}
#Override
public void onCreate() {
super.onCreate();
new Thread(queueController).start();
Log.e("onCreate","onCreate is running again");
}
boolean killed = false;
Runnable queueController = new Runnable() {
public void run() {
while (true) {
try {
Download d =queue.take();
if (killed) {
break;
}
else {
d.downloadFile();
Log.e("QueueInfo","queue size: " + queue.size());
}
}
catch (InterruptedException e) {
break;
}
}
Log.e("queueController", "queueController has finished processing");
Log.e("QueueInfo","queue size: " + queue.toString());
}
};
class Download {
String name;
//Download files process
void downloadFile() {
//Download code here
}
Log.e("Download","Download being processed is: " + name);
}
public void setName(String n){
name = n;
}
public String getName(){
return name;
}
}
public void killService(){
killed = true;
}
#Override
public int onStartCommand(Intent intent, int flags, int startId) {
Download d = new Download();
d.setName(intent.getStringExtra("VIDEOS"));
queue.add(d);
return START_NOT_STICKY;
}
#Override
public void onDestroy() {
super.onDestroy();
Log.e("stopSelf","stopSelf has been just called to stop the Service");
stopSelf();
}
#Override
public IBinder onBind(Intent intent) {
return null;
}
}
I'm not so sure about the START_NOT_STICKY in the onStartCommand() method. If it's the right flag to return or not. Any clarification on that would be appreciated!

UPDATE: I eventually implemented my own Intent Service using a thread that has a looper which checks the queue which in turn stores the intents passed from the startService(intent).
public class MyIntentService extends Service {
private BlockingQueue<Download> queue = new LinkedBlockingQueue<Download>();
public MyIntentService(){
super();
}
#Override
public void onCreate() {
super.onCreate();
new Thread(queueController).start();
Log.e("onCreate","onCreate is running again");
}
boolean killed = false;
Runnable queueController = new Runnable() {
public void run() {
while (true) {
try {
Download d =queue.take();
if (killed) {
break;
}
else {
d.downloadFile();
Log.e("QueueInfo","queue size: " + queue.size());
}
}
catch (InterruptedException e) {
break;
}
}
Log.e("queueController", "queueController has finished processing");
Log.e("QueueInfo","queue size: " + queue.toString());
}
};
class Download {
String name;
//Download files process
void downloadFile() {
//Download code here
}
Log.e("Download","Download being processed is: " + name);
}
public void setName(String n){
name = n;
}

Android: change default Home Application

for some specific requirement
I am required to change Android Default Home application
with my customized Home application ( a setting inside my app that will toggle default home = my application or previous home)
I don't want the user to travel android settings that are very complicated.
Can any one help me out like where it registers launcher.apk for default
home application or how to change that
The only thing I could find was that old question: How to change default Android's Desktop application?
but no answers at all.
I have seen HomeSwitcher in the Market that do the trick, but no answer for the developer that might certainly be busy.
EDIT
I found this on the web http://www.mail-archive.com/android-developers#googlegroups.com/msg74167.html
But I got the same issue:
this is my code:
private void makePreferred() {
PackageManager pm = getPackageManager();
IntentFilter f = new IntentFilter("android.intent.action.MAIN");
f.addCategory("android.intent.category.HOME");
f.addCategory("android.intent.category.DEFAULT");
ComponentName cn = new ComponentName("com.example.android.home", "com.example.android.home.Home");
pm.addPreferredActivity(f, IntentFilter.MATCH_CATEGORY_EMPTY, null, cn);
I have the android.permission.SET_PREFERRED_APPLICATIONS set in the
manifest. After executing the code above, the logs claim things have
been added like expected (same logs as when I tick off "Make default"
from IntentResolver's list). However, when I proceed by clicking home,
the list still shows up and the logs say:
INFO/PackageManager(52): Result set changed, dropping preferred
activity for Intent { act=android.intent.action.MAIN cat=
[android.intent.category.HOME] flg=0x10200000 } type null
So it seems the resolver deletes the default entry. Am I doing
something wrong, or is this a security measure? What are the ideas
behind this?

I did an extensive research on that and starting from 2.2 there is no way to do that. The only way is using some hacking that toddler lock app does but this app put samsung phones recently in the infinite loop, so it is a risky approach.
if you look at the froyo source code here of packagemanager class, you will see this small condition in the addPreferredActivity method:
if (getUidTargetSdkVersionLockedLP(Binder.getCallingUid())
< Build.VERSION_CODES.FROYO) {
Slog.w(TAG, "Ignoring addPreferredActivity() from uid"
+ Binder.getCallingUid());
return;
}
HomeSwitcher does not work properly on 2.2 since it uses this very method and developer made a comment on app page "Froyo(2.2) is not supported
due to the API change"

"Result set changed" means that the set of packages matching that intent has changed from the set you specified when you created the default - - so the default is no longer valid. Your list of components (which you are currently setting to null) needs to contain all homescreen apps present on device, not just yours.
Here's example code that I have tested (using adb shell am start http://www.google.co.uk/ ) and used to set the default browser. XXX represents a customer name that I had to black out.
Note that in order to call addPreferredActivity you must have compiled against a minimum-sdk version of 8 (2.2) and you must have specified the SET_PREFERRED_APPLICATIONS permission. That permission is protection level 2, so you need to be signed with the same certificate as PackageManager.
IntentFilter filter = new IntentFilter();
filter.addAction("android.intent.action.VIEW");
filter.addCategory("android.intent.category.DEFAULT");
filter.addDataScheme("http");
Context context = getApplicationContext();
ComponentName component = new ComponentName("com.opera.mini.XXX", "com.opera.mini.XXX.CustomerBrowser");
ComponentName[] components = new ComponentName[] {new ComponentName("com.android.browser", "com.android.browser.BrowserActivity"),
component};
pm.addPreferredActivity(filter, IntentFilter.MATCH_CATEGORY_SCHEME, components, component);
ETA - if you marked this response down, could you let me know why. The code I posted above is tested and working...

startActivity(new Intent(Settings.ACTION_HOME_SETTINGS));

This code works on my ICS device: I use a service that is sensible to some call, one of them is called SET_PREFERRED_LAUNCHER, the put in a bundle your new default Launcher package (PREFERRED_PACKAGE_KEY) and it's activity (PREFERRED_ACTIVITY_KEY)
Method installPackageMethod = null;
Method deletePackageMethod = null;
Method setPreferredActivityMethod = null;
Method replacePreferredActivityMethod = null;
Object pm = null;
#Override
public void onCreate() {
super.onCreate();
if (pm == null)
pm = getPackageManager();
try {
if (setPreferredActivityMethod == null)
setPreferredActivityMethod = pm.getClass().getMethod(
"addPreferredActivity", IntentFilter.class, int.class,
ComponentName[].class, ComponentName.class);
} catch (NoSuchMethodException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
private final class ServiceHandler extends Handler {
private Context context;
public ServiceHandler(Looper looper, Context ctx) {
super(looper);
context = ctx;
}
#Override
public void handleMessage(Message msg) {
Intent intent = (Intent) msg.getData().getParcelable(
UPDATER_SERVICE_ACTION);
int request = intent.getIntExtra(
REQUEST_KEY,
REQUEST_UNKNOWN);
Bundle bundle = intent.getExtras();
switch (request) {
case INSTALL_APPLICATION: {
if (bundle != null) {
String appPath = bundle
.getString(APP_PATH_KEY);
if (appPath != null) {
LogUtil.e(TAG, "try to install " + appPath);
try {
am.installPackage(appPath);
} catch (Exception e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
LogUtil.e(TAG, "install of " + appPath + " done");
}
}
break;
}
case UNISTALL_PACKAGE: {
if (bundle != null) {
String packagename = bundle
.getString(PACKAGE_NAME_KEY);
if (packagename != null) {
LogUtil.e(TAG, "unistall " + packagename);
try {
deletePackageMethod
.invoke(pm, packagename, null, 0);
} catch (Exception e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
}
break;
}
case SET_PREFERRED_LAUNCHER: {
if (bundle != null) {
String package_name = bundle
.getString(PREFERRED_PACKAGE_KEY);
if (package_name == null) {
LogUtil.e(TAG,
"WARNING: setDefaultActivity cannot continue, package is NULL");
return;
}
String activity_name = bundle
.getString(PREFERRED_ACTIVITY_KEY);
if (activity_name == null) {
LogUtil.e(TAG,
"WARNING: setDefaultActivity cannot continue, activity is NULL");
return;
}
LogUtil.e(TAG, "setDefaultActivity activity="
+ activity_name + " package=" + package_name);
IntentFilter filter = new IntentFilter(
"android.intent.action.MAIN");
filter.addCategory("android.intent.category.HOME");
filter.addCategory("android.intent.category.DEFAULT");
ComponentName[] components = new ComponentName[] {
new ComponentName("com.android.launcher",
"com.android.launcher2.Launcher"),
new ComponentName(package_name, activity_name) };
ComponentName activity = new ComponentName(package_name,
activity_name);
try {
setPreferredActivityMethod.invoke(pm, filter,
IntentFilter.MATCH_CATEGORY_EMPTY, components,
activity);
} catch (Exception e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
}
}
}
}
Remember to add in your manifest file this permission:
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.SET_PREFERRED_APPLICATIONS"/>
Usage:
public void setPreferredLauncher(String activity_name,String package_name)
{
Intent intent = new Intent(UPDATER_SERVICE_ACTION);
intent.putExtra(REQUEST_KEY, SET_PREFERRED_LAUNCHER);
intent.putExtra(PREFERRED_ACTIVITY_KEY, activity_name);
intent.putExtra(PREFERRED_PACKAGE_KEY, package_name);
context.startService(intent);
}
where:
public static final String _UPDATER_SERVICE_ACTION = "com.android.updaterservice.ACTION";
public static final String REQUEST_KEY = "com.android.updaterservice.REQUEST_KEY";
public static final String PACKAGE_NAME_KEY = "com.android.updaterservice.PACKAGE_NAME_KEY";
public static final String APP_PATH_KEY = "com.android.updaterservice.APP_PATH_KEY";
public static final String PREFERRED_ACTIVITY_KEY = "com.android.updaterservice.PREFERRED_ACTIVITY_KEY";
public static final String PREFERRED_PACKAGE_KEY = "com.android.updaterservice.PREFERRED_PACKAGE_KEY";
public static final String INSTALL_PACKAGE_RESULT = "com.android.updaterservice.INSTALL_PACKAGE_RESULT";
public static final String PACKAGE_NAME = "PACKAGE_NAME";
public static final String INSTALL_SUCCEEDED = "INSTALL_SUCCEEDED";
public static final int REQUEST_UNKNOWN = -1;
public static final int INSTALL_APPLICATION = 1;
public static final int UNISTALL_PACKAGE = 2;
public static final int SET_PREFERRED_LAUNCHER = 3;