Develop Reference

Is it possible to send intents to another application like a command, telling it what to do?

I have an application that runs as a service in the background. I want another third-party application to be able to call multiple functionalities on this app via an intent. How would I achieve this. Presently the only thing i know how to do with intent is launching other applications and starting activities.

This can be achieved with a BroadcastReceiver.
Create a class that extends BroadcastReceiver and implements it's onReceive() method to handle intent appropriately:
#Override public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent) {
if (ACTION.equals(intent.getAction())) {
// Do something..
}
}
This receiver must be declared in the manifest of the app and be exported and enabled like below:
<receiver android:name=".BroadcastReceiver"
android:enabled="true"
android:exported="true">
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="ACTION" />
</intent-filter>
</receiver>
You will need to send your intent from the first app as a broadcast:
sendBroadcast(intent);

how to make my service work when user open the mobile

I want to make my service always working but in the normal service if the user close the phone and open it or restart it the service is stoping can you help me. thanks

You could use a Broadcast Receiver that would take the permission to broadcast a message on the restart of the phone that would tell the service to be started or as we call it in technical terms we would use an intent-filter having the action of starting the service when in the actions (or the ) the boot process is completed.
In manifest file :-
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED" />
In application tag of manifest.xml :-
<receiver android:name="com.example.MyBroadcastReceiver">
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.BOOT_COMPLETED" />
</intent-filter>
</receiver>
In MyBroadcastReceiver.java :-
package com.example;
public class MyBroadcastReceiver extends BroadcastReceiver {
#Override
public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent) {
Intent startServiceIntent = new Intent(context, MyService.class);
context.startService(startServiceIntent);
}
}
Now, at the end the service class of MyService would be started by this boradcasting.

How to determine Device startup event in android

I want to mantain a log in my android application , log will contain the Device Started (Bootup) and Device Stop Times. Any Idea how to do this ?
I have to start my application on Bootup , But how to determine that application is started on Bootup ?
I have searched but could not find a better solution.

Use BroadCastReceiver to receive BOOT_COMPLETED broadcast. This broadcast is thrown in device startup
The receiver will be like
<receiver
android:name="ReceiverName"
android:enabled="true" >
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.BOOT_COMPLETED" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
</intent-filter>
</receiver>
You will need to use the following persmission
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED"/>
now in code write a BroadCastReceiver class like
public class ReceiverName extends BroadcastReceiver {
#Override
public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent) {
// do startup tasks or start your luncher activity
}
}

You can use BroadcastReceiver component for this purpose. Using this you can detect various events of your device like booting.
To Detect Booting process you need to give permission in AndroidManifest.xml as below,
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED"></uses-permission>
Then you need to create a BrodacastReceiver which will handle this,
In the onReceive() method the corresponding BroadcastReceiver would then start the event,
public class MyReceiver extends BroadcastReceiver {
#Override
public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent) {
Intent service = new Intent(context, WordService.class);
context.startService(service);
}
}

How to start an application directly (without asking) at startup on Android 4.0

I want to start my application at startup in Android 4.0. To do that, I wrote some codes and these are completely the same with the #Ahmad's codes (in the answer). However, although I select my application as always, when tablet opens, it asks 'What do you prefer?' (Android's default launcher or my application). I don't want it to ask that question and it must start my application automatically.

Use the BOOT_COMPLETED Intent.
Broadcast Action: This is broadcast once, after the system has
finished booting. It can be used to perform application-specific
initialization, such as installing alarms. You must hold the
RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED permission in order to receive this broadcast.
In your Manifest:
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED" />
Set up a Broadcastreceiver:
<receiver android:name="com.example.MyBroadcastReceiver">
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.BOOT_COMPLETED" />
</intent-filter>
</receiver>
This is how your BroadcastReceiver could look like:
public class MyBroadcastreceiver extends BroadcastReceiver {
#Override
public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent) {
Intent i = new Intent(context, MyActivity.class);
startActivity(i);
}
}

how to lauch an 3rd application automatically when the android phone is switched on

can any one tell me "how to lauch an 3rd application automatically when the android phone is switched on?". As I want to launch an application which is written by me when the device is turned on.
I will be waiting for any valuable reply .
Thanks in Advance,

you need an implementation of BroadcastReceiver, which is intended on BOOT_COMPLETED action. Like this:
public class OnStartReceiver extends BroadcastReceiver {
#Override
public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent) {
Runtime.getRuntime().exec("your command");
// but it is better here to do that:
Intent myIntent = new Intent(context, YourActivity.class);
context.startActivity(myIntent);
}
}
Also, you should add receiver tag to your manifest file with android:name = your fully qualified name of OnStartReceiver and intent-filter tag nested with BOOT_COMPLETED as intent name, like this:
<receiver android:name=".onStartReceiver">
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.BOOT_COMPLETED"/>
</intent-filter>
</receiver >