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Android - Handle global configuration changes

I'm writing a service that tracks system changes, meaning, I'm willing to track whenever a keyboard becomes visible / hidden for any application.
To achieve the following task, i built a small Activity that launches a services
public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
#Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
Intent serviceIntent = new Intent(this, MyService.class);
startService(serviceIntent);
//setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
}
}
The manifest.xml itself
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
package="somepackage">
<application
android:allowBackup="true"
android:icon="#mipmap/ic_launcher"
android:label="#string/app_name"
android:roundIcon="#mipmap/ic_launcher_round"
android:supportsRtl="true"
android:theme="#style/AppTheme">
<activity android:name=".MainActivity">
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
</intent-filter>
</activity>
<service
android:name=".MyService"
android:enabled="true"
android:exported="true"
android:configChanges="orientation|screenSize|keyboardHidden"></service>
</application>
</manifest>
and the service itself:
public class MyService extends Service {
public MyService() {
}
private static final String TAG =
"abbeyservice";
#Override
public void onCreate() {
Log.d(TAG, "Service onCreate");
}
#Override
public int onStartCommand(Intent intent, int flags, int startId) {
Log.i(TAG, "Service onStartCommand");
return Service.START_STICKY;
}
#Override
public IBinder onBind(Intent arg0) {
Log.i(TAG, "Service onBind");
return null;
}
#Override
public void onConfigurationChanged(Configuration newConfig) {
super.onConfigurationChanged(newConfig);
}
#Override
public void onDestroy() {
Log.i(TAG, "Service onDestroy");
}
}
Problem is I'm notified for changes within, and only for my activity. Which is seen as a white screen for unknown reasons(even though i didn't use SetContentView(..))

When you talk of "keyboard" you are talking about the soft keyboard. This doesn't result in a configuration change, as the configuration has not changed.
There are devices with hardware keyboards that slide out, so they generate a configuration change event when they are slid out or back in again. There is also a possibility to attach an external keyboard to some Android devices and the act of connecting or disconnecting a hardware keyboard also generates a configuration change event.
To detect if the keyboard is shown in your own app, see
How to check visibility of software keyboard in Android?
As far as I know, there is no way to find out if the soft keyboard is shown in another app.

Broadcast receiver not working when app is closed

So I have two different apps made, one sends a broadcast and another receives it and displays a toast. However, when I close the receiver app the broadcast is no longer received by the second app even though I defined the receiver in the manifest file.
The broadcast sender in the MainActivity of app1.
public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
#Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
Button b = (Button)findViewById(R.id.button2);
b.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
#Override
public void onClick(View v) {
Intent i = new Intent();
i.setAction("com.example.ali.rrr");
i.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_INCLUDE_STOPPED_PACKAGES);
sendBroadcast(i);
Log.e("Broadcast","sent");
}
});
}
App 2 broadcast receiver:
public class MyReceiver extends BroadcastReceiver {
#Override
public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent) {
// TODO: This method is called when the BroadcastReceiver is receiving
// an Intent broadcast.
Toast.makeText(context, "Broadcast has been recieved!", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
Log.e("SUCCESS", "IN RECIEVER");
//throw new UnsupportedOperationException("Not yet implemented");
}
App 2s Manifest:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<application
android:allowBackup="true"
android:icon="#mipmap/ic_launcher"
android:label="#string/app_name"
android:roundIcon="#mipmap/ic_launcher_round"
android:supportsRtl="true"
android:theme="#style/AppTheme">
<receiver
android:name=".MyReceiver"
android:enabled="true"
android:exported="true">
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="com.example.ali.rrr" />
</intent-filter>
</receiver>
<activity
android:name=".MainActivity"
android:label="#string/title_activity_main"
android:theme="#style/AppTheme.NoActionBar" />
<activity
android:name=".Main2Activity"
android:label="#string/title_activity_main2"
android:theme="#style/AppTheme.NoActionBar">
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
</intent-filter>
</activity>
</application>

After registering my BroadcastReceiver (BR) statically in the manifest, applying the proper intent filters, using JobIntentService (and registering it in the manifest) to handle the work that was called from my BR, I was still getting inconsistent results.
Once all of what I listed above has been done you should be able to send an ADB command to activate your broadcast and process the work in your service even if the app is closed. This was working for me some of the time, but not all of the time.
This article describes limitation to BRs.
"As of Android 3.1 the Android system excludes all receiver from receiving intents by default if the corresponding application has never been started by the user or if the user explicitly stopped the application via the Android menu" (AKA a user executes Force Stop)
When I start the app by debugging it, then swipe it closed on my device, my ADB command never activates my BR. However, after my debugging session is over, when I open up the app on my device and swipe it closed, I can activate my BR through ADB commands.
This occurs because when you debug an application, then manually swipe it closed on the device, Android considers this a Force Stop hence why my BR cannot be activated until I re-open the app on the device without debugging.
Scoured the internet for hours, and wasn't able to find my solution, so I thought I'd post it here just in case some poor unfortunate soul is encountering the same weird functionality I was.
Happy coding :)

First of all you need to use the Service for this functionality to work.
In the Activity you can start and stop the service by using the below codes.
// to start a service
Intent service = new Intent(context, MyBrodcastRecieverService.class);
context.startService(service);
// to Stop service
Intent service = new Intent(context, MyBrodcastRecieverService.class);
context.stopService(service);
Then you can use the below service
public class MyBrodcastRecieverService extends Service
{
private static BroadcastReceiver br_ScreenOffReceiver;
#Override
public IBinder onBind(Intent arg0)
{
return null;
}
#Override
public void onCreate()
{
registerScreenOffReceiver();
}
#Override
public void onDestroy()
{
unregisterReceiver(br__ScreenOffReceiver);
m_ScreenOffReceiver = null;
}
private void registerScreenOffReceiver()
{
br_ScreenOffReceiver = new BroadcastReceiver()
{
#Override
public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent)
{
Log.d(TAG, "ACTION_SCREEN_OFF");
// do something, e.g. send Intent to main app
}
};
IntentFilter filter = new IntentFilter(Intent.ACTION_SCREEN_OFF);
registerReceiver(br_ScreenOffReceiver, filter);
}
}

I faced this issue recently. The BroadcastReceiver was working fine even if the app was removed from the background in the emulator and Samsung phones. But it failed to start my app in Chinese manufactured phones like Realme, Mi etc. While struggling to find a way to fix this I found that in the app details page there is battery optimisation settings where the Auto-launch feature was disabled. After I enabled it the app was working fine and BroadcastReceiver was able to start the app. I was unable ti find a way to enable this setting programmatically but I found this question which helped me direct the user to that setting page.

You can go through below solution;
Activity.java
Intent intent=new Intent(MainActivity.this,BroadcastService.class);
startService(intent);
BroadcastService.java
public class BroadcastService extends Service {
private static MusicIntentReceiver br_ScreenOffReceiver;
#Override
public IBinder onBind(Intent arg0)
{
return null;
}
#Override
public void onCreate()
{
registerScreenOffReceiver();
}
#Override
public void onDestroy()
{
}
private void registerScreenOffReceiver()
{
br_ScreenOffReceiver = new MusicIntentReceiver()
{
#Override
public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent)
{
if (intent.getAction().equals(Intent.ACTION_HEADSET_PLUG)) {
int state = intent.getIntExtra("state", -1);
switch (state) {
case 0:
Log.e("AAAAAAAAAA", "Headset is unplugged");
break;
case 1:
Log.e("AAAAAAAAA", "Headset is plugged");
break;
default:
Log.e("AAAAAAAAAAAA", "I have no idea what the headset state is");
}
}
}
};
IntentFilter filter = new IntentFilter(Intent.ACTION_HEADSET_PLUG);
registerReceiver(br_ScreenOffReceiver, filter);
}
}
Menifest
<service android:enabled="true" android:name=".BroadcastService" />

Try this way..
Intent i = new Intent();
i.setAction("com.example.ali.rrr");
i.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_INCLUDE_STOPPED_PACKAGES);
i.setComponent(
new ComponentName("PackageNameApp2","PackageNameApp2.MainActivity"));
sendBroadcast(i);

Android app opens after a few seconds after pressing home button during splash screen

I am having an issue I can't seem to figure out the reason for.
When you launch the app, a splash screen is first displayed for 2.5 seconds before finishing and starting a new activity. If you press the home or back button during this time the app will close as normal. However after a few seconds (longer than 2.5) the app will open and start from the activity that comes after the splash screen.
Any help on why this happens is appreciated!
Here is the implementation of the Splash screen (I do however not believe anything here causes this issue as I've tried different implementations)
`public class SplashScreenActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
#Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.activity_splash_screen);
Thread myThread = new Thread(){
#Override
public void run() {
try {
sleep(2500);
Intent intent = new Intent(getApplicationContext(),MainActivity.class);
startActivity(intent);
finish();
} catch (InterruptedException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
};
myThread.start();`
Here's the manifest
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.VIBRATE" />
<application
android:allowBackup="true"
android:icon="#mipmap/ic_launcher"
android:label="#string/app_name"
android:roundIcon="#mipmap/ic_launcher_round"
android:supportsRtl="true"
android:theme="#style/AppTheme">
<activity
android:name=".activities.MainActivity"
android:label="#string/app_name"
android:theme="#style/AppTheme.NoActionBar"
android:launchMode = "singleInstance">
</activity>
<activity android:name=".activities.SplashScreenActivity"
android:theme="#style/Theme.AppCompat.NoActionBar">
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
</intent-filter>
</activity>
<receiver android:name=".alert.BroadCaster" >
</receiver>
<service android:name=".timer.TimerService"
android:process=":timerservice" />
</application>

It happens because you are creating a new Thread and this thread will be still alive after you put your app in background. You can change your approach using an Handler. If you need that your next Activity won't start if the splash screen is in background, you have to store the current time before the delay starts.
private static final long SPLASH_SCREEN_MS = 2500;
private long mTimeBeforeDelay;
private Handler mSplashHandler;
#Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.activity_splash_screen);
// Create a new Handler.
mSplashHandler = new Handler();
}
#Override
protected void onResume() {
super.onResume();
// The first time mTimeBeforeDelay will be 0.
long gapTime = System.currentTimeMillis() - mTimeBeforeDelay;
if (gapTime > SPLASH_SCREEN_MS) {
gapTime = SPLASH_SCREEN_MS;
}
mSplashHandler.postDelayed(new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
Intent intent = new Intent(SplashScreenActivity.this, MainActivity.class);
startActivity(intent);
SplashScreenActivity.this.finish();
}
}, gapTime);
// Save the time before the delay.
mTimeBeforeDelay = System.currentTimeMillis();
}
#Override
protected void onPause() {
super.onPause();
mSplashHandler.removeCallbacksAndMessages(null);
}

Just use handler instead of thread sleep like this
new Handler().postDelayed(new Runnable(){
#Override
public void run() {
Intent intent = new Intent(SplashScreenActivity.this, MainActivity.class);
startActivity(intent);
SplashScreenActivity.this.finish();
}
}, SPLASH_DURATION);

You need to implement the onStop() method, only if you want to save data and memory.

Android - Unable to receive local broadcast in my activity from service

I have my main activity that start a service (Location service) and I want that service to broadcast the new location each time a new location is found.
Thanks to the log I know the service is working and I have new locations every seconds or so, but I never get the broadcast.
MainActivity.java
public class MainActivity extends Activity {
private static final String TAG = "mainActivity";
private CMBroadcastReceiver mMessageReceiver = new CMBroadcastReceiver();
/** Called when the activity is first created. */
#Override
public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
// Start Service
startService(new Intent(this, LocationService.class));
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
}
#Override
public void onResume()
{
LocalBroadcastManager.getInstance(this).registerReceiver(
mMessageReceiver, new IntentFilter(CMBroadcastReceiver.RECEIVE_LOCATION_UPDATE));
super.onResume();
}
#Override
public void onPause()
{
LocalBroadcastManager.getInstance(this).unregisterReceiver(mMessageReceiver);
super.onPause();
}
}
CMBroadcastReceiver.java
public class CMBroadcastReceiver extends BroadcastReceiver {
private static final String TAG = "CMBroadcastReceiver";
public static final String RECEIVE_LOCATION_UPDATE = "LOCATION_UPDATES";
#Override
public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent) {
Log.i(TAG, "Received broadcast");
String action = intent.getAction();
if (action.equals(RECEIVE_LOCATION_UPDATE))
{
Log.i(TAG, "Received location update from service!");
}
}
}
LocationService.java
/**
* Callback that fires when the location changes.
*/
#Override
public void onLocationChanged(Location location) {
mCurrentLocation = location;
mLastUpdateTime = DateFormat.getTimeInstance().format(new Date());
Log.i(TAG, "onLocationChanged " + location);
Intent intent = new Intent(CMBroadcastReceiver.RECEIVE_LOCATION_UPDATE);
LocalBroadcastManager.getInstance(this).sendBroadcast(intent);
Log.i(TAG, "Broadcast sent");
}
AndroidManifest.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
package="com.cyclemapapp.gpstracker">
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION"/>
<application
android:allowBackup="true"
android:icon="#mipmap/ic_launcher"
android:label="#string/app_name"
android:supportsRtl="true"
android:theme="#style/AppTheme">
<activity
android:name=".MainActivity"
android:label="#string/title_activity_main"
android:theme="#style/AppTheme.NoActionBar">
android:configChanges="orientation|screenSize">
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
</intent-filter>
</activity>
<service android:name=".LocationService" android:process=":location_service" />
</application>
I the log I can see that "Broadcast Sent" But I never get the "Broadcast Received"
Any help will would be greatly appreciated.
EDIT:
Edited how the intent was created in the location service as Shaishav suggested.
Still doesn't work.

LocalBroadcastManager does not work across processes. Your Service is running in a separate process.
You can either run your Service in the same process as the Activity - by removing the process attribute from the <service> element - or use some sort of IPC instead - e.g., by sending and receiving the broadcasts on a Context instead of LocalBroadcastManager.

In your LocationService, send local broadcast using:
Intent intent = new Intent(CMBroadcastReceiver.RECEIVE_LOCATION_UPDATE);
LocalBroadcastManager.getInstance(this).sendBroadcast(intent);

<service android:name=".LocationService" android:process=":location_service" />
Your service is in a separate process from the activity. LocalBroadcastManager is only for use in one process. Either remove android:process from the <service>, or use some IPC mechanism (e.g., system broadcasts, properly secured).

Maintaining service in an android application

I am quite new to android development and I have started making a music player. I have two activities. One is the main that you can see all the albums in the local storage and select one. Upon selecting one a second activity launches that displays the songs from that album. The user can tap on a song and the song plays. I have binded a service to that activity and the song is playing. However when the song starts playing I can not navigate to the previous activity.
I would like to be able to return to the main activity and be able to keep browsing albums and picking another song. I am not sure if I have to bind the service again and how to do it.
Here are some segments of the code.
Manifest file
<activity
android:name=".AlbumActivity"
android:label="#string/app_name"
android:launchMode="singleTop"
android:screenOrientation="portrait">
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
</intent-filter>
</activity>
<activity
android:name=".SongActivity"
android:screenOrientation="portrait">
<meta-data
android:name="android.support.PARENT_ACTIVITY"
android:value="realm.chaos.mplayer.AlbumActivity" />
</activity>
<service android:name="realm.chaos.mplayer.MusicService"/>
And here is the part in the SongActivity that I define and use the musicService.
private ServiceConnection musicConnection = new ServiceConnection() {
#Override
public void onServiceConnected(ComponentName name, IBinder service) {
MusicBinder binder = (MusicBinder)service;
musicSrv = binder.getService();
musicSrv.setList(songList);
musicBound = true;
}
#Override
public void onServiceDisconnected(ComponentName name) {
musicBound = false;
}
};
#Override
protected void onStart() {
super.onStart();
if(playIntent == null) {
playIntent = new Intent(this, MusicService.class);
bindService(playIntent, musicConnection, Context.BIND_AUTO_CREATE);
}
}
I do not know if that is of help but to play songs I extend the default media controller of Android. I plan to change that in the future since it seems buggy and I am not happy with its functionality.
My code is based on this tutorial http://code.tutsplus.com/tutorials/create-a-music-player-on-android-song-playback--mobile-22778. My SongActivity is actually the activity described there and the AlbumActivity is a new activity that I use as parent.
*** Also I have read that you can either bind or start a service. I am not sure which one is suggested. I want to leave the music playing and do change views. Probably I will add more views that might be used to update the service.