Create an app that can launch a service

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

The ability for people to create an application that will then start a service 
on the android device to fully run in the background.

Currently only 'background' mode is supported the ability to be able to write 
an app that could then start a service would allow some of the more creative 
apps that interact with SMS's or calls to run all the time even when the phone 
is not awake. This would also solve the issues users are having with timers 
being suspended when the device is suspended and breaking the desired 
functionality of an app.

Original issue reported on code.google.com by shivalw...@gmail.com on 9 Sep 2010 at 8:42

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

Original comment by sha...@google.com on 7 Oct 2010 at 9:17

Changed state: Accepted

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

Don't know about it running as a service, but running in the background would 
be great. Having your app no longer running when you try to recall it later 
because android killed it in the background is a pain.

Original comment by jim.stephen@gmail.com on 11 Oct 2010 at 3:21

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

This would be great. We need an option to make an app run and start in the 
background only and only pop up when needed. Also it would need to autorun when 
turning on the phone.

Original comment by mobilh...@gmail.com on 13 Oct 2010 at 5:50

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

Be able to tell the app to keep running even if the phone sleeps. I made a 
quake detector app that sounds when there is an earthquake (via the 
accellerometer) but it is suspended when phone locks and screen is turn off.

Original comment by neavilag on 18 Oct 2010 at 8:23

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

I would use this feature to monitor the current gps location and signal events 
based on proximity.

Original comment by dlarso...@gmail.com on 22 Oct 2010 at 12:23

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

I've been trying to make an alarm style application and its really annoying 
that you can't use the phone for anything else if you want that app to keep on 
running

Original comment by andycb...@googlemail.com on 31 Oct 2010 at 3:00

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

Need this feature as well (auto start application, fully in background, no 
screen popping up, continue running when phone goes to sleep) for a LBS.

Original comment by andreas....@googlemail.com on 14 Nov 2010 at 5:11

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

This would be great.  So you don't need your app on the screen for it to 
function, either a service or running in the background!

Original comment by bvst...@gmail.com on 8 Dec 2010 at 5:04

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

All kind of things to be done...hook up to Google Calendar...background 
services, wifi?

Original comment by DasG...@gmail.com on 15 Dec 2010 at 10:58

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

This feature would be most welcome!  One of the apps I am working on needs 
this.  The planned implementation would be to receive a specially coded sms 
signaling the service to access the tinywebdb component and download the 
appropriate data (for my service techs on the road).  Currently, this only 
works while the app has focus.  This would be a real life saver!

Original comment by godc...@gmail.com on 24 Dec 2010 at 6:26

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

Even people who dont know they want this feature want this feature!

Original comment by kou5...@gmail.com on 5 Jan 2011 at 5:10

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

Yes, it would be really great if an application would be at least able to stay 
in backgound!

Original comment by marcoleb...@gmail.com on 13 Jan 2011 at 3:41

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

As a workaround you can use app inventor to start a background process.

If you use SL4A you can program a background process in for example python.

For more info: http://code.google.com/p/android-scripting/wiki/AppInventor

Original comment by patc...@gmail.com on 13 Jan 2011 at 8:59

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

4 month old ticket, but i will chime in here... This is NEEDED by many. Between 
this issue and the contact picker issues, "App Inventor" is useless to me, i 
think i will be having to go back to IDE with Android packages.

Original comment by austin.w...@gmail.com on 23 Jan 2011 at 11:28

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

Issue 21 has been merged into this issue.

Original comment by ma...@google.com on 28 Jan 2011 at 9:19

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

definately need this, to keep countdown timer running once set in my app

Original comment by h311ra...@gmail.com on 15 Feb 2011 at 11:51

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

Need this ability so app can monitor events even when phone sleeps

Original comment by mygt...@googlemail.com on 15 Feb 2011 at 7:43

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

It's crucial feature to implement many brilliant ideas!!!!

Original comment by DongYoun79@gmail.com on 25 Feb 2011 at 12:43

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

Running in background, start in background and autorun is very much needed.

Original comment by mobilh...@gmail.com on 26 Feb 2011 at 9:08

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

Running in background is really needed.

Original comment by AmirDas...@gmail.com on 27 Feb 2011 at 7:11

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

We agree! I've wanted this myself on several occasions. It is mostly a matter 
of when we have time to do it.

Original comment by sha...@google.com on 28 Feb 2011 at 10:34

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

Yea i know, it has only been about 6 months... And it has been almost as long 
since a "project member" has mentioned anything. Multiple comments & #6 out of 
800+ current items in amount of times starred. Not sure why time cant be made 
to actually start working on it.

Original comment by austin.w...@gmail.com on 28 Feb 2011 at 11:05

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

@austin:  Just because we star an issue doesn't put it at the top of the list.  
Google have their own priority list of things to get done.  You've waited this 
long for it; keep the faith: it's coming.

Original comment by stevo...@gmail.com on 28 Feb 2011 at 11:42

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

Sorry to be a bore, but im onto my 2nd app and really need a way of auto 
starting my app when the phone switches on.

Original comment by jonathan...@gmail.com on 2 Mar 2011 at 4:39

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

This is the best interesting feature thtat I'm waiting

Original comment by albertos...@gmail.com on 2 Mar 2011 at 5:03

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

Use netbeans or eclipse lol, thats about the best answer you will get. This
issue isn't even started so out will be months out

Original comment by austin.w...@gmail.com on 2 Mar 2011 at 5:14

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

@austin: Can we use eclipse for App Inventor? If we can make code in Java, we 
never see the App Inventor, which means we are came here since we cannot to do 
that you referenced...

Original comment by DongYoun79@gmail.com on 2 Mar 2011 at 5:49

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

Depending on your computer skills, memory retainment, etc you could learn
how to do things in JAVA that AI is doing in the amount of time it takes for
the Google team to have everything everyone needs to make apps.

Believe me, this issue & issue 202 are why i do not use AI. AI is much more
user friendly because it provides a UI instead of straight codes.

But if you need full features, using arrays and dynamics, this issue & #202,
etc you are going to have to do as i suggested and work with another IDE
until it is added here, which as i said will be months (based on the rate of
change of the status's)

Original comment by austin.w...@gmail.com on 2 Mar 2011 at 6:31

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

need it

Original comment by ironz...@gmail.com on 20 Mar 2011 at 7:18

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

gimme gimme gimme please

Original comment by correa.g...@gmail.com on 1 Apr 2011 at 7:47

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

Please address this Google gang. This fix would vastly increase the range of 
functionality for simple apps. Properties->Run in background. Thanks.

Original comment by lbr...@inigral.com on 15 Apr 2011 at 7:27

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

I have built several apps that listen for incoming text messages. Upon 
receiving certain text messages from specific contacts the user has previously 
specified, the app does certain things. Right now if the user launches a 
different app or reads an email for too long the app loses all of its 
functionality. All temporary variables are lost as well. 

I have tried using timers in every combination possible to keep reviving the 
app and resetting the variables from values in tinyDB. That seems to extent the 
life somewhat but not for longer than about 20 minutes.

I also tried using activity starter to open .Sceen1 upon arriving at a date or 
time or upon receiving a text message but that caused duplicate instances of 
the app and it crashed.
It would open the app but stay blank until it crashed when temporary variables 
where active. After that it did not work at all.

Without this function it is impossible to make any app that relies on date and 
time to execute a function like clocks, date based calculators, alerts, etc. 
etc.. It also makes it difficult to make apps that do cool stuff while the user 
is busy doing something else. This is extremely important IMO and I wonder why 
it has not been submitted before that I can see.

I also noticed in debug mode my AI apps show zero use of the system cache. Not 
sure if this is related or if it is just a handler type that needs to be added.

Original comment by optimizationtutor.com on 24 Apr 2011 at 10:59

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

Please be patient, folks. We know that this is an important feature for lots of 
apps and we will add it. It is not a trivial change to App Inventor and it 
interacts with other advanced features that we are working on so it requires 
some thought and work. We will get to it!

Original comment by sha...@google.com on 26 May 2011 at 6:11

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

Very much appreciated. Hope I didn't sound negative or complaining.  We all 
very much appreciate the hard work you are doing. :)

Original comment by optimizationtutor.com on 26 May 2011 at 7:22

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

The app that I am making with App Inventor currently requires the user to have 
it open to use it.

Due to the nature of the app, it's almost useless unless I can allow it to run 
in the background because the user shouldn't need to keep it open.

Original comment by mims.chr...@gmail.com on 4 Jun 2011 at 2:38

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

I agree this would be most beneficial for alot of us.

Original comment by Steelra...@gmail.com on 16 Jun 2011 at 12:31

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

Wow... this is exactly what I was looking for.  Glad it's in the queue.  
Wonderous ideas for apps that can only work if able to perpetually run in the 
background (or, as a service).  Thanks for all your hard work, App Inventor 
team!!!!

Original comment by prz...@gmail.com on 30 Jun 2011 at 11:47

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

It would definitely move AI a step up.

Original comment by ralph.ro...@gmail.com on 4 Jul 2011 at 10:55

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

I need support for this too in my app! I have a lot of downloads already for my 
app and it would make the app even better with this option!  Thanks guys!  :)

Original comment by ochon...@gmail.com on 5 Jul 2011 at 4:21

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

Issue 1693 has been merged into this issue.

Original comment by halabel...@google.com on 10 Jul 2011 at 11:34

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

putting my name down here as well!

Original comment by mccarty...@gmail.com on 20 Jul 2011 at 2:08

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

+1 on this issue
allowing to keep running an application in the background is highly needed. 
there would be thousands of new possibilities with such feature; for instance:
- play an alarm sound when the accelerometer detects movement or play the alarm 
sound when receiving a message with an specific text (pretty useful to avoid 
the decide being stolen).

Original comment by carlosen...@gmail.com on 31 Jul 2011 at 7:33

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

Waiting for this implementation (app runs in background, no need for app's 
interface) ... I hope it's coming soon

Original comment by andreo.m...@gmail.com on 3 Aug 2011 at 10:12

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

i really need dis!!!

Original comment by abhish...@gmail.com on 21 Aug 2011 at 3:30

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

I am also trying to develop a location aware application, that becomes pretty 
useless when the app goes to sleep / dies in the background...can't wait for 
this feature!

Original comment by t...@penberth.com on 14 Sep 2011 at 1:25

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

[deleted comment]

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

I want this for regular checks of web component and vibrate phone + taskbar 
icon when new item comes in.

Original comment by denba...@gmail.com on 20 Sep 2011 at 10:19

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

I want this for regular checks of web component and vibrate phone + taskbar 
icon when new item comes in.

Original comment by denba...@gmail.com on 20 Sep 2011 at 10:19

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

desperately needed !!!!

Original comment by Patrick....@gmail.com on 9 Oct 2011 at 1:51

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago

+1 need this ASAP. Shame its taking so long :(

Original comment by rominaco...@gmail.com on 10 Oct 2011 at 8:57

ChicGeek2 / app-inventor-for-android

Create an app that can launch a service #32