CODEWITHSUNDEEP
javaandroid
Unpossible
Unpossible

Reputation: 10697

Possible to 'layer' Android applications?

I know this in general is beyond the scope of SO, but I am looking for some basic yes/no info to see if it is even feasible to proceed... I am thinking about building and Android 'note-taking/annotation' app that runs 'over' other installed Android apps, such as the web browser for example.

Essentially, while the user is browsing, my app would be running in the bg as a service, and then they could activate it which would then essentially intercept user inputs and translate those on a transparent canvas over the web browser into lines, shapes, etc. The user could then take a screen-cap of their marking with the underlying web page, which would be stored to the sd card.

Upvotes: 3

Views: 152

Answers (2)

Logan Pickup
Logan Pickup

Reputation: 2374

You might be able to achieve this with the WindowManager service. You can then use that to call addView() with a view of type TYPE_SYSTEM_ALERT, or possibly TYPE_SYSTEM_OVERLAY (but see the notes in the documentation about taking input focus).

I haven't tried it myself, but I've seen several apps (often dictionary apps that translate whatever words you tap on) that do overlays, and they always seem to require the SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW permission.

Upvotes: 0

Andrew Guenther
Andrew Guenther

Reputation: 1492

This is a very good idea and a great question, but sadly, I do not believe it is possible.

The way Android is designed only one Activity can have focus at a time, while a Service could run in the background, the user would not be able to interact with it. The user can only interact with the currently active Activity.

Again, love the idea, but it is sadly not supported.

Upvotes: 2

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