Hi i'm developing a little project and I need to limit the user access to only one app. I based my project on the Nexus 7 but I rather use a cheap chinese tablet to lower the overall cost.
This is a list of the requirements of the kiosk mode:
- Only my app can be accessed by the user
- An administrator can go to app settings/system settings
- Remove the status bar completely
- Hide navigation bar on my app but show it on settings
- Custom update backend since play store update will be disabled
- Hide system notifications
- Anything needed to keep the end user inside my app....
I choosed to develop a custom rom based on AOSP. I know there are other possible solutions but I choosed this so i can release the code at some point. I think this rom could be usefull for some projects.
At this point I downloaded this brach "android-4.4.4_r1" and I made my app the default launcher for the system. I tested the rom image on the AVD emulator and it worked.
Any advice, help, guidelines, tips would be appreciated. Thanks!!
PD: I think I'll name this project AKOSP (Android Kiosk Open Source Project)
PD2: Sorry for my english skills
Hey
I'm very interested by this project. Do you have any link? Did you release the code? Can I help?
Thanks
Im sorry, but as I'm not able to create external links on XDA yet, you have to enter the urls on your own. If I had been able to create a DevDB project, I would have done it.
HybridLauncher
HybridLauncher is a completely new type of Android-Launcher!
It's designed to be highly configurable and innovative.
Screenshots:
As I am currently not allowed to insert images, please have a look at hybridlauncher.bricklore.de
In the past, the underlying principles of Launchers have significantly differed from those of desktop computers. In particular, the homescreen was only able to show Widgets and Apps, usually arranged on a grid, and usually only able to display a finite (small) number of icons at once.
We adapt the concept of desktops to smartphones by providing a homescreen whose capacity is limited only by your phone's memory and without constraints on the type of items it can show.
We improve the concept of desktops by providing not only completely free positions, but also arbitrary tilts, sizes, and aspect ratios of the items' icons. The homescreen's size is dynamically adapted, such that an infinite number of icons can be displayed.
Technically, the homescreen is simply a folder. Actually, every folder can be used as homescreen (and there's an effectively unlimited number of those). Other folders can be directly accessed (the HybridLauncher also doubles as a file manager) and individually designed, just like the homescreen.
This is solved in way robust against changes of your ROM:
The layout of every folder is stored in small file (".layout") directly within the folder. Thus, if you change your ROM, by reinstalling the Hybrid Launcher, you instantly recover your homescreen (desktop).
HybridLauncher is available in two different versions: "Lite" and "Full". While you can enjoy full functionality with the Lite version, it shows a permanent notification in the statusbar.
Unique features of the HybridLauncher include:
Unlimited homescreens with individual backgrounds
Real files on the homescreen just as on the pc-desktop
Freely positionable items with optional grid or magnetic axes
Items individually adjustable
Item size and rotation continuously adjustable
Dynamic layout-size
Direct execution of shell-scripts
Links to other folders and files
"Open with" dialog as known from PC
Highly adjustable
Available for Android version 2.1 up to 5.0+
Data privacy is our highest priority
(HybridLauncher does not require internet access, no data will be submitted)
For maximum transparency, let us explain why HybridLauncher requires the following permissions:
VIBRATE: When you long-press Items, your phone will vibrate.
WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE: HybridLauncher is a filemanager. Thus, it should have permission to write on sd-cards. In particular, if you want to use a folder on the sd-card as homescreen, then a .layout file needs to be created on the sd-card.
WRITE_MEDIA_STORAGE: This is generally the same as WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE, but on newer devices (5.0+) the access to the external sdcard is blocked by default and needs this extra permission.
READ_CONTACTS: Contacts can be placed on your homescreen (e.g. to open the SMS app quickly), so HybridLauncher has to access your contacts data. HybridLauncher will not submit any data (have a look at the source code).
SET_WALLPAPER: An app needs this permission to change the background image.
SET_WALLPAPER_HINTS: For background parallaxing the system has to be told the size of the wallpaper.
Information:
HybridLauncher is available in the Google PlayStore, or on my website (hybridlauncher.bricklore.de).
HybridLauncher Lite:
Play Store: play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.fluxnetz.hybridlauncher_lite
Mirror: bricklore.de/android/hybridlauncher/release/hybridlauncher_lite.apk
HybridLauncher is OPEN SOURCE and licensed under GPL v3, you can view the source here: git.bricklore.de/hybridlauncher
Changelog
* reservered post for changelog *
i like your launcher its very customizable and stuff but my wallpaper doesnt scale properly and is causing black borders around the picture which looks kind of ugly
If you could fix this id love to use the launcher
have a great day
tomdudler243 said:
i like your launcher its very customizable and stuff but my wallpaper doesnt scale properly and is causing black borders around the picture which looks kind of ugly
If you could fix this id love to use the launcher
have a great day
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your feedback!
I have just reimplemented the wallpaper scaling, which should fix the problem.
Please have a look at the update and tell me if it worked for you!
Best regards
Since your launcher is open source could you please add it to F-Droid? Would make it easier for people not using play store or gapps like myself to keep it updated than periodically checking your website
As a happy tester, here are the direct links to your really nice app until you can add your own:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.fluxnetz.hybridlauncher_lite
And/Und
http://hybridlauncher.bricklore.de
GerManiac said:
Here are the direct links:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.fluxnetz.hybridlauncher_lite
And/Und
http://hybridlauncher.bricklore.de
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Added a screenshot
Looking good
It's nice to see a launcher that offers something slightly different. So many of them just seem clones of each other. The ability to place icons anywhere and not be constrained to a grid is something I've not personally seen before.
Allanitomwesh said:
Since your launcher is open source could you please add it to F-Droid? Would make it easier for people not using play store or gapps like myself to keep it updated than periodically checking your website
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Although it seems quite a bit of work to do, I will hook myself into it right now.
--UPDATE--
It's not that easy for HybridLauncher, as the git repo is hosted on my own server which makes things more difficult (no https, minor problems). Additionally fdroid is not able to build from these souces without "understanding" the exact instructions (One has to preprocess the .java and .xml files in a special manner)
Unfortunately I wasn't able to figure out how I can add a prebuild binary .apk to fdroids repository. If you could guide me, I would supply those binaries until I have fixed my server issues.
GerManiac said:
As a happy tester, here are the direct links to your really nice app until you can add your own:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! I really appreciate all help I get!
savvigeek said:
It's nice to see a launcher that offers something slightly different. So many of them just seem clones of each other. The ability to place icons anywhere and not be constrained to a grid is something I've not personally seen before.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I have noticed the same thing, and thats why I made HybridLauncher.
I wanted to try something completely different.
F-Droid
I'm not a developer so I'm afraid I can't be much use troubleshooting your issues adding your app to F-Droid. I'll ask my friends who are and see what they say. You could also ask on the F-Droid forums,they are always willing to help add a new app
Thank you, really good work.
I cant download from play store....maybe its banned in my country....please can you provide apk or link to apk dwonload?
Sent from my HM NOTE 1LTE
@bricklore crashes when i swipe right or tap next on the welcome screen. log attached. my device is samsung galaxy y duos, gt-s6102, running gingerbread 2.3.6 rom. it's an ldpi device with 289 mb ram only.
Hi,
In the context of my Udacity Android Nanodegree I created a nifty little side launcher: PaperLaunch.
You can download it here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.devmil.paperlaunch
Github link: https://github.com/devmil/PaperLaunch
Please let me know what you think. I plan to improve and extend it based on user feedback.
Greetings
Devmil
Very cool idea. Makes me think of the app drawer in Ubuntu Phone.
Not sure if this is a bug or not, but just so you're aware: even when I have it set to be activated on a small part of the screen, it overwrites swipe actions from other apps (such as https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.phoenixstudios.aiogestures&hl=en)
Hi Friends,
I am happy to announce the launch of my 3rd Android App, MatCon™... Please check it out and leave me your comments and reviews here at XDA..
Also please review & rate the app on Play Store... let me know incase of any Bugs (there might be.. as its the initial release) and if you feel the app is helpful... feel free to donate...that will surely encourage me to continue its development.. Thanks in advance..
To report any issue, go to settings--> click on 'click here to contact us' tab --> send me an email...
So what's MatCon™ all about...
MatCon™ allows you to generate Icons for your Android app using Png files, clipart or text within seconds which would have taken a tedious amount of task using other tools, that also from your Android phones and tablets. It works as the famous Android Asset Studio by romannurik.
MatCon™ is a first of its kind on handheld devices. MatCon™ generates the Icons in various DPI (densities) compatible on various android phones. The usage of MatCon™ is not only limited to Developers but also for icon designing for various other platforms. Icons generated using MatCon™ complies with Google's Material Design Standards.
MatCon™ provides tools sufficient tools to generate a full fledged Icons for your Android apps. MatCon™ expects you to innovate and discover newer ways to design icons combining two or more icons into one. MatCon™ is your one stop solution to design icons within seconds.
Check it out -->
MatCon Google Play Store Link
Comments and suggestions are expected...
MatCon updated to version 1.3. Changelog as below..
Huge update..
* Added many more cliparts (hence increase in app size)
* Clipart now loads in a paginated dialog
* Material UI fixes
* Long Shadow dialog fixed to allow better adjustments
* Bug fixes here and there.
How can I decomp an APK & show a preview of it on Android Studio to make an overlay?
I want to make a substratum overlay of the Pocket app to tweak the layout. I'll admit I don't know much since I'm pretty new to this.
I extracted an APK for the Pocket app using adb pull, and decompiled it with apktool. I then tried importing it onto Android Studio (on Windows) and selected to import with Android Gradle instead of just Gradle (since the later doesn't work for me). I did some looking up online and it seems that apktool isn't perfect for decompiling apps, and I might be doing something wrong with showing the preview, what I tried is opening up XML files in the layout folder and the preview would not load (after looking stuff up online, apparently somewhere on the bottom of Android Studio, I have to select text instead of design but I don't see it anywhere). Are there ways to decompile the APKs like for the pocket app better, as well actually be able to preview XML files?
I attached the pocket APK in case that's helpful.
View attachment pocket.apk
You cannot preview unless you have source. Theming is a ton of trial and error so you'll have to find the resources and add them to an overlay to change the look..
Join the theme devs collective for substratum for faster help. We have links to tools and process but searching the forums on "how to theme" should be your first stop, as we only show you how to use substratum to theme not how to theme. Finding the resources and knowing what to change is on you. Moving those resources to substratum we can teach.
Hope that helps!
@themingHelp use in telegram to join.
DJ
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