Re: [android-developers] Re: App Widget considerations when enabling installLocation in manifest
I plan to show this message when the app detects it has been moved to the SD card (i.e. the first time it runs after the event): Android automatically disables homescreen widgets for apps that have been moved to the SD card. If you would like to use widgets, then please move this app back to internal memory. There's a starting point. Feel free to improve it. If we can settle on something then maybe others can post translations here... -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Android Developers group. To post to this group, send email to android-developers@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to android-developers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-developers?hl=en
Re: [android-developers] Re: App Widget considerations when enabling installLocation in manifest
You could also consider separating widget from main app. having two apks you could allow sd card for main user and keep widget plugin app on main memory. depending on what your widget shows it may be the way to go On Jun 16, 2011 9:33 AM, Mark Carter mjc1...@googlemail.com wrote: I plan to show this message when the app detects it has been moved to the SD card (i.e. the first time it runs after the event): Android automatically disables homescreen widgets for apps that have been moved to the SD card. If you would like to use widgets, then please move this app back to internal memory. There's a starting point. Feel free to improve it. If we can settle on something then maybe others can post translations here... -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Android Developers group. To post to this group, send email to android-developers@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to android-developers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-developers?hl=en -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Android Developers group. To post to this group, send email to android-developers@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to android-developers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-developers?hl=en
Re: [android-developers] Re: App Widget considerations when enabling installLocation in manifest
Yes, I have considered that and may well end up taking that route. It's messy though, whether it's a separate app in the Market or an APK downloaded from my server (or even bundled as an asset in the main app). Also the separation means you have to handle the scenario where the widget app is an earlier version than the main app and vice versa. Much more difficult to test unless the internal APIs (e.g. ContentProviders) are particularly mature. On 16 June 2011 17:24, Marcin Orlowski webnet.andr...@gmail.com wrote: You could also consider separating widget from main app. having two apks you could allow sd card for main user and keep widget plugin app on main memory. depending on what your widget shows it may be the way to go On Jun 16, 2011 9:33 AM, Mark Carter mjc1...@googlemail.com wrote: I plan to show this message when the app detects it has been moved to the SD card (i.e. the first time it runs after the event): Android automatically disables homescreen widgets for apps that have been moved to the SD card. If you would like to use widgets, then please move this app back to internal memory. There's a starting point. Feel free to improve it. If we can settle on something then maybe others can post translations here... -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Android Developers group. To post to this group, send email to android-developers@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to android-developers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-developers?hl=en -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Android Developers group. To post to this group, send email to android-developers@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to android-developers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-developers?hl=en -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Android Developers group. To post to this group, send email to android-developers@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to android-developers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-developers?hl=en
Re: [android-developers] Re: App Widget considerations when enabling installLocation in manifest
Here's mine, being used in several apps now: [app name]'s widgets are currently disabled because it has been installed to SD card. To re-enable widgets, click App settings Move to phone, then restart [app name]. Similar to yours, but I wanted to give (novice) users more explicit instructions on how to move the app off the SD card. Though there's a danger there too, because not all phones label that button the same way. Hopefully they'll get the gist. String -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Android Developers group. To post to this group, send email to android-developers@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to android-developers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-developers?hl=en
Re: [android-developers] Re: App Widget considerations when enabling installLocation in manifest
I wanted to make clear this was an Android limitation rather than something specific to the app. I'm guessing most users would have manually moved the app to SD so they know where to go. But maybe that's not right if the installLocation is auto? Maybe it's enough to include a button (in the dialog) that takes them to the App details screen (i.e. where the Move to SD card button is) although I'm not sure how this is done in 3.0+ (and it may not work for future SDK levels). On 16 June 2011 20:04, String sterling.ud...@googlemail.com wrote: Here's mine, being used in several apps now: [app name]'s widgets are currently disabled because it has been installed to SD card. To re-enable widgets, click App settings Move to phone, then restart [app name]. Similar to yours, but I wanted to give (novice) users more explicit instructions on how to move the app off the SD card. Though there's a danger there too, because not all phones label that button the same way. Hopefully they'll get the gist. String -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Android Developers group. To post to this group, send email to android-developers@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to android-developers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-developers?hl=en -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Android Developers group. To post to this group, send email to android-developers@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to android-developers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-developers?hl=en
[android-developers] Re: App Widget considerations when enabling installLocation in manifest
Having been forced to enable install-to-SD for a couple of apps which feature widgets, this is a bit of a sore spot with me. I say forced because the average user doesn't understand the issues involved, only understands that you (the dev) haven't enabled install-to-SD, so they downrate you for it. Then other average users downrate you because their widgets disappeared. It's a no-win situation. I think your reading of the docs is correct, that the only downside currently is that appwidgets do get removed if/when the app gets moved to SD. As to whether more serious problems may arise in the future, who can say? Probably nobody at this point, and those who might (the framework team) won't, because they basically aren't allowed to talk about future plans. My preference would be for the system to ask the user before it moves an app with widgets to the SD card, or (at the very least) warns the user of these consequences if they move an app manually. Unfortunately, this change would have to be made at the system level, and somehow it doesn't seem likely. As a workaround, I'm currently in the process of implementing a warning of my own in the app's main activity. It'll check to see if it's been installed to SD, and if it has, issue a warning of its own. That's suboptimal - there's no guarantee the user will open the main activity in a timely manner to see this warning - but it's better than nothing, and will hopefully reduce the 1* Market comments. As it stands, I can stomach informing users that it's either run-from-sd-card OR show widgets but NOT both. How are you planning to inform your users of this? Be aware that I already have it in my Market description, but most users don't read that. String -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Android Developers group. To post to this group, send email to android-developers@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to android-developers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-developers?hl=en
Re: [android-developers] Re: App Widget considerations when enabling installLocation in manifest
Thanks for the feedback. On 31 May 2011 16:58, String sterling.ud...@googlemail.com wrote: As a workaround, I'm currently in the process of implementing a warning of my own in the app's main activity. It'll check to see if it's been installed to SD, and if it has, issue a warning of its own. That's suboptimal - there's no guarantee the user will open the main activity in a timely manner to see this warning - but it's better than nothing, and will hopefully reduce the 1* Market comments. As it stands, I can stomach informing users that it's either run-from-sd-card OR show widgets but NOT both. How are you planning to inform your users of this? Be aware that I already have it in my Market description, but most users don't read that. String Yes, I was thinking of something similar. What is the best way to check the app has been moved to SD? -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Android Developers group. To post to this group, send email to android-developers@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to android-developers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-developers?hl=en
Re: [android-developers] Re: App Widget considerations when enabling installLocation in manifest
On Tuesday, May 31, 2011 10:08:19 AM UTC+1, Mark Carter wrote: What is the best way to check the app has been moved to SD? http://developer.android.com/reference/android/content/pm/ApplicationInfo.html#FLAG_EXTERNAL_STORAGE http://developer.android.com/reference/android/content/pm/ApplicationInfo.html#FLAG_EXTERNAL_STORAGEGet an instance of the ApplicationInfo object with code like this: PackageManager pkgMgr = context.getPackageManager(); ApplicationInfo appInfo = pkgMgr.getApplicationInfo(your.package.name, 0); It'd be nice to put code like this in the appwidget itself, so that if the user has one on their home screen, you could notify them more proactively. But annoyingly, the appwidget doesn't get notified that it's going away; no ACTION_APPWIDGET_DISABLED, no ACTION_APPWIDGET_DELETED, nothing. It just disappears... but any service you might have scheduled to update said appwidget *doesn't* get removed, it's left to run with no widget to update. String -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Android Developers group. To post to this group, send email to android-developers@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to android-developers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-developers?hl=en
Re: [android-developers] Re: App Widget considerations when enabling installLocation in manifest
Thanks. I wonder if it's possible to listen for a Move to SD event (is there a broadcast intent?). If it were, then the app could at that moment raise a notification warning the user that widgets would no longer be available. On 31 May 2011 17:28, String sterling.ud...@googlemail.com wrote: On Tuesday, May 31, 2011 10:08:19 AM UTC+1, Mark Carter wrote: What is the best way to check the app has been moved to SD? http://developer.android.com/reference/android/content/pm/ApplicationInfo.html#FLAG_EXTERNAL_STORAGE http://developer.android.com/reference/android/content/pm/ApplicationInfo.html#FLAG_EXTERNAL_STORAGEGet an instance of the ApplicationInfo object with code like this: PackageManager pkgMgr = context.getPackageManager(); ApplicationInfo appInfo = pkgMgr.getApplicationInfo(your.package.name, 0); It'd be nice to put code like this in the appwidget itself, so that if the user has one on their home screen, you could notify them more proactively. But annoyingly, the appwidget doesn't get notified that it's going away; no ACTION_APPWIDGET_DISABLED, no ACTION_APPWIDGET_DELETED, nothing. It just disappears... but any service you might have scheduled to update said appwidget *doesn't* get removed, it's left to run with no widget to update. String -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Android Developers group. To post to this group, send email to android-developers@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to android-developers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-developers?hl=en
Re: [android-developers] Re: App Widget considerations when enabling installLocation in manifest
On Tuesday, May 31, 2011 10:51:30 AM UTC+1, Mark Carter wrote: I wonder if it's possible to listen for a Move to SD event (is there a broadcast intent?). If there is, it's undocumented (or well hidden). The most likely looking Intent in the docs is android.intent.action.PACKAGE_CHANGED, and I've just confirmed that it doesn't get broadcast when an app is moved to SD. String -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Android Developers group. To post to this group, send email to android-developers@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to android-developers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-developers?hl=en
