Android - An example application

Summary

This article describes the android application, "CyNotify".  The application was made for learning, enjoy.  The source and application are available to use in any way that you want.  Use it, take it, learn from it, make it your own... etc..

Before we begin

The source for the application is available at:
https://github.com/ergobot/CyNotify

The application is available in the google play store at:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=edu.simpson.obryan.projects

What can I learn from the source?

• Read SMS
• Read phone contacts
• Make notifications
• Create Alarms (instead of using timers)
• Cancel Alarms
• Use Intent Service

 

What does it do?

The application reminds you about missed calls or missed text messages (SMS) at specific intervals. 

Example scenario

For example, you miss a call while in a meeting.  You see that you missed a call and think, "I really need to return that call but I'm in the middle of this meeting.  I'll get back to the missed call in 15 minutes."  Before you know it, an hour has passed and you forgot to return that call. 

Android only notifies you once that you have a missed call or new text message.

With CyNotify enabled, you'll always be reminded regularly when you forget about those missed calls or new text messages.

How does it work?

In short, we are setting system alarms and running an IntentService when the system alarms go off.  In the IntentService, we check for missed calls/new text messages and finanlly make notifications (if needed) to the user.

More specifically...

• The application interacts with the user through one Activity.
• There are two broadcast receivers to listen for device boot completed and system alarms (AlarmManager).
• There are two IntentServices (fire and forget services) to do the work of setting an alarm after the device boot as well as performing the message changes/creating notifications

How did you make the icons? 

I used Inkscape, its free and works great.  http://inkscape.org/

The tutorial where I learned to use Inkscape to make android icons is:
http://tekeye.biz/2012/android-launcher-icons-using-inkscape

(Gimp is another good choice, http://www.gimp.org/ .  It is free and there is plenty of documentation. )

Take the icon you made and go to http://android-ui-utils.googlecode.com/hg/asset-studio/dist/icons-launcher.html .  Upload the icon you made in Inkscape (or gimp) and you will get all of the different sizes of icons you need. 


That is it!  This was a fun application to make and I learned a lot.  I hope the experience can help you.