Question

I just want an app that runs some code to shortcut to a certain part of ics. How can I run this code at run time without having to launch the main.xml? I see the manifest launches the main.xml but that is about all I know.

Answer 1

Have you heard of Service Components in Android ? Service allows you to do work in background without disturbing your current GUI. You can do most of all the work that you want to hide from the user in GUI.

Have a look at example of Audio playing code, ( Original Source from Makarana’s Blog. )

public class MyService extends Service {
    private static final String TAG = "MyService";
    MediaPlayer player;

    @Override
    public IBinder onBind(Intent intent) {
        return null;
    }

    @Override
    public void onCreate() {
        Toast.makeText(this, "My Service Created", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
        Log.d(TAG, "onCreate");

        player = MediaPlayer.create(this, R.raw.braincandy);
        player.setLooping(false); // Set looping
    }

    @Override
    public void onDestroy() {
        Toast.makeText(this, "My Service Stopped", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
        Log.d(TAG, "onDestroy");
        player.stop();
    }

    @Override
    public void onStart(Intent intent, int startid) {
        Toast.makeText(this, "My Service Started", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
        Log.d(TAG, "onStart");
        player.start();
    }
}