Question

I’m trying to make an app which records usage of various apps on the device. e.g: 10 mins for Fifa, 23 mins for GTA and etc. right now i have service which runs constantly and i have a broadcast receiver which suppose to trigger when any application package changes( using intent.action.PACKAGE_CHANGED), but unfortunately code inside the broadcast never runs. i appreciate if any one could hint out the problem or tell me any other ways to do this. Thanks

public class ScreenReceiver extends BroadcastReceiver {
@Override
public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent) {
     Log.d("BROADCAST", "Works fine" );
}

}

and this is the code inside the Service class:

public int onStartCommand(Intent intent, int flags, int startId) {
    IntentFilter filter = new IntentFilter(Intent.ACTION_PACKAGE_CHANGED);
    ScreenReceiver recevier = new ScreenReceiver();
    registerReceiver(recevier, filter);runningApps();

    return START_STICKY;
}

Answer 1

PACKAGE_CHANGED intent will only be sent when the app iteself changes . it has nothing to do with app usage .

in fact , there is no official way to monitor apps usage . there are only similar solutions:

1. up to jelly bean , you could read the logs and find out when a process of an app has started and when it closed (or user moved to another app) .

2. you can poll every now and then about the recently launched apps or the currently running processes .

3. you can create an launcher app that will find out which apps are being launched within it.

of course , each of the methods i’ve written has its flaws and only give you a clue about the real usage , and of course since android supports running more than one app at the same time , i don’t think any method would suffice.