Hi there, Android newbie here
I just came across this WhatsApp widget for Root which is able to display recent messages. I was wondering how the developers managed to get the data from WhatsApp.
As of now, I can think of three possible ways:
a) The widget refreshes its contents whenever it detects activity on the WhatsApp message database.
b) The widget "hooks" methods that get called in one of WhatsApps activities when new messages arrive and mirrors the messages into its own database.
c) The widget listens for push messages with the WhatsApp signature or listens for traffic between WhatsApp and their servers.
I use the termin "hooking" because of the way iOS tweaks are written, I have no idea if this is possible on Android. Which way is more likely? Any suggestions are appreciated
Let me elaborate on the background of my question: I noticed that WhatsApp groups new messages as a single item in the notification window. I'm thinking about selling my iPhone and getting an Android phone, but I would like to have a preview of all incoming messages like iOS's notification center.
Hmm... anyone? is this the wrong board?
Related
I use SMS reminders in Google calendar. For some reason default Hero messages application does not group these messages under one name as it does for other contacts so I have pretty lengthly list of Google reminders in my inbox.
I tried adding dummy Google contact but it did help. Maybe I should have add telephone number to it but there is no sender number in message details.
Any ideas?
Thanks.
I had a similar problem, because each reminder message is from a unique number (the proper shortcode followed by a sequence number), so that Google's system can identify individual messages (and replies when applicable). I never did figure out a way to get them to group, but I did find a work around. I switched my notification types from SMS to Pop-up (in my GCal settings, online). If you have notifications turned on in your phone's calendar, then the calendar app on your phone will alert you (similar to the way the alarm does) rather than getting a text message. The other advantage to this, at least in my opinion, is that if I don't notice it right away, it'll snooze and pop up again in a few minutes, unlike a text message, which is a one shot thing.
I've been looking at alternative SMS apps because I wanted to get rid of the MMS showing as slideshows and it looks like the only one doing it properly (displaying the image and text inside the conversation view) is SMSdroid, which doesn't have many other functionalities. Is there another SMS app doing that? I tried GOsms, Handcent and ChompSMS but I could have missed their option to do so.
Another question I have is why so many SMS apps run a service constantly while some don't and still receive incoming SMS? I try to keep as few services running in the background as possible to save battery life.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
Here is my pseudo-complicated situation: I have a gate sensor at the front of my property that communicates wirelessly to my automation system. The system can then notify me via text or email anytime my gate sensor is tripped. I would like for my phone to simply act as a doorbell by just making a sound anytime someone drives through my gate. So far I have accomplished this but unfortunately for my organized & partially OCD brain, my phone's notification bar is overloaded with messages that I have to clear several times per day. Basically, I would like for it to make a sound but not to show any icon or notification in the pull-down notifications menu.
I have tried several SMS apps (Handcent, GO SMS Pro, Chomp, Textra and stock) and have been unable to find a way to accomplish this. The closest thing I've found is to use the "privacy inbox" on several of these apps that allows me to place any messages from the automation system into a different inbox. I'm able to give it a different sound, different icon and different (or no) LED blink color. Unfortunately, this still leaves my notifications pull-down menu riddled with alerts from my gate sensor.
I don't know if there is an Android-based work-around or if anyone can recommend a decent SMS app that would give me this option. I have tried the same thing with email but not only do I run into the same problem, but the delay in the syncing of the email defeats the purpose because the person will usually already be at my door before I hear the tone. Because of this, I would like to stick with the SMS method.
There may also be another option that is outside the box that I have yet to consider.
Any help is appreciated.
Thanks,
Ryan
[email protected]
Is there a way to split notifications in Android Lollipop. Would like to have a separate notification for every WhatsApp message instead of a grouped notification with all the messages (also with phone calls or SMS). Similar to iOS... Some applications like Calendar do it, but for some reason for GMail (same email address), WhatsApp, missed calls, etc they are only grouped and don't know if can split them into separate notifications. Can I? How?
Thanks!
A family has asked me to prevent one of their children from sending text messages to certain numbers. (Please don't suggest they simply take away the phone or delete contacts.) I have seen many text message blocking applications, but it seems they can't block outgoing messages. As far as I know, Android is the only operating system that might allow blocking outgoing text messages. I've seen some old threads on XDA that suggest blocking outgoing text messages is impossible, but I doubt this is true today. I can think of two ways to do this:
1. Monitor the default text message application and prevent messages from being sent. This answer on Stack Overflow seems to suggest it's possible, although it seems the phone must be rooted: stackoverflow.com/a/20885911/1325179. (I haven't posted enough on XDA to include a link apparently.)
2. Replace the default text message application with a custom application that utilizes a parental control system. Apparently newer versions of Android allow for other applications to take over the text messaging role, and this new program could prevent messages from being sent to certain numbers.
So does anyone know of a program that already uses #1, #2, or anything else that might block outgoing text messages? I'm hoping a final product exists. Thanks.