[MOD][XPOSED] ActivityForceNewTask - Xposed Framework Modules

Introduction:
Apps can launch other apps' activities inside their task. This makes it impossible to switch back and forth between the two. This module sets the FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK flag when starting a new activity, which 'fixes' that.
Originally requested by jacknicholson here.
Screenshots explanation:
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Requirements:
Xposed Framework.
Filtering:
A quick toggle is available in the settings. Just check "Disable module" and the changes will take effect immediately. No need to restart.
You can use the blacklist or the whitelist to filter activities. If the blacklist is selected, all activities except those excluded will launch in a new task. If you use the whitelist, only matching activities will launch in a new task instead. The preferred way to add entries is through the log.
The activity components are output to the logcat. You can filter it for "activityforcenewtask componentString:" to see them. A line is logged for every started activity (you probably don't want to keep the log constantly turned on.)
A log viewer is also present in the app. You can press a log entry to directly add it to the currently active list. I'd advise you to only enable the log when needed.
Source code:
https://github.com/GermainZ/ActivityForceNewTask
Download:
http://repo.xposed.info/module/com.germainz.activityforcenewtask
Changelog:
2.1.3:
Compatibility with Lollipop.
Added Spanish translation and updated Portuguese (Brazil) and Slovak translations. Thanks to Jose Artuñedo, meatboy371 and ja-som.
2.1.1:
The blacklist/whitelist settings are now only reloaded when necessary. Shouldn't make a big difference unless you have huge lists.
4.4.3 fix: get the context using a different method (fixes logging on 4.4.3).
Added Portuguese (Br) translation by meatboy371.
2.0.3:
Only use context for logging;
Try to get the context in an alternate manner if the first one fails;
Bug fix: current package wasn't being detected properly;
Only start activities in a new task when the caller does not expect a result (different, more general implementation.)
2.0.2:
Reverted back to hooking ActivityRecord's constructor. Should solve the issue where some activities' launches weren't being detected.
Updated Slovak translation.
2.0:
Ignore activities that are launched by their own apps;
Added filtering options back. You can choose between the whitelist and the blacklist, but the no filtering option has been removed;
Added help dialogs for the whitelist/blacklist/log;
Bug fix: duplicate log entries when returning to the app with the log viewer open.
Other minor changes: use icons for action bar items, reorder preferences.
1.9:
Removed none/blacklist filtering options. The whitelist is always used now (renamed to "Enabled Components") which means that you must configure the module, as it won't do anything by default.
Reverted back to hooking Activity.startActivity(Intent, Bundle). Other methods used to start an Activity require the usage of FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK, so it doesn't actually make sense to hook anything else. Also removed the alternate way to get a context as it shouldn't be needed anymore.
Check if FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK is already set, and do nothing if that's the case (the activity won't be logged either.)
Updated Slovak translations (by ja-som.)
1.8.1:
Fix some crashes at startup;
Add FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK flag instead of overwriting it. This fixes issues with XHalo and some apps showing in recents when they shouldn't;
Updated translations.
1.7:
Different hook, the previous one didn't catch all new activities.
1.6.1:
Removed unnecessary logging.
1.6:
Added whitelist.
1.5:
Added option to enable/disable the blacklist (and log.) The blacklist requires a few extra calls which are unnecessary if you don't use it, so I'd advise you don't enable it unless you need it.
Cleanup/better performance for the log viewer.
1.4:
The mod will now only modify intents that should be modified. This should fix all breakage without needing the blacklist. \o/
Log viewer improvements: tapping on an item now removes it from the list after adding it to the blacklist, and a toast is shown to indicate if it's been added to the blacklist.
1.3:
Use flat text file for storing the logs instead of SharedPreferences. This is much better for performance, especially if the log gets long.
1.2:
The blacklist is now for activities.
You can enable/disable logging from within the app.
Added log viewer to the app. You can tap a log entry to directly add it to the blacklist.
Fixes.
1.1:
Fixes for the two icons appearing in the launcher.
Disable text correction when adding a blacklist item.
1.0:
Initial release.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks:
rovo89 and Tungstwenty for the Xposed Framework;
egingell for helping out with what to blacklist;
defim for advice on which intents to modify;
Ja_som for Slovak translation;
Sanguinus112 for German translation;
All testers.

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Great idea, testing during the next days. So far only a cosmetic bug. After the installation of the module two icons appear in the launcher. Restart also did not change that.
Posting from the moon with Moto X and Tapatalk.

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Update:
1.1:
Fixes for the two icons appearing in the launcher.
Disable text correction when adding a blacklist item.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thomas_BA said:
Great idea, testing during the next days. So far only a cosmetic bug. After the installation of the module two icons appear in the launcher. Restart also did not change that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oops, fixed.

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GermainZ said:
Thanks:
rovo89 for the Xposed Framework;
egingell for helping out with *what* to blacklist.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for trying to help me with my problem. I was looking at your SettingsHelper class and I think I need to start thinking of the Xposed side and Android side as separate apps and code it as such. But I'm too tired and achy to test right now.
Sent from: SGS2 - JB 4.1.2 GB27 / SGS4 - JB 4.2.2 MF9

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@GermainZ
To add to blacklist
Code:
com.android.internal.app.ResolverActivity
http://grepcode.com/file/repository...om/android/internal/app/ResolverActivity.java
If you want to be able to upload a picture through Tapatalk. I imagine there's a billion other uses to it. Might break module functionality in some cases? *shrugs*
NOT VALID ANYMORE

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@GermainZ
Great idea. Would be nice if you clould find a way to detect apps which don't work and the blacklist could be removed

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defim said:
@GermainZ
Great idea. Would be nice if you clould find a way to detect apps which don't work and the blacklist could be removed
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not really sure how that could be achieved. @[email protected]
The blacklist is good enough, but I feel like there's only going to be a handful of entries shared by specific people since people are morbidly afraid of logcat and I'm sure even more of filtering it.
Doesn't matter much in the end, I'm a happy user. Niche product for niche people?

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polobunny said:
I'm not really sure how that could be achieved. @[email protected]
The blacklist is good enough, but I feel like there's only going to be a handful of entries shared by specific people since people are morbidly afraid of logcat and I'm sure even more of filtering it.
Doesn't matter much in the end, I'm a happy user. Niche product for niche people?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can never get its built-in filter to work. I always have to resort to piping it through grep.
Sent from: SGS2 - JB 4.1.2 GB27 / SGS4 - JB 4.2.2 MF9

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egingell said:
I can never get its built-in filter to work. I always have to resort to piping it through grep.
Sent from: SGS2 - JB 4.1.2 GB27 / SGS4 - JB 4.2.2 MF9
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure where the issue lies, but that's usually what I use
ie:
adb logcat Xposed:V *:S
Show everything Xposed, hides everything else for instance. You can go fancy and do other things but if you're just looking to extract something real quick that will do.

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Hi,
great idea, thanks.
regards
starbase64

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polobunny said:
Not sure where the issue lies, but that's usually what I use
ie:
adb logcat Xposed:V *:S
Show everything Xposed, hides everything else for instance. You can go fancy and do other things but if you're just looking to extract something real quick that will do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do that, but it always seems to show everything anyway.
Sent from: SGS2 - JB 4.1.2 GB27 / SGS4 - JB 4.2.2 MF9

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EDIT: OUTDATED
Not sure if anyone else has been seeing a slight lag when selecting apps from Running Services, but blacklisting
Code:
com.android.settings.Settings$ManageApplicationsActivity
has solved it for me.

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I got a bug report: If the launcher icon is hidden via your option you can't open the module from the module list because it says that your module doesn't have an UI. Reproducible.

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theknut said:
But I got another bug: If the launcher icon is hidden via your option you can't open the module from the module list because it says that your module doesn't have an UI. Reproducible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can confirm this. I was able to get back in by using System Tuner Pro to re-enable the Activity named Preferences Alias.

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EDIT: OUTDATED
Not a bug, but rather personal preference. If anyone's ROM settings ever open a separate package (eg. to pull up an additional settings page), and you don't want that cluttering up your Recents, add this:
Code:
com.android.settings.Settings

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polobunny said:
@GermainZ
To add to blacklist
Code:
com.android.internal.app.ResolverActivity
http://grepcode.com/file/repository...om/android/internal/app/ResolverActivity.java
If you want to be able to upload a picture through Tapatalk. I imagine there's a billion other uses to it. Might break module functionality in some cases? *shrugs*
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That'll basically nullify the module's effect when you don't have a default app set. (OUTDATED INFO)
defim said:
@GermainZ
Great idea. Would be nice if you clould find a way to detect apps which don't work and the blacklist could be removed
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't find any reliable method
polobunny said:
The blacklist is good enough, but I feel like there's only going to be a handful of entries shared by specific people since people are morbidly afraid of logcat and I'm sure even more of filtering it.
Doesn't matter much in the end, I'm a happy user. Niche product for niche people?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm going to add a logger you can turn off and on when needed. Checking the logcat is better though because you sometimes need live input to decide (e.g. if an activity instantly launches another.)
theknut said:
But I got another bug: If the launcher icon is hidden via your option you can't open the module from the module list because it says that your module doesn't have an UI. Reproducible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My fault, will be fixed in the next version.

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GermainZ said:
That'll basically nullify the module's effect when you don't have a default app set.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah that's what I thought too, because it grabs everything with a user choice. Still, Tapatalk is so weird it breaks on everything. @[email protected]

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Someone tell me how to use it?

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shibliaftab said:
Someone tell me how to use it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Read the first post. Everything is explained very clearly, GermainZ made it clear. If you still don't understand then this module is not for you.
You'll need to know how to use logcat at minimum.

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I can already feel this making life easier. Thanks Dev!