Is it possible to know when a user opens and closes his CONTACTS application?

[bsnqt]

Dear Erel and experts,

Is it possible for me to know every time when a user opens any application in his device, saying his CONTACTS application, works with it, and finally closes it.

I know and guess I should work with intent to listen the user's actions. For example using the following:

android.intent.action.MAIN
android.intent.category.APP_CONTACTS

But searches don't give me any luck. Would you please give me an advice or tip from what I can start.

Thank you.
bsnqt

 

[Erel]

The answer is more or less no. There isn't any reliable way to do it. Certainly not a "standard" way.

Up until Android 4.1 applications were able to read the logs. Some applications used the logs to track the intents. These intents cannot be intercepted in any other way.

 

[bsnqt]

The answer is more or less no. There isn't any reliable way to do it. Certainly not a "standard" way.

Up until Android 4.1 applications were able to read the logs. Some applications used the logs to track the intents. These intents cannot be intercepted in any other way.

Hi Alex,

Thanks for your answer. Actually, we have many Android softwares that can do the action I need, for example "App Protector" which is providing a password screen everytime the user (or stranger) open a "protected" application. The user / stranger has to enter the password or PIN to access to that application. I mean, at least App Protector should know when user is opening other app, in order to pop up the protector screen.

Even to achieve such thing (to know when an application is open, for example Contacts) is still ok for me, but I don't know how to do this.

In Windows Mobile I remember we can use similar thing like intent to "listen" which application is "jumping" to the topmost window position and hence can know which app the user is opening or using...

Can we do that in Android & B4A. If not, then I wonder how App Protector can do it

Thanks again.

 

[Erel]

Assuming that it supports Android 4.1+ then it probably checks the currently running processes by issuing a shell command (ps). This way it can monitor new processes.