Android Question Update dynamic icon from timer in background service

[swabygw]

Many messaging apps now have a feature that the icon displays something like a small counter on the icon indicating that there are new messages, even when the app is closed. Additionally, the user can manually turn this service on/off.

I would like to recreate this functionality. My best guess is that there is a background service running with a Timer in it (similar to creating a Timer and Tick event in the Starter section) that routinely checks a remote server for unread messages and, given new messages, updates the icon (I'm guess that the service is either a Foreground or Stick service). And, the user has the option to turn this background service on or off.

Does anyone have an example of how to do something like this?

 

[Erel]

This is not a native feature of Android.

Check this thread: https://www.b4x.com/android/forum/t...ges-in-queue-alert-to-user.61532/#post-388258

 

[swabygw]

That's exactly what I was talking about. Considering the three ways of implementing a background service, as discussed here: https://www.b4x.com/android/forum/t...-long-running-background-tasks.27065/#content, I'm thinking of trying either the #2 (long-running, StartForeground solution) or #3 (Sticky, killed and recreated solution) type of background service, as both would get up-to-the-minute results, I believe. Do you recommend one over the other?

 

[Erel]

I recommend you to use push notifications.

 

[swabygw]

Understood. I'm gonna have a read on this: https://www.b4x.com/android/forum/t...otification-gcm-framework-and-tutorial.19226/ and this: https://www.b4x.com/android/forum/threads/simple-push-framework.35635/

(I think I like the second one better)

 

[Erel]

Actually the correct one is: FirebaseNotifications - Push messages / Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM)

 

[swabygw]

Looks even better - looks like it can be done with just HTTP requests.