Launch app with specific locale

Question

Changing the locale for a device is done in the settings, and can't be done by an app AFAIK. I know how to force my own app to a specific locale, described e.g. here:

http://www.tutorialforandroid.com/2009/01/force-localize-application-on-android.html

So now to my question. Can I force, programatically, the local of an activity that isn't mine?

I can imagine 2 ways this could be possible:

1. Specifying the locale in an Intent used to start the activity.
2. Access and manipulate the configuration of running activities (in the same way as I can modify my own activities' configurations).

Any thoughts? Is it possible? Is it reasonable? I guess 2. would be more direct, but require some kind of permission (e.g. the modified atcitiy must allow it in the manifest file). But I'd settle for 1. or similar.

What I want is to be able to see certain apps in a different language, but rather not change the system locale. E.g. the Android Market, that only displays comments in one language. Can't think of other things right now.

Can't find much written on Locale in the documentation, what is and isn't possible. But hoping some undocumented feature might enable this :)

Answer 1

You can't unless the activity you are calling accepts a special locale parameter.

So, you can implement this with two of your own apps, or with the app of your friend, but there's no general way of doing this.

Answer 2

The only way I can imagine is to programatically change the locale of the whole device. But I think you can only open up the preference screen and need the user to choose the correct locale before starting the app.