How to detect launch of an app in Android from a background service or another app

Question

I want to create an app or background service that just listens for the launch of a 'default' app, say Contacts or the built-in Gmail app. If the contact app is clicked, I want to transfer control to my app temporarily (e.g. present a Yes/No popup to the user or increment an internal counter of my app ) and then redirect the user back to the app that was clicked. I want to do this only for a couple of 'well-known' built-in default apps, not any third party apps.

Is this possible? May be using some special intents?

Answer 1

Have you tried registering broadcast receivers for the intents that would launch those built-in apps? This might not work since that might confuse Android into thinking your app is a potential target for those intents (e.g. that it should be used to actually write and send the email in the case of a 'compose an email' intent), but it should be a good place to start.

Answer 2

i need to do the same....can you please tell me if you found a solution?

Answer 3

See also: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3510544/android-how-to-intercept-the-install-application-intent/3685460#3685460