In the Android app that I'm working on, I'd like to be able to detect when a new status bar notification appears, regardless of if it was caused by my app. To be more specific, I want to count the number of notifications in a given time frame.
Is this even possible, and if so, how?
Actually, it is possible, I use it in my app.
For Android 4.2 and below:
You need to register an AccessibilityService and make sure the user enables the service.
Example for a service:
public class InstantMessenger extends AccessibilityService {
@Override
public void onAccessibilityEvent(AccessibilityEvent event) {
if (event.getEventType() == AccessibilityEvent.TYPE_NOTIFICATION_STATE_CHANGED) {
//Do something, eg getting packagename
final String packagename = String.valueOf(event.getPackageName());
}
}
@Override
protected void onServiceConnected() {
if (isInit) {
return;
}
AccessibilityServiceInfo info = new AccessibilityServiceInfo();
info.eventTypes = AccessibilityEvent.TYPE_NOTIFICATION_STATE_CHANGED;
info.feedbackType = AccessibilityServiceInfo.FEEDBACK_SPOKEN;
setServiceInfo(info);
isInit = true;
}
@Override
public void onInterrupt() {
isInit = false;
}
}
Example for checking if your Service is activated
For Android 4.3 and above:
Use the Notification Listener API
The new Notification Listener API in Android 4.3 enables you to do this.
With this there is less need for the accessibility hack. It also allows you to dismiss notifications.
