How to use "Send Feeback", FeedbackActivity, in Android?

Question

Is there a sample of using com.google.android.feedback.FeedbackActivity like it's used in the Google+ App to send any feedback?

I tried to start it with

Intent intent = new Intent();
intent.setClassName("com.google.android.feedback",  "com.google.android.feedback.FeedbackActivity");
startActivity(intent);

but I only get

java.lang.RuntimeException: Unable to start activity ComponentInfo{com.google.android.feedback/com.google.android.feedback.FeedbackActivity}: java.lang.NullPointerException

Where can I find the sources of that? I thinks it's closed source - I'm not good in reverse engineering. That's why I posted the question here. — mars3142, May 30 '12 at 12:28
Check out: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/10559267/how-to-use-intent-action-app-error-as-a-means-for-a-feedback-framework-in-andr — Jared Burrows, Dec 30 '13 at 21:12

score 9 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 12:32

Solution for all APIs

I have added all my research and related posts

I have been looking for the best solution for this for a while. Please look at the Google "MyTracks" application which is open source and on Google Code here:

https://code.google.com/p/mytracks/source/browse/MyTracks/src/com/google/android/apps/mytracks/TrackListActivity.java

Look at how they handle compatibility between API levels with their API Adapter classes:

https://code.google.com/p/mytracks/source/browse/MyTracks/src/com/google/android/apps/mytracks#mytracks%2Futil

Handling Menus:

Based on API => 14 (allow feedback):

menu.findItem(R.id.track_list_feedback)
    .setVisible(ApiAdapterFactory.getApiAdapter().isGoogleFeedbackAvailable());

This will remove the button "Send Feedback" if API is lower than 14.

Sending Feedback:

https://code.google.com/p/mytracks/source/browse/MyTracks/src/com/google/android/apps/mytracks/util/GoogleFeedbackUtils.java

Based on API => 14 (send feedback):

public class GoogleFeedbackUtils {

  private static final String TAG = GoogleFeedbackUtils.class.getSimpleName();

  private GoogleFeedbackUtils() {}

  /**
   * Binds the Google Feedback service.
   * 
   * @param context the context
   */
  public static void bindFeedback(Context context) {
    Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_BUG_REPORT);
    intent.setComponent(new ComponentName("com.google.android.gms", "com.google.android.gms.feedback.LegacyBugReportService"));
    ServiceConnection serviceConnection = new ServiceConnection() {
        @Override
      public void onServiceConnected(ComponentName name, IBinder service) {
        try {
          service.transact(Binder.FIRST_CALL_TRANSACTION, Parcel.obtain(), null, 0);
        } catch (RemoteException e) {
          Log.e(TAG, "RemoteException", e);
        }
      }

        @Override
      public void onServiceDisconnected(ComponentName name) {}
    };
    // Bind to the service after creating it if necessary
    context.bindService(intent, serviceConnection, Context.BIND_AUTO_CREATE);
  }
}

Code for menu:

https://code.google.com/p/mytracks/source/browse/MyTracks/src/com/google/android/apps/mytracks/TrackListActivity.java

Snippet from source, Based on API => 14:

 @Override
  public boolean onOptionsItemSelected(MenuItem item) {
    Intent intent;
    switch (item.getItemId()) {
      case R.id.track_list_feedback:
        GoogleFeedbackUtils.bindFeedback(this);
        return true;
      default:
        return super.onOptionsItemSelected(item);
    }
  }

Solution for API 10+:

Read here: How to use Intent.ACTION_APP_ERROR as a means for a "feedback" framework in Android? and here: http://blog.tomtasche.at/2012/10/use-built-in-feedback-mechanism-on.html

@TargetApi(Build.VERSION_CODES.ICE_CREAM_SANDWICH)  
private void sendFeedback() {
    try {
        int i = 3 / 0;
    } catch (Exception e) {
    ApplicationErrorReport report = new ApplicationErrorReport();
    report.packageName = report.processName = getApplication().getPackageName();
    report.time = System.currentTimeMillis();
    report.type = ApplicationErrorReport.TYPE_CRASH;
    report.systemApp = false;

    ApplicationErrorReport.CrashInfo crash = new ApplicationErrorReport.CrashInfo();
    crash.exceptionClassName = e.getClass().getSimpleName();
    crash.exceptionMessage = e.getMessage();

    StringWriter writer = new StringWriter();
    PrintWriter printer = new PrintWriter(writer);
    e.printStackTrace(printer);

    crash.stackTrace = writer.toString();

    StackTraceElement stack = e.getStackTrace()[0];
    crash.throwClassName = stack.getClassName();
    crash.throwFileName = stack.getFileName();
    crash.throwLineNumber = stack.getLineNumber();
    crash.throwMethodName = stack.getMethodName();

    report.crashInfo = crash;

    Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
    intent.setClassName("com.google.android.feedback", "com.google.android.feedback.FeedbackActivity");
    intent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_BUG_REPORT, report);
    startActivity(intent);
    }
}

Solution for All APIs

Bottom line: Application report will be made for all phones with API 10+ and application installed or information can be sent through email.

1. Make sure the user has the application installed

if (applicationExist("com.google.android.feedback"))

2. If the user has the application installed, run the Feedback application directly

intent.setClassName("com.google.android.feedback", "com.google.android.feedback.FeedbackActivity");

3. If the user does not have application installed, send feedback to Email

@TargetApi(Build.VERSION_CODES.ICE_CREAM_SANDWICH)  
private void sendFeedback() {
    try {
        int i = 3 / 0;
    } catch (Exception e) {
        ApplicationErrorReport report = new ApplicationErrorReport();
        report.packageName = report.processName = getApplication().getPackageName();
        report.time = System.currentTimeMillis();
        report.type = ApplicationErrorReport.TYPE_NONE;
        report.systemApp = false;

        ApplicationErrorReport.CrashInfo crash = new ApplicationErrorReport.CrashInfo();
        crash.exceptionClassName = e.getClass().getSimpleName();
        crash.exceptionMessage = e.getMessage();

        StringWriter writer = new StringWriter();
        PrintWriter printer = new PrintWriter(writer);
        e.printStackTrace(printer);

        crash.stackTrace = writer.toString();

        StackTraceElement stack = e.getStackTrace()[0];
        crash.throwClassName = stack.getClassName();
        crash.throwFileName = stack.getFileName();
        crash.throwLineNumber = stack.getLineNumber();
        crash.throwMethodName = stack.getMethodName();

        report.crashInfo = crash;

        try
        {
            if (applicationExist("com.google.android.feedback"))
            {
                Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
                intent.setClassName("com.google.android.feedback", "com.google.android.feedback.FeedbackActivity");
                intent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_BUG_REPORT, report);
                startActivity(intent);
            }
            else
            {
                Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_SEND);
                intent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
                intent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_EMAIL, new String[] { "burrowsapps@gmail.com" });
                intent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_SUBJECT, getApplicationContext().getApplicationInfo().loadLabel(getApplicationContext().getPackageManager()).toString()+"("+getPackageManager().getPackageInfo(getApplicationInfo().packageName, 0).versionName+")"+" Contact Form | Device: "+Build.MANUFACTURER+" "+Build.DEVICE+"("+Build.MODEL+") API: "+Build.VERSION.SDK_INT);
                intent.setType("plain/html");
                startActivity(intent);
            }
        } catch (Exception e2) { }
    }
}

private boolean applicationExist(String uri)
{
    PackageManager pm = this.getPackageManager();
    boolean exists = false;
    try
    {
        pm.getPackageInfo(uri, PackageManager.GET_ACTIVITIES);
        exists = true;
    }
    catch (Exception e) { }

    return exists;
}

Where is the feedback send to when using GoogleFeedbackUtils? (For API => 14) — , May 10 '14 at 08:06
@GerritHoekstra The link I provided to the MyTracks app located on GoogleCode. — Jared Burrows, May 10 '14 at 22:35
I'm sorry for the misunderstanding but I mean where does the feedback send to when you submit the feedback form when using `GoogleFeedbackUtils`? To the `Android Developer Console`, email, Google headquarters (I have a doubt about it), or somewhere else? — , May 11 '14 at 09:10
@GerritHoekstra Crash Report -> Android Developer Console and Email -> Your email — Jared Burrows, May 11 '14 at 18:31
This answer will crash on api 21+. Service Intents must now be explicit — Bob bobbington, Aug 04 '15 at 09:07
To fix add the line intent.setPackage("com.google.android.gms"); — Bob bobbington, Aug 04 '15 at 09:19
@JaredBurrows where does the feedback send to when you submit the feedback form when using GoogleFeedbackUtils? (For API => 14) — Dilanka Laksiri, Mar 17 '21 at 10:34