I am implementing NFC into an Xamarin Forms existing app, initially for a Zebra TC51 (android 6.0).
The app must be pinned so that users cannot access the rest of the device.
In OnCreate, within MainActivity.cs, I have the following lines:
NfcManager NfcManager = (NfcManager)Android.App.Application.Context.GetSystemService(Context.NfcService);
_nfcAdapter = NfcManager.DefaultAdapter;
I then use the following class to receive the tag:
[Activity IntentFilter(new[] { "android.nfc.action.NDEF_DISCOVERED" },
DataMimeType = MainActivity.ViewApeMimeType,
Categories = new[] { "android.intent.category.DEFAULT" })]
public class NfcActivity : Activity
{
protected override void OnCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState)
{
base.OnCreate(savedInstanceState);
//SetContentView(Resource.Layout.DisplayHominid);
if (Intent == null)
{
return;
}
var intentType = Intent.Type ?? String.Empty;
if (MainActivity.ViewApeMimeType.Equals(intentType))
{
var rawMessages = Intent.GetParcelableArrayExtra(NfcAdapter.ExtraNdefMessages);
var tag = Intent.GetParcelableExtra(NfcAdapter.ExtraTag) as Tag;
var id = System.Text.Encoding.Default.GetString(tag.GetId());
var msg = (NdefMessage)rawMessages[0];
var tagMessage = msg.GetRecords()[0];
var content = Encoding.ASCII.GetString(tagMessage.GetPayload());
// Call another function with Tag ID and contents here
}
}
}
This code works to retrieve the tag ID and contents, but only if the app is not pinned. If the app is pinned, then the NFC service window can not be displayed, and the tag is ignored.
Can anyone suggest a way around this. I do not want to use the NFCforms NUGET package due to licecing restrictions.
TIA. Pete
Given that you want to have your application running in a kiosk mode like scenario (restricting the user to access the device) a better option could be to use Zebra's Enterprise Home Screen.
In this way you can lock down the device, restricting access to notification, disabling the keyguard and more (if needed). And you can still add other apps that may be useful to the user.
In EHS' configuration you can specify that your app is launched automatically so that you're there as soon as the device is booted.
If you need to have only your app, a better solution than screen pinning maybe installing a Device Policy Controller and use the taskLockMode that has been introduced in Marshmallow for the COSU (Corporate Owned - Single Use) devices.
If still have issue you can try asking the question on Zebra's developer forum.
Disclaimer: I work for Zebra Technologies.
Related
We have a desktop Windows app (written in WFP/C#) that we distribute as a single .exe file with no installer (it bundles all its dependencies via a Fody/Costura plugin).
We would like to integrate a local Action Center toast functionality where the app can display a toast and respond to it when it's clicked.
Displaying the toast is straightforward and can be done by using the Microsoft.Toolkit.Uwp.Notifications nuget package. However, in order to actually receive proper notifications when the toast is clicked in the Action Center (as opposed to the balloon tip) we need to register with notification platform.
The guide on how to do this seems to be focused on apps with an installer (e.g. Wix): https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/uwp/design/shell/tiles-and-notifications/send-local-toast-desktop?fbclid=IwAR2AoHRKI88VNGRG-pTUytwhkMuovWT4bEr0RoXEayWpWsoGlghtZeq4Mo4#step-4-register-with-notification-platform
The specific task we're trying to achieve is, from the documentation:
If you're using classic Win32 (or if you support both), you have to declare your Application User Model ID (AUMID) and toast activator CLSID (the GUID from step #3) on your app's shortcut in Start.
How can we do it without writing an installer? We would like our app to do this registration on first run.
Note: the app already has provisions for elevating itself through UAC if needed by restarting itself in Administrator context.
Additional references: WPF native windows 10 toasts
[Update]
I managed to follow the instructions in https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/uwp/design/shell/tiles-and-notifications/send-local-toast-desktop
and https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/shell/enable-desktop-toast-with-appusermodelid to put together what should have been a working solution, but in the end, clicking on toasts in the Action Center does not trigger OnActivated() in my NotificationActivatior.
Salient points:
Sending notification
var toast = new ToastNotification(toastXml);
DesktopNotificationManagerCompat.CreateToastNotifier().Show(toast);
Registration:
string shortcutPath = Path.Combine(
Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.Programs),
"Toasty.lnk");
DesktopNotificationManagerCompat.RegisterAumidAndComServer
<MyNotificationActivator>(AppName);
DesktopNotificationManagerCompat.RegisterActivator
<MyNotificationActivator>();
if (!File.Exists(shortcutPath))
{
ShortcutManager.RegisterAppForNotifications(
shortcutPath,
Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().Location,
null,
AppName,
ActivationId);
}
Creating a shortcut
public static void RegisterAppForNotifications(
string shortcutPath,
string appExecutablePath,
string arguments,
string appName,
string activatorId)
{
var shellLinkClass = new ShellLinkCoClass();
IShellLinkW shellLink = (IShellLinkW)shellLinkClass;
shellLink.SetPath(appExecutablePath);
IPropertyStore propertyStore = (IPropertyStore)shellLinkClass;
IPersistFile persistFile = (IPersistFile)shellLinkClass;
if (arguments != null)
{
shellLink.SetArguments(arguments);
}
// https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/properties/props-system-appusermodel-id
propertyStore.SetValue(
new PropertyKey("9F4C2855-9F79-4B39-A8D0-E1D42DE1D5F3", 5),
new PROPVARIANT(appName));
// https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/properties/props-system-appusermodel-toastactivatorclsid
propertyStore.SetValue(
new PropertyKey("9F4C2855-9F79-4B39-A8D0-E1D42DE1D5F3", 26),
new PROPVARIANT(new Guid(activatorId)));
propertyStore.Commit();
persistFile.Save(shortcutPath, true);
}
[Update]
Finally got it to work - not sure what was wrong before, but the final version seems to be okay. Full code: https://gist.github.com/davidair/c4ea207bf6eece4ef08b97ab29a3036f
I have the same problem with my project now.
Managed to find this repository - https://github.com/felixrieseberg/electron-windows-interactive-notifications
Here's C++ implementation for installing shortcut (InteractiveNotifications file, InstallShortcut method). I guess the problem is how we set the value to PropertyStore, string GUID is not suitable for some reason. Still, I wasn't able to solve the problem for now.
UPDATED: Finally, was able to install shortcut from code! Check my example at Github. https://github.com/romayavorskyi/WpfNotificationTest (still a lot of hardcode, but it should give you the general idea). And you were right, shortcut path matters. It seems shortcut should be in the ProgramData folder for correct work.
How can I get my app to open the last edited file after a click in the Windows 10 Timeline? Thanks for the help.
var activityId = Guid.NewGuid().ToString();
UserActivityChannel channel = UserActivityChannel.GetDefault();
UserActivity userActivity = await channel.GetOrCreateUserActivityAsync(activityId);
userActivity.VisualElements.DisplayText = PageTitle.Text;
if (File != null)
{
userActivity.VisualElements.Description = File.DisplayName;
}
userActivity.VisualElements.BackgroundColor = Colors.Black;
userActivity.VisualElements.Content = AdaptiveCardBuilder.CreateAdaptiveCardFromJson(cardText);
userActivity.ActivationUri = new Uri("my-app:navigate?page=" + _index);
await userActivity.SaveAsync();
_currentActivity?.Dispose();
_currentActivity = userActivity.CreateSession();
From the UserActivityChannel Class, there is a GetRecentUserActivitiesAsync method, but it only get the specified number of the most recently engaged user activities sorted by the time each user activity ended. Due to the privacy protecting policy of UWP app, your app can not get the user activities from system or other apps.
Currently, in your app, you can only operate the user activities which your app created. If the file is edited by the system or other app, you can not implement the effect you want. But if the file is operated by your app, you can try to create a user activity which is for opening the file then handle the protocol activated event in your app to open it. Maybe you should see the topic track recently used files.
So I have spent the whole night looking like a zombie in the morning trying to figure out how the OS handles an NFC tap for an NDEFLaunchApp Record and I have known the following.
I'm pretty sure that there is a workaround which lets you launch a system app / third party app (if you know the product Id / GUID) from your app. As there are apps in the Windows Phone Store which I have somehow figured out what I've been trying to.
I have come up with the following code:
NdefLaunchAppRecord appLaunchRecord = new NdefLaunchAppRecord();
appLaunchRecord.AddPlatformAppId("WindowsPhone", "{App GUID}");
appLaunchRecord.Arguments = "_default";
// Creating a new NdefMessage from the above record.
var message = new NdefMessage { appLaunchRecord };
// Getting the record from the message that we just created
foreach (NdefLaunchAppRecord record in message)
{
var specializedType = record.CheckSpecializedType(false);
if (specializedType == typeof(NdefLaunchAppRecord))
{
var x = String.Join(" ", record.Payload);
// Getting the payload by GetString gets a formatted Uri with args
string result = System.Text.Encoding.UTF8.GetString(record.Payload, 0, record.Payload.Length);
// result = "\0\fWindowsPhone&{5B04B775-356B-4AA0-AAF8-6491FFEA5630}\0\b_default";
// result = "(null)(form feed)WindowsPhone&{App GUID}(null)(backspace)_default
// So this will be sent to the OS and I believe the OS will then launch the specified app by an unknown protocol
// like xxx://result
// and the app will be launched?
// So is it then possible to somehow call the following:
await Windows.System.Launcher.LaunchUriAsync(new Uri("OUR MAGIC RESULT?", UriKind.RelativeOrAbsolute));
If anyone has / can figure out a way for this, it would be a REAL Service to the WP Community as developers are restricted by Microsoft to open certain settings / apps which are actually needed by those apps. For instance (speech settings, audio settings, about settings, alarms, region settings, date+time);
APPS that possibly have a workaround:
Music Hub Tile (Launches the old Music+Videos Hub)
http://www.windowsphone.com/en-gb/store/app/music-hub-tile/3faa2f9e-6b8d-440a-bb60-5dd76a5baec1
Tile for Bing Vision
http://www.windowsphone.com/en-gb/store/app/tile-for-bing-vision/05894022-e18c-40a4-a6cc-992383aa7ee8
There are reserved uri schemes for bing and zune.
See: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/apps/jj207065(v=vs.105).aspx
Those two apps propably use these and have found some undocumented use of the scheme.
If there is an uri scheme that launches any app by guid from within your app, it is hidden well.
Currently you can only launch apps that registered for an uri scheme or file association.
I was wondering if it's possible to call the default navigation application within my Windows Phone 8.1 application. I have an address and I would like for the user to press a button and be able to navigate to that address through the default navigation app. If this is possible, how do I do it?
Thanks for your time,
Johan
You can launch turn-by-turn directions apps using the ms-drive-to and ms-walk-to schemes (depending on the type of directions you want) but you first need to get a geocoordinate for the address that you have. Since you're targeting Windows Phone 8.1, you can use the MapLocationFinder class in the Windows.Services.Maps namespace.
string locationName = "Empire State Building";
string address = "350 5th Avenue, New York City, New York 10018";
var locFinderResult = await MapLocationFinder.FindLocationsAsync(
address, new Geopoint(new BasicGeoposition()));
// add error checking here
var geoPos = locFinderResult.Locations[0].Point.Position;
var driveToUri = new Uri(String.Format(
"ms-drive-to:?destination.latitude={0}&destination.longitude={1}&destination.name={2}",
geoPos.Latitude,
geoPos.Longitude,
locationName));
Launcher.LaunchUriAsync(driveToUri);
the official solution is:
Uri uri = new Uri("ms-drive-to:?destination.latitude=" + latitude.ToString(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture) +
"&destination.longitude=" + longitude.ToString(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture))
var success = await Windows.System.Launcher.LaunchUriAsync(uri);
if (success)
{
// Uri launched.
}
else
{
MessageBox.Show("error");
}
But, there is a problem with this solution.
If you use the nokia programs (HERE), it works fine.
if you want to use waze, you have to add origin.latitude and origin.longitude.
in the MSDN page, They said that it is not necessary, but in fact, you have to write it.
I am already not enable to load moovit but if someone has an issue, it'll help me a lot.
I know this question as been beaten to death, but I don't want anything super complicated here.
We have a companion app with our site that is only compatible with 7 and 10-inch tablets. We need to only alert users on those devices about our app. Problem is, I can't go by resolution. My Galaxy S3 has a 1280 x 720 screen, but is obviously not a tablet. I also can't for the life of me find out a way to get the physical size of the screen. The only solution I have come up with is detecting whether the device can make calls with MobileCapabilities.CanInitiateVoiceCall. Unfortuantely, by boss isn't happy with that solution.
So... How can I distinguish between a phone and a tablet in my web app (Server or client side)?
UPDATE: So far it seems that the best approach for Android is something from a blog post by the Android team: All Android phones use "Mobile" in the UserAgent string, so checking for "Mobile" *and "Android" will tell you if it's a phone, while just "Android" should be a tablet. iOS devices should be just as simple--checking for "iPhone" vs "iPad" seems to have worked so far.
I know this is a little late, but I was looking for the same thing.
Wurfl has wat you want. You can implement it easily and and even have an api you can query.
For ASP.NET application first you must place the one-off initialization.
public class Global : HttpApplication
{
public const String WurflDataFilePath = "~/App_Data/wurfl.zip";
private void Application_Start(Object sender, EventArgs e)
{
var wurflDataFile = HttpContext.Current.Server.MapPath(WurflDataFilePath);
var configurer = new InMemoryConfigurer().MainFile(wurflDataFile);
var manager = WURFLManagerBuilder.Build(configurer);
HttpContext.Current.Cache[WurflManagerCacheKey] = manager;
}
}
And then use it like this.
var device = WURFLManagerBuilder.Instance.GetDeviceForRequest(userAgent);
var isTablet = device.GetCapability("is_tablet");
var isSmartphone = device.GetCapability("is_smartphone");
For more info check ASP.NET implementation
Hope this helps anyone else looking for this.
You can try to do a user agent detection and search for the keywrords, for example, all Non tablet devices have a "Mobile Safari" key words on their user agent.