Why I am not receiving the installed apps broadcast?

Question

I am trying to get all installed applications using intents and broadcast receiver, but the problem is I never directs to my onReceive method and so not getting any package name. I am using the following code:

KillAppBCR.java

public class KillAppBCR extends Activity {
private static final String TAG = "BroadcastReceiver";

BroadcastReceiver receiver;

@Override
public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
    setContentView(R.layout.main);

    IntentFilter filter = new IntentFilter(Intent.ACTION_PACKAGE_ADDED);

    receiver = new TestBroadcastReceiver();

    registerReceiver(receiver, filter);

    Log.e(TAG, "onCreate");
    Toast.makeText(KillAppBCR.this,"onCreate",Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();

}

TestBroadcastReceiver.java

public class TestBroadcastReceiver extends BroadcastReceiver
 {
 private static final String TAG = "TestBroadcastReceiver";

@Override
public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent)
{
    String actionStr = intent.getAction();

    Log.e(TAG, "onReceive");
     Toast.makeText(context,"onReceive",Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();


    if (Intent.ACTION_PACKAGE_ADDED.equals(actionStr)) {

        Uri data = intent.getData();

    }
}
}

AndroidManifest.xml

 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
  package="com.KillAppBCR"
  android:versionCode="1"
  android:versionName="1.0">
<uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="8" />

<application android:icon="@drawable/icon" android:label="@string/app_name">
    <activity android:name=".KillAppBCR"
              android:label="@string/app_name">
        <intent-filter>
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
            <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
        </intent-filter>
    </activity>
<receiver android:name=".TestBroadcastReceiver">
  <intent-filter>
    <action android:name="com.KillAppBCR" />
  </intent-filter>
</receiver>
</application>
</manifest>

Log Cat

07-19 18:39:48.768: ERROR/BroadcastReceiver(512): CC

07-19 18:39:49.008: INFO/ActivityManager(58): Displayed activity    com.KillAppBCR/.KillAppBCR: 685 ms (total 685 ms)

07-19 18:39:54.338: DEBUG/dalvikvm(121): GC_EXPLICIT freed 259 objects / 12032 bytes in 157ms

07-19 18:42:58.943: DEBUG/SntpClient(58): request time failed: java.net.SocketException: Address family not supported by protocol

07-19 18:47:58.989: DEBUG/SntpClient(58): request time failed: java.net.SocketException: Address family not supported by protocol

Where is the problem ? Please help me out, I want to receive broadcasts of all installed apps.

Thanks

So what happens if you register the receiver in the manifest, shouldn't it fire without your program running. Then all you have a to do is add the installed app to a list which can be read when you use your app. — , Jul 19 '11 at 17:08

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered Jul 19 '11 at 12:15

3

Why your Activity code most probably doesn't work: You're registering the receiver only temporarily with registerReceiver. So Android will kill your receiver again after you closed your Activity.

What you have to do is replace com.KillAppBCR with android.intent.action.PACKAGE_ADDED in your AndroidManifest.xml. This tells Android to register your receiver permanently.

answered Jul 19 '11 at 12:15

TomTasche

5,448
7
41
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I have tried it but still it doesnt directs me to onReceive method. – Syed Jul 19 '11 at 12:42

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Jul 19 '11 at 14:24

0

I think you have to make sure that your application runs beyond just a gui, i.e. perhaps it should have a service component as well which could note all installations being made. IMHO you are trying to read only new installations, right? Because that is what the code should do, however as TomTasche pointed out, clearly your application will get killed if you navigate away from it. And once your application is dead, nothing, nada. No intents, no notifications, simple.

answered Jul 19 '11 at 14:24

Ahmed Belal Hashmi

1

neither in the case of newly installed apps nor in showing all currently apps ( ALL_APPS instead of ACTION_PACKAGE_ADDED ) this code calls onReceive method. – Syed Jul 19 '11 at 15:08

Why I am not receiving the installed apps broadcast?

2 Answers2