Any way I can write a windows store app (for phone or other) which will allow me to draw on top of other apps? In other words, I'd like my app to run in the background and not handle any user gestures but be able to draw on a semi-transparent overlay / canvas above any other running apps. I can do this in windows 7 but WinRT is new to me.
thanks
I do not believe it is possible due to the sandboxed nature of Windows Store Apps to do something like this (much akin to iOS). Windows 8 has much tighter security in its applications, so much so that you can't even take a screenshot in a metro app, because if a user has split the screen to hold two apps, you could potentially capture information from the other application.
Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I've encountered this problem before and have found no viable solution.
Related
Usually devices may be integrated to the Homey when there exist supporting Homey app for them. In special cases it is possible without (simple zigbee z-wawe on/off devices).
I would like to integrate viessmann devices to the homey. it should be able to turn on/off device and set the temperature.
Link for possible information related to viessmann API.
Anyone idea how to do it?
Anyone who can do it? Even for reward...
I've checked but indeed there currently is no Viessmann app available for Homey.
If you have prior knowledge with programming, specifically with Javascript, it is possible to create a Homey app yourselves, the best place to get started with Homey apps is in de Homey apps SDK https://apps.developer.homey.app/the-basics/getting-started.
It is also possible to ask the community for help, or ask for an app request https://community.homey.app/c/apps/7.
I know how to use the various tasks/launchers in Windows Phone to share a link or status on twitter, etc. However, is there anything built into the Windows Phone 8.x API to create a sharing screen like the one shown in the image below?
I've seen this same screen in both native Windows Phone apps (e.g. when tap-n-hold to share an app in the app list) as well as 3rd party apps (e.g. IMDB). Seeing this, I'd like to think this is available to be used by custom apps
Can anyone tell me if this exists as a shared component/API? If not, does anyone have some sample code for creating the page dynamically?
Ok, it turns out there is an API (via the Share Contract) in Windows Phone for this. It is called DataTransferManager.ShowShareUI and you can find out more information about it here.
Unfortunately, there is not others shared component/API (I also try to find it).
But by using Launchers you help provide a consistent user experience throughout the Windows Phone platform, so users already know "how to share".
Currently I have to test app and set the different fake GPS locations on real WP 8 devices. On Android I use 'My Fake Location'. Unfortunately, I didn't find the same app for WP 8. Any ideas to solve my problem? For 'black box' testing.
Testing has to be desgined during (or before) software development. Not after that.
There is good reason that on real devices there is no possibility to fake GPS from outside of that application.
To solve your problem, the app has to implement a playback mode, where it reads the locations from a csv file (or gpx), and calls a timer, e.g once a second, and creates the location programatically.
This then can be used to test specific behaviour which is not easy to achieve in real world situations. (e.g driving with 220 km/h) .
This playback feature is not visible when a specific configuration (file) is set for mass rollout of the app.
There is currently no way to do this.
maybe this can help. this ins`t an app for mobile, only for PC.
http://blogs.windows.com/buildingapps/2011/01/28/windows-phone-gps-emulator/
I am developing a Windows phone 8 app that need to run only in background with UI. Is there any way I can run the app in the background, or without actually being open?
It depends upon what you want to do in the background. Generally speaking you can't implement something like a Windows service that will startup automatically when the phone is launched.
That said you can run your app in the background within given limitations. Check out MSDN for detailed information.
Why all these limitations you might ask yourself? It's to provide a good battery life to the user.
Edit:
For the periodic agent to start running the app must be started once. Further the agent must update a live tile (user must pin it to the start screen) or the app has to be once opened every 14 days.
Another option might be using push notifications to trigger an update..
This is how you do it on Windows Phone 7 http://blog.jerrynixon.com/2011/11/mango-sample-lock-and-run.html is it possible in Windows 8?
This sample is showing you how to implement the functionality so your app will still "run" when the device is locked. It only seems to work with a kind of "background tasks" which makes it not exactly the same as it is for Windows Phone.
http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/windowsapps/Lock-screen-apps-sample-9843dc3a
Please note that an app that can run when the device is locked should have at least one of the following background tasks:
Control Channel
Timer
Push Notification
Here is some more info on the lockscreen: http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/windows/apps/Hh779720
UPDATE:
As far as I have found there is no exact behaviour like in Windows phone to run your app under the lockscreen. There are a few recent posts on the MSDN blogs which explain the background model http://blogs.msdn.com/b/windowsappdev/archive/2012/05/16/being-productive-when-your-app-is-offscreen.aspx?wa=wsignin1.0
Sorry to see that at this moment there is no way to make it work under the lockscreen