How to implement a popup overlay that can be displayed over any other app in Android

Question

How can I implement a popup overlay for an app that can be displayed over any other app.

Facebook implemented a very similar feature called Chatheads in its new Fac

Answer 1

i know its late to post the answer, i will post it anyway for other people who are seeking the answer

AndroidFloatingImage

Answer 2

This is a minimal, simple, and general example of a floating "chathead"-style overlay.

It uses the following code to make things float:

windowManager = (WindowManager) getSystemService(WINDOW_SERVICE);
chatHead = new ImageView(this);
chatHead.setImageResource(R.drawable.floating);
final WindowManager.LayoutParams params = new WindowManager.LayoutParams(
    WindowManager.LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT,
    WindowManager.LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT,
    WindowManager.LayoutParams.TYPE_PHONE,
    WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_NOT_FOCUSABLE,
    PixelFormat.TRANSLUCENT);

The full source source can be found here (under the Apache license).

Answer 3

Full source code is here: http://www.piwai.info/chatheads-basics
Note: You will need <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW" />

public class ChatHeadService extends Service {

  private WindowManager windowManager;
  private ImageView chatHead;

  @Override public IBinder onBind(Intent intent) {
    // Not used
    return null;
  }

  @Override public void onCreate() {
    super.onCreate();

    windowManager = (WindowManager) getSystemService(WINDOW_SERVICE);

    chatHead = new ImageView(this);
    chatHead.setImageResource(R.drawable.android_head);

    WindowManager.LayoutParams params = new WindowManager.LayoutParams(
        WindowManager.LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT,
        WindowManager.LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT,
        WindowManager.LayoutParams.TYPE_PHONE,
        WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_NOT_FOCUSABLE,
        PixelFormat.TRANSLUCENT);

    params.gravity = Gravity.TOP | Gravity.LEFT;
    params.x = 0;
    params.y = 100;

    windowManager.addView(chatHead, params);
  }

  @Override
  public void onDestroy() {
    super.onDestroy();
    if (chatHead != null) windowManager.removeView(chatHead);
  }
}

Answer 4

There's a library for that if you want Messenger like behavior: Bubbles.

If you prefer implement it yourself look at Window Manager as others suggest. You can also take a look at the source code of Bubbles to get inspired.

Answer 5

Every Activity, dialog as well as service is attached with a window. Facebook keeps a service running in background and in the service they fetch window manager object by

windowManager = (WindowManager) getSystemService(WINDOW_SERVICE);

Create Layout Params needed while adding your view

WindowManager.LayoutParams params = new WindowManager.LayoutParams(
    WindowManager.LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT,
    WindowManager.LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT,
    WindowManager.LayoutParams.TYPE_PHONE,
    WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_NOT_FOCUSABLE,
    PixelFormat.TRANSLUCENT);

now add your view to window manager by following method

windowManager.addView(yourView, params);