Frequently updating widgets (more frequently than what updatePeriodMillis allows)

Question

I want a widget showing a countdown for a user initiated tracking of a bus departure. I want to update the widget every minute or so, from when the user initiates the tracki

Answer 1

I would register an alarm to start my service every 1 minute and the service would update the widget UI

final Intent intent = new Intent(context, UpdateService.class);
final PendingIntent pending = PendingIntent.getService(context, 0, intent, 0);
final AlarmManager alarm = (AlarmManager) context.getSystemService(Context.ALARM_SERVICE);
alarm.cancel(pending);
long interval = 1000*60;
alarm.setRepeating(AlarmManager.ELAPSED_REALTIME, SystemClock.elapsedRealtime(),interval, pending);

AlarmManager.ELAPSED_REALTIME will not wakr the device if it's sleeping to battery life should not be affected.