TYPE_SYSTEM_OVERLAY in ICS

Question

In Honeycomb I was able to create a system overlay with TYPE_SYSTEM_OVERLAY and receive touches with FLAG_WATCH_OUTSIDE_TOUCH.

Now ICS has changed something. I can still create the system overlay, but i can't get touches.

Now, i am able to create the same with TYPE_SYSTEM_ALERT and get touches, but it just catches the touchevents, and not passing them on like in Honeycomb.

Any idea's?

Kind regards

Botticelli

Answer 1

Everything you describe is true. It is presumably to tighten up security, as the former behavior was the source of tapjacking attacks. I wrote a blog post recently about this change.

Any idea's?

Don't use either of them.

Transmittal

I just found a app that still does it in ICS, Swipepad. It allows to drag in every app from a pre-defined point to to the middle of the screen and then start a overlay, so there must be a way – Botticelli

@EdwinSchriek: That behavior sounds consistent with TYPE_SYSTEM_ALERT -- it seems reasonable that continuous touch events started via a tap on a system alert would be delivered to that system alert and not an underlying app. – Transmittal

hmm, i guess it's not possible then, but i will keep looking. Thanks! – Botticelli

@Edwin Schriek, Can you help me to solve my question?#65406016 – Co

Answer 2

To create an overlay view, when setting up the LayoutParams DON'T set the type to TYPE_SYSTEM_OVERLAY.

Instead set it to TYPE_PHONE.

Use the following flags:

FLAG_NOT_TOUCH_MODAL

FLAG_WATCH_OUTSIDE_TOUCH

FLAG_NOT_TOUCH_MODAL << I found this one to be quite important. Without it, focus is given to the overlay and soft-key (home, menu, etc.) presses are not passed to the activity below.

Crucify

FYI jawsware has a full sample app here that works for ICS: jawsware.mobi/code_OverlayView – Myatt

Not able to catch click events on any of the veiws in it on 4.2.X, though works well on lower versions of Android. Any suggestions? – Scharaga

Thanks. It worked for me - I had 'TYPE_SYSTEM_OVERLAY' and I changed it to 'TYPE_PHONE' with 'FLAG_NOT_TOUCH_MODAL' and set listener with 'setOnTouchListener' instead of 'setOnClickListener' to receive touches in a PopUp windows above my activity as well as in the activity below. In my case it was a default system incoming call notification with an overlaying window. – Textbook

@kosiara, were you able to prevent Home Button click? – Allomerism

@jawsware, do you know maybe how to prevent Home Button click? – Allomerism

@Crucify , TNX! I was needed only fact of touch - true\false. Now it WORKS ! – Novelette