How to use an implicit intent to start a service from another package/app?

Question

I'm trying to introduce code to the open source app Gadgetbridge for starting services from other packages/apps.

I'm trying to get it working with sending implicit intents to play/pause the music app Poweramp:

Action: com.maxmpz.audioplayer.API_COMMAND Extra: cmd:1 Target: Service

I have verified that using the intent info above works by launching it with the automation app Tasker. But so far I have not managed to implement it in Gadgetbridge.

This is part of the code I'm working on now:

case "servicetest": // only for trying to get service intents going,
        Intent inServiceTest = new Intent();
        inServiceTest.setAction("com.maxmpz.audioplayer.API_COMMAND");
        inServiceTest.putExtra("cmd", (int)1); //for trying poweramp service intent play/pause
        this.getContext().getApplicationContext().startService(inServiceTest);
        break;
case "foregroundservicetest": // only for trying to get service intents going,
        Intent inServiceTestFg = new Intent();
        inServiceTestFg.setAction("com.maxmpz.audioplayer.API_COMMAND");
        inServiceTestFg.putExtra("cmd", (int)1); //for trying poweramp service intent play/pause
        this.getContext().getApplicationContext().startForegroundService(inServiceTestFg);
        break;

I've added to AndroidManifest.xml.

The code above doesn't play or pause Poweramp. I initiate the respective parts of the code block by sending a message from my Bangle.js 2 watch to Gadgetbridge containing the code word "servicetest" or "foregroundservicetest".

I'm testing on a Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite running Android 10.

I've taken some pointers from this stackoverflow question. And I've also tried suggestions from here.

How can I modify the code to make it start the service for controlling Poweramp with the mentioned implicit intent?

EDIT: By specifying a package for the intent, i.e. making it explicit, it can control Poweramp. I add this:

inServiceTestFg.setPackage("com.maxmpz.audioplayer");

I however still wonder how I can achieve this with an implicit intent like Tasker seems to be able to. Or is it that Tasker sets package information without the user specifying it?

How to use an implicit intent to start a service from another package/app?

0 Answers