1. Android Notifications
How not to open app and still get work done!

2. Notifications Manager
Android lets you put notification into the titlebar of your app.
App user can expand the notification bar and select the notification to trigger
another activity.
Classes Required for Notification
1. Notification
2. NotificationManager

3. Sample Code for Notification - Specify Intent
//Specify which intent would be triggered if notification is selected
Intent intent = new Intent(this, NotificationReceiver.class);
//Specify a PendingIntent to handle notification
PendingIntent pndIntent = PendingIntent.getActivity(this, (int)
System.currentTimeMillis(), intent, 0);

4. Actions for Notifications
Common Scenarios
1. Accept/Reject(Meeting)
2. Like/Share(Social Media Post)
3. Retweet/Like(Tweet)
4. View/Purchase(Product/Service)
5. Add/Delete(Contact Request)

5. Actionable Notifications - Google Drive

6. Create Notification (e.g. Meeting Request)
Notification ntfcn = new Notification.Builder(this)
.setContentTitle(“New Meeting Request”)
.sentContextText(“Agend”)
.setSmallIcon(R.drawable.nicon)
.setContentIntent(pndIntent)
.setAutoCancel(true)

7. Add Actions
.addAction(R.drawable.acpticon, “Accept”, pndIntent)
.addAction(R.drawable.rjcticon, “Reject”, pndIntent)
.addAction(R.drawable.ignrticon, “Ignore”, pndIntent).build();

8. Send Notification
NotificationManager ntfcnManager
= (NotificationManager) getSystemService(NOTIFICATION_SERVICE);
notificationManager.notify(0,ntfcn);

9. Expandable Notifications
Android supports expandable notifications from version
4.1.
You can define a big view in addition to normal
notification view and it would be shown when notification
is expanded.
Use following three style for big view of notification
big picture style, big text style and Inbox style

10. Big Picture Notification
User can experience the product or service you
are offering right from the notification and not
required to open the app.
Notification ntfcn = new Notification.Builder()
//other notification class properties
.setStyle(new
Notification.BigPictureStyle().bigPicture(bgBit
map))
.build();

11. Roll-Up Notifications
Roll up notification displays multiple notifications into one.
This type of notification would be used mainly for social networking apps
where lots of actions are taken(interactions) and content is generated.
Notification ntfcn = new Notification.Builder()
... // The same notification properties as the others
.setStyle(new Notification.InboxStyle()
.addLine("Letsnurture likes your post")
.addLine("Letsnurture shared your post")
.setContentTitle("2 new notes")
.setSummaryText("+2 more"))
.build();

12. Notification and Android Wear
Android Wear is fast becoming second must have gadget for everyone.
Note: In order to provide rich notifications like other Android
Devices(Phone/Tabs) use following classes
NotificationCompat,
NotificationManagerCompat
NotificationCompat.WearableExtender

13. Voice Input in a Notifications
You can provide voice input in reply to any notification now.
This is specially useful in case of wearable devices where no keyboard input is
not available.
Voice Input would be managed using RemoteInput class.
If actions are fixed and predefined specify using a string array and
populate(display) using setChoices() property of RemoteInput class

14. Setup for Voice Input and Receive It
For setup of voice input add RemoteInput object to an action using
addRemoteInput().
From your Bundle object receive voice input using getResutlsFromIntent.
Note: Do not use Intent.getExtras() as voice input is stored as ClipData.

15. Add Pages to a Notifications
Space is the biggest factor on wearable devices.
Each page should have minimal details.
So, You need to divide your output in pages.
For this you need to use addPage() to add pages to main notification or use
addPages() to add multiple pages in a Collection.

16. Stacking Notification
Arrangement of is critical in case of wearable again because of space
constraint.
Here you can display a ‘+Number more’ e.g. +4 more so user would know how
many more notification he might have to navigate through.
Note: Use new setGroup() method to provide only one summary notification on
wearable device.

17. Notification Settings for Android Watch
Your Android watch is using the same settings you have notifications for each
app on your Android Phone.
1. In case where your app makes a sound or vibrate for notifications, your
watch will vibrate.
2. In case where your phone doesn’t vibrate or make a sound, your watch
would display a card but won’t vibrate.

18. Custom Notifications
Possibilities
1. Music Player Notification
Album Art, Track Name, Artist, Previous/Play/Next Buttons
1. Weather Notification
5-Day / Hourly forecast chart with weather condition and color coding for temp.
3. To-Do list with clear option

19. Custom Notification
1. Use RemoteViews to create custom
notifications
2. Use Android XML file for defining layout of
Custom Notification view

20. New in Android 5.0
1. New Material Design Theme
2. Lock Screen Notification
3. Priority for Notifications (High Priority would be displayed as Heads-up
Notification)
4. Cloud-Synced Notification you don’t have to dismiss same notification
from multiple devices anymore.

21. Examples of Heads-up notifications
1. Message from your loved one from Whatsapp
2. Alarm when device is in use
3. System Update(e.g. Battery status indicator)
4. Incoming call or SMS while device is in use

22. General Guidelines for Notification
1. Use distinct icon(must be as unique as your app)
2. Pulse notification LED in relation to importance of notification
3. Provide notification only for events that matters to the user
4. Show current status for ongoing notifications(e.g. music player)
5. Control visibility level with PUBLIC or PRIVATE settings

23. Visit www.letsnurture.com for more….