Dedicated devices

Glass is typically configured to be used as a dedicated device with a small number of applications that make up an enterprise solution. The following guide demonstrates how to set up Glass as a dedicated device.

For more information, see dedicated devices overview and dedicated devices cookbook.

Provisioning

Low-touch provisioning on Glass Enterprise Edition 2 installs and configures an admin application that's downloaded from the metadata provided in a QR code. This application can take advantage of the DevicePolicyManager API, which is the preferred method to manage the device’s configuration.

Replace launcher

To set up a dedicated device, you must replace the launcher application. This ensures that the dedicated application is launched automatically after the device reboots. The following content outlines the tasks involved in preparing an application and setting it as the launcher:

• Activity intent filter
• Set a new launcher

Activity intent filter

You need to add the following categories to the main activity in your application's manifest:

<intent-filter>
  <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN"/>
  <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER"/>

  <category android:name="android.intent.category.HOME"/>
  <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT"/>
</intent-filter>

Set a new launcher

To set a new launcher, call addPersistentPreferredActivity() from the admin application. This only works if the device has already been provisioned. For non-provisioned devices, select a new launcher from the UI on the device.

Add persistent preferred activity

This method allows you to set a given componentName as the device’s launcher, without interacting with the device.

Kotlin

val filter = IntentFilter(Intent.ACTION_MAIN)
filter.addCategory(Intent.CATEGORY_HOME)
filter.addCategory(Intent.CATEGORY_DEFAULT)

val componentName = ComponentName(PACKAGE_NAME, CLASS_NAME)
val devicePolicyManager: DevicePolicyManager =
    context.getSystemService(Context.DEVICE_POLICY_SERVICE) as DevicePolicyManager
val adminName = getComponentName(context)
devicePolicyManager.addPersistentPreferredActivity(adminName, filter, componentName)

Java

final IntentFilter filter = new IntentFilter(Intent.ACTION_MAIN);
filter.addCategory(Intent.CATEGORY_HOME);
filter.addCategory(Intent.CATEGORY_DEFAULT);

final ComponentName componentName = new ComponentName(PACKAGE_NAME, CLASS_NAME);
DevicePolicyManager devicePolicyManager =
    (DevicePolicyManager) context.getSystemService(Context.DEVICE_POLICY_SERVICE);
final adminName = getComponentName(context);
devicePolicyManager.addPersistentPreferredActivity(adminName, filter, componentName);

Note: Reboot the device to apply the changes.

Use UI on the device

Use one of the following methods to show a launcher selection dialog on the screen:

Using swipe up touch gesture in settings

Swipe backwards on the home screen to show a settings summary screen. Then, tap to enter the settings screen. Swipe up to show the dialog.

Using intent in the application

Kotlin

val intent = Intent(Intent.ACTION_MAIN);
intent.addCategory(Intent.CATEGORY_HOME);
startActivity(intent);

Java

final Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_MAIN);
intent.addCategory(Intent.CATEGORY_HOME);
startActivity(intent);

Using adb command

adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.MAIN -c android.intent.category.HOME

Swipe forward and backward on the touchpad to select your preferred application and tap to confirm. Use the same method to select the "Always" button.

Lock task mode

Lock task mode allows you to create a list of packages that are permitted to run on the device.

For more information, see lock task mode overview.

Set permitted packages

The following snippet shows you how to set the list of packages:

Kotlin

private val KIOSK_PACKAGE = "com.example.kiosk"
private val PLAYER_PACKAGE = "com.example.player"
private val APP_PACKAGES = arrayOf(KIOSK_PACKAGE, PLAYER_PACKAGE)

val devicePolicyManager: DevicePolicyManager =
  context.getSystemService(Context.DEVICE_POLICY_SERVICE) as DevicePolicyManager
val adminName = getComponentName(context)
devicePolicyManager.setLockTaskPackages(adminName, APP_PACKAGES)

Java

private static final String KIOSK_PACKAGE = "com.example.kiosk";
private static final String PLAYER_PACKAGE = "com.example.player";
private static final String[] APP_PACKAGES = {KIOSK_PACKAGE, PLAYER_PACKAGE};

final DevicePolicyManager devicePolicyManager =
    (DevicePolicyManager) context.getSystemService(Context.DEVICE_POLICY_SERVICE);
final ComponentName adminName = getComponentName(context);
devicePolicyManager.setLockTaskPackages(adminName, APP_PACKAGES);

Note: If you want to allow users to control the settings on Glass be sure to add the com.google.android.glass.settings package to the list.
Note: If the application's package isn't on the lock task packages list, screen pinning is launched instead.

Start lock task mode

Lock task mode can be started by the application's activity. The following snippet shows how you can do this:

Kotlin

override fun onResume() {
    super.onResume()
    activity.startLockTask()
}

Java

@Override
public void onResume() {
  super.onResume();
  getActivity().startLockTask();
}