How to make tags for Launching Apps and App actions

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How to make tags for Launching Apps and App actions

How to make tags for Launching Apps and App actions

NFC Tag Series: Programming an NFC Tag Part 5- Launching Apps and App actions

We have seen how NFC Tags allow us to toggle and change the settings of our phone. We can make tags that switch radios on and off. We also learned how to create tags that change a bunch of settings and even add an alarm in just one tap.

Our objective today is learn about making tags that allow you to launch applications on the fly as well as perform some app based actions. With NFC, you don’t need to fumble around your home screen and app drawer to launch an app you need to use for that specific location or moment. All you need is to tap it to your programmed tag.

Launching the Kindle App

One thing we use our portable devices for is reading e-books. People read e-books on their phones and tablets like the Nexus 7. Sometimes, it is a hassle to look for the app and launch it. Sometimes, all you want is to open your phone, lazily swipe it on a tag and start reading.

Today, we will learn how to program your NFC tag to launch the Kindle App when tapped. Take note that you can program your tag to launch any installed application. The Kindle App was only chosen as an example for this tutorial.

We need to launch our favorite NFC Task Launcher app and create a new task by tapping on the + icon on the upper right.

Launch App 1

Launch App 2

Label the task as you wish, but I will keep it simple and call it “Launch Kindle”. From there, choose “Add Actions” and then scroll down to the “Applications & Shortcuts” list.

 

 

 

 

 

Launch App 3From here, simply mark the “Open Application” box and choose “Next”.  It will go through the process of loading the application list if this is your first time making a tag that launches an application.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just choose the app you wish to launch from the list on the dropdown box. My choice for today was the Amazon Kindle app. Select Ok when you are done choosing an app.

Launch App 4

Launch App 5Choose “Save & Write” on the upper right corner when you are done and simply tap the NFC tag to write the action to your tag.

When you are done, test your tag by tapping it on your NFC chip and watch as the app launches instantly.

 

 

 

 

 

Launching the Camera on Camcorder Mode

Now that we have learned how to launch an app, how about we learn how to launch an app in a specific action or state? What am I talking about? Ok, try to launch your camera application. Now normally, the application will launch in the last mode it was in. Often times, we use the camera to take photos, so every time we launch the camera app, it will be in photo taking mode.

What we will try to do is to not only launch the camera app by tapping the tag, but to also launch the app on video taking mode right from the start. This way, whenever you need to take a video, you can be sure that it is launched straight to that option without looking for the app and fumbling though the settings to turn on the video taking mode.

To start, we need to launch our favorite NFC Task Launcher app and create a new task by tapping on the + icon on the upper right.

Launch App 1

Launch App 7

Label the task as you wish, but I will keep it simple and call it “Launch Camcorder”. From there, choose “Add Actions” and then scroll down to the “Applications & Shortcuts” list.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Launch App 8From here, simply mark the “Open Activity” box and choose “Next”.  It will go through the process of loading the application list if this is your first time making a tag that launches an application.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On this page, you are prompted to select the application you want to launch, and then you need to select the activity that you want it to open in.

This second part is rather tricky if you are planning to do this for other applications. For some apps, such as the camera app, the default camera and camcorder states are easy to identify. Other apps would give you a different list, and you may not know what state that would be until you try it out for yourself.

To launch the camera app in camcorder mode, simply choose the activity that ends in the word “camcorder”, and then choose ok.

Launch App 9

Launch App 10Once you are done, just choose “Save & Write” to program the task to your NFC tag.

To test, launch the camera app and verify that it is on the default photo taking mode. Exit the camera app and then tap the NFC tag. It should now launch the camera app on the video taking or ‘camcorder’ mode right away.

Launching activities are highly experimental and it may not be beneficial for all applications. You would just need to try out the actions if the activity description was not clear enough.

Launching applications is very useful for those situations where you are always using a certain app in a certain location or situation. It is highly beneficial for those who have lots of apps installed.

Another idea is when you have hidden a certain app from the launcher list. The only way to launch it would be through your NFC tag. This can provide a way to make sure that some people cannot access an app you don’t want them to find.

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