Calling other existing smart TV applications from another application for Samsung Smart TV SDK - samsung-smart-tv

I am using Samsung smart TV SDK for developing an app.
Is it possible to call an existing smart TV app from another app. It is possible in Android, is it also possible here? And if yes, how do you do it?

It's possible if you know the widgetID of the application that you want to call. widgetID is number formatted string which you will get when you register your application to certification team.
But if you want to call the application that is not yours and you don't know the widgetID of the application then it's not possible.
http://samsungdforum.com/Guide/ref00006/common_module_widget_object.html#ref00006-common-module-widget-object-runsearchwidget

you may get success in loading other smarttv app by using location.href if that app is hosted on some server, this can be achieved in test environment as i have done it my self, But here are some issues of doing it,
when you will send app for Samsung QA, they will straight way refuse the app, as its strictly against their policy to use server redirection,
more ever the biggest issue is with the key codes, so far as per my experience with smart tv app, i can say that Samsung have the different key codes then the other smart tv

Related

Create Samsung Smart TV Offline Application

I've been asked to create a Samsung Smart TV offline App but I really don't know what it means to Offline Application.
The client said me
The app has no GUI. It's not like a regular app. The TV will be
pointed to a URL. That URL has specific Samsung TV instructions to
download the files and when the TV has it, it will open the zip and
display the content as required.
I've setup the development environment and have studied about Samsung AppsFramework and learned how to start an application but really confusing about the offline Application.
Could anybody please make me understand that what the client does exactly want?
Thanks
What the client wants in my opinion is an app that can work on the smart TV without having to connect to the internet.
It would obviously need to connect to obtain the download files, but once the app is installed it will have offline functionality and not need to connect to the internet to run.
Have a look at http://electron.atom.io/ to build cross platform applications like this.
It is really difficult to say what they mean by offline as we dont have a brief. But offline generally refers to an app that has everything in the initial download. Example, a dictionary app will have all of the words and definitions in the download so they are always available even if the device is not connected.
Hope this helps
Samsung API provides interface for reading and writing files so you can download and store something for later offline use.
Alternatively you can use localStorage API.
The app has no GUI
This part is strange. Launched app occupy whole screen. You need some use-case description from client. Find out what problem is your client want to solve with this app.

Smart TV App SDKs and support of auto start and auto update

I'm a newbe in SmartTV app development and trying to figure out if the related devices (SmartTVs) through their SDKs of the two major vendors Samsung and LG support the following when it comes to a custom implemented app:
Is it possible to auto start the app on TV start/restart? and if yes
how? Does someone know any reference in their APIs of how it is done?
if there is a newer version of my app how does the updates takes
place? Is it possible to automatically update the app or at least
send some short of notification for software update needed?
Thanks in advance
I add some notes:
auto start is possible in some countries on Samsung as ticker app. This ticker app is available only in some countries (I think in Korea and U.S., but I am not sure). If you want ticker app you can switch samsung to the "hotel mode" in the samsung service menu.
auto update is available when you set the flag in config.xml
<autoUpdate itemtype="boolean">y</autoUpdate>
There is no way to achieve autostart in SDK distributed by vendors.
But there is at least one app, that starts with TV (Some European
IPTV provider, can't remember name). You need to contact with
vendors support and find out for yourself.
Samsung apps distributed
and updated through its store, you upload updated version on seller
portal and its distributed on tv. Users are prompted to update app
when new version is available.
LG hosted apps you can update yourself, packaged apps - same as with Samsung.

Phonegap: Can iPhone web app access/check for wifi connections

I have tried looking for some answers but could not get anything concrete from the other questions in here.
I am looking for an answer to these two questions:
Using PhoneGap, if I create an iPhone web app, can I use it as
plain web app (i.e. without using iTunes to deploy it)? Just via a
web url?
Using PhoneGap, can an iPhone web app check for wifi
connectivity? i.e. If wifi/3g is available, if wifi is available,
can it scan for ssids.
Thanks for any help in advance.
You can create host the web app on your own server (or local). Then it is accessible via web url. If you want to use it as a normal app (there are differences - phonegap uses few native plugins for better experience), then you must have a developer license from apple and then deploy it to your device. Otherwise you can only use the simulator. You can also use Safari + USB to debug your app using the browser.
It is possible but limited. Only certain functionalities are available. Check out the following plugin for cordova (phonegap):
cordova-plugin-wifi
Good luck!

Can a hosted application leverage the PhoneGap API?

I am building a hosted mobile application so I can write once and deploy to many mobile platforms. My plan is to write a native application with a single screen that is a browser that navigates to my hosted application. Of course this is so our application is in the App Store, Android Market, etc.
Is it possible to use the PhoneGap JavaScript so my hosted applications can use local APIs? For example, I would like to be able to upload pictures taken from the camera.
Short answer: no.
More information: PhoneGap: It's possible to use only the phonegap.js and it's functions only in a Website (doesn't want an App only a Webpage)?
Short answer
No. You need to add pctures upload logic in each framework
In addition to what has been answer it will also depend on your application store offering. If you're intending to offer the app in the iPhone App Store, these kind of apps aren't permitted. In the guidelines it states that apps that basically launch a browser or UIWebView will be rejected.
Additionally, you could always create the app as a "home screen" app, that runs without the chrome, etc on the iPhone. Hope this helps.

iPhone Private distribution

I am new to iPhone world.
I have developed an application, which I would like to send to all the iphones come under the vicinity of a particular wi-fi access point. (It is meant for a shopping mall)
With my limited knowledge in this, I understand, I cannot distribute the application through my webserver. I even cant use the 'Ad hoc mode' suggested by Apple, as registering of all the mobile phones is impractical.
I would like to know whether the only solution is 'distribution through appstore'? Or any other solution available?
Expecting your help.
Thanks.
If you mean that the application would automatically be loaded onto phones when they move into a certain shopping mall, then yes, I can see that you are new to iPhone development! :)
For security reasons, the user has to specifically choose to download the app.
If the app is not iPhone-specific but simply a web page made up to look like an app, then you could use SMS to send a URL to the phone. But that would require you to know the phone number, which is also not made available through any kind of local wireless communication, again for obvious security reasons.
The simplest approach would be to put a poster up in the mall, telling iPhone users that they can find the mall's app on the iTunes App Store.
Another possible solution is to make a web app instead of a native app.