Screensaver app on Windows Phone 8.1

3
votes

I would like to create an app which would pop-up fullscreen when user is not interacting with the device; the first tap would then close it. So it's exactly like a screensaver. It should "run" 24/7. Display should always be lit. Battery is of no concern.

I've already done this on android, but my WP skills are lacking and complete research would take me at least a couple of days, so I'm asking any WP gurus out there:

can the same functionality (screensaver) be achieved on the Windows Phone 8.1 platform? If so, which are the basics that should be covered (programming-wise)?

Edit: The only solution I have at this moment is changing the LockScreen background on a 30minute interval. I'm still not sure whate happens in 2 weeks as some info suggests that the registered task will expire. Not to mention that LockScreen is shown only a few seconds.

Edit 2: Subquestion: is there a way to keep LockScreen shown at all times (while charging)? Or maybe lauch lock screen from code?

1
c#windows-phone-8.1screensaverbackground-service
Can't find a good link for you, though you might take a look at Windows Phone 8.0 For Absolute Beginners (search Channel 9), as the instructor builds a screen saver in that tutorial. But yes, it can be done - you'll want to leverage background task (which runs, I believe, every 30 minutes, though you can set it to a lower interval for testing), and the app will need permission to interact with the lock screen. – Tim
There is also a Windows Phone 8.1 tutorial, but I recommend doing the 8.0 one first as some fundamentals applicable to WP in general are covered in detail in the 8.0 series. – Tim
OK, so it can be done and I do appriciate the screensaver video tip, but the WP8.0 30(+-10min) PeriodicTasks are not good enough. I want to know if WP8.1 and its BackgroundAgent is the solution I'm looking for. It must work 24/7, cca 1min of user timeout,... without limitations. If not, It's no good for me. – Tine Uršič
I found something on the developer.nokia.com wiki: "Dynamic lock screen for Windows Phone 8". It seems like this could work: developer.nokia.com/community/wiki/… edit: it uses PeriodicTask therefore the limit is still 30mins to change the background image. – Tine Uršič
I believe 30 minutes is the limit and it can't be changed - it's to conserve battery use. – Tim

1 Answers

1
votes

Windows Phone doesn't usually allow apps to pop up on their own. Exceptions are made for specific usecases such as voip. There is also no way for an app that isn't running in the foreground to realise that the user hasn't interacted with the screen for any number of minutes.

Therefore your only option is to use the inbuilt lockscreen functionality.