Android Question Screen Capture and Stream

[aaronk]

Hello,

Just wondering if anyone knows how to capture the screen of a Android device and stream it to a PC using B4A ?

I have searched the Google Play store and found this: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mobzapp.screenstream&hl=en

So it looks like its possible but I don't know how to capture the screen of the Android device ad stream it to the PC.
I want to be able to it outside of the B4A as well, and looks like the above app does exactly that but I want to do the same thing using B4A.

(note the above app doesn't require a rooted device)

Anyone got any ideas on how to do this in B4A?

 

[Erel]

http://www.b4x.com/search?query=screenshot

You can then stream it in the same way that the CCTV examples stream the camera images.

 

[DonManfred]

i own the above app. It works till 4.3 but on 4.4.2 (KitKat) it actually does not work. The Author is working on it to get it work again also on KitKat.
But i can say that this app is using a backgroundservice. I don´t know which features are inside the service

 

[aaronk]

http://www.b4x.com/search?query=screenshot

You can then stream it in the same way that the CCTV examples stream the camera images.

I searched based on 'screenshot' from that link but didn't really notice any that allow you to take screenshots outside of a B4A app.
Do you know of any tutorials to look at that allows to take screenshots of the screen from the outside of the app, as I can't seem to find one that allow me to?

 

[Erel]

It is not possible to take screenshots of other apps. The only exception is on devices that are connected with ADB (or were connected since the last boot).

 

[DonManfred]

i own the above app. It works till 4.3 but on 4.4.2 (KitKat) it actually does not work. The Author is working on it to get it work again also on KitKat.
But i can say that this app is using a backgroundservice. I don´t know which features are inside the service

The author today released a new version which runs on 4.4.2 too on my device.

Thanx for the tip @aaronk That´s a really great APP...

Now i can view what happens on my device with VLC-media-player... And with VLC i can make a "screenshot" any time i need one... It doesnt matter if this is my app or not.

It´s the few Euro worth in my opinion...

but, i agree with you, it would be nice if we can do such things from B4A too

 

[ivan.tellez]

It is not possible to take screenshots of other apps. The only exception is on devices that are connected with ADB (or were connected since the last boot).

There are tons of apps on the market that can take screenshots of other apps.

For example:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lsdroid.cerberus

It can take a screenshot of any app and send it by email. Even can take it when the phone is locked, takes a screenshot of the lock screen.

 

[RAJAN MBA]

Even on stack exchange programmers think it is difficult or not possible with android:
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/20887579/screenshot-in-android-phone-without-rooting
I don't know how some apps do it. May be they programatically press the button used to take screen shot (Home+volume up or plam swipe) ?

 

[Erel]

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lsdroid.cerberus
Have you seen it working? They don't mention such a feature in the description.

 

[DonManfred]

This works (i´m using it)

 

[thedesolatesoul]

This works (i´m using it)

But this requires non-rooted devices to be connected to a PC. It uses adb to run the app with elevated permissions. Same as root.

 

[thedesolatesoul]

There are tons of apps on the market that can take screenshots of other apps.

For example:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lsdroid.cerberus

It can take a screenshot of any app and send it by email. Even can take it when the phone is locked, takes a screenshot of the lock screen.

https://www.cerberusapp.com/help.php
It is a root-only feature.

 

[DonManfred]

But this requires non-rooted devices to be connected to a PC. It uses adb to run the app with elevated permissions. Same as root.

it works with root too

 

[thedesolatesoul]

it works with root too

That is what I said.
So you need root permissions to be able to take screenshots outside of your app. (This is acheived either via permanent root, or via adb)

 

[DonManfred]

That is what I said.
So you need root permissions to be able to take screenshots outside of your app. (This is acheived either via permanent root, or via adb)

it works with root TOO but it works without root also... You need to run a batch-file on windows to get a background service running. But when the service runs the app work woithout roo

 

[ivan.tellez]

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lsdroid.cerberus
Have you seen it working? They don't mention such a feature in the description.

Yes, It works, I Tested on 3 diferent phones and works great. But I think its true what thedesolatesoul says, the 3 devices were rooted.

 

[Erel]

It is not possible to programmatically take screenshots in Android. There are three exceptions:
1. Rooted devices.
2. With ADB (usb debug mode).
3. After ADB was connected.

2 & 3 are only useful for developers.