<p>This sample demonstrates how to create a live wallpaper and bundle it in an
<code>.apk</code> that users can install on their devices.</p>
<p>In terms of implementation, a live wallpaper is very similar to a regular
Android <a href="../../../reference/android/app/Service.html">service</a>. The
only difference is the addition of a new method, <a
href="../../../reference/android/service/wallpaper/WallpaperService.html#onCreateEngine()"><code>
onCreateEngine()</code></a>, whose goal is to
create a <a
href="../../../reference/android/service/wallpaper/WallpaperService.Engine.html">
<code>WallpaperService.Engine</code></a>. The engine is responsible for
handling the lifecycle and drawing of a wallpaper. The system provides a surface
on which you can draw, just like you would with a <a
href="../../../reference/android/view/SurfaceView.html"><code>SurfaceView</code></a>.
The wallpapers you create can respond to touch events on the screen and
have access to all the facilities of the platform: SGL (2D drawing), OpenGL (3D
drawing), GPS, accelerometers, network access, and so on. </p>
<p>The examples in this application show how to set up a wallpaper service that
creates a <code>WallpaperService.Engine</code> to manage the service lifecycle,
render the wallpaper, handle touch events, and so on. The examples also show how
a wallpaper should stop drawing when its visibility changes, for example, when
the user launches an application that covers the home screen. Drawing only when
visible is an important implementation guideline for live wallpapers because it
minimizes the wallpaper's impact on system performance and battery life.
</p>
<p>The application includes two wallpaper services and a wallpaper settings
activity:<p>
<ul>
<li><a
href="src/com/example/android/livecubes/cube1/CubeWallpaper1.html"><code>
CubeWallpaper1</code></a> — a wallpaper service that draws and animates a
wire-frame cube to a <a
href="../../../reference/android/graphics/Canvas.html"><code>Canvas</code></a>.
</li>
<li><a
href="src/com/example/android/livecubes/cube2/CubeWallpaper2.html"><code>CubeWallpaper2</code></a>
— a wallpaper service that draws and animates a
wire-frame shape to a <code>Canvas</code>. The shape is set by the user, by means
of the <code>cube2.CubeWallpaper2Settings</code> settings activity (see below). The
wallpaper service implements a listener callback method that captures the user's
wallpaper shape preference. </li>
<li><a
href="src/com/example/android/livecubes/cube2/CubeWallpaper2Settings.html"><code>CubeWallpaper2Settings</code></a>
— a wallpaper service that draws and
animates a wire-frame shape to a <code>Canvas</code>. The shape is set by the
user through a simple settings activity,
<code>cube2.CubeWallpaper2Settings</code>, also included in the app. The
wallpaper service implements a listener callback method that captures the user's
wallpaper shape preference. </li>
</ul>
<p>If you are developing a live wallpaper, remember that the feature is
supported only on Android 2.1 (API level 7) and higher versions of the platform.
To ensure that your application can only be installed on devices that support
live wallpapers, remember to add the following to the application's manifest
before publishing to Android Market:</p>
<ul>
<li><code><uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="7" /></code>, which indicates
to Android Market and the platform that your application requires Android 2.1 or
higher. For more information, see the <a href="../../../guide/appendix/api-levels.html">API Levels</a>
and the documentation for the
<a href="../../../guide/topics/manifest/uses-sdk-element.html"><code><uses-sdk></code></a>
element.</li>
<li><code><uses-feature android:name="android.software.live_wallpaper" /></code>,
which tells Android Market that your application includes a live wallpaper.
Android Market uses this feature as a filter, when presenting users lists of
available applications. When you declaring this feature, Android Market
displays your application only to users whose devices support live wallpapers,
while hiding it from other devices on which it would not be able to run. For
more information, see the documentation for the
<a href="../../../guide/topics/manifest/uses-feature-element.html"><code><uses-feature></code></a>
element.</li>
</ul>
<p>For more information about live wallpapers, see the
<a href="../../articles/live-wallpapers.html">Live Wallpapers</a> article. </p>
<img alt="Screenshot 1" src="../images/CubeLiveWallpaper1.png" />
<img alt="Screenshot 3" src="../images/CubeLiveWallpaper3.png" />