Reader request: Code-based app launcher in Tasker [Video]

Andreas Ødegård October 31, 2012 Android, Apps

Got another reader request for a Tasker creation, this time for a security-related creation. The idea is to be able to hide apps from the app tray (possible in some launchers), and then have a system to launch those apps using codes. It’s a really simple thing to do in Tasker, and the video shows how.

If you have any requests for tutorials you want to see yourself, leave a comment.

Android Apps Tasker

About the Author

Andreas Ødegård is an associate editor at Pocketables. He's more interested in aftermarket (and user created) software and hardware than chasing the latest gadgets and tends to stick with his choice of device for a long time as a result of that. Currently that includes an iPad mini and a Samsung Galaxy S II.

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6 Comments

Martin October 31, 2012 at 3:34 pm - Reply

Hi there. I am fairly saavy with tasker, have a lot of profiles, but there is one problem, that I can not crack. I have Kik Messenger and this app creates notifications. But under no circumstances, Tasker can catch that notification and react on it. I do not understand it. I would really appreciate, if you post solution to that problem. Thank you.
- Anony Mouse October 31, 2012 at 3:59 pm - Reply
  
  I have tried numerous times to do this as well, but sometimes Tasker is not able to read notifications for some apps for some reason. I guess Kik is one of those apps that is impossible to read. I know that it also depends on the device you are using. My old myTouch would not be able to read any notifications except from Gmail, but my SIII so far reads all apps I have tried, except Kik.
- Andreas Ødegård October 31, 2012 at 4:00 pm - Reply
  
  I’ve seen something similar before, where a different package sends the notification compared to what Tasker looks for. While looking to see if that was the problem here, however, I found a java error in Tasker’s debug logs when it tries to read Kik notifications. I’m no developer, but I’m fairly certain that means it’s an old fashioned bug causing this. I have left a message with the details in the support forum so I assume the dev will have a reply for us tomorrow
  - Anony Mouse October 31, 2012 at 4:11 pm - Reply
    
    Thank you, Andreas!
- Andreas Ødegård November 1, 2012 at 8:59 am - Reply
  
  Got a reply, and it seems like it’s not a bug as much as it’s a known issue where Tasker can’t grab the information from the notifications properly. Long story short, not really anything you can do
NateDogg November 28, 2012 at 11:57 am - Reply

Request for a tutorial – could you help me to understand how to use the ‘data’ field in the ‘load app’ action?
Also, there is an action called ‘Send Intent’ that I think could be super useful if I only knew how to use it…

Thanks Andreas!