Android Notification Channels: The Complicated Parts

Talk given to GDG Twin Cities.

Transcript

1. Android Notification Channels:
   The Complicated Parts
   Dan Lew
   

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2. Goal
   • Inform users
   
   • …Without annoying them
   

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3. Noises
   • Sound

   

   

   

   

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4. Noises
   • Sound
   
   • Vibration

   

   

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5. Noises
   • Sound
   
   • Vibration
   
   • Light
   

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6. Noises v2
   • Metadata
   
   • Priority
   
   • Categories
   
   • People
   
   • Do not Disturb interruptions
   
   • Hiding on lock screen
   

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7. Android Oreo
   • Notification badges on launcher
   
   • Channels
   

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9. Channels give users control
   

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10. User Control App Control
    Importance
    
    Sound
    
    Vibration
    
    Light
    
    Show on lock screen
    
    Show badges on launcher
    
    Bypass "Do Not Disturb”
    Channel Name
    
    Channel Description
    

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11. targetSdkVersion 26
    ==
    Channels
    

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13. Measure Twice, Cut Once
    

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14. How Many Channels?
    

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15. Trello Channel Overview
    Important Minor Temporary
    Mentions New Cards Attachments
    Due Soon Cards
    Boards
    Comments
    Memberships
    

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16. Notification Groups
    

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17. Importance
    IMPORTANCE_HIGH Make sound and pop on screen
    IMPORTANCE_DEFAULT Make sound
    IMPORTANCE_LOW No sound
    IMPORTANCE_NONE No sound or visual interruption
    

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18. Custom Noise
    • Sound
    
    • Vibration
    
    • Light
    

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19. Bells and Whistles
    • Badges on launcher
    
    • Bypass “do not disturb”
    

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20. Playing Dirty
    • Can delete & recreate channels
    
    • Users will know
    
    • Will annoy users
    

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21. val channel = NotificationChannel("news", “News",
    NotificationManager.IMPORTANCE_DEFAULT)

    channel.description = "News and weather"

    channel.setShowBadge(false)

    

    val manager = context.getSystemService(NotificationManager::class.java)

    manager.createNotificationChannel(channel)
    

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22. val channel = NotificationChannel("news", “News",
    NotificationManager.IMPORTANCE_DEFAULT)

    channel.description = "News and weather"

    channel.setShowBadge(false)

    

    val manager = context.getSystemService(NotificationManager::class.java)

    manager.createNotificationChannel(channel)
    

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23. val notification = NotificationCompat.Builder(context, "news")

    .setThis()
    .setThat()

    .etc()

    .build()
    

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24. Timing
    • Create channels at…
    
    • Startup
    
    • First notification
    
    • Create all channels at once
    
    • Channel creation is idempotent
    

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25. Inform users…
    ...WITHOUT annoying them
    

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26. How to annoy users without
    really trying
    

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27. Too Many Sounds
    

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28. Too Many Rows
    

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29. Notification Bundles
    1-3 notifications 4+ notifications
    

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30. Notification Bundles
    Pros Cons
    Easy
    
    Works across channels
    Many noises
    
    Only on Nougat+
    

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31. Notification Groups
    1 notification 2+ notifications
    

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32. Notification Groups
    

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33. Notification Groups
    Pros Cons
    Few notifications
    
    Few noises
    Extra work
    

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34. Notification Groups
    val summaryNotification = NotificationCompat.Builder(context, "news")

    ...

    .setGroupSummary(true)

    .setGroup("myGroup")

    .setGroupAlertBehavior(NotificationCompat.GROUP_ALERT_SUMMARY)

    .build()

    

    val childNotification = NotificationCompat.Builder(context, "news")

    ...

    .setGroupSummary(false)

    .setGroup("myGroup")

    .setGroupAlertBehavior(NotificationCompat.GROUP_ALERT_SUMMARY)

    .build()
    

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35. Channels Break Groups
    • One group fails when channel disabled
    
    • Group-per-channel creates too many rows
    
    • Group-per-channel creates too many noises
    

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36. Channel Dilemma
    Bundling Groups
    Fewer rows
    
    Many noises
    Many rows
    
    Fewer noises
    

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37. Channel Solution
    • Channel should either…
    
    • Have a group summary
    
    • Be IMPORTANCE_LOW or lower
    

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38. Trello’s Setup
    Name Importance Summary Launcher Badge?
    Mentions HIGH Yes Yes
    Due Soon DEFAULT Yes Yes
    Boards LOW No Yes
    Cards LOW No Yes
    Comments LOW No Yes
    Memberships LOW No Yes
    New Cards LOW No Yes
    Attachments MIN No No
    

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39. Odds and Ends
    

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40. Remove Notification Settings
    

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41. Remove Notification Settings Intent
    

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42. Listen to ACTION_LOCALE_CHANGED
    

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43. Use setAlertOnlyOnce()
    

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44. Summary
    • Embrace channels
    
    • Choose good defaults
    
    • Don’t annoy users
    

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45. Thank You!
    • danlew.net
    
    • @danlew42
    

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