docs: Added page on DAC describing ARC manifest file considerations.

page.title=App Manifest Compatibility for Chromebooks

@jd:body

<div id="qv-wrapper">

    <div id="qv">

      <h2>On this page</h2>

      <ol>

        <li><a href="#incompat-entries">Incompatible Manifest Entries</a></li>

        <li>

          <a href="#implied-features">Permissions That Imply Feature

          Requirements</a>

        </li>

      </ol>

    </div>

  </div>

<p>

As you prepare your Android app to run on Chromebooks, you should consider the

device features that your app uses. Chromebooks don't support all of the

hardware and software features that are available on other devices running

Android. If your app requires specific features that aren't supported on

Chromebooks, it won't be available for installation on Chromebooks.

</p>

<p>

You declare your app's requirements for hardware features and certain software

features in the <a

href="{@docRoot}guide/topics/manifest/manifest-intro.html">manifest file</a>.

This document describes the app manifest feature declarations that aren't

compatible with Chromebooks.

</p>

<h2 id="incompat-entries">Incompatible Manifest Entries</h2>

<p>

The manifest entries listed in this section aren't currently compatible with

Chromebooks. If your app uses any of these entries, consider removing them or

including the <code>required="false"</code> attribute value with them so that

your app can be installed on Chromebooks. For more information about declaring

feature use without requiring that the feature be available on the device, see

the guide for the <a

href="{@docRoot}guide/topics/manifest/uses-feature-element.html#market-feature-filtering">

<code>&lt;uses-feature&gt;</code></a> manifest element.

</p>

<p class="note"><strong>Note</strong>: See the <a

href="{@docRoot}guide/topics/manifest/uses-feature-element.html#features-reference">

Features Reference</a> for a complete list of app manifest features and

descriptions.

</p>

<h3 id="incompat-hardware-features">Hardware features</h3>

<p>

Support for hardware features varies on Chromebooks. Some features aren't

supported on any Chromebooks while others are supported on some Chromebooks.

</p>

<h4>Unsupported hardware features</h4>

<p>

The following list includes the hardware features that aren't currently

supported on Chromebooks:

</p>

<ul>

  <li>

    <code>android.hardware.camera</code> &ndash; Back-facing camera

  </li>

  <li>

    <code>android.hardware.camera.autofocus</code> &ndash; Camera that uses

    autofocus

  </li>

  <li>

    <code>android.hardware.camera.capability.manual_post_processing</code>&nbsp;

    &ndash; Camera that uses the <code>MANUAL_POST_PROCESSING</code> feature,

    including functionality for overriding auto white balance

  </li>

  <li>

    <code>android.hardware.camera.capability.manual_sensor</code> &ndash; Camera

    that uses the <code>MANUAL_SENSOR</code> feature, including auto-exposure

    locking support

  </li>

  <li>

    <code>android.hardware.camera.capability.raw</code> &ndash; Camera that uses

    the <code>RAW</code> feature, including the ability to save DNG (raw) files

    and provide DNG-related metadata

  </li>

  <li>

    <code>android.hardware.camera.flash</code> &ndash; Camera that uses flash

  </li>

  <li>

    <code>android.hardware.camera.level.full</code> &ndash; Camera that uses

    <code>FULL</code>-level image-capturing support

  </li>

  <li>

    <code>android.hardware.consumerir</code> &ndash; Infrared (IR)

  </li>

  <li>

    <code>android.hardware.location.gps</code> &ndash; GPS

  </li>

  <li>

    <code>android.hardware.nfc</code> &ndash; Near-Field Communication (NFC)

  </li>

  <li>

    <code>android.hardware.nfc.hce</code> &ndash; NFC card emulation

    (<em>deprecated</em>)

  </li>

  <li>

    <code>android.hardware.sensor.barometer</code> &ndash; Barometer (air

    pressure)

  </li>

  <li>

    <code>android.hardware.telephony</code> &ndash; Telephony, including radio

    with data communication services

  </li>

  <li>

    <code>android.hardware.telephony.cdma</code> &ndash; Telephony Code Division

    Multiple Access (CDMA) network support

  </li>

  <li>

    <code>android.hardware.telephony.gsm</code> &ndash; Telephony Global System

    for Mobile Communications (GSM) network support

  </li>

  <li>

    <code>android.hardware.type.automotive</code> &ndash; Android Auto user

    interface

  </li>

  <li>

    <code>android.hardware.type.television</code> &ndash; Television

    (<em>deprecated</em>)

  <li>

    <code>android.hardware.usb.accessory</code> &ndash; USB accessory mode

  </li>

  <li>

    <code>android.hardware.usb.host</code> &ndash; USB host mode

  </li>

</ul>

<h4>Partially-supported hardware features</h4>

<p>

The following list includes the hardware features that may be available on some

Chromebooks:

</p>

<ul>

  <li>

    <code>android.hardware.sensor.accelerometer</code> &ndash; Accelerometer

    (device orientation)

  </li>

  <li>

    <code>android.hardware.sensor.compass</code> &ndash; Compass

  </li>

  <li>

    <code>android.hardware.sensor.gyroscope</code> &ndash; Gyroscope (device

    rotation and twist)

  </li>

  <li>

    <code>android.hardware.sensor.light</code> &ndash; Light

  </li>

  <li>

    <code>android.hardware.sensor.proximity</code> &ndash; Proximity (to user)

  </li>

  <li>

    <code>android.hardware.sensor.stepcounter</code> &ndash; Step counter

  </li>

  <li>

    <code>android.hardware.sensor.stepdetector</code> &ndash; Step detector

  </li>

</ul>

<h4>Touchscreen hardware support</h4>

<p>

As of Chrome OS version M53, all Android apps that don't explicitly require the

<a href="{@docRoot}guide/topics/manifest/uses-feature-element.html#touchscreen-hw-features">

<code>android.hardware.touchscreen</code></a> feature will also work on Chrome

OS devices that support the <a

href="{@docRoot}guide/topics/manifest/uses-feature-element.html#touchscreen-hw-features">

<code>android.hardware.faketouch</code></a> feature. Devices that have fake

touch interfaces provide a user input system that emulates basic touch events.

For example, the user could interact with a mouse or remote control to move an

on-screen cursor, scroll through a list, and drag elements from one part of the

screen to another.

</p>

<p>

If you don't want your app to be installed on devices that have fake touch

interfaces but not touchscreens, you can complete one of the following actions:

</p>

<ul>

  <li>Exclude specific devices in the <a class="external-link"

  href="https://play.google.com/apps/publish">Google Play Developer Console.</a>

  </li>

  <li>Filter devices with no touchscreen hardware by explicitly declaring <a

  href="{@docRoot}guide/topics/manifest/uses-feature-element.html#touchscreen-hw-features">

  <code>android.hardware.touchscreen</code></a> as being required in order to

  install your app.</li>

</ul>

<h3 id="incompat-software-features">Software features</h3>

<p>

The following list includes the software features that aren't currently

supported on Chromebooks:

</p>

<ul>

  <li>

    <code>android.software.app_widgets</code> &ndash; App Widgets on the Home

    screen

  </li>

  <li>

    <code>android.software.device_admin</code> &ndash; Device policy

    administration

  </li>

  <li>

    <code>android.software.home_screen</code> &ndash; Replaces device's Home

    screen

  </li>

  <li>

    <code>android.software.input_methods</code> &ndash; Custom input methods

    (instances of <a href="{@docRoot}reference/android/inputmethodservice/InputMethodService.html">

    <code>InputMethodService</code></a>)

  </li>

  <li>

    <code>android.software.leanback</code> &ndash; UI designed for large-screen

    viewing

  </li>

  <li>

    <code>android.software.live_wallpaper</code> &ndash; Animated wallpapers

  </li>

  <li>

    <code>android.software.live_tv</code> &ndash; Streaming live TV programs

  </li>

  <li>

    <code>android.software.managed_users</code> &ndash; Secondary users and

    managed profiles

  </li>

  <li>

    <code>android.software.midi</code> &ndash; Musical Instrument Digital

    Interface (MIDI) protocol, which supports connecting to musical instruments

    and providing sound

  </li>

  <li>

    <code>android.software.sip</code> &ndash; Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)

    service, which supports video conferencing and instant messaging

  </li>

  <li>

    <code>android.software.sip.voip</code> &ndash; Voice Over Internet Protocol

    (VoIP) service based on SIP, which supports two-way video conferencing

  </li>

</ul>

<h2 id="implied-features">Permissions That Imply Feature Requirements</h2>

<p>

Some permissions that you request in your manifest files can create implied

requests for hardware and software features. By requesting these permissions,

you'll prevent your app from being installed on Chromebooks.

</p>

<p>

For details about how to prevent permission requests from making your app

unavailable on Chromebooks, see the <a href="#incompat-entries">Incompatible

Manifest Entries</a> section of this page.

</p>

<p>

The following table shows the permissions that imply certain feature

requirements which make an app incompatible with Chromebooks:

</p>

<p class="table-caption">

<strong>Table 1. </strong>Device permissions that imply hardware features which

are incompatible with Chromebooks.

</p>

<table>

  <tr>

    <th scope="col">Category</th>

    <th scope="col">This Permission...</th>

    <th scope="col">...Implies This Feature Requirement</th>

  </tr>

  <tr>

    <td>Camera</td>

    <td><code>CAMERA</code></td>

    <td>

      <code>android.hardware.camera</code> and<br>

      <code>android.hardware.camera.autofocus</code>

    </td>

  </tr>

  <tr>

    <td rowspan="11">Telephony</td>

    <td><code>CALL_PHONE</code></td>

    <td><code>android.hardware.telephony</code></td>

  </tr>

  <tr>

    <td><code>CALL_PRIVILEGED</code></td>

    <td><code>android.hardware.telephony</code></td>

  </tr>

  <tr>

    <td><code>MODIFY_PHONE_STATE</code></td>

    <td><code>android.hardware.telephony</code></td>

  </tr>

  <tr>

    <td><code>PROCESS_OUTGOING_CALLS</code></td>

    <td><code>android.hardware.telephony</code></td>

  </tr>

  <tr>

    <td><code>READ_SMSREAD_SMS</code></td>

    <td><code>android.hardware.telephony</code></td>

  </tr>

  <tr>

    <td><code>RECEIVE_SMS</code></td>

    <td><code>android.hardware.telephony</code></td>

  </tr>

  <tr>

    <td><code>RECEIVE_MMS</code></td>

    <td><code>android.hardware.telephony</code></td>

  </tr>

  <tr>

    <td><code>RECEIVE_WAP_PUSH</code></td>

    <td><code>android.hardware.telephony</code></td>

  </tr>

  <tr>

    <td><code>SEND_SMS</code></td>

    <td><code>android.hardware.telephony</code></td>

  </tr>

  <tr>

    <td><code>WRITE_APN_SETTINGS</code></td>

    <td><code>android.hardware.telephony</code></td>

  </tr>

  <tr>

    <td><code>WRITE_SMS</code></td>

    <td><code>android.hardware.telephony</code></td>

  </tr>

</table>