Different Types of Chooser and Launcher Tasks in Windows Phone 7

Introduction

In this article I will try to explain various types of Chooser Tasks and Launcher Tasks available in Windows Phone 7.

Chooser

A Chooser is also an API like Launcher that enables users to launch various builtin applications of Windows Phone to perform certain tasks. The main difference between Chooser and Launcher Tasks is that unlike Launcher, a Chooser can return data to the calling application like PhotoChooserTask, EmailAddressChooserTask, PhoneNumberChooserTask etc. The following are the list of available Chooser tasks in Windows Phone 7.

Chooser Task	Description and Uses
AddressChooserTask	It opens the default Contact application of the phone and allows users to select a contact. It returns address of the selected contact.
CameraCaptureTask	It opens the Camera application to capture photo and enables users to capture a photo. It returns photo data as a stream.
EmailAddressChooserTask	It opens the Contact application and enables users to select a contact. It returns Email address of the chosen contact.
GameInviteTask	It shows a game invite screen in a multiplayer game session and allows users to invite players.
PhoneNumberChooserTask	It opens the Contact application and allows users to select a contact. It returns the phone number of the selected contact.
PhotoChooserTask	It opens the Photo Chooser application and allows users to select an existing photo from the phone.
SaveContactTask	It opens the Contact application and enables users to save a contact.
SaveEmailAddressTask	It opens the Contact application and enables users to save an Email address.
SavePhoneNumberTask	It opens the Contact application and enables users to save a phone number.
SaveRingtoneTask	It launches Ringtones application and allows users to save an audio file to the ringtones list. It also allows users to set this as a default ringtone and it can also be set as a default ringtone of a particular contact.

To use these Tasks you need to add the Microsoft.Phone.Tasks namespace.

Launcher

Launcher is an API that enables us to launch various built-in applications in Windows Phone 7 for different tasks. For example, composing Email and SMS, launching browser, initiating a call comes under Launchers. I will try to define Launcher and list various types of Launchers available with its uses. Launcher is an API that launches another built-in application on the phone to perform a task like launching Bing search with given search text, launching Media Player etc. Launchers do not return any data or status to the invoked application. The following is a list of launchers available in Windows Phone 7.

Launcher Task

Description and Uses

BingMapsTask

It launches Bing Maps application. It can be used to search a place and center map position to it.

BingMapsDirectionsTask

It also launches Bing Maps application but it can be used to get direction between two points.

ConnectionSettingsTask

It is used to adjust device network connection settings. Supported network connection types are WiFi, Bluetooth, Cullular and AirplaneMode

EmailComposeTask

It launches various Email applications of the phone. We can programmatically add Cc, Bcc, Subject, Body etc and launch the Email application. But Email is sent only when the user presses the Send button. It cannot be sent through code due to security concerns.

MarketplaceDetailTask

It is used to launch the Windows Phone Marketplace application. It is used to display detail of the specified application.

MarketplaceHubTask

It is also used to launch the Windows Phone Marketplace. We can specify content type to launch a hub of a specific type like Music or Application.

MarketplaceReviewTask

It is used to launch the Windows Phone Marketplace and provide review of the current application.

MarketplaceSearchTask

It is used to launch the Windows Phone Marketplace and search for content. You can search Marketplace for contents like Application and Music.

MediaPlayerLauncher

It launches Media Player and plays the specified media.

PhoneCallTask

It is used to make a call. It launches the default calling application of the phone with the contact you specify to call. Again you cannot make a call until the user presses the call button.

SearchTask

It is used to launch web search application of the phone and searches the query you specify.

ShareLinkTask

It is used to share a link on a Social Networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn etc.

ShareStatusTask

It is used to share a status message on a Social Networking sites.

SmsComposeTask

It is used to launch the the default SMS sending application of the phone and wait for the user to respond. You can supply sender's number and message to send. SMS is sent only if the user clicks on the send button.

WebBrowserTask

It is used to display the web browser control of the phone i.e., Internet Explorer and browses the given URL.