Launcher App / UID questions

[lorion84]

Hi,

I'm developing a launcher-style application. I now have some questions about the return value of
so.IAppManager.GetList(criteria).

I get the following result (abridgment):

CAPTION | UID | SHORTCAPTION
Custom Dictionary|0x2002bc8a|Custom Dictionary
MCSInstaller|0x2002abde|MCSInstaller
Communicator|0x2002b425|Communicator
MCSAppServer|0x2002abe2|MCSAppServer
MCSStartupClient|0x2002abda|MCSStartupClient
mcsContacts|0x2002abdc|mcsContacts
McsConfiguration|0x2002abdd|McsConfiguration
Communicator|0x2002acd3|Communicator
MCSUninstaller|0x2002abdf|MCSUninstaller
COUPIES|0x2004acbe|COUPIES
Opera Mini|0x2002ee59|Opera Mini
World Of Rabbit|0x20044de9|WOR
Vlingo - Voice|0x2001f632|Vlingo - Voice
Hier und jetzt|0x2000e557|Hier und jetzt

1) Exists there some kind of blacklist? Stuff like MCSInstaller is something a user probably never wants to start up. How can I filter those system apps?
2) How unique is the UID? Is it the same on every device? Will it be different if the app has another version or language? Because tha apps are displayed with their local name, e.g. "Hier und jetzt" is "Here and now" on other devices. Will I be able to find the app on an English device, using the Caption or UID displayed here?
3) Can I somehow access the application icons?

Yours,
Ludger

[isalento]

Hi Ludger,

1) You could try filtering by using UserInstalledPackage criteria

Br,
Ilkka

[isalento]

2) UID is expected to remain unchanged within the platform. In other words, an app should have the same UID across all Symbian^3 devices. Ovi store uses UID as one of parameters, to detect if there is a update to app, so different versions are likely to have same UID. So in most cases you can use UID find an app.

3) Well not in a easy way. You can do it with native Symbian code using CreateAppIconLC, but then you would have to implement API bridge plugin for your widget.

Br,
Ilkka