Starting in Android 2.0 (API level 5), Android debuted the concept of "quick actions" in the platform. This UI pattern is the idea that tapping an object could reveal extra information in an anchored pop-up way. This could expose additional functionality to the user in a uniform and uncluttered way.
The Android platform exposes an API for developers to use this behavior, but it is tied to a contact. For example, the default contact list shows an icon next to each entry in the list (which will be the contact's picture if they provide one). Tapping this picture allows you to email, call, send an SMS, and so on without having to go through any extra steps.
As mentioned, this API is heavily tied to contacts. There are existing projects to re-implement this functionality for other developers to use (such as simple-quickactions ) but these are overly complicated because they tend to abuse a little-known widget in Android: the PopupWindow.
The proper solution is much simpler.
Simply put, in order to get the desired behavior, simple open a transparent Activity which has an AbsoluteLayout base. Inside that AbsoluteLayout are your desired controls. Position these controls where desired (passed in via Intent extras) and attach listeners. Set the Activity to destroy itself when the user touches the transparent background and you're done.
This example implementation is just that: an example. It is not intended to be a drop-in library for you to use in your projects. Rather, it's a jumping-off point for you to use when developing your own applications.
I did my best to provide comments where appropriate, so customization should be pretty straightforward for any developers with Android experience.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email me: evan@evancharlton.com
I can also be found fairly regularly on FreeNode as evancharlton