1.
You could apply a transparent theme to the required activity. Create a new style in /res/values/style.xml
<resources>
<style name="Transparent">
<item name="android:windowIsTranslucent">true</item>
<item name="android:windowAnimationStyle">@android:style/Animation.Translucent</item>
<item name ="android:windowBackground">@color/transparent</item>
<item name="android:windowNoTitle">true</item>
<item name="android:colorForeground">#fff</item>
</style>
</resources>
The value of transparent is
2.
<color name="transparent">#00000000</color>
Now in AndroidManifest.xml declare the theme of the activity to the one you just created.
3.
<activity android:name="MyActivity" android:theme="@style/Transparent"></activity>