So, I'm well-aware that the reason icons can't be changed easily on the Android home screen is because the icon image is stored in the APK file, and editing that image is, essentially, near impossible.
However, I had an idea that could potentially fix that problem, and I'm just curious how realistic the solution is:
As most G1 users know, AnyCut is a great application that can allow a user to create a shortcut to any number of actions on the phone. These shortcuts are customizable by name, and, for the time being, have a limited number of icons, one for each shortcut type.
I also recall using an app several months ago to change the icons of bookmarks (Bookmark 2, I believe it was called). With this app, a user could choose exactly what their icons would look like on the home screen, except, of course, that these icons could only link to bookmarks.
By combining these two applications, wouldn't an icon changer be quite possible?
Using this same methodology, wouldn't it be possible to create "shortcuts" to applications on the home screen, and thus, allow the user to rename apps and change their icons, at least on the desktop? I know that the icons would not be changed in the pull-out drawer or elsewhere on the system, but wouldn't this be a temporary workaround, until a better solution is reached? I have quite a few programs with horrendous icons, and it really takes away from the aesthetic of the home screen.
Again, all I'm asking is if there's a way to place a shortcut to an APK on the desktop, and preferably to customize that shortcut's icon, not the actual apps.
It is possible to edit .apk's and change the icons. Just look at the forum for theams.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=450
soundwire said:
It is possible to edit .apk's and change the icons. Just look at the forum for theams.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=450
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I know that the icons can be edited in a theme, but can non-stock icons be edited as well?
And also, my concern with that is that it seems like a lot of work to update a theme everytime a new app appears on the market. I'm a little OCD, so if I were able to change all the icons on my home screen, I would want them all to be absolutely uniform (like the themes' icons are). However, if a new, super-useful app were to appear on the market, and I absolutely needed it on my home screen, it would seem much easier to simply add an image to my phone, and make a shortcut using that image, than to have to edit an APK, resign the entire package, and reflash the phone each time. While I know my way around the G1, and I'm comfortable with basic rooting, I am by no means a developer, and just like most G1 users, I would probably be more comfortable making shortcuts than updating firmware.
Do you understand where I'm coming from?
I too, would also like to know how to change "non-stock" app icons. Bump.
jayaustn said:
Well, I know that the icons can be edited in a theme, but can non-stock icons be edited as well?
And also, my concern with that is that it seems like a lot of work to update a theme everytime a new app appears on the market. I'm a little OCD, so if I were able to change all the icons on my home screen, I would want them all to be absolutely uniform (like the themes' icons are). However, if a new, super-useful app were to appear on the market, and I absolutely needed it on my home screen, it would seem much easier to simply add an image to my phone, and make a shortcut using that image, than to have to edit an APK, resign the entire package, and reflash the phone each time. While I know my way around the G1, and I'm comfortable with basic rooting, I am by no means a developer, and just like most G1 users, I would probably be more comfortable making shortcuts than updating firmware.
Do you understand where I'm coming from?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have yet to try this, but (provided you have root), you should be able to use adb to pull the apk for an app off your phone, edit it as described, and push it back to the same place. I will give this a go tomorrow, as I'm rather sleepy, and it's probably not a good thing to mess about with superuser stuff when I can't think straight.
If there's any flaws in my theory, I'd be happy to hear them.
RE: Changeing Icons!
I have a video on you tube on how to change icons. Here it is!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjnV_d9b22E
Hope you enjoy and your able to Change Your Icons.
Good Luck!
bms122223 said:
I have a video on you tube on how to change icons. Here it is!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjnV_d9b22E
Hope you enjoy and your able to Change Your Icons.
Good Luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Video doesnt show you how to change "non-stock" app icons, only icons for the original apps.
Well, I kind of figured out how to change the non-stock icons. But got stuck at the end...here's what I did...
1) Install/Open Astro.
2) Back up the app you want to change the icon for.
3) Grab that backup apk file off of your sdcard and put it on your computer.
4) Open it with Winrar.
5) Go to the proper folder and drag your new icon into the folder.
6) Close Winrar and move the apk back to your sdcard.
...this is where I get stuck, I know the icon changed because I can see it when I TRY to install the app. But the app doesnt want to install, it says "install unsuccesful". I'm guessing it needs to be signed?
I have used astro as well, I even signed the apk the same way I sign themes and no luck.
ultra spikey said:
Well, I kind of figured out how to change the non-stock icons. But got stuck at the end...here's what I did...
1) Install/Open Astro.
2) Back up the app you want to change the icon for.
3) Grab that backup apk file off of your sdcard and put it on your computer.
4) Open it with Winrar.
5) Go to the proper folder and drag your new icon into the folder.
6) Close Winrar and move the apk back to your sdcard.
...this is where I get stuck, I know the icon changed because I can see it when I TRY to install the app. But the app doesnt want to install, it says "install unsuccesful". I'm guessing it needs to be signed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're real close; once you replace the icon you need you need to delete META-INF folder then zip it back up, rename file extension to .apk and sign it with the test keys like the stock .apk. The META-INF is where the signature info is kept from the original author, you need to delete this so it doesn't conflict with the test keys.
Geo411m said:
You're real close; once you replace the icon you need you need to delete META-INF folder then zip it back up, rename file extension to .apk and sign it with the test keys like the stock .apk. The META-INF is where the signature info is kept from the original author, you need to delete this so it doesn't conflict with the test keys.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will that a try. So this also mean that if author updates .apk file we will not be able to install update? Similar to google RC30 updates, we have to wait for JF to modify it.
johnowa636 said:
I will that a try. So this also mean that if author updates .apk file we will not be able to install update? Similar to google RC30 updates, we have to wait for JF to modify it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed; this might be a problem.
I mean, opening up the APK files is definitely a start, but it seems the shortcut approach I mentioned earlier is just so much easier. Shortcuts would allow basic users to change icons effortlessly and without fear of ruining the app, and the process could be just as easy as Bookmark 2, if a developer took charge, no?
ultra spikey said:
Well, I kind of figured out how to change the non-stock icons. But got stuck at the end...here's what I did...
1) Install/Open Astro.
2) Back up the app you want to change the icon for.
3) Grab that backup apk file off of your sdcard and put it on your computer.
4) Open it with Winrar.
5) Go to the proper folder and drag your new icon into the folder.
6) Close Winrar and move the apk back to your sdcard.
...this is where I get stuck, I know the icon changed because I can see it when I TRY to install the app. But the app doesnt want to install, it says "install unsuccesful". I'm guessing it needs to be signed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i would like to verify that this method works to change non-stock apps without pushing files or inserting apps into updates. i used 7zip but i'd imagine winrar will work fine as well. just remember to delete the entire metainf folder, not just its contents. once you have your .apk, re-sign it using stericson's auto-sign utility and you'll be able to install the app through astro.
i should also note that i deleted all instance of the unmodified app from my sdcard. i uninstalled it and deleted the backup on my sd card. this may or may not be necessary, but i just wanted to take precautions.
I've given this method a try, and it seems simply too complicated for a moderate user like me. Wouldn't the shortcut method I mentioned be so much easier to quickly change home screen icons? Would any of the developers on this forum be interested in throwing such an app together? I'd gladly donate some money if a good app was able to take care of this problem.
what are you having trouble with, exactly? i'm far from an advanced user myself, but this is probably one of the easier things to do on the g1, probably second to flashing themes.
though i will say that there are a few apps that i can't change icons for. chomp and cubik have installed but force close when opened.
i have a feeling it's something to do with the signing the apk's, but like i said, i'm not an advanced user at all.
TruLuvNvrDies said:
what are you having trouble with, exactly? i'm far from an advanced user myself, but this is probably one of the easier things to do on the g1, probably second to flashing themes.
though i will say that there are a few apps that i can't change icons for. chomp and cubik have installed but force close when opened.
i have a feeling it's something to do with the signing the apk's, but like i said, i'm not an advanced user at all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I opened up the APK using WinRAR, replaced the icon.png with my icon of choice, and then I'm stuck. I known I have to auto-sign the APK, but am not exactly sure how. I have Stericson's auto-signer tool, and used command 4 to manually enter the APK path, but once I do that I get a bunch of errors. If need be, I can copy down the exact error I get.
ultra spikey said:
Video doesnt show you how to change "non-stock" app icons, only icons for the original apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice video!
jayaustn said:
I opened up the APK using WinRAR, replaced the icon.png with my icon of choice, and then I'm stuck. I known I have to auto-sign the APK, but am not exactly sure how. I have Stericson's auto-signer tool, and used command 4 to manually enter the APK path, but once I do that I get a bunch of errors. If need be, I can copy down the exact error I get.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you probably need to delete the contents of the meta-inf folder. there should be three files in there, delete them all. if you extracted the contents of the .apk, zip them back up with an .apk extension. if you didn't extract them, you're at the last step, which is to re-sign the .apk. you don't actually need to manually re-sign the file through the console on stericson's re-signer. just right-click the .apk file and at the very top, there should be an option that says "resign .apk". click on that and your app will be re-signed and ready for an install attempt.
though, as i said before, this method is not 100%. of the 6 apps that i modified so far, i was only successful with 4 of them. even if you do all of the steps correctly, you might not have a working app at the end. the apps will install but will automatically force close when launched. i don't know what causes this, actually, and any suggestions would be appreciated.
I agree with the OP, while it is easy enough to edit the apks, resign them, copy them back onto your phone it would be far more elegant (IMHO) if you could have an application that allowed you to copy "Icon Packs" onto your SDCard, and then add links to applications on your home screen giving you a choice of icons from the aforementioned "Icon Pack".
Theme developers could then distribute the "Icon Pack" with the theme, and end users could easily add custom icons to your home screen from your phone without having to mess about on a PC.
liamw said:
I agree with the OP, while it is easy enough to edit the apks, resign them, copy them back onto your phone it would be far more elegant (IMHO) if you could have an application that allowed you to copy "Icon Packs" onto your SDCard, and then add links to applications on your home screen giving you a choice of icons from the aforementioned "Icon Pack".
Theme developers could then distribute the "Icon Pack" with the theme, and end users could easily add custom icons to your home screen from your phone without having to mess about on a PC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So what everyone wants is Anycut that can do custom icons.
Related
I have modified Mallmans Storm theme to provide a single day agenda on the first page
4 pages: Desktop, Applications, Weather and Calendar
I have also included buttons for Bluetooth, Wifi, Sound and signal (comms manager) in a 'status' area at the top of the page.
On the desktop, the messages (white is for SMS and red is for voicemail), clicking on the red one will dial Voicemail in the UK, white will open "SMS". The email will open my default folder so you will need to change the shortcut for that.
Applications is a mixture of Storm Icons and default icons, I have lots of apps that I don't have time to create icons for so have allowed both to used on the applications page. Weather page is simple and does for me. Calendar provides 2 days worth of events.
I don't have a contacts page as I have mapped a single press of the 'green' button to iContact 6.45BE. Double press launches the phone dialer.
Normal instructions for installing a WAD2 theme. All of my icons and the wallpaper are contained within the zip file and you just need to unzip the file and then copy the folder to Program Files\Lakeridge\Wisbar Advance\Theme and then open WAD2, select 'Settings' by holding the stylus on the screen and select 'Change Theme'.
Thanks to Mallman for providing the base for this.
Any questions just ask away.
The 5Mb file can be downloaded from
http://www.imagesoflife-online.co.uk/GLOC_Storm_Theme.zip
Regards
cant d/l, can u reup?
Well done. Really cool.
Mirror! http://www.filedropper.com/glocstormtheme
Great theme, thanks!
antrak said:
Mirror! http://www.filedropper.com/bbstormtheme
Great theme, thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hi can u reupload again, when extracting the files, there are some errors like files missing
sunnyou said:
hi can u reupload again, when extracting the files, there are some errors like files missing
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes pls re-up!!!
Reup for you guys as requested. Link here and in previous post. http://www.filedropper.com/glocstormtheme
Thanks. I can download the zip file OK but when I try to unzip it asks for a password. Looks like page_desktop and page_applications are password protected? Can you help.
Even tho you have given installation instructions i still cant install the theme. Is there anything else required? I have created the folders that you mentioned but still no success.
Also when i unzip the file it says that there are some files missing. Can you please check and upload the correct file as this seems to be a brilliant theme!!
Wait since you mention "created folders"...did you install WAD before? Because after that all that needs to be done is copy the "BB Storm Theme" folder extracted from the zip into WAD's theme folder, start WAD, right-click somewhere on the desktop page, choose Settings and then Change Theme, or Search Theme.
http://www.lakeridgesoftware.com/products/pocketpc/WisBarAdvanceDesktop/
And for Chris5304: Your downloaded zip file is either corrupt, or you use an old packing program. Try free 7-Zip, it can also handle 00x file endings, and becomes part of your shortcuts when you right-click on your PC desktop. http://www.7-zip.org/
Lucas0511 said:
Wait since you mention "created folders"...did you install WAD before? Because after that all that needs to be done is copy the "BB Storm Theme" folder extracted from the zip into WAD's theme folder, start WAD, right-click somewhere on the desktop page, choose Settings and then Change Theme, or Search Theme.
http://www.lakeridgesoftware.com/products/pocketpc/WisBarAdvanceDesktop/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks to ur help I managed to install the theme but it does not work properly. Infact i have extra windows icons that wont go away and when i click them it says "incorrect pathway"....I really like this theme and really want it to work!!!!
Well its natural to have Icons that lead nowhere at first, since the paths to your installed programs are not always the same as in GLOC's. Already your memory card might be named differently. So in order to adjust the paths you have to learn WAD a little bit. You will manage eventually, as I did.
Lucas0511 said:
Wait since you mention "created folders"...did you install WAD before? Because after that all that needs to be done is copy the "BB Storm Theme" folder extracted from the zip into WAD's theme folder, start WAD, right-click somewhere on the desktop page, choose Settings and then Change Theme, or Search Theme.
http://www.lakeridgesoftware.com/products/pocketpc/WisBarAdvanceDesktop/
And for Chris5304: Your downloaded zip file is either corrupt, or you use an old packing program. Try free 7-Zip, it can also handle 00x file endings, and becomes part of your shortcuts when you right-click on your PC desktop. http://www.7-zip.org/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks Lucas. I downloaded again and used 7-zip and all is good.
Lucas0511 said:
Well its natural to have Icons that lead nowhere at first, since the paths to your installed programs are not always the same as in GLOC's. Already your memory card might be named differently. So in order to adjust the paths you have to learn WAD a little bit. You will manage eventually, as I did.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok for some reason i still cant figure it out. Is there any website or link that you can provide where i can read up more? I checked the WAD website but that didnt make me more intelligent
OmZ said:
ok for some reason i still cant figure it out. Is there any website or link that you can provide where i can read up more? I checked the WAD website but that didnt make me more intelligent
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Plenty of threads on WAD, you will need to read up a bit but for the basics try this:
press and hold anywhere to get a menu with "Author Mode" as an option. Select this. Then press and hold on a button which doesn't go anywhere for you. Choose "Properties". Click on "Script". Click on "Launch a program" and then "Edit". Click the drop down list arrow next to the program path and choose a program on your machine from the resulting list.
If this is still not clear I think you should search other threads here and on Lakeridge web site forums as this is getting off topic!
Hi, firstly thanks for this great theme, took me a while to figure out what WAD2
I have one slight problem, when on the desktop after I have checked my email or sms and I click close the phone dialer shows up with "Save to Contacts" any idea what is causing this. I am using Duttys 2.6 rom and have the latest trial version of WAD2.
Also how did you make the icons as I would love to create some for HD tweak and othe rapps I use.
Thanks
Sully
Glad you like it.
With regards to adding new contacts I am not sure but it has only just started happening with mine. I am also using Dutty 2.6 extreme and it comes up, it didn't come up when I used the vanilla rom, so I wonder if it is something to do with the new Rom.
With regards to the icons, I am not sure but I know that if you search the Lakeridge forums there are some posted there. I personally use the application icons as I can't be bothered to create new icons!!
Regards
Brilliant mate, love it ! Thanks.
I have the same problem
Probably I do not undestand well
I have instaled WAD2 in my touch hd
I try to unzip your theme zip file, on my desktop, but there are many, many errors.
where is my mistake ?
thanks in advance for your help
I'm using the EvoV8 RevA froyo build. I'm using Bettercut to replace my home screen shortcut icons and for the most part it's working fine. When I try and replace my "Contacts" application icon I get the error "Application not installed on phone" when I try and launch it. I'm trying to circumvent that problem by using App Organizer to change the icon but all that application seems to want to do is group apps into a folder. I just want a single custom icon representing my "Contacts" application on my home screen, not a folder that contains the "Contacts" app inside it. Anyone have anyway to achieve this knowing the Bettercut has problems with this particular application?
Im having the same issue with some apps. everyone told me use FloderOrganizer and that works better imo
RickBaller said:
I'm using the EvoV8 RevA froyo build. I'm using Bettercut to replace my home screen shortcut icons and for the most part it's working fine. When I try and replace my "Contacts" application icon I get the error "Application not installed on phone" when I try and launch it. I'm trying to circumvent that problem by using App Organizer to change the icon but all that application seems to want to do is group apps into a folder. I just want a single custom icon representing my "Contacts" application on my home screen, not a folder that contains the "Contacts" app inside it. Anyone have anyway to achieve this knowing the Bettercut has problems with this particular application?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i wanted to do the same thing. i couldn't get it working, but i can't call myself an android expert either. but i think this method SHOULD work
1) download the rom and unzip it in windows
2) unzip the stock Contacts.apk
3) go to /res/drawable-hdpi/
4) find the icon
5) adb pull Contacts.apk from your phone
6) replace the original icon with the one from the stock rom
7) re-zip the file
8) adb rm Contacts.apk from phone
9) adb push edited Contacts.apk to phone.
obviously a nandroid backup before all of this is fairly important. if anyone else can confirm that this would work that would be helpful. i wanted the stock Contacts & Camera icons and ran into the same error you did.
You guys need to get Folder Organizer. Once I got it, I uninstalled both BetterCut and AppOrganizer. It's way better.
Cheers...
kiddecks said:
i wanted to do the same thing. i couldn't get it working, but i can't call myself an android expert either. but i think this method SHOULD work
1) download the rom and unzip it in windows
2) unzip the stock Contacts.apk
3) go to /res/drawable-hdpi/
4) find the icon
5) adb pull Contacts.apk from your phone
6) replace the original icon with the one from the stock rom
7) re-zip the file
8) adb rm Contacts.apk from phone
9) adb push edited Contacts.apk to phone.
obviously a nandroid backup before all of this is fairly important. if anyone else can confirm that this would work that would be helpful. i wanted the stock Contacts & Camera icons and ran into the same error you did.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay...you don't need to remove the contacts.apk....when you push the new one to your phone it automatically replaces the old one. So there is a step or two less......
Are you renaming the new icon the same name as your old icon? Also....are you keeping the exact same size, example 72x72 pixels is app icon size for the EVO.
Figured we might need a help thread for metamorph and since I need help here goes the first question
So I took part of my theme and made it Metamorph compatible with the guide here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=591329
Now MM opens the zip fine, starts to install it, asks permission to edit framework-res.apk then after about 1 minute it asks for a reboot and then before I can answer it just reboots. At this point it gets stuck in a boot loop and I have to nandroid.
Never really messed with MM so it could be something I am doing wrong or I did read this:
Depending on the device you have you may need a different SPL to be able to apply themes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Anyways I attached my test theme (no where complete, just wanted to test it). Is the issue with me, the phones spl or metamorph not ready for the incredible yet?
ps: If your going to test my theme uploaded here, be smart, do a backup, this is just a test and not a full theme and I just told you it is causing boot loops
test file download
I wonder if the SPL will be the roadblock until Froyo is officially released. Of course I know nothing of these things...
*Sent via Tapatalk on my Incredible
running latest leak 8/1/10 new radio 2.15 busybox all set up. tried to installed metamorph and ninjamorph, gives /system error about space and then my root is broken ?!? any ideas folks, so lost on this one. thank god for nandroid restore
icedmayhem said:
running latest leak 8/1/10 new radio 2.15 busybox all set up. tried to installed metamorph and ninjamorph, gives /system error about space and then my root is broken ?!? any ideas folks, so lost on this one. thank god for nandroid restore
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you run the unrevoked forever to unlock the nand
I'm having mixed results with metamorph. I was able to do everything I wanted on CM6. I actually ported this over for us and it works great on metamorph not problems, check it out: http://androidforums.com/roms-incredible/149055-theme-vatsense-cm6port.html
now I tried porting one of my themes over to skyraider2.2 and I can get framework-res and com.htc.resources to work fine, but when i tried to add in my themed apps, I get a f/c and have to pull battery. http://androidforums.com/roms-incredible/148221-theme-do-bluev1.html
Ran the unrevoked tool so give me s off as well...
I had somebody in the nexus forum metamorph the weather channel widget but I cant get it to install, anyone game to take a look? I would love this to be transparent.
I have ran unrevoked forever and installe the latest metamorph.
Thanks
Im running (latest) stock 2.2 leak, and i cant get metamorph or NinjaMorph to make ANYthing stick. (YES I HAVE S-OFF) Both run as if they are making the changes, No diff than they did with the Moto Droid. MM reboots after ANY package, not just framework, with out asking to reboot. Ninja will usually break the app (app is no longer installed)
ANY IDEAS?
EDIT: just for kicks i installed a Deodexed Stock ROM, and still the same results... It says its doing it, but i the end it makes NO changes to the APK files.
see if you can manually (adb) replace the files and see if it sticks..... if not then the issue is not metemporph.... it's a rooting/nand issue.
R1lover said:
see if you can manually (adb) replace the files and see if it sticks..... if not then the issue is not metemporph.... it's a rooting/nand issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Manually replacing the entire APK... work just like it did when we needed recovery. Just now you type ADB remount, then push it.
If you mean manually replacing the edited files within the apk, thats not directly possible via adb. you have to PULL, EDIT,PUSH.
The problem here is metaMorph is supposed to open the apk replace just the edited files then close it up right on the phone, and its just not doing that!
what i did that fixed all my issues was install busybox from market. its odd but it all works perfect now even though i though it had been prebuilt into the rom. strange but ill take it
icedmayhem said:
what i did that fixed all my issues was install busybox from market. its odd but it all works perfect now even though i though it had been prebuilt into the rom. strange but ill take it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea, I just did what you said, before Metamorph would say not enough free space in /system/
I was using the 8/1/10 Froyo leak and I guess that one didn't have busybox, weird I was able to use Titanium Backup and I though that required busybox as well...
everytime you switch a rom, you should download busybox and let it update, it changes per rom.
Welp , Im still at a loss... I updated busybox, using the market app... and it still gives me the same results...
It takes 2-3 min to "apply theme" then reboots... and NO changes !
My theme contains ONLY the folders and files that need to be replaced, and my xml is copied from an existing theme, then edited. So i dont know wtf is goin on with this ****.
try making it into a file that can be flashed from recovery, then ull know for sure u made it correct....
Not sure this will help but I just installed Metamorph today and was getting the "system memory" error. To fix the problem I just used Root Explorer to mount /system as rw. Could the problems be related to write permissions?
I'm new to this...
I'm running SkyRaider's 2.5.2. Sense ROM. Just downloaded MM & BusyBox via market. When I start MM I select "Start Checks" or whatever. It then either forces my phone into reboot or gives me the "not enough memory in /system" error.
I did not install unrevoked forever. Is that my problem?
ksidirt said:
I'm new to this...
I'm running SkyRaider's 2.5.2. Sense ROM. Just downloaded MM & BusyBox via market. When I start MM I select "Start Checks" or whatever. It then either forces my phone into reboot or gives me the "not enough memory in /system" error.
I did not install unrevoked forever. Is that my problem?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Uh yea, it needs to write to system, you need S-off to use it.
I'm reviving this thread so as to not clutter up the Metamorph Themes Master List thread
This quote is from the other thread, I just thought it would be more appropriate to answer here instead.
mikesincredible said:
Wow. What you just told me is like trying to learn chinese...lol I see there's more involved...any good articles to point out so I can learn. I just know rom manager and adb push code... ::
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm sure there are some guides floating around XDA, but I mostly learned MM just by messing with it and learning from trial and error.
Basically, metamorph just opens up an .apk file, replaces any of the files it finds in the folders specified by a theme's .xml file, then closes/re-signs the apk.
This is much better than flashing themes from the recovery menu or rom manager because doing so replaces the entire framework-res.apk, overwriting any themes you had previously installed. Since metamorph only replaces the files you want, any theme you already had will be preserved.
Here's an example to get a quick overview of how it works. Say you've already applied my black rotary lockscreen mod (found here) and you want to use some of the elements from SoCalMiles' Incredible rEVOlution theme.
First you should download his file, and inside the .zip find "\Incredible_Revolution_Original_Theme.zip\system\framework\framework-res.apk" and extract it somewhere.
Then rename "framework-res.apk" to "framework-res.apk.zip" or something similar. Now you can browse/unzip the files just like you would any other folder.
In your new .zip navigate to \framework-res.apk.zip\res\drawable-hdpi-v4, most of a rom's theme will be in that folder.
Now, if you've applied my theme through metamorph (or any theme, for that matter) you should have the directory "\sdcard\AndroidThemes\BlackRotary-hdpi-v4\framework-res\res\drawable-hdpi-v4\" on your sdcard.
Choose any of the files you want to apply to your phone from the extracted Incredible rEVOlution drawable-hdpi-v4 folder and copy them from to the \sdcard\AndroidThemes\BlackRotary-hdpi-v4\framework-res\res\drawable-hdpi-v4\ folder. Now when you run the metamorph it should copy the files you added as well as the ones that were previously there.
If you want to copy files that are not in the drawable-hdpi-v4 folder, simply make a new folder for the containing folder. Basically just make sure the \sdcard\AndroidThemes\whatevs\framework-res\ directories match the directories in the framework-res.apk file you're pulling from.
That's the easiest way to combine two themes, if you're looking to make you're own metamorph theme to post on xda you'll need to learn to edit the .xml file which directs metamorph to which files to modify, but that isn't too hard either, and there's no need to do this if you're just making metamorphs for your own personal use.
mixedlemon said:
I'm reviving this thread so as to not clutter up the Metamorph Themes Master List thread
This quote is from the other thread, I just thought it would be more appropriate to answer here instead.
I'm sure there are some guides floating around XDA, but I mostly learned MM just by messing with it and learning from trial and error.
Basically, metamorph just opens up an .apk file, replaces any of the files it finds in the folders specified by a theme's .xml file, then closes/re-signs the apk.
This is much better than flashing themes from the recovery menu or rom manager because doing so replaces the entire framework-res.apk, overwriting any themes you had previously installed. Since metamorph only replaces the files you want, any theme you already had will be preserved.
Here's an example to get a quick overview of how it works. Say you've already applied my black rotary lockscreen mod (found here) and you want to use some of the elements from SoCalMiles' Incredible rEVOlution theme.
First you should download his file, and inside the .zip find "\Incredible_Revolution_Original_Theme.zip\system\framework\framework-res.apk" and extract it somewhere.
Then rename "framework-res.apk" to "framework-res.apk.zip" or something similar. Now you can browse/unzip the files just like you would any other folder.
In your new .zip navigate to \framework-res.apk.zip\res\drawable-hdpi-v4, most of a rom's theme will be in that folder.
Now, if you've applied my theme through metamorph (or any theme, for that matter) you should have the directory "\sdcard\AndroidThemes\BlackRotary-hdpi-v4\framework-res\res\drawable-hdpi-v4\" on your sdcard.
Choose any of the files you want to apply to your phone from the extracted Incredible rEVOlution drawable-hdpi-v4 folder and copy them from to the \sdcard\AndroidThemes\BlackRotary-hdpi-v4\framework-res\res\drawable-hdpi-v4\ folder. Now when you run the metamorph it should copy the files you added as well as the ones that were previously there.
If you want to copy files that are not in the drawable-hdpi-v4 folder, simply make a new folder for the containing folder. Basically just make sure the \sdcard\AndroidThemes\whatevs\framework-res\ directories match the directories in the framework-res.apk file you're pulling from.
That's the easiest way to combine two themes, if you're looking to make you're own metamorph theme to post on xda you'll need to learn to edit the .xml file which directs metamorph to which files to modify, but that isn't too hard either, and there's no need to do this if you're just making metamorphs for your own personal use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What other folders contain the status icons? I'm looking to restore the circle battery and alarm from the incredible revolution theme, I found the battery.pngs..but no alarm..so if I copy and paste them to the blackrotary folder in androidthemes and metamorph, I should have the battery back
I installed the stock MMS.apk file on my de'odexed stock rom (rooted of course). Everything worked well and the app runs, but when reading text threads there is an ugly white border around the edge of the screen, its strange. Its not present when viewing the list of conversations, only in the thread view. I'm not sure if that's how its supposed to look or not, but if not, anyone have any idea how to fix this?
I'll get a screenshot up as soon as I get home.
I first obtained the MMS.apk from the cyanogen rom, then thinking that it might be modified and thus creating my problem, I grabbed the AOSP version from this thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=789493
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
UPDATE:
Found another thread where people are experiencing the same issue, apparently its a problem with how sense handles the application:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=752604
I attempted to open up the Mms.apk (AOSP version) with APKtool and play around with the xml files for the UI, but wasn't able to get it to recompile and test any changes I made, the app would just crash on launch. I simply made a few changes to the colors, but I admittedly don't really know what I'm doing and it wouldn't run. If anyone who's more experienced in this area could offer some advice I'll try again.
That's a picture of the issue, it appears in both landscape and portrait mode.
Texts were blacked out just for privacy sake.
Well after a few hours of messing around in the XML files for the AOSP messaging app, I was able to find a solution to this issue. I modified the XML file to have it correctly display the black color background when using the black theme. I was not able to eliminate the border entirely, but by changing the scrollbar type from Inset to Overlay I was able to make it uniform and far more visually pleasing.
I have attached my modified Mms.apk file, feel free to test it out.
For the specifics of what I did for those who are interested:
Two files were modified in the apk
- /res/layout/compose_message_activity.xml
- /res/layout/compose_message_activity_black.xml
In both files I changed the scrollbarStyle propery to "insideOverlay", in addition to removing the reference to always show the scrollbar track.
In the black xml file I changed the background color to "@android:color/black".
The original XML files were extracted using APKTool and Recompiled to their binary format, then reinserted into the original apk without resigning.
This is awesome! ... Except it doesn't filter out the VVM message streams that come through. :|
I haven't encountered this problem though I use google voice so I'm not really sure what it is you're referring to.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
ty!
beautiful ty!!!!!!!!!
Imma cry
I cant send mms!
Try turning off wifi while sending/receiving mms
no wifi
i don't have wifi on when i do this i just have 3g on so i can send mms!
i zipped the file with the one that had the white outline .is there a way to make this new apk. file into a .zip file for me ?
I'd imagine you could simply replace the APK file in your zip with my modified one and install that way. Use a program like winrar or 7zip to replace the apk within the zip.
tehpsyc said:
I'd imagine you could simply replace the APK file in your zip with my modified one and install that way. Use a program like winrar or 7zip to replace the apk within the zip.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sorry but i cant find either of thoses programs u mention to replace the APK file in my zip with your modified version .is there another program or a manual way of doing this process ?
how do i install this? since it's an APK, i thought i'd just install it from Astro but it says it's already installed and asked if i wanted to uninstall.
To install this you need to either delete or rename the Mms.apk that's already on your phone in the /system/app directory (I just rename to Mms.apk.bak) and then copy the modified one into that same directory followed by a restart of the phone. Because its a system app you cant install it the same way you would a regular apk, at least from my understanding.
You will need to get write access to the system directory to accomplish this (I used an app on the market called root explorer, though you can also do all this through the ADB shell)
hey guys.
i've been getting into modding apps to match my liking. i've modded widgetlocker, sms unread count, ported the cm6 mail app and modded it, and also lookout. pretty much what i'm doing is changing .png's. i've done it by openining the .apks with apk manager, editing the .pngs, zipping and then signing it. then i install and bam, everything works.
however, now i'm trying to mod MixZing and i'm having an issue. bear with the long explanation:
tried the regular method using .apk manager. if i unzip/edit/zip/sign and try to install, i get "Application not installed"...if i do unzip/edit/zip as system app (no signature) and try to install, same message. if i do unzip/edit/zip as regular app but dont sign it, same message. if i edit the file with 7Zip and try to install, also get the same message...
if i unzip/edit/zip/sign and try to copy/paste over the existing .apk in /data/app i get force closes when i try to open the app.
now, if i edit the .apk with 7-zip and i copy it over the existing .com.mixzing.basic-1.apk in /data/app then it works! the widgets work, the app works. all is well....until i reboot the phone. then i come back and the app wont launch, as if it wasn't there.
i go to /data/app/ the .apk is there, but it wont launch. if i try to install it from there, it also gives me "Application not installed"...interestingly enough, when i try to install it, it tells me it would overwrite an existing application. yet when i go to the Market, it shows as Mixzing NOT being installed and lets me install a new copy just fine.
if i install again from the market, and copy/paste my copy over it in /data/app, it works again...until I reboot...and the cycle repeats.
what am i doing wrong here?
I am also trying to theme/mod apks to my liking. I am also getting the same errors as you are"application not installed ". I posted the same questions, yours are more detailed, on Riptides theme thread. Riptide has themed several add-ons that are flashed via recovery. I am waiting on a reply. Maybe check his thread and see if your questions are answered on there also...
Sent from my PC36100
No help or suggestions???
Sent from my PC36100
What files are you modifying? Are they *.9.png files? If so, they need to be decompiled, not just extracted so you can see the borders.
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk
yeah the majority of the images edited are the buttons, all of which are .9.pngs. would that make a difference as to the app not installing? or the fact that it's recognized prior to boot but not after boot?
EDIT: i decompiled the .apk with APK Manager. replaced the .9.pngs with my own. tried to recompile and when it was about done it gave an error. after that it allowed me zip the apk. when i went to install, got the same message..."application not installed"...
why this issue with MixZing and not Lookout, SMS Unread Count, CM6 Email, WidgetLocker???
Max_Pain said:
yeah the majority of the images edited are the buttons, all of which are .9.pngs. would that make a difference as to the app not installing? or the fact that it's recognized prior to boot but not after boot?
EDIT: i decompiled the .apk with APK Manager. replaced the .9.pngs with my own. tried to recompile and when it was about done it gave an error. after that it allowed me zip the apk. when i went to install, got the same message..."application not installed"...
why this issue with MixZing and not Lookout, SMS Unread Count, CM6 Email, WidgetLocker???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, .9 png files are not normal image files. To make a long story short, they are special image files that contain meta-data. Usually this meta-data is used to tell the widget where to stop and start (basically borders). Developers use .9 png files instead of hard-coding the borders to make it easier and more flexible for widgets and other images to display on a wide variety of devices.
When you extract .9 files, you will not see the meta-data. Chances are what is happening is when you are modifying the .9 files, you are also erasing the metadata. All .9 png files must have either a black border on the edge to tell the application where the border is, or it must have a white (blank) border surrounding the image. When you decompile the images, you should see some black lines on the edges of the .9 image files (make sure you are using APKManager 4.9).
So, when editing .9 png files, you have 3 options:
1. The easiest is to simply edit it the way you have been and remove the .9 filename. So for example, if the file is called background.9.png, rename it to background.png. This works about 50% of the time.
2. Decompile the .9 png file to see the borders, edit the image file and either keep the existing border or make your own black border on the edge (it doesn't need to be thick, just a small black line will do). The only problem with this is that sometimes you can see the black lines after it is compiled again.
3. The best way, IMHO, is to make a blank edge on the border of the background. This will avoid any compiling errors and eliminates the chance of seeing the black border. It doesn't need to be thick, just as long as the app can distinguish the border.
thanks for detailed post. will look at it with more time tonight or tomorrow.
i tried quickly now but didnt work.
i decompiled the apk using apk manager 4.9, i was able to see the .9.pngs with the black border. i changed all the extensions to just be .png for all of them. then edited them all in photoshop (make them clear is all i want), saved, and recompiled. for the first time APK Manager didn't give me an error. got all the way to asking me if it was a system app. i chose no. then i signed the app. again, no errors from apk manager. but when i tried installing, again got "application not installed"
ahhh...
will try other methods from your post later. if you have an idea as to why my first attempt didnt work i'm all ears.
Max_Pain said:
thanks for detailed post. will look at it with more time tonight or tomorrow.
i tried quickly now but didnt work.
i decompiled the apk using apk manager 4.9, i was able to see the .9.pngs with the black border. i changed all the extensions to just be .png for all of them. then edited them all in photoshop (make them clear is all i want), saved, and recompiled. for the first time APK Manager didn't give me an error. got all the way to asking me if it was a system app. i chose no. then i signed the app. again, no errors from apk manager. but when i tried installing, again got "application not installed"
ahhh...
will try other methods from your post later. if you have an idea as to why my first attempt didnt work i'm all ears.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know what the problem is. You need to uninstall the previous version before installing the modified version. Even though they are the same app, the signatures are different, so they won't overwrite. I make that mistake a lot too.
uninstalled mixzing, tried installing my signed copy and again, application not installed.
does it matter that i mixed the renaming of the 9.pngs to just .png from step 1 to the decompilation of the .apk from steps 2 and 3? maybe i should just rename the .9.pngs through 7zip without decompiling?
any more suggestions?
to test out a theory, i did the following:
1) extracted .apk with apk manager, changed 4 .png files that were not stretchable .9.pngs. zipped .apk, option 2, then signed .apk.
i uninstalled my working version of mixzing, tried to install this one, and got application not installed.
2) i decompiled .apk with apk manager, changed the same 4 .png files, recompiled apk, non-system app option, signed .apk.
mixzing was still uninstalled, tried to install this version, got same application not installed message.
neither of these tries including any .9.png modifications and still failed?