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Let me start by saying that I have googled, and used the search box for XDA. I haven`t been able to find a clear guide, or even a hint on how to go about making a custom theme for manila 2d. The only things I can find are lots of link to themes others have made and other unless information. It`s like it`s everybody else`s big secret or something. I just want to be able to make my own theme that I actually like, and contribute to the Pocket PC community. I`m not exactly a noob when it comes to PPC`s , but I`m certainly no expert. I just want to learn how to do things myself, instead of waiting to see what others come come up with.
Enough with my sad plea though, if any one can help me out I`d appreciated it. I`m not asking for a 20 page detailed step by step guide or nothing just maybe a explaination of how the stuff in the theme fits together, what types of files and extension, the basics.
Whenever I make custom graphics for apps, I do this. First, take a look at the files associated with the app. If you have actual graphic files, than it's just a simple create and replace. Some apps use .dat files, which are protected sets of files. Like with Spb apps, you have to rename "file.dat", to "file.zip" and extract with the password. If after browsing through the files and find nothing, PM someone about how to change it.
I used M2D once, but never really looked at what it included. I suggest downloading a theme that is not a .cab file, and see what's included. If you still can't find your answer, PM someone.
Wish I could help, but I have only used it for a grand total of 10 minutes.
Well, in my whole 5 minutes of looking into this, the quickest way i can see is to download a theme from someone like - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=448326...
Then modify to your liking, and extract to the windows folder on your vogue.
Hope this helps.
nosco said:
Well, in my whole 5 minutes of looking into this, the quickest way i can see is to download a theme from someone like - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=448326...
Then modify to your liking, and extract to the windows folder on your vogue.
Hope this helps.
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Ewww, not too hot on all that red.... Take a look at these while you are at it....
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=425974
I was wondering the same thing on how to make the custom themes. Did you have any luck pknyo?
From what I've seen on these you can take the elements you like from several themes and combine them.
If you open one of the .ZIP files, you'll see a structure. All of the icons that are needed are named and there's a bunch of them.
You can also open and check out the .XML file at the end it has the sizing criteria for the themes.
If I am incorrect here, feel free to correct.
Theme:
I.R.M.A.
I Ripped My Android
Ask How to get theme
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=3442348&postcount=22
I lol'd when I saw the little tapes holding everything together..nice job as usual.
RandumAccess said:
not responsible for any damage
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LMAO!
Great concept.
@RandumAccess
Will you ever finish any of your themes? This is a good idea but will you do more than the basic stuff?.
Lol, he's released like 5 themes in the past 24 hours it seems, the concept of his work is nice, there is a lot more that can be done to make it better though. Either way I could care less, I make my own personal, as well as public, use themes.
Eh, as a theme maker its good to see someone doing variety of themes like this. Like it or not, most people don't want to see overblown full themes and are happy with something like any of the the past 3-4 themes RandumAccess has done. Kudos for doing the work, it'll probably save others from getting requests like those.
Its a community, share and create alike. Thanks for making them I say.
manup456 said:
@RandumAccess
Will you ever finish any of your themes? This is a good idea but will you do more than the basic stuff?.
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Well as I have said in previous posts, i like "simple" cosmetic themes... its not that i cant do them but in my opinion I like them cause the icons arent so different from each other and i like to push out themes as i think of them...
I prefer basic... most themes are overcooked...lol
to me... they are complete...lol
prash said:
most people don't want to see overblown full themes
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I agree and I am one of those people... I do not like the Overcooked themes myself... which is why i use mainly my own themes on my phone.
There is a point where the theme can make the G1 ugly... especially if not done right... I find flaws in most of the overcooked themes and would rather not deal with that and just push out simple themes.
The more themes the better.
The more the merrier, keep 'em coming!
i think it's at, you spend a few minutes replacing a couple of simple things while the rest of us spend days or weeks perfecting all the awesomeness of the "overcooked" as you say themes and i think that the perfection lies somewhere in the middle. hopefully we have some really great well-done, and some medium rare themes, that come out of this contest we are having. just a few days left for competitors to perfect the themes
I have to throw in my .02 in favor of the undercooked theme. I've downloaded a few of the amazing looking themes and then, 20 minutes later I realized that half the icons on the home pages aren't themed and it just looks... off. I rather themes that don't touch the icons or don't radically change them so when I install a new program it doesn't look like ass when I put it on the home page. Not to say I don't appreciate all the work themers put into them, but I think it's nixed the moment you place a non-themed icon on the desktop.
crys|s said:
Lol, he's released like 5 themes in the past 24 hours it seems, the concept of his work is nice, there is a lot more that can be done to make it better though. Either way I could care less, I make my own personal, as well as public, use themes.
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Sounds like a bit of Envy...
@RandumAccess
Sorry for clogging up your theme thread just wanted to know.
Well a theme that has just been altered is a Theme MOD and what you call overcooked is considered complete.
I seen this in another thread about this section being broken up,I really think it would be a great idea maybe add some sub forums. Complete themes,Mod Themes and a section for all the other threads.
"hey i just wanted to say thanks
ive been looking four hrs for a theme for my newly rooted g1
and while i like most of em i dont like when most of the icons are changed but then most arent
i hate a mix like that
thats why i love your themes
i just installed your green theme (sorry dont remember the name right now lol...know it begins with a g)
just looks tacky when some icons are themed and others arent
id rather have em all themed or none...with some exceptions
but thanks again i love your work"
-dtperea - one of my fans...lol
I get numerous emails like this almost daily... and This is who I theme for.
I love you guys and you motivate me to do my style of themes...
I say keep the themes coming Randum!!! I actually really like that you don't change the icons... I love a lot of these themes but the icons always kept me from using them. You sir have changed that for me!
Yeah, I think that we should make themes just like these and then use utilities like BetterCut to change the icons to ones that match.
That's what I do anyways.
Maybe the devs can post their icons in separate packs, too (as if they don't have too much on their plate already with the RC9, RC33 and ADP1.1 builds to theme... =P)
Beast84 said:
I say keep the themes coming Randum!!! I actually really like that you don't change the icons... I love a lot of these themes but the icons always kept me from using them. You sir have changed that for me!
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amgupt01 said:
Yeah, I think that we should make themes just like these and then use utilities like BetterCut to change the icons to ones that match.
That's what I do anyways.
Maybe the devs can post their icons in separate packs, too (as if they don't have too much on their plate already with the RC9, RC33 and ADP1.1 builds to theme... =P)
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Thanks Guys!
Im not even doing the competition, I have created Overcooked themes and I really did not like them as much as my "Simple" concept.
This popularity about my themes has created so much more positive email and posts.. I LOVE IT!
RandumAccess said:
Thanks Guys!
Im not even doing the competition, I have created Overcooked themes and I really did not like them as much as my "Simple" concept.
This popularity about my themes has created so much more positive email and posts.. I LOVE IT!
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Is the mediafire link in your signiture up to date with all these "simple" themes?
I'm sorry and i know I'm not a senior member like most but honestly an artist telling another artist to change up his style is just retarded. if you don't like someone else's work keep making your "overcooked" or "completed" themes and accept that maybe there are some people out there that don't like your themes as much as the simple ones.
you both make sick themes and this is no way to treat one another like your themes are better than someone else's because you are only looking at it in your own point of view.
Keep up the good work guys and one day i look forward to be as good as you guys.
Beast84 said:
Is the mediafire link in your signiture up to date with all these "simple" themes?
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Yes sirree...
Since android was disponible, this community did a great job on creating theme for this platform. Although android is not defaultly skinnable, themers had to create custom updates for change icons and other graphical things.
On another side we saw many people involved in modifying google open source apps such as launcher, browser and so on.
Why don't we put the two sides together?
Consider that someone modifies, for example, launcher app to be allowet for changing icons. Themeing would be better and simpler. No compatibility problems because images would be loaded directly from the operating system, directly from the app to be skinned. Such as open home or such as every other app that is skinnable.
Don't you like the idea?
You should contact the developer of the launcher. He will be able to make the modifications to allow for this (because yes, as of currently, its not really skinnable [at least to my knowledge]).
But yes, good idea.
You wouldn't be able to change the status bar for example. .
Maybe just personal opinion but only 2 or 3 of the themes look good at all, a lot of them look terrible!
While I admire the hardwork , I wish someone would make more black/dark themes. And nothing too over the top.
Kill off the "hero" look, Make the bottom pull tab transparent.
Enoch is about the only decent theme here.
maxisma said:
You wouldn't be able to change the status bar for example. .
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Cannot we modify source of each apk we want to theme?
Well because each app that google owns and we can't distribute, we can't even include a custom icon which would be modifying copyrighted contend.
digitallysick said:
Maybe just personal opinion but only 2 or 3 of the themes look good at all, a lot of them look terrible!
While I admire the hardwork , I wish someone would make more black/dark themes. And nothing too over the top.
Kill off the "hero" look, Make the bottom pull tab transparent.
Enoch is about the only decent theme here.
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I totally agree, and also don't create anything for the community to use.
digitallysick said:
Maybe just personal opinion but only 2 or 3 of the themes look good at all, a lot of them look terrible!
While I admire the hardwork , I wish someone would make more black/dark themes. And nothing too over the top.
Kill off the "hero" look, Make the bottom pull tab transparent.
Enoch is about the only decent theme here.
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Click to collapse
Sine mianosm has seconded this, i will third it. Stupid themers can't create some iamges that look good. I mean it must not be hard at all since we have all of these ugly themes, so why doesn't someone make a good looking one for once. Can we get a good theme finally!!!!
digitallysick said:
Maybe just personal opinion but only 2 or 3 of the themes look good at all, a lot of them look terrible!
While I admire the hardwork , I wish someone would make more black/dark themes. And nothing too over the top.
Kill off the "hero" look, Make the bottom pull tab transparent.
Enoch is about the only decent theme here.
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Click to collapse
I don't think it is the right thread for commenting themes.
Here's the reason why; you're completely forgetting about variety. Asking devs to prepare a rom a certain way is roughly equivalent to ramming a particular theme down your way, but not everybody will like it. Whichever theme it is you like, there will be 30 more people here that find it either dull or tacky (let's face it, the Theme's subforum is full with examples of both), but hey, that's their taste. When we make builds, we like putting out a known base, in this case, the default Android look. Cyanogen resisted theming his builds because of this, and if he did add variations to visuals, they were very, very minimal, and very tactful. What comes to mind is the horrible (in my mind) bootscreen for tehseano's Hero theme. Though the screen was nice, my phone is my phone, not advertisment space, so having "a theme by tehseano & Moonspoon" in there, even if it was only during boot, I felt was horribly inappropriate and tacky. Or there's the horrible rom King-something-or-other made with the stupid bootscreen. Many people don't agree, and that's great, because there's variety and diversity, and that's where themers come in.
You're asking for a reduction of choice, but choice tends to be a personal issue. Whatever it is you like, I assure you, there's going to be plenty of people that don't like it.
Let devs do instead what we do, develop, and let themers do their job, and let people have the ability to make choices.
this is actually a really good idea, however people would definitely need to coordinate thoughts and idea's better, but on that sense it would provide a much closer knit community.
would be interesting to see what develops from this.
The simplest way is for the themer to include the png's when he creates the theme and have the end user repack and sign, or use better cut if they don't care about the app drawer icon.
mianosm said:
I totally agree, and also don't create anything for the community to use.
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LOL
Some people just don't get it.
Hi, searching for a light theme for CM9.
By that I dont mean just the text and icons changed to white or something else, dont even know how that can be called another theme.
Searching for something looking more like HTC sense. By that I mean the colors and such.
Sick of the black and boring colors in samsungs ICS/CM9
Have you tried the big button at the top labelled "SEARCH", try entering "CM9" into it and see what happens.
There it's a sticky in the Android themes section called "CM9 themes".
There's also the play store where if you search for "CM9 theme", it will return a large amount of results.
You can even use a search like Google.
Falling that create your own, there's many guides.
Or are you just lazy and want people to do the work for you?
I could have posted links to all these within the time it's taken to write this, but hey, where's the fun in that!
See here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=25846541
And here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=26564871
Regards.
Boo
Shame on you buzzboy for being helpful, haha.:;
dully79 said:
Have you tried the big button at the top labelled "SEARCH", try entering "CM9" into it and see what happens.
There it's a sticky in the Android themes section called "CM9 themes".
There's also the play store where if you search for "CM9 theme", it will return a large amount of results.
You can even use a search like Google.
Falling that create your own, there's many guides.
Or are you just lazy and want people to do the work for you?
I could have posted links to all these within the time it's taken to write this, but hey, where's the fun in that!
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What is your problem? I only asked a question just if there is. I have been already going through that thread and almost all of those are all dark and have only changed color of the text. Some have made the black background colors a bit lighter.
But if there's none theme that meets my criteries I guess there's nothing to do about it if not making my own. But I am no developer, so Ill have to stick with orig. cm9.
Wat you talkin bout?
I've just given you a lot of options to try and find a theme for your liking.
That's gratitude for ya.
The reason there is no light themes is because it requires editing the manifest to change the default theme from dark to light. But there will always be apps that use the dark theme and need editing so it becomes like quick sand.
I've only seen 2 white status bar themes for CM9. Frost by Sonny in the play store and another called Ghost in the Galaxy Nexus themes and apps forum.
Sent from my GT-I9100
Finally a proper answer to my question.
Thank you!
Oh look, it's a thread from page 5 in these forums on 31/5/12
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1683788&highlight=cm9+theme
Try using the round things in your head, just above your nose called eyes.
They're amazing pieces of tech, they give you the magical ability of sight.
But dont tell everyone or they will all want some and then were will that leave us??.
dully79 said:
Oh look, it's a thread from page 5 in these forums on 31/5/12
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1683788&highlight=cm9+theme
Try using the round things in your head, just above your nose called eyes.
They're amazing pieces of tech, they give you the magical ability of sight.
But dont tell everyone or they will all want some and then were will that leave us??.
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aww poor you.
Hei i just want to help...
If you want icon's or a UI i can Design something cool for you just hit me up on here or mail me:
[email protected]
would love to create stuff. :cyclops:
- Greeb
I think your best option would be to post some things you've made before (so people can see your level of work) and then post over in the Android Themes section. It's always best to showcase some of your work before people request things from you though