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.
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 all,
Just thought I'd chuck this quick guide together for those of you who think the new messaging application on the SGS II is a bit naff, and you''d prefer the one from Cyanogen Mod 7.
Firstly, you'll need the file I've attached to the bottom of this post called Mms.apk.
This guide is for beginners who don''t know ADB, so for this we''ll be using root explorer. For this. You will require root and to have purchased Root explorer from the market (It's only a few quid and very handy!)
So, here we go.
Backing up original Mms.apk
1. Copy the file you downloaded here (Mms.apk) to the root of your SD card.
2. Unmount your SDCard from your PC.
3. Open up root explorer. At the top, hit the option where it says ""Mount R/W". If you've done this, it should change to saying "Mount R/O""
4. Go into the following folders. System --> Apps
5. Scroll down until you see Mms.apk. Select it, and hold for a few seconds.
6. You'll now be prompted with a box. Select "Rename"
7. We want to back-up the original app in case you want to revert. so rename it "mms.apk.bak" and press OK.
8. Select the file again, holding as we were before. Now select, Move. You''ll see we have some options appear at the bottom, ignore them for now.
9. Now hit the back key on your SGSII until you''re back at root (Displays in top left as :/
10. Scroll down until you see the folder, Sdcard and select it.
11. Now, we need to use the options at the bottom. Now we're in our sdcard, select the open "paste"or move"".
12. You'll see that we now have mms.apk.bak on our SDcard
You'll want to repeat this process for the mms.odex file that was located in system/apps as well.
Well done!
Installing the new one
Basically, it's the oppisite of what we did before.
1.Select the new mms.apk from your SD card. Select "move"
2.Hit the back key, going back to root directory.
3.Go to the Systems folder, then apps.
4. Hit the "paste"of "move" button.
5. Scroll down to Mms.apk and select it by tapping once. It will now go through the install process.
Note: Make sure you have the unknown sources box ticked to allow install. If not, you''ll be prompted to change it before continuing install.
Voila - you have backed up your original Mms.apk and have the CM7 Message application installed!
If you've found this guide helpful, please don't forget to hit the "thanks" button.
That's cool. I'm yet to get this phone but it feels good that hacking has already begun.
opps wrong thread sorry
A great improvement in my mind!
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
Can someone please update screenshots of this ? I have looked all over and I can't see it anywhere :/
wrong section but Id like to know if this would work on the galaxy s 4g (awaiting a tmobile version of s2),
and also if someone could post a few screenies
Cheers for the post but I have a 'mute' symbol above 'Compose'
Done how do I do this with any market app? Go SMS installed but didn't replace the system mms.apk
I renamed it..does anything else need to be done to make it a system app?
Sent from the baddest phone in the universe!! - SGII using Xda App/Tapatalk ;-)
I'd also quite like a screenie as I quite like the default one, but always looking for improvements!
Sample screenie.
Way much better than the stock messaging app.
Lost the Messages icon on the home screen ... any idea how to get it back?
Tough.Enough said:
Lost the Messages icon on the home screen ... any idea how to get it back?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just press menu on the home screen > add > choose messaging app
Sent from the baddest phone in the universe!! - SGII using Xda App/Tapatalk ;-)
Brilliant! Anyway we can invert the colours so we get white text on black background?
EDIT:
Worked fine for about 2 mins, then all of my contacts disappeared, then Messaging FC'd, rebooted and Messaging keeps FC'ing
You either didn't remove the .odex from system/apps or you didn't click Mms.apk afterwards to install it. Until you install it, you will get a force close.
I tested it on all of the latest firmwares, and it works just as I'd expect.
Thanks alot dude, been waiting for the CM7 messaging app to be released or working on this phone.
Just tested it now with your very in-depth instructions and its working fine.
Works fine for me except I can't see my avatar on my own messages. It's not a big problem but it looks weird...
Any idea ?
edit : That and the "New message" icon is actually a mute icon (a little speaker with an "X").
this is mint! no irritating iphone style bubbles, black back ground nice and simple! Also not having delivery reciepts come in as new notifications just as a tick is awesome. just put the cyanogen music player on too. Porting CM7 one app at a time. love it!
Hmm.. when I rebooted my phone I need to reinstall the mms.apk again. How do I make it permanent? I mean without the need to reinstall again after a reboot?.
Using the method described I had no such probs after reboot. Make sure you rename both the apk and odex files during the install.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
Thanks
This looks like just what I was after. Will be trying this as soon as I get home today. I was just wondering if there was any way to do something similar with the calendar and contacts/dialler app, as these are the only other bits of touchwiz that I can't seem to get rid of just by swapping launcher.
Is it possible to teh change the icons of my apps if I am running on runnydroid 4.0? For example, if I wanted to use icons from (http://browse.deviantart.com/customization/icons/?q=android#/d3aiidb) how would I do that? Thanks.
joemanbui said:
Is it possible to teh change the icons of my apps if I am running on runnydroid 4.0? For example, if I wanted to use icons from (http://browse.deviantart.com/customization/icons/?q=android#/d3aiidb) how would I do that? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
get the apk from your phone (you can navigate to /data/app and copy it to your sd, or you can use "adb pull /data/app/NAMEOFAPK.apk")
add .zip to the end of the file name so it should say NAMEOFAPK.apk.zip
open the zip and navigate to the res folder
look through all of the "drawable" folders and replace any of the icons you want to, making sure you name them the same.
remove the .zip extension
you might have to sign the apk for it to install properly, have a look at this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=997180
now uninstall the old app from the phone, put the new app back on your phone, install (put it on sd and navigate to it and click install, or use "adb install NAMEOFAPK.apk")
i hope that helps!
joemanbui said:
Is it possible to teh change the icons of my apps if I am running on runnydroid 4.0? For example, if I wanted to use icons from (http://browse.deviantart.com/customization/icons/?q=android#/d3aiidb) how would I do that? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Take a look here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=927405
and here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=890876
I recently received my Galaxy Nexus - and love it!
My idea was to keep it as stock as possible, but I wanted to change the look and feel to be more minimal, without having to install a non-stock launcher or use a different ROM. (The inspiration for this came from Nitroz's 'Black Exodus' theme.)
Phone : Galaxy Nexus, Rooted, now with a slightly modified stock ICS 4.0.2
There were a number of posts all around the Internet that led me in the right direction. To the cast of thousands who shared their information - Thank You!! The instructions below are just a compilation of the work already out there, but hopefully as they are in one place they will speed things up if you want to do this.
I am assuming that any future OTA updates will reset this.
Instructions for a Newbie (like me)
Requires :
One Rooted Galaxy Nexus
Way of getting files on and off the phone - I am using ES File Explorer
7-Zip on a PC
The new icons
The icons are located in the APK files located in the \system\apps folder.
To change the SMS icon
On the phone
Backup the original \system\apps\mms.apk file
Copy the \system\apps\mms.apk to a PC with 7-ZIP installed
On the PC
Open with 7-Zip (DO NOT EXTRACT)
Change to the res\mipmap-xhdpi folder
Drag and drop the new PNG file (ic_launcher_smsmms.png) over top the old one.
Copy the APK file back to \system\apps on the phone
The phone does not require a reset, but you will need to add the icons back.
To change the Contacts and Phone icons
These are located in the \system\apps\contacts.apk.
Folder - res\mipmap-xhdpi
Files - ic_launcher_phone.png, and ic_launcher_contacts.png
To change the Browser icon
These are located in the \system\apps\BrowserGoogle.apk.
Folder - res\mipmap-xhdpi
File - ic_launcher_browser.png
To change the App Drawer icon
These are located in the \system\apps\launcher2.apk.
Folder - \res\drawable-xhdpi\
File - ic_allapps.png
Removing the line above the App Doc
The file from the phone to edit is \system\apps\launcher2.apk.
On the PC create a blank file called hotseat_track_holo.9.png.
Overwrite the file in the /res/drawable-xhdpi directory of laucher2.apk
Just a thought, but Nova Launcher looks exactly like the stock launcher, but you can change the icons to whatevery .png you want directly from the homescreen. They will remain even after updates to the app. It's entirely up to you, but i thought that might save you a ton of work
And save myself 2 days of pain and frustration?? ;-) It was a good learning exersize, although when the config gets nuked by an update, and I don't have the time to play, I will look at using a different launcher. Thanks for highlighting Nova as an option.