Develop Bugs

android noob looking to personalize & theme

Hello,
I am a noob to android coming from wm6.5 and blackberry. I have been browsing the homescreen thread and would like to learn how to get my phone to look as great as the ones i have seen. is there a tutorial available or is it more so trial and error? when i see some of the screen details in the thread, it's like a foreign language to me.
TIA
Steve

Welcome to Android. Its much easier than you think. Some will be trial and error to get something just how you like it. Some is as easy as changing the launcher you use and applying themes. There are also tons of apps like desktop Visualizer, folder organizer, circle launcher, and many more that you can use to customize the look and feel of your device. You can also install different clocks or lockscreens and if you have rooted your phone and flashed a de-odexed rom you can use some of the themes you see posted here. My best advice is for you to look through "post your homescreen" type threads. Most people will list what apps they use and may share icons or wallpapers too. Use Google and Android Market to learn what some of those apps do. Many are free or very inexpensive. You could also look at the sticky posts in this thread, forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=527 for some more about theming. There is really no right or wrong, just do what you like and make your phone your own. Good luck.
sent from my SGSIISE4GT

Do you have root? Do you have a rom also? Which rom are you running? If you do not have root I recommend using zedomax's v3 root kernal to root.

No, i'm running completely stock for now. I was able to customize my homescreen using go launcher, simple text and WP clock that wil hold me over for a little while. I tried posting an image, but my noon status won't let me.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA App

[Q] Question regarding Beautiful Widgets

So I downloaded this and I've never used Beautiful Widgets before, so this was my first. I found a very nice skin "Ice Cream Sandwich" by Tama-Chan.
I go to Settings as I'm not sure if you can change something, and when I go into General, it just Force Closes everytime. I un-installed and installed again and it's still FC'ing.
Also, is it possible to edit an existing skin? I just want to get rid of two black boxes surrounding the clock and the blue border, but I'm not sure you can. I have googled as much as I can and I can't find anything.
Any guidance would be very helpful, thanks in advance

What version you on for ICS and BW? BW had a update just a little bit ago and not sure if that fixed what you are having issues with or not as I already updated. I did install the skin you have and I was able to get to the settings no problem and no FC at all. I am running 41D for ICS.

Well it was pretty recent as I snapped it up during the 10p sale. I'm using the standard ICS no custom ROMS flashed or anything. Do you think I should uninstall and install again? Or does that mean I have to pay again? I'm such an Android noob lol...this is my first true Android phone
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App

Faz20 said:
Well it was pretty recent as I snapped it up during the 10p sale. I'm using the standard ICS no custom ROMS flashed or anything. Do you think I should uninstall and install again? Or does that mean I have to pay again? I'm such an Android noob lol...this is my first true Android phone
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't have to pay again once you've purchased it!
The app however was updated either today or last night, so go to the market and update it! It fixed all of the crashing problems for me

Thanks a lot! The update fixed my problems

Faz20 said:
So I downloaded this and I've never used Beautiful Widgets before, so this was my first. I found a very nice skin "Ice Cream Sandwich" by Tama-Chan.
I go to Settings as I'm not sure if you can change something, and when I go into General, it just Force Closes everytime. I un-installed and installed again and it's still FC'ing.
Also, is it possible to edit an existing skin? I just want to get rid of two black boxes surrounding the clock and the blue border, but I'm not sure you can. I have googled as much as I can and I can't find anything.
Any guidance would be very helpful, thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is possible to modify the skins. Go to /sdcard/data/beautifulwidgets. The sub folders will be like: tskins (toggle skins), wskins (weather skins) etc. Those folders contain the image(s) for the skins
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

If I can reuse this thread. Does anyone know how to stop the temperature displaying in the notification area?
I already have the Accuweather app doing this (with a bigger better version)
I've turned off notifications in the widget but its still there?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus

rob6raham said:
If I can reuse this thread. Does anyone know how to stop the temperature displaying in the notification area?
I already have the Accuweather app doing this (with a bigger better version)
I've turned off notifications in the widget but its still there?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Never mind, option now works in the update
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus

Galaxy and Grass Live wallpapers

Hey y'all.
I did a search and didn't find anything.
I was wondering if there were any possible way to get the pink Galaxy live wallpaper and the Grass live wallpaper. Those were pretty much my two favorites and they're not included on ICS.
Thank you and merry Christmas all.
Z
Sent from a yakju GSGN

I'm sure if you google it, you can find the .apk files for those and install them regularly on your phone and use them
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

I don't think it's a separate apk like the others are. I think it's bundled together with an apk called Android Live Wallpapers 2.2. I did a titanium backup from my moms Vibrant and plan on trying to load the apk but I'm reluctant in fear of screwing something up. An alternative would be the Live Wallpaper from Beautiful Widgets and it's the exact same thing. Tried it myself and it ran like **** and lagged like hell.

drew_grant said:
I don't think it's a separate apk like the others are. I think it's bundled together with an apk called Android Live Wallpapers 2.2. I did a titanium backup from my moms Vibrant and plan on trying to load the apk but I'm reluctant in fear of screwing something up. An alternative would be the Live Wallpaper from Beautiful Widgets and it's the exact same thing. Tried it myself and it ran like **** and lagged like hell.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got the apk files from the nexus one thread and tried to install the apk file in system/apk (root), it tells me it will copy over (join) the files. Opening live wallpapers.... nothing happend. So disapointed. Im going to look if i can make a galaxy apk myself. But im by no means a coder so don't hold your breath.

Any luck finding it?
Did anyone manage to get the grass livewallpaper in ICS?

I just took a screenshot of the Beautiful Widgets Grass Live Wallpaper, cropped it and used that instead. Saves battery and looks good to me!

I just like that the background changes color during the day. During the day it's nice and bright and easy to see but at night the background is dim so I don't piss off my gf in bed.
Does it really use that much battery? Anyone know of any other backgrounds that change color? I don't really care about the grass moving.

bring back the grass! galaxy was pretty cool too. ive been trying to find these to but can only ever find ones which want to replace system application which sounds a bit dodgy.

Do you change your homescreen setup regularly?

I've had the same home screen setup for about two year. The only thing that ever changes are the games on a certain page. I've been getting the urge for a make over but I find myself setting everything up nearly the same as the old one. I see a lot of minimalistic setup that look nice but they're not very practical. At least not for my needs. Thoughts?....
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

Same set-up for ~2 years as well.
Well...Now that there aren't Launcher Pro widgets (not on an ICS launcher, I mean...yes, I know I could use LP if I chose to.) I use Android Pro Widgets.
But other than that...same.

ddgarcia05 said:
I've had the same home screen setup for about two year. The only thing that ever changes are the games on a certain page. I've been getting the urge for a make over but I find myself setting everything up nearly the same as the old one. I see a lot of minimalistic setup that look nice but they're not very practical. At least not for my needs. Thoughts?....
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm with you. Seriously, I spend so little time looking at my home screen that I don't see the point of losing functionality to make it look better. Once something works, it's done - I don't change it unless I find a new widget or something.

After my initial setting up and getting used to using more folders in ICS, I haven't tweaked much. I've tried switching around a little bit and changing the contents of a few folders, but everything is pretty much in the same place as it was a few months ago when I bought the device. I try to run a pretty tight ship and don't go too overboard. I only use 3 homescreens anyway, so there's not a lot of room to customize.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it I think. I like a change here and there, but I don't go seeking changes just for the sake of doing it.

Thanks for the replies. Glad to see I'm not the only one with the same setup for a long time.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

I don't change my launcher but I'm constantly (almost every day) changing the background image and the style of beautiful weather widget.

[APP] Z Launcher

Hey guys, just thought I should share. Been using the new Nokia developed launcher and I must say that I'm enyouing it. Extremely fast, clean and responsive.
Here is the download page if someone wants to try it. https://www.zlauncher.com/
Also, if you are root, you will need to install the Xposed Module, RootCloak in order to be able to run it.
WARNING:There is pretty much ZERO customization, and no icon pack support. If you need them, look another way.
apk attached at bottom.

Isn't this same as aviate?
Sent from my GT-N7105 using Tapatalk

No, this one is developed by Nokia, Aviate is developed by Yahoo

Thanks for sharing Champ. It looks pretty clean.
Sent from pure air.

Thanks for sharing