Develop Bugs

[Q] Why isn't there a theme app for android like winterboard for iOS?

hey everyone,
I'm fairly new to this forum since i just got my first android device. i've been an iPhone user since 2007 and I'm absolutely loving android so far. One problem i'm having is theming the device is awful there are plenty of theme types , themes for launchers , themes for odexed roms and themes for deodexed roms. it just makes life so much harder specially if you're a new user.
for those who don't know what winterboard does, according to google "previously known as SummerBoard, you will use it in order to apply different themes and visual tweaks to your iPhone or iPod Touch.."
now the way winterboard works is simple, the iOS device has images stored in system/UIimages .. what winterboard does is basically backup the system images and applies new images stored in var/mobile/themes. If the image is there it reads it from var/mobile/themes if not it reads it from system/UIimages that way you'll never mess with the system files even if you decide to delete winterboard from you're device.
Now before you start hating on me , i know JKAY v11 mod is available but it is very limited in the amount of customization you can do. I mean this forum is full of brilliant developers , why can't you come up with a universal way of theming devices?
sorry to bore you with all this info but i really hope to see something like winterboard for android devices soon

I agree tho.
Bump
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

I agree but these things just take time. I am very satisfied with CM7 And the themes I downloaded. The developers here are concentrating on making Roms more stable and fixing bugs. In CM7 If you download themes yourself there is an in built theme Chooser which makes it simple to choose themes. If you would rather customize your own Themes use the UOT KITCHEN.
Hope you enjoy Android
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

Until there is a universal theme app, I suggest using miui rom
They took themeing to a new level

mshfar said:
Until there is a universal theme app, I suggest using miui rom
They took themeing to a new level
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 totally agree.

There's always ninja/metamorph/villainthemes. But even those three do nothing to simplify the single most frustrating element of android theming: 9.pngs.
Until somebody whips up an easy editing tool for the 9s, especially on device, theming will be hard.
I kinda get what the OP is talking about though, but unlike winterboard (which, however people like to deny it, saps resources like nobody's business), android theming so far is just patching up system files with practically zero resource overhead in actual use.

eiraku said:
There's always ninja/metamorph/villainthemes. But even those three do nothing to simplify the single most frustrating element of android theming: 9.pngs.
Until somebody whips up an easy editing tool for the 9s, especially on device, theming will be hard.
I kinda get what the OP is talking about though, but unlike winterboard (which, however people like to deny it, saps resources like nobody's business), android theming so far is just patching up system files with practically zero resource overhead in actual use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thing about winterboard is layers , you can select multiple themes to apply and depending on which order you put them in, they theme different stuff. And really , if you are using an i4 or above you won't notice any slowdown at all. Even with several different themes applied. Just my experience. Its really great I wish theme chooser would be ported to tw roms ! Or universal even better.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium

I agree MUIU roms are brilliant but i personally never tried them, i'm just waiting for the official release for S II. It should be out in a month.
I know dev's are too busy trying to make roms stable but the question is how many stable roms do we need ? instead of having all sorts of roms each containing their own customization package , why not make your life easier and develop a 3rd party application that does the job for you.
I just don't get it , the dev's are spending so much time coming up with rom compatible mods and themes which needs a lot of testing and time. I personally use the revolution rom and i love it, one problem i faced twice is bootloop after flashing a theme because the themes were not compatible with the rom take in to consideration i flashed them from the revolution kitchen. I dont blame leomar for that in fact big props for him for the amazing work , the guy just doesn't have time to check the compatibility of each theme on the forum.

Besides theming, there's still no simple way of renaming apps on Android. Wasn't Android supposed to be an open platform unlike iOS?

dubart said:
Besides theming, there's still no simple way of renaming apps on Android. Wasn't Android supposed to be an open platform unlike iOS?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i know you can rename apps if you're using go launcher ex, i don't think there's a way to rename using TW.

I use MIUI rather than waiting... lol

T-Mobile theme engine...
Sent from my Xoom using xda premium

there is finally Winterboard and mobile substrate for android!!
saurik just released it today!

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.saurik.substrate

Cydia substrate and winterboard for android
http://www.xda-developers.com/android/cydia-substrate-released-by-saurik-for-android/
the guy who made it foe iOS has also released it for Android just today .

there is xtheme engine, you can change themes, and there are different launchers

there is also the Xposed Framework

try "buzz launcher" . it gives you many, many different desktops !

Good news
aka12345 said:
hey everyone,
I'm fairly new to this forum since i just got my first android device. i've been an iPhone user since 2007 and I'm absolutely loving android so far. One problem i'm having is theming the device is awful there are plenty of theme types , themes for launchers , themes for odexed roms and themes for deodexed roms. it just makes life so much harder specially if you're a new user.
for those who don't know what winterboard does, according to google "previously known as SummerBoard, you will use it in order to apply different themes and visual tweaks to your iPhone or iPod Touch.."
now the way winterboard works is simple, the iOS device has images stored in system/UIimages .. what winterboard does is basically backup the system images and applies new images stored in var/mobile/themes. If the image is there it reads it from var/mobile/themes if not it reads it from system/UIimages that way you'll never mess with the system files even if you decide to delete winterboard from you're device.
Now before you start hating on me , i know JKAY v11 mod is available but it is very limited in the amount of customization you can do. I mean this forum is full of brilliant developers , why can't you come up with a universal way of theming devices?
sorry to bore you with all this info but i really hope to see something like winterboard for android devices soon
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Gud news guys.... now winterboard itself is available for android.... just search it in the play store....

I have downloaded cydia substrete but when i click on install it says something like frawy pants. What is that?
GT-I9100 cihazımdan Tapatalk 2 ile gönderildi

[INFO] Flash support for Android 4.0 ICS will be out before end of 2011

** EDIT for new info **:
Flash for Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich will be out before the end of 2011. There will be no Flash support for Android 5.0:
http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/43152/flash-for-android-4-end-2011-no-flash-for-android-5
The main reason why I switched to Android was it's Flash support. Finding out recently that ICS did not support Flash and that Adobe was discontinuing Flash development was very discouraging.
Google has confirmed that Flash is not yet operational in ICS, but Google is also confirming that Adobe will support Flash in ICS.
“Flash hasn’t been released for ICS yet. So as far as we know, Adobe will support Flash for ICS.” – Google
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.slashgear.com/google-con...e-cream-sandwich-for-the-time-being-19196702/
Although discouraging and disappointing at first, there is now hope.

So Flash Player doesn't even show up in the Android Market on the Galaxy Nexus but I thought that one can install the apk on the phone. It seems that this doesn't work either, according to other users who've already got theirs. e.g. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1351167
Half the bloody web uses Flash. How are we supposed to view those sites?

To be honest I'm glad there is no support at the moment and wish that it wouldn't come. I haven't missed it since upgrading to the Nexus and if anything browsing is faster!

has anyone tried side loading it

Flash is going to die in mobile platforms, and we should be pressing video stream websites to use html5, instead of crying about flash's death. Damn memory/cpu hog.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk

i dont know about you guys, but for me, more then half the web uses flash. The only reason im not getting iphone because of flash. The stream i always go to, uses flash. gonna wait a month, if they dont support flash on nexus, im getting sgs2

SGS2 will eventually get ICS and will have similar "problem"

uvarvu said:
To be honest I'm glad there is no support at the moment and wish that it wouldn't come. I haven't missed it since upgrading to the Nexus and if anything browsing is faster!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's no problem at all to set the flash settings to "on demand " so you have the fast browsing experience and flash if you need it.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

i her simple apps like tweecaster and facebook do not work! is this true? wtf is going on?. not having flash is a bummer. at least we should have the option. volume issues, no flash, simple apps not working.. this is getting really discouraging

Because they aren't updated for ics I would say. And because the Nexus is the only ics device at the moment they are probably to lazy to do so.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

Nebucatnetzer said:
Because they aren't updated for ics I would say. And because the Nexus is the only ics device at the moment they are probably to lazy to do so.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yea the apps issue i expected..same happened with nex 1 and nex s.. but the no flash and volume issue are real bummers

Who gives a s$&@ about Flash? DOA.

bmstrong said:
Who gives a s$&@ about Flash? DOA.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you keep running the Apple party line. the rest of us would prefer to have the option for when we need it.
Adobe Flash is currently #24 in the top (free) apps for Android. and the majority of the low reviews are from idiots using 50 dollar Cricket android phones.
don't like it? don't use it. no reason to come in here and spout nonsense.

Hopefully this will shut up the people who keep going on about no Flash support on the GN. It's a brand new hardware running a brand new software; of course there are going to be compatibility issues for early adopters.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App

There are allways apps that don't work with newer OS versions. Happens with iOs, too.

kms108 said:
has anyone tried side loading it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Several people have reported trying to sideload the latest flash apk for Honeycomb - it didn't work.

About the apps issue, how long is it before they usually get sorted out and ready for the latest OS (right now ICS). I know that the main reason I use my phone for is Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Browsing.
I'm not guessing too long right?

Clancy_s said:
Several people have reported trying to sideload the latest flash apk for Honeycomb - it didn't work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
has anyone tried it on ICS, honycomb is for tablets, whiles ICS is for both tablets and smartphones, hopefully it works.

Faz20 said:
About the apps issue, how long is it before they usually get sorted out and ready for the latest OS (right now ICS). I know that the main reason I use my phone for is Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Browsing.
I'm not guessing too long right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If those 4 things are your main concerns it shouldn't be a problem. As far as I know Twitter works fine. Official Facebook app has always been pretty ass on the Android so if you can live with it before you can probably live with it now. YouTube is natively supported and apart from not having Flash the browser is blazing fast.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App

BiGMERF said:
yea the apps issue i expected..same happened with nex 1 and nex s.. but the no flash and volume issue are real bummers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lack of flash is Adobe's fault, not Google's.

Handcent 4.0 Public Beta

Saw this today on the XDA homepage. Anyone try it and wanna say how its working for you? I am hesitant because I have mine set up just how I want it and cant really imagine any improvement. Convince me.
Version 4.0 of this incredibly popular application has been in private beta for a while but now it’s available to the public here on XDA Developers. This is the seventh beta build and there are still a few minor bugs to be ironed out but I’m sure that won’t stop many of you from taking this new version for a spin.
New features include;
Handcent Talk – Allows you to bind your phone number and send text messages for free using the Handcent network.
Greater customization
Improved compatibility with iOS messaging from iPhones
Full ICS Support
New Widget
Known issues;
Doesn’t enter batch mode correctly.
Some modded users may experience theme compatibility issues when using themes of white text on dark backgrounds.
You can find the original release here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Installing it now..... I'll report back on any issues
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

Any dev working on bringing back Adobe Flash compatibility to Kitkat?

Looking and searching for days on this topic. Could not find word on anybody working on it.
It is pretty heavy handed for Google to issue an update that reduces to functionality to their device. I use Adobe flash may be 5% of the time on my phone, but still, if I don't use it at all, I will just use an iPhone. No point in letting Google make money from my searches.

It's not Google job to keep Adobe Flash Player updated.

k3lcior said:
It's not Google job to keep Adobe Flash Player updated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Adobe flash player doesn't have to be updated. Out dated versions work fine on Android 4.3. But compatibility is completely gone on Kitkat.

Yes, because Adobe is no longer updating it.

This is what Dolphin says on the developer's website (https://dolphinbrowser.desk.com/cus...id-4-4-how-do-i-enable-flash-player-?b_id=317) --
The Adobe Flash Player is no longer compatible with Android 4.4 Kitkat devices. Some critical APIs have been removed from Android 4.4 Kitkat that all browser cannot activate the flash player. We are working on to provide better video playing experience.

sparksd said:
This is what Dolphin says on the developer's website (https://dolphinbrowser.desk.com/cus...id-4-4-how-do-i-enable-flash-player-?b_id=317) --
The Adobe Flash Player is no longer compatible with Android 4.4 Kitkat devices. Some critical APIs have been removed from Android 4.4 Kitkat that all browser cannot activate the flash player. We are working on to provide better video playing experience.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right, but is anyone working on this at the rom level?

which APIs and why are they removed?

Galaid said:
which APIs and why are they removed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Website rendering is no longer done by AOSP(which renders flash). Now it's done by chromium (which doesn't render flash)

Lolento said:
Adobe flash player doesn't have to be updated. Out dated versions work fine on Android 4.3. But compatibility is completely gone on Kitkat.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As someone else already said, it's not Google's job to keep Adobe's app updated.
You're basically relying on old technology that should have been gone for a long time already. If you think about it that way, ask yourself, why doesn't Windows rely on MS-DOS anymore (it was there in older versions, so why isn't it there now)?
And I don't see how switching to iPhone would help in any way, you can't sideload apps or have Flash at all actually. Do you really want to go from a 7" screen to a 4" one? And wouldn't you use Google on iOS too?

Bogdacutu said:
As someone else already said, it's not Google's job to keep Adobe's app updated.
You're basically relying on old technology that should have been gone for a long time already. If you think about it that way, ask yourself, why doesn't Windows rely on MS-DOS anymore (it was there in older versions, so why isn't it there now)?
And I don't see how switching to iPhone would help in any way, you can't sideload apps or have Flash at all actually. Do you really want to go from a 7" screen to a 4" one? And wouldn't you use Google on iOS too?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your argument is exactly why I will not longer consider Android as my next whatever device. Even when MS no longer base windows on DOS, the underlying DOS commamds are still supported.
Google is pretty heavy handed in trying force users to move away from flash. There are better tech available, I agree, but there asre still tons of websites using flash exclusively. These websites are completely essentially to the people who use it.
I also want to ask, aside from flash, objectively, what makes Android better iOS. Nothing, imo.
I believe App vs App, the quality of Apps on iOS is better than Android, even the Google one. I dont really sideload anything aside from flash, which i use to access sports websites.

Lolento said:
Your argument is exactly why I will not longer consider Android as my next whatever device. Even when MS no longer base windows on DOS, the underlying DOS commamds are still supported.
Google is pretty heavy handed in trying force users to move away from flash. There are better tech available, I agree, but there asre still tons of websites using flash exclusively. These websites are completely essentially to the people who use it.
I also want to ask, aside from flash, objectively, what makes Android better iOS. Nothing, imo.
I believe App vs App, the quality of Apps on iOS is better than Android, even the Google one. I dont really sideload anything aside from flash, which i use to access sports websites.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Android gives you customization where as iPhone pretty much tells you how your layout is going to be. A lot more freedom on Android, that is the biggest difference for me. You're definitely on the wrong forums to start an iOS vs Android debate though.

Lolento said:
Even when MS no longer base windows on DOS, the underlying DOS commamds are still supported.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Last time I checked the 16-bit subsystem was no longer there in 64-bit Windows.
Lolento said:
Google is pretty heavy handed in trying force users to move away from flash.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't understand why you keep blaming Google and not Apple, who ceased development on Flash for mobile devices 2 YEARS AGO

Lolento said:
Your argument is exactly why I will not longer consider Android as my next whatever device. Even when MS no longer base windows on DOS, the underlying DOS commamds are still supported.
Google is pretty heavy handed in trying force users to move away from flash. There are better tech available, I agree, but there asre still tons of websites using flash exclusively. These websites are completely essentially to the people who use it.
I also want to ask, aside from flash, objectively, what makes Android better iOS. Nothing, imo.
I believe App vs App, the quality of Apps on iOS is better than Android, even the Google one. I dont really sideload anything aside from flash, which i use to access sports websites.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So your willing to go pick up a new over priced device which gives you next to no freedom on it for customization, for a old, out dated, inefficient system of flash? Even though that device also has no flash support ? Glad we settled that.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

Joppykid said:
Android gives you customization where as iPhone pretty much tells you how your layout is going to be. A lot more freedom on Android, that is the biggest difference for me. You're definitely on the wrong forums to start an iOS vs Android debate though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is not even an iOS or Android debate, I can pick up a Windows device, who knows.
Google removing flash support is the last straw for me. And I am surprised that no else see it as getting escalatingly worse.
Here are a few things that Google did this year.
1. Gmail exchange active sync support removed
2. Youtube comment ties to Google+
3. Google dropping voice support for third party apps
4. And now removal of the killer app, adobe flash, that brought me over from iOS in the first place
Also, i have been using android for the past three years. The level of customization on Android is more of a toy box than anything else. With the removal of adobe flash support, the core functionality is identical and i would even give Windows Phone an edge over both iOS and Android.
Lastly, btw, this thread is about whether any dev is working to bring adobe flash back to 4.4. I didnt start this debate.

Lolento said:
This is not even an iOS or Android debate, I can pick up a Windows device, who knows.
Google removing flash support is the last straw for me. And I am surprised that no else see it as getting escalatingly worse.
Here are a few things that Google did this year.
1. Gmail exchange active sync support removed
2. Youtube comment ties to Google+
3. Google dropping voice support for third party apps
4. And now removal of the killer app, adobe flash, that brought me over from iOS in the first place
Also, i have been using android for the past three years. The level of customization on Android is more of a toy box than anything else. With the removal of adobe flash support, the core functionality is identical and i would even give Windows Phone an edge over both iOS and Android.
Lastly, btw, this thread is about whether any dev is working to bring adobe flash back to 4.4. I didnt start this debate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Couldn't agree more... If only iOS have a 5" phone, I'd have jump ship.
The customization advantage is getting lesser by the day...

Lolento said:
This is not even an iOS or Android debate, I can pick up a Windows device, who knows.
Google removing flash support is the last straw for me. And I am surprised that no else see it as getting escalatingly worse.
Here are a few things that Google did this year.
1. Gmail exchange active sync support removed
2. Youtube comment ties to Google+
3. Google dropping voice support for third party apps
4. And now removal of the killer app, adobe flash, that brought me over from iOS in the first place
Also, i have been using android for the past three years. The level of customization on Android is more of a toy box than anything else. With the removal of adobe flash support, the core functionality is identical and i would even give Windows Phone an edge over both iOS and Android.
Lastly, btw, this thread is about whether any dev is working to bring adobe flash back to 4.4. I didnt start this debate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How is comparing pros and cons of two competing operating systems not a debate?
You asked "what makes android better than iOS, nothing IMO" I told you what I liked about Android over iOS. And you only mentioned iOS and Android in all of your posts, nothing about windows.
I understand that flash is a big deal for a lot of people. I am unaware of any devs working on it. Sounds like it may be tough with Google removing the framework needed for flash. I doubt many devs want to put time in to developing something that is starting to get phased out. Good luck in your quest to find flash.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

Joppykid said:
I understand that flash is a big deal for a lot of people. I am unaware of any devs working on it. Sounds like it may be tough with Google removing the framework needed for flash. I doubt many devs want to put time in to developing something that is starting to get phased out. Good luck in your quest to find flash.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not just starting to get phased out. As far as Google is concerned, you aren't supposed to keep using an app that hasn't been updated for 2 years (and if the only app using the framework was pretty much abandoned a long time ago why would they have to keep supporting it?)

Lolento said:
Even when MS no longer base windows on DOS, the underlying DOS commamds are still supported.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How does that compare? Want me to list the hundreds of programs that no longer work in modern Windows incarnations? How about most Creative sound cards? Is that MS' fault? I wouldn't say that, but you probably would.
Google is pretty heavy handed in trying force users to move away from flash. There are better tech available, I agree, but there asre still tons of websites using flash exclusively. These websites are completely essentially to the people who use it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So Adobe is moving away from Flash for mobile and you are saying it's Google's fault for not making sure every outdated app works on their newest OS version?
I also want to ask, aside from flash, objectively, what makes Android better iOS. Nothing, imo.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"objectively" - "imo". 'Nuff said.
I believe App vs App, the quality of Apps on iOS is better than Android, even the Google one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And that's your right, but don't spin it as anything other than your own biased opinion. Also, I'm pretty sure those sports websites never worked on iOS devices, ever.

I think its a good move by Google, the faster website developers will realize flash is outdated the better for everyone, less users using flash content because its incompatible will force them to switch to html5, sooner or later.
Homever Adobe should stop supporting desktop version too, it would fasten up the process alot.

Again, I was not inviting a debate in my OP. But if it needs to continue, it can.
Firstly, on Windows platform, in every modern iteration, there is a compatibility mode that maintains (to a certain extent) backwards compatibility. This is how MS does business, they dont go out of nowhere to drop support for a key piece of software. My windows 7 setup is backward compatible to software back to Windows 95.
Google, on the other hand, drops third party support for anything that they have a market share strangle hold on. Mark my word on this. It started with exchange sync support for gmail, then google voice, it will not stop there.
I think everyone hopes that web devs will realize flash player is dead. This is wishful thinking. Just like I wish voice call and sms should be dead.
Fact is, there are still millions of websites that are still dependent on flash player. They are still essential to people who uses these websites. I really dont care if Google supports or not, my OP asked if anyone else is working on it.
I switched from iPhone to Android years ago because Steve Job's Apple is a bully in their vision of technology. I see google as going down the same path.
Google doesn't really make anything that blow people's mind. They make things that are cheap and are good enough. I can easily and happily switch. In fact, I already made up my mind to test out the Dell Venue 8 Pro with Win 8.1 since the holiday deals look pretty good.
Lastly, I think someone misunderstood the diff between 'objective' vs 'subjective'.

Sony Needs To Improve

Here The thread is for the Sony's stock Apps defects.
1. FROM SOME UPDATES HAS ISSUES LIKE
Tasks widget
Notes widgets
Position of Applications in need to on home screen or in app drawer
.
.
.
We need to have some modifications in Sony's Android Smartphones must have that..
.
.
.
Lets share what do we want on our xperia...

Notes Widgets
I need my Notes widgets like in JB in every versions of android

Sony has always been known for being more 'propriety' oriented. Been using T2 Ultra for 6 months. Bought 640XL (WP 8.1) a week back. Things for which I used to have to scour the world of apps, are available within and are a breeze to work. Software needs more 'visual polishing' but is much more accomplished.

Notes successfully Ported to Lollypop and maybe on Kitkat
Hey guys here is the the ported Note application that i want my xperia...
SUCCEFULLY PORTED FROM ICS 4.0.4

aliaz said:
Sony has always been known for being more 'propriety' oriented. Been using T2 Ultra for 6 months. Bought 640XL (WP 8.1) a week back. Things for which I used to have to scour the world of apps, are available within and are a breeze to work. Software needs more 'visual polishing' but is much more accomplished.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't get. What you want to say..
But as per lollypop update visual effects are pretty good
Some defects are knows that we have to show