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.
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[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
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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
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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.
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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...
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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?
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Theme Creation Noob [Lewa]

I need help. I have searched the forum but cant find the help i need.
Trying to create my first theme for Lewa Rom. On the whole im trundling along fine, using total commander and getting to grips with the fundementals, and currently working on icons.
Now the common apps im fine with, succesfully done all of those, but i am banging my head against a brick wall with file naming for user apps.
take foursquare for instance, ive tried naming the icon
com_android_foursquare
com_android_foursquared
com.joelapenna.foursquared
com_joelepenna_foursquared
Whatever I do i just cannot get the darned icons to work for user programs.
Help!

Themes for LeWa ROM supports a limited (only standard) set of applications.

Lovetz said:
Themes for LeWa ROM supports a limited (only standard) set of applications.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have T-Mobile cm7 theme Chooser working fine with lewa os on my xperia x8 so I just use cm7 themes only use lewa theme for lock screen
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Same ol' Same ol'

I have a question: why is it that every rom, every new OS all the icons stays the same? Why don't these companies or rom developers just create a whole new icon set? Yes, I know that I can install a launcher and get new icons but I like to just leave the phone just the way it is without installing a launcher and then installing sets of icons. Samsung is the same, KiKat is the same as way back to eclair. No difference. Its just the same ol' same ol' boring icons.

Its one of those, "if it ain't broke" things I guess. It seems to me a lot of folks think they nailed it back on ics, so they are sorta sticking to a lot of that and introducing changes a little at a time. Kk for example does have a different look in some areas such as the status bar and notification area. I also think that most significant changes will be made for different devices. The average person using their S3 for the past 2 years may not want all different icons when they update. They expect to only have to relearn what's what when getting a new device.
Thats a theory anyway...
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DocHoliday77 said:
Its one of those, "if it ain't broke" things I guess. It seems to me a lot of folks think they nailed it back on ics, so they are sorta sticking to a lot of that and introducing changes a little at a time. Kk for example does have a different look in some areas such as the status bar and notification area. I also think that most significant changes will be made for different devices. The average person using their S3 for the past 2 years may not want all different icons when they update. They expect to only have to relearn what's what when getting a new device.
Thats a theory anyway...
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have done great things with the 4.3 update, the themes are freaking awesome to change the stock-flat-boring icons from TW. Personally, Im using the AOSP theme on the TW launcher, love that combo! Thanks for giving us taste of KK with your sprint port. Can wait for you to mess with the KK update we will be getting soon. Oh, and I have a request for your future KK rom, include the AOSP theme or the option to use the google launcher like you did on 4.3 :highfive::highfive::highfive:

Actually, I cannot take credit for all of that! If I am not mistaken you are referring to the StockMod rom right? Pretty much the entire rom is the work of @saranhai. All due credit goes to him for that one! And I am certain he will be hard at work on it too.
We just got wifi working, so if we can get screen rotation solved, it wouldn't surprise me if he rebased using my port!
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Yeah, I guess that makes sense. its just that, if you build a rom couldn't the icons be replaced to make it a bit different? I do like the flat samsung icons even though they still look the same, its just flat. I don't like using launchers any more because most of them need to install lots of widgets in order to complete the launcher and then when I install another rom then I have to do that all over again. Thats why I gave up on launchers.
Your roms are great and I love them. I guess what I'm trying to say is that most KK roms gets boring with the same look. I know that there's some that offer more features in settings, but they still look the same in general. I mean, they still using the same stock messaging icon since the beginning of Android, time for a change.

First, admittedly, KK has switched back to drab White over black icons which are not exactly appealing. So I will grant you that. Secondly When it comes to icons, you do have to edit the actual app APK in order to change or replace the icon. That is if you don't want to replace the laucher. There are inherent problems and a ton of time editing the APKs not to mention copyright issues.
If you are not wanting a Launcher change then you can go for either a lightweight launcher with theaming support (Such as Apex) and you can apply Themes. Otherwise you can go for De-Odexed Roms that are skinnable and highly customizable. AOKP (Unicorn) and Pacman come to mind.
Do know there are projects here on XDA such as Team Blackout who invert Google Apps and other apps.

You can't expect OEMs to design new icons every time they push a new update.. And from eclair to KK, I've had a Samsung eclair device and the icons look way better with kk, don't know what you mean that they look the same.. You can use an xposed module to change icon themes on any launcher even stock, gravity box or wanam modules to add mods and change a little appearance, there's flashable themes.. I don't see a reason to rant about this
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What Theme engine does Razer Phone use, and can you create your own themes?

During the announcement, it was shown that the Razer Phone includes a theme store/app with free themes, but does the phone use a known theme engine like Substratum, and can you sideload a custom theme onto the device?

I was playing with it in the AFK area and it seems to be a proprietary theme implementation (not sure though, this is just from what I could tell). It is super quick when applying themes and seems to work really well.

Thanks for replying @Masterfellow - I don't suppose you noticed any elegant and minimal looking themes - or are they all, well gamey and brash? I would want to get rid of that green used everywhere lol, if I owned that phone.

@daniel-t I'll have to disappoint you there mate, unfortunately they were only those. I can't stand those over-the-top themes with overdone ugly icons either lol.
Hopefully the theme store will have public apis/sdks just like Chroma and users will be able to create their own.

I'll post details on the XDA Portal. I have some info shared from their software team.

I would appreciate that thanks!

daniel-t said:
During the announcement, it was shown that the Razer Phone includes a theme store/app with free themes, but does the phone use a known theme engine like Substratum, and can you sideload a custom theme onto the device?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
believe it ships with a licensed copy of Nova launcher prime
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I could be wrong, but Nova is just the launcher right, it doesn't actually theme the OS as in the notification shade, the system settings screen etc. But Razer's theme implementation does.

https://www.xda-developers.com/razer-phone-theme-engine-oms/
So it is a straight up implementation of OMS, but locked down for now. That is a little disappointing. Let's hope Razer eventually allow third-parties to submit themes.

I wouldnt expect too many min style themes. They have always been known for highly detailed style unlike the plain jane elementary school style theme, like Googles material design

I managed to try out the phone for a couple of minutes, but there was no wifi or data so i couldn't log into the Theme Store, and look around. Razer seems like the sort that would open it up if they thought designers/users would want that. I can't say I have much experience with them though.

Here are some screenshots. Some pics are bad, sorry. But these are the non-gaming ones offered.
https://imgur.com/a/THoVk