Database Develop

Launcher.apk not being installed in He-aero theme

Can someone help me figure out why the Launcher.apk does not get installed to the phone when applying the zip? Everything else seems to get installed fine.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=538762
FYI - It installs fine on my G1, but getting reports from some users that the Launcher.apk is not changing for them.

Its probably the user
I'ma dl and flash. and edit this post with my findings
EDIT: no idea why but it did not install on mine either
only thing i see in the logcat regarding launcher (which is probably a bad thing)
11-10 13:44:58.401: WARN/WindowManager(142): Force clearing freeze: AppWindowToken{439374a0 token=HistoryRecord{438d2338 com.android.launcher/.Launcher}}
Will investigate more and see what I can do. I took a quick look at the scripts but they seem fine.

Ok so something is messing with the launcher because the stock launcher doesnt have cyans settings (they only have 4 icons across)
pushing the launcher.apk works fine
Also, its not just launcher.apk
I dont have the themed power bar or google search bar. powerbar is in settings.apk
EDIT: None of the system apk's installed
everything is stock with the exception of framework-res.apk
there is something wrong with the install script
EDIT2: changing install script to copy_dir PACKAGE:app SYSTEM:app
EDIT3: worked on replacing launcher and dialer...but the search and power widget are still unthemed. they dont appear to be themed in the apks however
so just go to META-INF>com>google>android and open update-script in notepad++
and change the last line to
copy_dir PACKAGE:app SYSTEM:app

wow...thanks for the good info...what I plan on trying next is just taking someone else theme and using theirs as a template(since there is no generic template). The only issue I'm seeing is that the directory structures are different in a lot of different themes. So I don't really know which one to use.

Well its very easy to edit that script so I can help you out with it if you like.
basically
copy_dir PACKAGE:app SYSTEM:app
tells the recovery to open the package (the update.zip) and copy everything in the app folder in the .zip to the SYSTEM partition, app folder
You can just mess around with that and get it to work with whatever structure the base template has. If you need anymore help, just pm me

[GUIDE] How to make mymode themes

Well I haven't had much time lately to make themes but I figured i got enough time to explain how. This is how i do it in windows 7.
1) First thing i assume that you already have androidsdk on the root of your C drive. Lets go ahead and add it to your system path. If it's not called androidsdk go ahead and change it to that. Now open up your startmenu, right click computer, click properties, then click advanced system settings, in the advance system settings select environment variables. In the second box down look for path select it and choose edit. copy and paste this
Code:
;C:\androidsdk\tools
in there. Click okay.
2) download the jre and jdk from here and install them. Now you need to add them to your system path so copy paste this
Code:
;C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre6\bin;C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jdk1.6.0_20\bin
to your system path just like you did in the first step.
3) Download apk manager from here. Now run it and when it says clean out all current projects click yes. Now thats ready to go.
4) Download an image editing program. I use gimp. Also if you don't have it 7-zip
your all set to go now so lets start over with the numbers
1) choose a mymode apk and extract it with 7-zip. Open up the res folder select a png that you want to change and change it with the image editor you chose.
2) when you've changed the images you want open up the original apk as an archive with 7zip. Then place the res folder of the modified unzipped apk into the archive and close the archive.
3) Now open up apk manager and place the mymode apk into the place here for signing folder click script batch choose no then type 15.
4) Now put the newly signed apk into your androidsdk/tools folder and close apk manager.
5) open command prompt and type this
Code:
cd\
cd androidsdk/tools
adb install whatever.apk
I'll update this with pics a more thorough guide.
Thanks to everyone that made this easy

reserved for themes to come

Thanks been waiting for a thread like this.

thanks, if i ever get any free-time between jobs and kid and fiancee i will look into this a little more

This is an awesome guide! I messed around with theming mytouch/g1 back when I had one.. so this will be great to make some themes for the slide..
One question though.. let's say you pull the nest theme.. theme it and re install it.. will it just override the nest theme or in the theme listing will it appear as a new theme and still allow you to have the original theme?
Sent from my T-Mobile myTouch 3G Slide using XDA App

ryanolson7 said:
One question though.. let's say you pull the nest theme.. theme it and re install it.. will it just override the nest theme or in the theme listing will it appear as a new theme and still allow you to have the original theme?
Sent from my T-Mobile myTouch 3G Slide using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The nest theme is in the framework, its not an .apk like the rest, its built into the system. The rest of the mymodes themes are .apks and if you edit those they will override the stock "nest" theme. The only way it will show up different in the theme chooser is if you edit the preview snapshot to be a preview of your theme. If you wanna keep the original theme, the nest theme is it and you should edit a different theme .apk...
-BMFC
Sent from my ROOTED MyTouch3G Slide

Okay so I got the next three days off and I already got two mymode themes pretty much done well their done but I just learned of a way to change the name so they are there own standalone apk instead of using another apk name. I've been using puppypride (which by the way isn't puppies those are full grown dogs) and switching out the pngs and you couldn't have the regular puppypride now you can have both

hope you don't mind but I did a mod of your themes and took out the bubbles since some people always create threads about it

Help with following guide
I am a newb at this so please don't attack me if I am doing something wrong. I have been struggling with following the guide posted to make mymode themes. I have successfully got up to the step of signing the apk file. I modified the files in the free_kick.apk. When I try to use APK Manager 4.8 and using the directions given the file just gets erased and nothing happens. My log file just shows errors. Any help with a more detailed directions one what to do in APK manager as I am trying different things and not getting anywhere. I use the option 15 like told in the guide. I can send my modified apk file to anyone if they can get this to work and get it installed that would be appreciated so much. I hope I can figure this out my own but thought I would try get help from the forums. Thanks in advance.

impimms said:
I am a newb at this so please don't attack me if I am doing something wrong. I have been struggling with following the guide posted to make mymode themes. I have successfully got up to the step of signing the apk file. I modified the files in the free_kick.apk. When I try to use APK Manager 4.8 and using the directions given the file just gets erased and nothing happens. My log file just shows errors. Any help with a more detailed directions one what to do in APK manager as I am trying different things and not getting anywhere. I use the option 15 like told in the guide. I can send my modified apk file to anyone if they can get this to work and get it installed that would be appreciated so much. I hope I can figure this out my own but thought I would try get help from the forums. Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually the guide needs to be fixed a little because i'm guessing your getting compiling errors when using apk manager? But the best way to do this is to open up the mymode theme (using 7zip) as an archive delete meta-inf folder then replace the pngs with ones of your choice as long as they are the same scale. Then resign. and install

totally lost
I've followed these directions to a T and when it comes to using the apk manager i am getting nothing, please help

You guys that are having trouble with apk manager...its honestly not necessary to use Apk Manager for this. Mymodes themes are system .apks and shouldn't be re-signed. What you need to do is forget about apk manager (for now) and drop the UNsigned .apk into the ROM update you are using, and resign the whole ROM using the autosign tool created by jesusfreke. Or just adbpush the .apk. but don't resign the .apk.
Here's the link for the autosign tool to sign ROM updates. its in the THIRD POST and its auto-sign .zip, NOT the signing.zip in the first post. you can put it anywhere you want and you just drop (a copy of) your ROM update in the autosign folder, rename it update.zip, then run the sign.bat to sign. it will create another file, update-signed.zip. you shouldnt need to wipe when flashing the same ROM over itself, but i cant guarantee this is true for all ROMs.
you can also make an update that will only flash the .apk to /system/app, and nothing else will be changed. basically just make a copy of the update for the ROM youre using, then delete everything but the /system directory from the zip. then go into that /system directory and delete everything but the /app directory, then go into it and delete all the .apks and odex file or whatevers in there. ALL OF IT. when you are finished you should have an update with nothing in it but a /system/app directory. you put your modded .apk in there in /system/app, and thats it for that.
then you must edit the update script and remove MOST of its contents so that it only does what you want it to. THIS IS IMPORTANT! Go here to learn how to create an update script. what youll need is way simpler than the examples, youll want it to look basically like this...
Code:
assert compatible_with("0.2") == "true"
show_progress 0.1 0
copy_dir PACKAGE:system SYSTEM:
show_progress 0.1 10
this update script will copy ANYTHING in the /system directory to /system on your device, regardless of subdirectories. that means anything in /system will go in /system, anything in /system/app will go to /system/app, etc. but since you only have one .apk in there it wont mess with anything but what you put in there. this way, you have a NOWIPE update for...well, whatever you want to put in it.
so you just drop the new shortened update-script in /META-INF/com/google/android/
and then use the autosign tool to resign your new update then flash away! This also takes less time cus its only flashing one file instead of flashing a whole ROM just to replace that one file...
hope this helps...
-BMFC
Sent from my T-Mobile myTouch 3G Slide using XDA App

So you cannot do this on t-mobile's rom which is 2.1 right now? I'm leery of rooting in case they ever release froyo

Tbrewer80 said:
So you cannot do this on t-mobile's rom which is 2.1 right now? I'm leery of rooting in case they ever release froyo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm having issues with this as well... After I do the whole signing apk thing, it installs fine, but when I go to MyModes, the preview is black and when I select it, the MyModes app force closes. I don't get it.

[HOWTO] Delete system apps

There is many of you that asks how to remove this and that preinstallaed apps in different ROM
When a developer put apps in system/app it can not be removed so easy.
But if you have RomManager or fakeflash´s update.zip there is a other way.
I have attached a zip fil that contains a ordinare ROM installation script that only contains delete and copy.
Download file and unzip on your computer and take a look in the folders
data/app
META-INF/com/google/android/update-script
system/app
If your only wish is to remove a systemapp
edit the file update-script (textfile)
and add line with the filename of what you want to remove:
(example)
delete SYSTEM:app/unwanted.apk
delete SYSTEM:app/unwanted.odex
If you want to install some apps put them in system/app for not installable
and data/app for apps that can be removed as usual
rezip folders and install zip with RomManager NO WIPE!!
cm6 azures you will get a error because not same structure for data/app
never mind just select reboot. Delete will work anyway.
Sometimes there will be .so files in system/libs too. They are little more difficult to know which to remove so that demands more knowledge of the app.
Use for instance Astro filemanager or Estrong to look in system/app for correct filename to delete
Script work even if *.odex not exist.
The fact that when you zip folders it will not be signed so file will not work with adb recovery
Googleapps filenames:
CarHomeGoogle.apk, CarHomeLauncher.apk, com.amazon.mp3.apk,
Facebook.apk, GenieWidget.apk, Gmail.apk, GoogleBackupTransport.apk,
GoogleCalendarSyncAdapter.apk, GoogleContactsSyncAdapter.apk,
GoogleFeedback.apk, GoogleGoggles.apk, GooglePartnerSetup.apk, GoogleQuickSearchBox.apk, GoogleServicesFramework.apk, googlevoice.apk,
HtcCopyright.apk, HtcEmailPolicy.apk, HtcSettings.apk, kickback.apk, LatinImeGoogle.apk, LatinImeTutorial.apk, Maps.apk, MarketUpdater.apk, MediaUploader.apk, NetworkLocation.apk, OneTimeInitializer.apk, PassionQuickOffice.apk, SetupWizard.apk, soundback.apk, Street.apk, Talk.apk, talkback.apk, Twitter.apk, Vending.apk, VoiceSearch.apk, YouTube.apk, QuickSearchBox.apk, Provision.apk
Other apps:
ADWLauncher.apk, Gallery3D.apk
but filename may be different depending of ROM
Mainpart must exist for using phone normally
Hope that this help to remove "non-removable" systemapps in future.
/Snakehult

Good guide.
via Legend using XDA-app

Thanks snakehult - great guide and very useful!!
snakehult said:
(example)
delete SYSTEM:app/unwanted.apk
delete SYSTEM:app/unwanted.odex
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It may be worth explaining how people:
- can find out the name of the app they want to remove;
- how they know whether to add the suffix of *.apk or *.odex, or both;
Thanks again for your efforts!

c_man said:
Thanks snakehult - great guide and very useful!!
It may be worth explaining how people:
- can find out the name of the app they want to remove;
- how they know whether to add the suffix of *.apk or *.odex, or both;
Thanks again for your efforts!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes you can use some regular filemanager such Astro or Estrongs and look in system/app
Always delete both, script work even if odex file is missing

c_man said:
It may be worth explaining how people:
- can find out the name of the app they want to remove;
- how they know whether to add the suffix of *.apk or *.odex, or both;
Thanks again for your efforts!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
cool guide!
anyway you have to detect the filename of the apps this way:
enter the recovery mode (in modaco-root-r4: recovery-windows.bat)
now type:
adb shell
mount -t yaffs2 /dev/block/mtdblock3 /system
ls -l /system/app
(this will give you the list of system apps, with space usage)
you have to delete both .apk and .odex files (the latter may not exist)
I use to delete the bigger ringtones too, the list is given by
ls -l /system/media/audio/ringtones
it is safe to delete, after you setup the google accounts (ie after first boot):
HTCSetup*
com.htc.Setup*
Stock*
HtcFoot*
NewsRead*

wow its working......thanks dude........
Uploaded with ImageShack.us

http://android.modaco.com/content/h...apps-from-the-htc-desire-with-adb-in-windows/
Simple guide from MoDaCo

That must be the hardest way to remove apps i guess Have you seen "modaco guide"? All you have to do is reboot your phone in to recovery mode and type 2-3 commands in ADB. Simple as that.
Thanks anyway for your efforts

Many way för same thing
But with a custom-made zipfile you always remove/install favourite apps without adb. And quick modify new ROM install.
Sent from my Legend using XDA App

Hello,
Good guide.
The Legend may be rooted to do this?
I am a newbie.
Thanks.

bobstar_fr said:
Hello,
Good guide.
The Legend may be rooted to do this?
I am a newbie.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As I see it, no use to do much in the dev forum without an rooted Phone

hey guys, thanks for bringing this up. i just tried modaco site method and i deleted stock and its widget only. the internal storage shot from 113 mb to 122 mb and ram from 42 to 134 mb !
what else can i delete

Learners Lisence said:
hey guys, thanks for bringing this up. i just tried modaco site method and i deleted stock and its widget only. the internal storage shot from 113 mb to 122 mb and ram from 42 to 134 mb !
what else can i delete
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just delete what you will never use and....no regret

thank you cryshop for your expert advise
i tried deleting Innovation.mp3 by this script -
adb-windows shell rm /system/media/audio/ringtones/Innovation.mp3
said file not found even though its listed.
whats my mistake ?
i will try snakehults method also but later.
thanks

im trying to use modaco's method but what is the green recovery menu?
i dont understand i go in fastboot then recovery and then?thank you
edit done im stupid

Learners Lisence said:
thank you cryshop for your expert advise
i tried deleting Innovation.mp3 by this script -
adb-windows shell rm /system/media/audio/ringtones/Innovation.mp3
said file not found even though its listed.
whats my mistake ?
i will try snakehults method also but later.
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm, did you forget a slash or a letter in the command? because I tried and I could actually delete it.
@kdma : install ROM Manager from the Market, and there is an option inside the app : Reboot into Recovery (easiest way to get into recovery mod)

I also deleted /system/etc/clock* and saved some space again
(of course I don't need Htc clock widgets)

cryshop said:
Hmm, did you forget a slash or a letter in the command? because I tried and I could actually delete it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
cryshop, i was typing in the wrong directory
Ps - snakehults's appfixer is real delight ! smooooth.
except that my winzip is a trial version and legend dont recognize winrar files.
I was wondering how i got such good figures for change in space and ram the first time. i havent since then. my legend just likes the rebooting involved coz i dont use task killers anymore. and maybe i deleted more than just stock the first time

Will this work with android 2.2 on Hero?
Hey I've been looking all over for something like this. I downloaded the zip, added the lines
delete SYSTEM:app/mms.apk
delete SYSTEM:app/mms.odex
delete SYSTEM:app/email.apk
delete SYSTEM:app/email.odex
and rezipped it.
I used Rom Manager and selected install rom from SD card. It rebooted, seemed to execute the zip. But the original email and mms apps are still installed. What am i doing wrong?

kdma said:
im trying to use modaco's method but what is the green recovery menu?
i dont understand i go in fastboot then recovery and then?thank you
edit done im stupid
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The first thing you should do is download the required zip file from modaco (I'm a new user of xda and is not permitted to post outside links here. You may easily find that post "24/May r4 - HTC Legend rooting guide - Now with 1.31.x" in android.madaco.com)
I think many of us rooted the device followed the instructions of Paul. So that file might be already in your hands.
Fastboot and then recovery, as you have done before. Run Recovery-linux.sh (or Recovery-windows.bat, if you use Windows) in a terminal window - your device shall be at the green recovery screen.
Open another terminal window and enter:
./adb-linux shell mount /system
and then you can push, pull or rm file. For example,
./adb-linux shell rm /system/app/Calculator.apk
./adb-linux push abc.so /system/lib
--
I didn't notice you have already solved the problem, when I compiled this post. It is no longer useful.

[Theme] Kalagas Mixed Theme for FROYO 2.2 Special Edition RC1

Ported theme originally created by Kalagas for Milestone. So all credit and thanks go to him for giving me permission to port it.
Some parts of the theme may be from other themes but I've had them that long I can't remember who created them so if the creators recognise them I apologise in advance and hope you don't mind me using them in this theme. If this is breaking any rules I apologise and understand if you have to remove this theme but I would be grateful if you could let me know who I need to ask for permission to post this theme.
Screenshots here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=823130
DOWNLOADS
THEME
Kalagas_Mixed_Froyo_2.2_Special_RC1-signed.zip
WALLPAPER
wallpaper.zip (This is not an install zip file. Unzip it and copy to an image folder on your SD card).
LAUNCHER PRO
LauncherPro-0.8.1.1.apk (Remove any existing Launcher Pro's installed on phone before installing (Settings will be lost but it's the only way I can get it to work)).
CM THEME
Kalagas_Mixed.zip (Unzip and copy Kalagas_Mixed.xml file to "/sdcard/CMTheme/").
ALWAYS DO A NANDROID BACKUP BEFORE INSTALLING.

Hooooo, I love you XD
Thanks for this port, nice job !
Work on Special Edition and RC1

Awesome thanks for this it looks the dogs
Sent from my HTC Hero using Tapatalk

Awesome theme, very good work! I have it installed yesterday and this one looks great. Thanks

Any reason why this wont work on my phone,
Im running FROYO_2.2_Special_Edition_RC1 (updated 2010-11-03)
MAybe im being dull, but i did a full wipe of everything, and it just keeps looping in whilest booting
Thanks Steve
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Not working on my phone either.
Looks like no Launcher even though I updated launcher pro
Im running FROYO_2.2_Special_Edition_RC1 (updated 2010-11-03) too

Yep i worked out my problem.
AND YES YOU ALL CAN CALL ME DULL
I clicked the link to go look at the pictures, and downloaded the theme from there. Which is for a diffrent rom
Still can not get the Launcher Pro theme to flash. Any advice people please
Cheers Steve

big_sw2000 said:
Yep i worked out my problem.
AND YES YOU ALL CAN CALL ME DULL
I clicked the link to go look at the pictures, and downloaded the theme from there. Which is for a diffrent rom
Still can not get the Launcher Pro theme to flash. Any advice people please
Cheers Steve
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need to completely remove Launcher Pro then install the launcher pro apk file. It's an apk file not an install zip so you need to copy it to your SD card then use whatever file browser your using and install the apk.

Goose247 said:
You need to completely remove Launcher Pro then install the launcher pro apk file. It's an apk file not an install zip so you need to copy it to your SD card then use whatever file browser your using and install the apk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank for the help
But not able to work out how to install it, as its a zip folder on my sd card.
I have tried a few file browser programs. But not sure what to do next
Cheers Steve

big_sw2000 said:
Thank for the help
But not able to work out how to install it, as its a zip folder on my sd card.
I have tried a few file browser programs. But not sure what to do next
Cheers Steve
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If your downloading LauncherPro-0.8.1.1.apk it is an apk file, it can be opened with compression software so the icon might look like a zip file but it's not.
Try it this way if you have adb installed on your computer
Open the Command prompt window for ADB. Copy LauncherPro-0.8.1.1.apk to "android-sdk-windows\tools" folder.
Type
adb remount
adb shell rm /system/app/*Launcher*
adb push LauncherPro-0.8.1.1.apk /system/app
exit
Reboot phone.

Goose247 said:
If your downloading LauncherPro-0.8.1.1.apk it is an apk file, it can be opened with compression software so the icon might look like a zip file but it's not.
Try it this way if you have adb installed on your computer
Open the Command prompt window for ADB. Copy LauncherPro-0.8.1.1.apk to "android-sdk-windows\tools" folder.
Type
adb remount
adb shell rm /system/app/*Launcher*
adb push LauncherPro-0.8.1.1.apk /system/app
exit
Reboot phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have downlaoded your link, and the file many times. And it id deffently a zip file not apk file.
LauncherPro-0.8.1.1.zip is the file name

big_sw2000 said:
I have downlaoded your link, and the file many times. And it id deffently a zip file not apk file.
LauncherPro-0.8.1.1.zip is the file name
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't know what your downloading but I've checked and double checked and it's definately an apk file.
I've attached the file that I just downloaded from the link

Goose247 said:
Don't know what your downloading but I've checked and double checked and it's definately an apk file.
I've attached the file that I just downloaded from the link
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not to sure what was happing, but you link worked great.
Not sure why i kept getting a zip file.
Thanks for the help
Steve

big_sw2000 said:
Not to sure what was happing, but you link worked great.
Not sure why i kept getting a zip file.
Thanks for the help
Steve
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe the "save as file type" somehow changed to .zip instead of .apk
Glad you got it working though

FROYO_2.2_Special_Edition_RC1_update1 (updated 2010-12-03
When I install this theme on FROYO_2.2_Special_Edition_RC1_update1 (updated 2010-12-03) rom, my phone keeps rebooting in the boot process.
How is that and can it be fixed, e new version maybe? I like this theme very much and would like to continue using it...Thanks!

Don't know if its just me but the theme link is dead...

NueKaede said:
Don't know if its just me but the theme link is dead...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, for me too the links are unavaillable.

Re uploud Kalagas_Mixed_Froyo_2.2_Special_RC1-signed
the links is death ... no files ....
Are You looking for vlacleod.com/downloads/Kalagas_Mixed_Froyo_2.2_Special_RC1-signed the file is not on the server

[Guide] Simple guide to theming ANY ROM

A lot of people have asked in various threads lately about getting this theme on x rom, or can someone port this theme for me, etc. It really isn't that hard. It actually is pretty much a simple matter of copying and pasting. This will work on any ROM, and it only takes a few minutes, easy enough for an amateur to do it.
1. First, download the ROM that has the theme that you want on your current ROM.
2. Extract framework-res.apk from /system/framework and rename it to framework-res-old.zip and then right click it, and click extract all. Just extract them to currentdirectory\framework-res-old, which should be the default option anyway.
3. Take your current ROM, and extract framework-res.apk from /system/framework, and repeat step 2 except name it framework-res-new.zip.
4. Browse to the framework-res-old\res folder and select all of the folders starting with "drawable", such as "drawable-mdpi"
5. Browse to the framework-res-new\res folder and paste those folders, it should prompt you to merge and replace files and all that jazz, just click yes and do for the next x conflicts. It will copy and replace all of the image files.
6. Go back to the root of your framework-res-new folder, highlight all of the contents, right click, Send to > Compressed (zipped) archive
7. Windows will re-zip framework-res-new. When it finishes, rename the new zip file to framework-res.apk and push it to /system/framework. If you haven't gotten s-off on your phone, you have to do this while in clockwork recovery (make sure you mount /system in the partitions menu, or if you are s-off and booted, type adb shell mount -o rw,remount /system if it gives you memory errors)
For other operating systems, the steps are similar. If you use a linux distro, I'm going to assume you are smart enough to figure out the compression tools and menu items to unzip and rezip the apk files.
NOTE: You don't actually have to change the extensions to .zip, in fact, you won't be able to unless you unchecked hide known file extensions in the windows folder options in control panel. I just thought it would be easier. If you don't want to unhide extensions, just use a tool like 7-zip or winrar to open and extract the APK. In simple terms, all you are doing is replacing the res folder of your new framework-res.apk with the one from the theme you want. Not very hard.
ANOTHER Note: Sense roms are a bit more difficult to theme, since all of the HTC apps are themed from images in com.htc.resources.apk in /system/framework. But if you are on a sense ROM, you probably can just use a MyModes theme. If you do however choose to try this on a sense ROM, it will only theme user and non-HTC apps. This guide will technically work for any ROM but it works best for AOSP based ROMs, like CyanogenMod or ArayrayMod. The only thing is that if there is a change in the color of text, then you have to decompile both framework-res APKs and copy styles.xml from the old one to your new one and recompile it. APKtool or APK Manager both work great for that.
DO A NANDROID BACKUP BEFORE PUSHING THE NEW FRAMEWORK! Sometimes you can get boot loops from screwing with other files in framework-res, or if it is not signed properly. But you shouldn't get boot loops as long as you stay away from XMLs.

how do i extract an apk? it shows up as an apk and when i click extract it does nothing

Sometimes pushing new frameworks cause boot loops fyi..

Happened to me twice :/
Sent from my T-Mobile myTouch 3G Slide using XDA App

purple1 said:
how do i extract an apk? it shows up as an apk and when i click extract it does nothing
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you try renaming it to framework-res.zip rather than .apk? If you have 7-zip or winrar you can also right click, open with, and choose 7-zip or winrar from the choose default program option.
arayray said:
Sometimes pushing new frameworks cause boot loops fyi..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only if you screw with the non-drawable folders. If you leave the XMLs intact and only change the images it boots fine. The boot loops are caused by incompatible or conflicting XML files, which happens when you just push a random framework-res from another ROM, you have to just move the images over.

I use apkmanager for linux and its immensely helpful. Also you can loop one even without modifying the xmls. Least I have that's why the most important part of theming is knowing how to backup/restore or flash sbf or w/e.

Only if you screw with the non-drawable folders. If you leave the XMLs intact and only change the images it boots fine. The boot loops are caused by incompatible or conflicting XML files, which happens when you just push a random framework-res from another ROM, you have to just move the images over.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you should state that in the OP

Added a note at the bottom, thanks