Database Develop

Novice Wing Modder with Some Questions....

Hey folks, I got my Wing a couple of weeks ago and I love it. I had a treo before, and this makes me much happier. I had gotten into modding the UI a bit and playing around with the best combos of third-party software on my old treo, so I started playing with my Wing. Well, I've gotten probably mid-level with my technical modding competency thus far. I'm comfortable with most progs and mods I've found below actually flashing the ROM, and I'd think about that too, but I've gathered that most of the TF roms out have trouble on the Wing. So far, I'm overclocked to 260, tweaked some stuff in the registry, installed the HTC Touch UI minus the cube and all that, but I'm not quite happy. So, I have some questions:
On the HTC Home 5 tab skin:
1. Is there any way to put custom icons in the launcher area? Not just style-wise(though that would be good), but that link to things that aren't on the list? I'd really love to but a button that would take me to "settings" in there, like the one that takes you to "programs". I have a few other ideas too.
2. On the weather tab, I know there is a way to add cities to the "select city" list by getting the city code off of accuweather.com and changing the registry, but I can't figure out how to get the code for my city when I look it up on the site...I search it, and it comes up, but where is the code?
3. I put the HTC black theme on here, but I wondered, are there any others available? I know I've seen a blue one, and I think I've seen pictures of an HTC Touch that had a red theme....
Other Stuff:
1. I tried to up my page pool to 6mb like it says in the "all you need to know" thread, but the preparation app wont work....I install it, but nothing happens after that....I can't find it to open or anything else...Is installing it enough?
2. Is there any way to keep wm6 from putting the recently used programs on the start menu?
3. Is there any way to change the two links on the bottom bar that the soft keys are mapped to? Not change what the keys are mapped to, but like, change "Calendar" to "Settings" or "Contacts" to "Messaging", for example?
4. Is there anything out there that would let me navigate my phone with my finger? I know certain programs have this capability, like Opera Mobile's latest beta and PocketCM(which I use), but I'd like it on all windows that require scrolling....
Apps:
1. Anyone know the best app to use to stream radio and/or tv on my phone?
2. What's the best way to watch youtube? I wouldn't ask, but I've found like three or four different threads/articles on ways to do it, and I don't know which I should use. I prefer to use Opera as my browser, but I can use PIE now and then, if the process actually lets me watch it in my browser....
3. Can ya suggest any good games?
Well, thanks in advance for any help you can give. I've been trolling here for a while, so I know there are some very smart people here and I have faith. Sorry for asking so much, and forgive me if I should have broken this up a bit into different threads, but I'm trying to perfect my phone, and this was basically what was left on my list....Any other tips on how to achieve my goal of making a nice, clean, finger-friendly UI and putting the picking the best apps would be appreciated too.
Peace.

Ok, I figured out the HTC weather thing, and the today softkey thing, so I'm good there. Any help on the rest?

I can cover a few for you but any more's gonna cost ya....
flash your phone with either of the touch roms out right now and you will be able to finger scroll in nearly all applications.
try avotmv, or search using google for similar programs for streaming videos(avotMv includes youtube as well as google).
Many streams to tv stations can be opened with WMP directly which makes it alot easier to connect to them by saving them as PIE favourites. You just need to find 'em first, I would suggest doing that from your computer first.
I've recommended Flux Challenge before, ill do it again...apart from that I don't run too many games from my pocket pc. Seal Volleyball is kinda fun too.
Maybe some others can assist you with the rest
cheers

Apache! Track Ball! Landscape View! (questions)

Any chance there's a way to run Apache Home Server on my CDMA Hero?
Not looking for anyone who wants to convince me not to, I would just like to know if it's possible/doable.
Also, rather than making a seperate topic,
Is there any way we can:
1) Make a pointer for the track ball? Even, at the very least, while using the browser? I mean, really... why has this not been done yet?
2) Make it so our Home Screens turn when the Accelerometer changes to wide view. When sliding the keyboard out on the Droid and (I believe G1) the viewing automatically changes to landscape. I would love this feature as well. Is this doable, possible?
Thanks in advance, any advice given is appreciated!

bump...
>.>

if you compile apache and all the libs and whatever it depends on for android then it should be possible. afaik there is a webserver for android out there, any reason why it needs to be apache? i think it is way to complex for android, a small lightweight webserver should be no problem in theory.
a trackball pointer might be possible, but not trivial. personally i don't see the reason, when using the trackball in the browser the selected link is highlighted green, what do you need a pointer for?
again, theoretically doable is also the rotated homescreen. you "just" need to redesign sense ui for landscape view. which might be really hard, as it is more than just a small app, and it is closed source (because it is part of htc's modifications, not part of the original android). tbh, don't wait for it to happen unless htc does it.
and last but not least: no offense, but give your posts a few hours, not everything is answered directly.

kendong2 said:
if you compile apache and all the libs and whatever it depends on for android then it should be possible. afaik there is a webserver for android out there, any reason why it needs to be apache? i think it is way to complex for android, a small lightweight webserver should be no problem in theory.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It doesn't need to be Apache, I'm just more familiar with that particular server software. If there are other options I would be glad to explore them. There are a few things I would like to test that I think would be kind of cool depending on the type of webserver I can run.
a trackball pointer might be possible, but not trivial. personally i don't see the reason, when using the trackball in the browser the selected link is highlighted green, what do you need a pointer for?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A track ball would help out in a lot of ways. If open to the OS it would let me select programs, etc. while wearing gloves. It would open up the option of navigating without having to actually use the touch screen in case the scenario presents itself (again, gloves).
If just the browser it could help with games and those types of things. One important thing I have noticed is that I can't scroll within a frame on the browser. If I had a pointer I could, at the least, be able to click and drag the inner frame down without moving the main browsing page. This is somewhat vital to me as my College's Blackboard System is completely based on these types of web pages.
again, theoretically doable is also the rotated homescreen. you "just" need to redesign sense ui for landscape view. which might be really hard, as it is more than just a small app, and it is closed source (because it is part of htc's modifications, not part of the original android). tbh, don't wait for it to happen unless htc does it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's a shame. The one problem I have is the amount of rotating I have to do. I would prefer to have the home screens locked in landscape rather than how they are now. It's just a little ridiculous to be watching a video on the phone and texting someone... but every time you want to reply/text you have to rotate the phone. It just seems tedious and I'm a man of efficiency if I can help it.
Maybe I can convince HTC.
and last but not least: no offense, but give your posts a few hours, not everything is answered directly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry about that. XDA is very popular and I assumed my post had already become lossed in the fray. I posted on my lunch break and bumped one hour before having to go home so I had hoped I would get one response before then.
Thanks!
And anymore information would be appreciated. Not just from you but anyone else who has any information.

fatkitty420 said:
2) Make it so our Home Screens turn when the Accelerometer changes to wide view. When sliding the keyboard out on the Droid and (I believe G1) the viewing automatically changes to landscape. I would love this feature as well. Is this doable, possible?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe this is being done in the 2.1 Sense that HTC have promised us...sometime.
But imo its really ugly, nothing seems to be the right proportions (I'm a designer, so it kinda bugged me)

fatkitty420 said:
A track ball would help out in a lot of ways. If open to the OS it would let me select programs, etc. while wearing gloves. It would open up the option of navigating without having to actually use the touch screen in case the scenario presents itself (again, gloves).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that can be solved, press menu on homescreen, from there on you can use the trackball to navigate to all programs and then navigate through the menu.
i got myself some gloves from north face, which have a conducting fabric on the tips of thumb and index finger, so i can use the touchscreen natively with them. works great, actually got them before i had the hero because they are cool anyway
for the rest: i see your point now, but can't help. and tbh i don't think htc will take too much interest in your concerns... but try anyway, at least they should know about it!

For the web server you might want to try PAW server for Android. Although it's still in beta, it has a lot of built-in goodies like call log, send SMS and so on.
And you can serve your own static or dynamic (BeanShell) pages.

How to go about modding the on screen keyboard?

Ok so I have been searching the forums and I cannot find an exact answer for what I want to change so if this is a problem that had already been solved, please direct me to the thread.
I just recently dl'd the chm binary release and like it. But the on screen keyboard is hard on my eyes.
So my question is how would I go about replacing it with something like, o say the buuf on screen keyboard instead?
HTC_IME is not what I want just to clarify.
And once again, I apologize if this has already been threaded...

There is no way that none of you know this...

philosophics said:
There is no way that none of you know this...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We could help you, but it is a 3rd party keyboard. What keyboard is it?

I'm not really sure. After installing the HTC_IME, I now have 2. Htc keyboard and android keyboard. If I knew how to take a screenie, I would but I don't.
As far as I know, its the on screen keyboard I've had since I rooted...
The keyboard that comes with chm binary is what I want to change...

well, I know how to modify the look of the builtin keyboard, but I haven't messed with 3rd party stuff.
The stock keyboard can be changed by theming. They're just png files, although the .9.pngs make it a little bit more complicated.

Well I kinda figured as much but what I'm really trying to ask is where do I find them?

They're in framework-res.apk on the phone. If you extract this file they'll be under res/drawable/
The filenames are btn_keyboard*.png
By using metamorph or creating an update.zip style theme you can change these and apply a theme to the phone. Theming is a real pain, but I think it's worth learning how to do.

Ya, I have already pieced together a blackbar to my liking so I'm well aware of the hassles it is to do. I'll be learning the .9's as soon as I get my pc parts back from rma and then I'll try to put out a skin.
Thanks bud, I'll look into this tomorrow after I've slept...

If you want to do this easily, download the buff keyboard skin for better keyboard, and take the .9.pngs from there.

Wow! Now that should have been said at the very beginning. Good thing I was too busy today to get to that. Cloverdale, you just saved me a few hours of frustration. still though, I thank the both of you for the help. I will update the thread when I have success so everyone knows its solved!
Ps- anyone else try to read the forums on your phone? Its a little tricky...
Sorry for the off topic comment but I felt the need...

ok so I couldn't really find a way to download the better keyboard/buuf theme on the pc so I went and tried swapping the btn-keyboard---'s and noting happened after add.
So now I'm on the hunt for the better keyboard dl
I don't know where to look for the file when dl'ing to phone so if all else fails, I guess I could dl to phone and then search for it by folder by painstaking folder...
Update - I cannot for the life of me find the file on the web or on the phone. I dl'd from marketplace but I must not be very smart cause I don't know where marketplace stores stuff...
Downloading the better keyboard theme was supposed to save me grief but in fact, it did the exact opposite...
Update - Well I thought by removing the btn_keyboard_key.xml would solve my problem considering the BUUF skin does not contain one. Same nasty black and blue keyboard. All the buuf keyboard .--- are there so I'm confused once again.
I do not want to install another pay-for app and I don't want the entire buuf theme as of now so I will wait till later today after sleep and try again.
Unless someone knows exactly what's wrong. I'm doing everything I can to keep this 3 month old drywall from having holes in it...
I thought the black bar mod was hard to do... hahaha! That was a cake walk compared to this...
Update - Removing the xml's to the keyboard was a bad idea. It forced closed the android keyboard cause it wanted to change the language to latin or something like that. Touch Input keyboard (HTC_IME) will still work though and I made backups so all of this is just a learning experience for me.
...This is so not like modding and skinning a moto. Way more complicated. So much can go wrong.
Which reminds me, how do I view the .xml's with win7? Never done it before...

So does anyone have any other ideas? Maybe there's something I've been missing this whole time?
I have replaced the btn_keyboard--- files in the framework-res.apk like I was told to do and there is no effects... at all. Positive or negative...

philosophics said:
So does anyone have any other ideas? Maybe there's something I've been missing this whole time?
I have replaced the btn_keyboard--- files in the framework-res.apk like I was told to do and there is no effects... at all. Positive or negative...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well the only other place I can think of is the LatinIME.apk, but I'm not sure about that one

You know, that almost makes sense cause when I removed the .xml for the keyboard to make it match with buuf, the phone kept screaming at me about ..... latin something. So I will check this out and let you know.
But now I have a new problem. I think I need to remove a few applications cause my phone keeps force closing everything after reboot due to an update.zip file. So once I conquor this then I'll start working on the original problem...

Custom Theme Components

Long time lurker, first time poster... I have been learning a lot really fast about customizing different aspects of the eris, but what I have been really searching hard for is a way to customize certain components to add to an already great rom. Right now I am running Eris_Official_0.8.1T2 btw. Anyways what I am really looking for is something like this forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=654852 Mostly the Launcher is what I really want to change but to be able to tweak everything else would be great too. If someone knows how to do this or can point me in the right direction to maybe even learn how myself I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks

unzip the rom files
system/framework/com.htc.resources
once in there go to
res/drawable-port-mdpi
the file named common_app_rosie_navbar.png
is the launcher, and thats the main thing u need to edit.
and also go to
system/apps/rosie.apk
one inside the apk go to
res/drawable-normal-mdpi
and
drawable-normal-port-mdpi
edit those to your liking

Wow I feel dumb now lol... Ive been poking around in com.htc.resources for a couple days now and completely overlooked that... Thanks alot... Only question I have now is how do I remove the word phone that overlayed on the launcher? I would post a screenshot of my home screen but since im a new user its not allowing me.
Thanks for the help

well I uploaded a photo to my album so if you feel like checking it out just go to my profile... Im starting to like the phone (icon and word) over the orb but if anyone knows how to remove the word for future reference please let me know... I am also trying to find out how to change the status bar's clock color, which searching around has brought me to editing the services.jar or services.odex file but Im still uncertain on how to do this. Any input would be great.

Im going to sound like an idiot, but i can't open the apk to edit, im missing something.. help?

Right click and open with winrar or 7zip. Once you have edited the images you will have to resign either the .apk or the rom. Depending on if you are editing the whole rom or not. Hope I was able to help

my first week comments

well as my first week for android on NAND comes to a close i must say thanks to all for your help. these threads are the best in getting all the answers i need, and thanks also for the quick responses on the ones that i needed help with.
after trying all the flavors out there i must give props to Myns newest Eclair build. that has proven most favorable for my usage. thanks Myn keep up the good work. i look forward to more stuff from all you. and i mean what my signature means. if any of you need a tester, please PM me. i will gladly flash one, work it over a couple days and give you my opinion.
i am still stunned that i can get almost 10 hours out of a single charge and it only 2 hours to recharge. i had many reservations coming from winMO, but now that i have made the move, the reservations now seem trivial. the overall benefits work in my favor.
ok so there are some blue tooth issues, and some other fine tuning things, big deal. overall i give my experience above average marks.
i do have a few apps questions please
1. WinMO had a widget that gave one the ability to check mail and messaging and mark as read from the desktop area without having to open each individual message in messaging. is there such an app for android? i tried chomp but wasnt too impressed, and havent really found anything else to try after that.
2. i am a big landscape user- is there a keyboard that is a little bigger to accommodate the screen and 'clumsy thumbs?
3. there are some builds that have 'free market' does that mean that i can download anything and not pay for it?
4. i have read android will play mp4 video native. is there a free conversion tool out there someplace for a MAC? or maybe an android player that will do mov/avi video?
thanks again for all you have done. i look forward to more.

piperthedj said:
well as my first week for android on NAND comes to a close i must say thanks to all for your help. these threads are the best in getting all the answers i need, and thanks also for the quick responses on the ones that i needed help with.
after trying all the flavors out there i must give props to Myns newest Eclair build. that has proven most favorable for my usage. thanks Myn keep up the good work. i look forward to more stuff from all you. and i mean what my signature means. if any of you need a tester, please PM me. i will gladly flash one, work it over a couple days and give you my opinion.
i am still stunned that i can get almost 10 hours out of a single charge and it only 2 hours to recharge. i had many reservations coming from winMO, but now that i have made the move, the reservations now seem trivial. the overall benefits work in my favor.
ok so there are some blue tooth issues, and some other fine tuning things, big deal. overall i give my experience above average marks.
i do have a few apps questions please
1. WinMO had a widget that gave one the ability to check mail and messaging and mark as read from the desktop area without having to open each individual message in messaging. is there such an app for android? i tried chomp but wasnt too impressed, and havent really found anything else to try after that.
2. i am a big landscape user- is there a keyboard that is a little bigger to accommodate the screen and 'clumsy thumbs?
3. there are some builds that have 'free market' does that mean that i can download anything and not pay for it?
4. i have read android will play mp4 video native. is there a free conversion tool out there someplace for a MAC? or maybe an android player that will do mov/avi video?
thanks again for all you have done. i look forward to more.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. In incubus26jc's super eclair build he includes a messaging widget that may be what you're looking for. If you want just that widget. you can download his build and take the .apk file for the widget and move it onto your sd card or in an androidupdate.tar to install it. (pm me if you need further instructions).
2. Somewhere in the forum someone posted a QVGA/120dpi compatible HTC keyboard that comes stock on the Hero, etc. Many people prefer this and I believe the keys are a little bigger. Just search the threads for that.
3. No. The "free" means no paid apps will show up, only free ones.
4. I'm not sure. I don't use my vogue as a media device but I'm sure with a little googling you could find a solution.

Can use HandBrake for video conversion windows/mac/linux
http://handbrake.fr/