Database Develop

[HowTo][Video] Creating Android Themes (4th Video up .9s)

Android Themes Basics 4:
Finally got round to making the requested .9s video:
-Retrieving and backing up the original framework-res.apk
-Using the Draw9Patcher tool to create the required guides
-Using eclipse to apply the guides to the image
-Pushing the file back to your phone
I hope the video is helpful, I know a lot of people do not like .9 files at all
Android Themes Basics 3:
Back after a long break. Easy one to get going again: Changing system font.
-Backing up original fonts from your phone
-Replacing with new ones
Sorry been lazy recently =o)
Android Themes Basics 2:
Second Part of the video series is now finished =o). The topic this time is changing the status bar:
- Pulling necessary files from phone
- Extracting files required
- Editing the status_bar.xml file and classes.dex file to change status bar colours
- Repackaging the dex file
- Pushing modified files back to the phone
The video is split to 2 parts unfortunately due to Youtube having a 10 minute limit and I didn't want to cut anything out to keep it simple.
Android Themes Basics 1:
Just finished my first video tutorial for creating android themes. The topic of the first video is changing basic images so covers:
- Pulling files from the phone
- Extracting images from APK
- Placing edited images back to the APK
- Pushing the file back to phone.
I know this is very basic and most of you know perfectly how to do this but I thought I would start from the very basics
Let me know what you think and any areas you would like me to cover in future videos, Ideally I would like to create a series of videos that new people can work through to create full themes.
Videos:
Android Themes Basics 1: Changing Images
Android Themes Basics 2: Changing Statusbar (1/2)
Android Themes Basics 2: Changing Statusbar (2/2)
Android Themes Basics 3: Changing System Font
Android Themes Basics 4: Changing Buttons (The .9s video)
Upcoming:
- Changing the battery display
.FxN

video
How are you I just tried to view the video an youtube is saying that the video is not available

Just yesterday I was hoping someone would do something like this. Thank you. Much easier than I thought it would be.

Looks good, now just do one on .9's for the love of god PLEASE!

Do you know how to create an update file with the Mac?
Now I use windows to create an update file ... is there a signing script available for the Mac?

very cool
thanks man
cant wait for the upcoming vids and some .9 vids

T3hFurious1, maybe it was your post I saw yesterday that gave me the idea then, it was on this forum someone mentioned would be nice =o)
MurderDeathKill & smackiesfunkies, added the .9s video to the upcoming, I'll start scripting it out soon for you guys.
cybapaddy, absolutely no idea as I wouldnt touch Mac with a veeeeeeeeeery long stick, only reason the video is in windows is cause I thought it would be more helpful to majority than the linux version
.FxN

cybapaddy said:
Do you know how to create an update file with the Mac?
Now I use windows to create an update file ... is there a signing script available for the Mac?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the file somewhere hold on.
Edit: http://www.417photography.net/mac.zip comes with all 3 files!

Added a second video now with details on changing the statusbar, details in the first post
.FxN

awesome man
these videos are a big help
i was wondering tho if you could add voice walkthrough as you are goin through it?
just a preference and a lil bit easier to follow along as youre doing it :]
if not its still very helpful

I was thinking of that but couple of reasons why I decided to go without tho, mainly I do these whilst I'm at work tho
I'll see what ill do for future lessons, although I do think the first 2 should be clear enough without audio, even tho the 2nd video gets bit tricky at times.
.FxN

fxn said:
I was thinking of that but couple of reasons why I decided to go without tho, mainly I do these whilst I'm at work tho
I'll see what ill do for future lessons, although I do think the first 2 should be clear enough without audio, even tho the 2nd video gets bit tricky at times.
.FxN
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ohhhhh lol got it
yeah the first two are easy enough to follow
good job with em

Could you make a tutorial on pushing a framework-res.apk?

fxn said:
Android Themes Basics 2:
Upcoming:
- .9s (as requested)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im waiting for this too
Great job, dude. Thanks!

t3hfurious1, if you have a look at the 2nd part of 2nd video it pushes the framework-res.apk to the phone, is that what you meant?

fxn said:
t3hfurious1, if you have a look at the 2nd part of 2nd video it pushes the framework-res.apk to the phone, is that what you meant?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha, woops, didn't notice it. Thanks for pointing it out.

Hi,
big thanks for the Videos.
Now I have one problem:
The Text is white and quite good. But the clock isn't white. It's still black.
Could you please help me and say where my problem is?

could you do a video on how to do these changes if you wish to upload a zip to the public. also if you pull the apk from your phone does it physically take it out of your phone till you put it back in? Because what i'm thinking is that instead of pulling every .apk why not just download a stock 1.6 rom and use the files from there. i just dont know how to sign it/make the zip so that i can flash it on my phone.

Formel-LMS, There are two files to change, one of them will change text and the other changes the clock If I remember correctly, both files we're covered on the video however but it could be that some things have changed...I wouldn't know haven't done any of this stuff for months
MFK DGAF, No doing a pull on an APK doesn't remove it from your phone just takes a copy of it, the reason I pull the files from my own phone before making changes is because I use a custom rom and it could well be that the person cooking the rom (Cyanogen/JAC) have made a modification to that file or other files which would make the stock file incompatible with rest of the rom.
Toying with the idea of making another video, feeling lazy as hell though so dunno if that'll happen

3rd Video up, easy one mind you but hopefully will be putting another one up shortly =o)

Help with Phone.apk mod please

I want to edit the background of the dialer from black to white, but I cannot seem to find where it is, I've went through the source and can't find it. Can anyone help with this mod?
Thanks

Ima make a judgement call on this one and say if you can't find it, most likely you shouldn't be messing around with it

stefan.buddle said:
Ima make a judgement call on this one and say if you can't find it, most likely you shouldn't be messing around with it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you do not recognize the name, perhaps you should not make such assumptions.
Let me see if I can find the file name, give me a few.
Edit: As far as I can tell, there is no image file for the background. From the small bit of android programming I have attempted, I do seem to recall the default background color being black. I think you probably need to edit an xml file, but I could be completely wrong. I could not read the xml files with my phone, so I could not narrow it down at all. If you agree this is the way to go, and need to know how to decrypt xml send me a pm.

I know it is not an image, I've edited all the images. I have done an abundant amount of themes. I posted the question because I have spent a long time looking though the source. It is not an xml in the drawable, it is in the source somewhere. After looking though the source though, I am starting to think it is something at a higher level than the phone.apk of contacts.apk and maye be something from the system itself, since all the apps have a black background as the default.

Since I think it does default to black, have you thought about including a new background file into drawable, and writing it into the xml somewhere.

cloverdale said:
Since I think it does default to black, have you thought about including a new background file into drawable, and writing it into the xml somewhere.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haven't thought that far but that may be the best solution. There are a few white themes, and it could be a nice addition to them, or even to those without. I'll look into it more when I have some more time, unless there are some people that have time to help on this project

I need help please. I have the latest source from Cyanogen. I am trying to add something to the dialpad.xml but without even doing anything yet, when I start a new project from the code, I get a lot of errors, most I can just delete files and be ok with but I get
Description Resource Path Location Type
ERROR No resource identifier found for attribute 'contentDescription' in package 'android' dialpad.xml /DialtactsActivity/res/layout-finger line 126 Android AAPT Problem
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Click to collapse
Its from the part of the code android:contentDescription="@string/description_image_button_pound"
I have spent days trying to figure out what the issue is.
Can anyone help?

[Q] Metamorph & XML

Can Metamorph replace compiled XML files like it does graphics without causing problems?

Initially MetaMorph was designed for themers but it was discovered through use that we could also use it for applying customer dex files, resource files, images, and xml files. Pretty much anything inside of the apk and jar can be replaced with MetaMorph, which makes it very versatile and useful, in addition to this we can now copy files to places on the phone or sdcard, and we can implement the use of scripts now!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
from,
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=591329
so your answer is yes. perhaps read a little more next time...

mattyyey said:
from,
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=591329
so your answer is yes. perhaps read a little more next time...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. I know and realized my mistake. I normally do search, but look at the time of the post. Was a long day and my brain was not functioning. Not an excuse for not searching, but the reason behind my moment of stupidity
But now that the answer has been found, please let us forget this thread and let it die.

[Q] I really just need help...

I've been smashing my head against a brick wall for the past week.
I've been reading, downloading, installing, reading, uninstalling, updating, reading and punching myself in the face for far too long.
Right now I'm at the point where I'm either going to jump off a roof or destroy every piece of technology in my house with a hammer.
All I need - is somebody to talk to to give me a helping hand. I've gone too long just sitting here trying to figure it out, with all your broken links, complicated theories and insane lengths to change one icon.
Why is it so frustrating? Because what I want to do should be so simple, or it should be...
I have a Nexus S i9020, using ADW Launcher with CyanogenMod 7.0.3-NS.
All I want to do is:
-Change the icons in the Icon drawer
-Make a new status bar
-Change the color of the batter/WiFi/GPS/3G etc in the status bar.
In a perfect world this would mean replacing a few PNG images and being on my way.
But oh no - 6 days later and a LOT of frustration later - I have achieved nothing. I've watched too many youtube video's to count, and right now I just need somebody to simplify it all and give me a hand.
Can anybody point me in the direction of a detailed, easy, step by step guide which explains everything? Because NONE of the pinned threads have helped me, and I have to wait until I get 8 posts before I can print screen what is happening and try to explain it properly.
Or can somebody just give me a helping hand?

Since you're on CyanogenMod7, you can make a theme chooser APK. It's really quite simple.
CLICK HERE

Thanks but that looks more complicated than the other threads :/
I'm amazed nobody has made a simple theme builder application like those that exist for the PS3 etc.
I'm in so deep here - I have no idea where to even start.

How about UOT kitchen at http://uot.dakra.lt ?

mendozinas said:
How about UOT kitchen at
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow this is exactly what I needed.
There are still a few things I'd like to change beyond this though. But thanks a lot that has helped me achieve 90% of what I wanted.
Edit:
I got to the summary page, and I don't understand any of it. I feel like giving up right now.
At the end it was asking me to upload things, edit binary, I just have no idea where to start.
I need a 'theming for dummies' book. Seriously I know NOTHING about ANYTHING in this area.

What you need to upload is in your rom.zip unzip it and look in app, you should have some apk's there that uot is asking for
Sent from my HTC Wildfire using XDA App

Lilday said:
Wow this is exactly what I needed.
There are still a few things I'd like to change beyond this though. But thanks a lot that has helped me achieve 90% of what I wanted.
Edit:
I got to the summary page, and I don't understand any of it. I feel like giving up right now.
At the end it was asking me to upload things, edit binary, I just have no idea where to start.
I need a 'theming for dummies' book. Seriously I know NOTHING about ANYTHING in this area.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Go from left to right on the tabs up top (battery, icons, etc.) and pick whatever you want to use. When you get to the file upload tab, click system files in the right column and upload the framework-res.apk and systemui.apk from your ROM. When they've finished uploading, go to the summary tab. If any of the items listed are in an orange box, they were done incorrectly. Go back to them and finish. If they're all green, hit 'Submit work to kitchen' and wait for it to finish (it can take a while). Take the zip it makes for you and flash in recovery.
To get the framework-res.apk and systemui.apk from your ROM, open the ROM in Winzip, 7Zip, or whatever you want to use. framework-res.apk is located in system/framework and systemui.apk is located in system/app.

iamthebigcheeze said:
Go from left to right on the tabs up top (battery, icons, etc.) and pick whatever you want to use. When you get to the file upload tab, click system files in the right column and upload the framework-res.apk and systemui.apk from your ROM. When they've finished uploading, go to the summary tab. If any of the items listed are in an orange box, they were done incorrectly. Go back to them and finish. If they're all green, hit 'Submit work to kitchen' and wait for it to finish (it can take a while). Take the zip it makes for you and flash in recovery.
To get the framework-res.apk and systemui.apk from your ROM, open the ROM in Winzip, 7Zip, or whatever you want to use. framework-res.apk is located in system/framework and systemui.apk is located in system/app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When he says it can take a while, he really means it. The first time I used the theme kitchen I was waiting for 30 minutes and was convinced something had gone wrong. During peak hours it can really take a long time, especially if you're creating multiple elements. So just be patient about it after you've submitted the theme for creation.
Also, make sure you take a nandroid backup before flashing anything to your device. Better to be safe than sorry! Nandroid has saved my behind more times than I can count.

Any comprehensive icon set that looks like this...?

I'm basically looking for transparent/ glassy looking icons. Someone on another forum linked me to the following site:
http://icons.mysitemyway.com/category/3d-transparent-glass-icons/
Stylistically, that's pretty much exactly what I'd like them to look like. The problem is, those are mostly generic icons, rather than ones made specifically for apps. Does anyone possibly know of a comprehensive icon set that looks like this, for Android apps?

Glasklart is the closest I know of.

That's what I'm using now, yeah, but I want something without a border, where the icons, themselves, are transparent and glassy-looking.

mrw1215 said:
That's what I'm using now, yeah, but I want something without a border, where the icons, themselves, are transparent and glassy-looking.
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http://tutorials.mysitemyway.com/premium-psds/
here are the psd files for this set, so now you can create any icons you want with this look

picard666 said:
here are the psd files for this set, so now you can create any icons you want with this look
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Click to collapse
Hm. Well, I don't have Photoshop, I use GIMP, so I don't know how (or if I even can) make that work. There is a GIMP .pat file in the zip of the download, but GIMP won't recognize, it for whatever reason; it keeps giving me an error when I try to access it.

mrw1215 said:
Hm. Well, I don't have Photoshop, I use GIMP, so I don't know how (or if I even can) make that work. There is a GIMP .pat file in the zip of the download, but GIMP won't recognize, it for whatever reason; it keeps giving me an error when I try to access it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
actually i think the pat file is a photoshop pattern file, but you can open the psd file in gimp as well

picard666 said:
actually i think the pat file is a photoshop pattern file, but you can open the psd file in gimp as well
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah. Just tried that, but not really sure what to do from there... When I go in GIMP, click File>Open, and choose the psd file, it's just a few layers (with "etc" in large text), covered up by a large black rectangle.

then probably you'll need photoshop for full support. sorry