Many of the default Android menus are white text on a black background. Not only do I find these visually unappealing, they are actually counter productive given how poorly dark themes read in sunlight.
Can these be changed to black text on a white background (or light background) instead? Does anyone have a theme they can share to accomplish this? Thank you.
OK, I guess this is not possible. It's a shame because I find Android's list based menus awfully plain and unaesthetic. White text on a black background with little visual art...it really looks like a plain vanilla terminal of yesteryear. While I love Android's openness, customization, and tweaker-friendly platform, it really needs a major overhaul in terms of looks and user friendliness. In short, the GUI needs some polish and consistency.
It would appear that Android has built-in "themes" for apps to use. If none is specified, then the dark or black theme is used. I wonder if there is a way to force apps to use the "light" theme even if specified otherwise. Perhaps a custom ROM could be created to always use the light theme.
http://www.anddev.org/tutorial_ui_themes-t4367.html
i know this thread is old enogh, but i'm searching for a answer to this question too.
Same here, I´m looking for a solution to this problem
For me is near impossible to read white letters on black background, and i have a new ZTE Blade that can´t use because this
If someone have a solution, please !!!
Thanks!
Recently this has been bugging me as well. I wish there was a very simple way to perhaps tweak the framework and systemui so that black on white can become a reality...
This is totally feasible. You would have to do a bunch of XML edits in your framework-res.apk and declare everything correctly.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Changing the theme style in styles.xml should work I guess... if I have little to do I can take a look
Sent from my Hero using XDA App
Okay, I've done it, just gotta see if I've caused any bugs and write a how to
Edit: Bah, it's hard, the whole system and lots of apps are based on how it is now, changing it causes lots of trouble. Don't know if I'll make it :/
Btw, I did it in my cm7 theme. You can see it in my signature
Sent from my Hero using XDA
AWESOME. There are some issues though, such as black text on dark backgrounds in the music app, which I'm guessing would take more than some xml editing to fix. But other than that it's GREAT!
EnMod said:
AWESOME. There are some issues though, such as black text on dark backgrounds in the music app, which I'm guessing would take more than some xml editing to fix. But other than that it's GREAT!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks I have fixed most of these issues I think, but one of the issues was kind of tricky, cause when I fix them, I create others :/ and I don't have the stock music app installed atm, I will install it and see the issue myeself
Habarug said:
Thanks I have fixed most of these issues I think, but one of the issues was kind of tricky, cause when I fix them, I create others :/ and I don't have the stock music app installed atm, I will install it and see the issue myeself
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't see that theme anymore in your signature. Would it be possible for you to share it? I'm still in search of a way to get Android to be a bit lighter (outside of going with MIUI), which I find far more visually appealing.
I am using the GalaxyS theme with Vegan 5.1 right now and for the most part I really like it, problem is the status icons are horrible. I tried pulling the green icons out of the GreenV2 theme and using ninjamorph to combine them with the GS theme. (I would just flash the GreenV2 theme, but I can't stand all the other green stuff in it) Anyway, whenever I push the framework back in with NM, I go into a bootloop.
Can anyone with experience with this stuff find it in their hearts to combine these two themes and create a flashable zip? All I want are the status icons and I can provide all the files needed since they don;t seem to be readily available on the forum anymore.
Next to last post here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=889670&page=2
Thanks GTO777!
Considering how popular PowerAMP is and how long people have went without customization for that program, I find it really strange that a version that supports custom widgets (and anything else that uses the PowerAMP API) has been out for weeks, but I have not seen any custom widgets.
Did I miss anything?
Good question. I've been wondering the same thing and I've searched every other day, no such luck.
Seems like a very popular app, surely some capable people greatly dislike the blue glow or gradients as much as I do... yet cannot deny the efficacy of the app itself!
Valsung said:
Good question. I've been wondering the same thing and I've searched every other day, no such luck.
Seems like a very popular app, surely some capable people greatly dislike the blue glow or gradients as much as I do... yet cannot deny the efficacy of the app itself!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm guessing because it just came out and maybe he hasn't released anything to any developers to help with making skins. You can already download the skins widget for it to get transparent.
Bumping this for more replies.
I tried to edit the apk for personal skinning a while back and for some reason could never get the recompiled apk to install. Every time I tried I would get something like "Package not properly signed". Use several different compiling and signing tools always with the same result. So I abandoned that idea and like you, waited for someone to do it for me.
Well, I was able to quickly modify the PowerAmp Widget Skin pack a little bit. I'm not experienced "theming" much of anything so I wasn't sure how to modify the font color.
I modified the background image of the widgets (4x1 and 4x2) to a half transparent black. I also changed the colors of the buttons to white.
If anyone can give me any tips as to which xml files I should edit for the font color, that would be most helpful! I can't try anything right now since I'm at work.
I used ZipSigner 2 to sign the apk, so it should hopefully be installable like normal from a file manager. I'm on a Droid X if it helps for reference.
I'd love a transparent widget and white characters to match the green wallpaper,...
I'll try to see how u did to change the app background...
During the last days, i tried to create a general 'light framework' which changes color from white on black to black on white (like in MIUI or IOS) in System Settings and all Apps which use the standard framework. By 'general' i mean, that the idea is, that this framework could be used in themes or standalone. Anyway, couldn't get it to work until now. As templates i tried to use files from this ROM: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1228922
Don't get me wrong, i don't want to have an IOS framework, but a general template for a black on white layout.
I know that this question has been asked before, but obviously there is no solution yet. But maybe there's a new chance with the files from the ROM mentioned above.
Any ideas from a more experienced themer than me ?
thanx, lagloose
i am not sure if this means anything to you but there is something like that
http://www.anddev.org/tutorial_ui_themes-t4367.html
and i am really bored from white on black menus, looking for black on white other than miui.
Hello,
I tried to find Dark/Black themes for Z3 Compact which could theme settings, calendar, contacts and a lot of other apps but without success.
I also tried some Xposed module for theming but all of them were not working
I would like something really close to the one made by @Rajeev (dark and blue) like here
Or something like eXistenZ from @niaboc79 like here
Sadly his rom is not working on our Z3 Compact
I am currently using Slimm 3.1 Rom from @Wajk
If someone could help me, i will be really greatful :laugh:
I also tried Substratum theme engine, and Layers manager but the apps doesn't start then FC ?
slutman said:
I also tried Substratum theme engine, and Layers manager but the apps doesn't start then FC ��
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should flash something about the Layers you can't directly use it AFAIK, also I don't know any other way than Layers on MM to edit the apps as you requested. Even with Layers, it is very risky, it might screw your system up, make sure to have a back-up! When it comes to eXistenZ, it is a highly customized ROM so don't compare it with stock
Substratum works for MM. I've mixed a few of the best free, cheap and quality themes I've tested. Theming quality varies and compatibility can be inconsistent. Takes some time to test. But I've done that so can share. I'll list in order of quality preference. That way you choose the priority theme's overlays when there are duplicates.
Material Glass is a free unique dark theme. Has transparency to wallpaper throughout and for pop ups. Can use all of them. Don't like it's XDA labs though. Also has two bugs if using it's Android System, volume slider hides foreground app and keyboard switcher reboots device.
Swift Black is a cheap quality pack still in active development and updating to substratum. Pretty much all of it's overlays are great except Chrome's window heading clashes. It's Systemui and Android System are standouts priority above Material Glass the latter only because of prior mentioned bugs.
InversionUI is a good free pack. Not as good as Swift Black but if preferring free can be a close replacement. For example it's play store ratings colour clashes white. Google calendar, catlog and news & weather are unique to it. Calendar status bar icons clash black, but using white icons and clock changing in gravitybox is a workaround.
Dark Material free from play store for it's unique facebook and instagram. Substratum itself only seems to black with this one.
These have YouTube which is just it's setting menu aparrently and eBay just it's notification. I think Android System overlays clash black text in Sony's messaging, I just swapped to using Google's Messenger instead.
They're actually the best combo. I tried some others but had no results or crashes. Haven't tested all as these fill everything already. Can't complain with the results!
edit: for posterity's sake using xposed mod Qs X tiles per row can help theme notifications colours. Also xposed mod LPThemer works on MM: under it's Status bar tab, enabling notification text colour can change notification button text colours.
Infy_AsiX said:
Substratum works for MM. I've mixed a few of the best free, cheap and quality themes I've tested. Theming quality varies and compatibility can be inconsistent. Takes some time to test. But I've done that so can share. I'll list in order of quality preference. That way you choose the priority theme's overlays when there are duplicates.
Material Glass is a free unique dark theme. Has transparency to wallpaper throughout and for pop ups. Can use all of them. Don't like it's XDA labs though. Also has two bugs if using it's Android System, volume slider hides foreground app and keyboard switcher reboots device.
Swift Black is a cheap quality pack still in active development and updating to substratum. Pretty much all of it's overlays are great except Chrome's window heading clashes. It's Systemui and Android System are standouts priority above Material Glass the latter only because of prior mentioned bugs.
InversionUI is a good free pack. Not as good as Swift Black but if preferring free can be a close replacement. For example it's play store ratings colour clashes white. Google calendar, catlog and news & weather are unique to it. Calendar status bar icons clash black, but using white icons and clock changing in gravitybox is a workaround.
Dark Material free from play store for it's unique facebook and instagram. Substratum itself only seems to black with this one.
These have YouTube which is just it's setting menu aparrently and eBay just it's notification. I think Android System overlays clash black text in Sony's messaging, I just swapped to using Google's Messenger instead.
They're actually the best combo. I tried some others but had no results or crashes. Haven't tested all as these fill everything already. Can't complain with the results!
edit: for posterity's sake using xposed mod Qs X tiles per row can help theme notifications colours. Also xposed mod LPThemer works on MM: under it's Status bar tab, enabling notification text colour can change notification button text colours.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for sharing your knowledge! That is really helpful. I'd like to ask for more info, e.g. you meant those themes↓?
• Swift Black (Play Store says Z3C is not compatible )
• InversionUI
• Dark Material (Play Store says Z3C is not compatible )
Have you tried AospUI Black od AospUI Dark?
-Vinne2- said:
Thank you for sharing your knowledge! That is really helpful. I'd like to ask for more info, e.g. you meant those themes↓?
• Swift Black (Play Store says Z3C is not compatible )
• InversionUI
• Dark Material (Play Store says Z3C is not compatible )
Have you tried AospUI Black od AospUI Dark?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This information is a little old so some things don't function anymore. Development for Substratum has moved onto OMS and older legacy support is discontinued. Some app updates have broken overlays too. I'm using two Z3C's, one on LineageOMS 14.1 which uses a new different mixed combination of packs including the old legacy Material Glass. The old MM stock I've just stopped using an overlay when it breaks.
Yes that's Swift Black, they stopped updating legacy awhile ago. Maybe if you can purchase I can provide the original last updated v8.7 APK to use. Yes, that's InversionUI, but I don't use any of it anymore. Dark Material has the package name com.chummy.darkmaterial_layers, I don't use it anymore. I haven't tried that, I just use my old stock MM as a backup so not changing things there unless needed. I just keep my LineageOMS 14.1 updated currently.
If might help so this is how my old remaining MM is set up:
Material Glass v3.2 old 3.2 for how the theme accent is preferred white still before it was changed to grey
- Android System (Use GravityBox to set media tweaks, volume panel timeout to 1 second to help with the overlay bug. Can use Tasker with Secure settings plugin to create a Keyboard switcher to get around the crashing default selector)
Material Glass v3.4 beta One of the last betas from the github
- Tags, Trusted Face, Phone Call Management, Google Play Store, GravityBox, eBay, Translate, Google, GBoard, Package Installer, Kernel Adiutor, Instagram (old version)
Material Glass v3.4 I think these were just apps I installed later so I used the latest and last release
- Messages, Android System WebView
Swift Black
Calendar, Google Text-to-speech, Hangouts, Keep, MX Player, Media Storage, Messenger Lite, News & Weather, Phone Services, Skype, VLC, Viber
I kept a note of when an overlay stopped working in case I needed to reinstall after a clean ROM. I had DocumentsUI and Gmail removed from Material Glass. I had Docs, Drive, Google Play Store, Phone Call Management, Translate and eBay removed from Swift Black. Of course I haven't tested everything and theres apps I don't have too, but that's what works for me and can be used as a guide.
Infy_AsiX said:
This information is a little old so some thi…
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you very much!
slutman said:
Hello,
I tried to find Dark/Black themes for Z3 Compact which could theme settings, calendar, contacts and a lot of other apps but without success.
I also tried some Xposed module for theming but all of them were not working
I would like something really close to the one made by @Rajeev (dark and blue) like here
Or something like eXistenZ from @niaboc79 like here
Sadly his rom is not working on our Z3 Compact
I am currently using Slimm 3.1 Rom from @Wajk
If someone could help me, i will be really greatful :laugh:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't know if you're still looking, but I made one for eXistenZ MM - https://mega.nz/#!NptDRSgC!QOJHyx08wCMwWfnJpRYKRFgFQd9sRslSw8snfCWa5hg
Make a backup, flash in recovery.
Also, here's dark contacts, install as normal apk.
levone1 said:
Don't know if you're still looking, but I made one for eXistenZ MM - https://mega.nz/#!NptDRSgC!QOJHyx08wCMwWfnJpRYKRFgFQd9sRslSw8snfCWa5hg
Make a backup, flash in recovery.
Also, here's dark contacts, install as normal apk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a lot mate. It looks perfect but sadly I changed my phone not a long time ago ^^'
Thank you anyway ?
levone1 said:
Don't know if you're still looking, but I made one for eXistenZ MM - https://mega.nz/#!NptDRSgC!QOJHyx08wCMwWfnJpRYKRFgFQd9sRslSw8snfCWa5hg
Make a backup, flash in recovery.
Also, here's dark contacts, install as normal apk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The .zip is no longer available, do you have another copy, or a mirror?
asdf2345 said:
The .zip is no longer available, do you have another copy, or a mirror?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check these posts :
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=74391787&postcount=246
https://mega.nz/#!Rxc1Ha7K!sjaA2BODD_d4vvr8Vx8I5EJ4Dygu2cYoohqBhYgEios
Links are still good, but it's been a while, and I really don't remember anything about it. Try it out, (make a backup first)...
levone1 said:
Check these posts :
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=74391787&postcount=246
https://mega.nz/#!Rxc1Ha7K!sjaA2BODD_d4vvr8Vx8I5EJ4Dygu2cYoohqBhYgEios
Links are still good, but it's been a while, and I really don't remember anything about it. Try it out, (make a backup first)...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pls give new link for this.. I really need it
ilyas UG said:
Pls give new link for this.. I really need it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, I haven't had Z3c for over 5 years... I don't think those files exist anymore. You can use Apktool right on the phone to mod your system apps. That's mainly how I did everything.
One of my favorite phones, though. If Sony did more updates, I might still have it.
levone1 said:
Sorry, I haven't had Z3c for over 5 years... I don't think those files exist anymore. You can use Apktool right on the phone to mod your system apps. That's mainly how I did everything.
One of my favorite phones, though. If Sony did more updates, I might still have it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you teach me, how to change to black color? I am using apktool
I just want to change framework and setting app