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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!
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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
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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.
No icons, no wallpaper, no images of any kind. I've seen themes that used images of text to get the aesthetic down, which is still cool, but it seems like there's room for a launcher with a super tiny footprint that also looks sweet. Of course, if I've missed it, and this already exists, I'd love to be corrected.
Icons: plain text but could be include the ascii round of characters, maybe even the full unicode set?
Folders: Like any other asciicon. You could add a smaller ascii symbol to the lower right/left hand corner to signify it was a folder not a program if you really wanted. You could create a folder with ascii art.
Wallpaper: ASCII art. Not a photo thereof, actual ASCII. Would need the ability to alter color and perhaps alpha to avoid confusion with foreground.
Widgets: text output only. Input fields would be reminiscent of a terminal input. Associated buttons would be dealt with a la asciicons, with ascii symbols.
Customizability: on par with ADW or LP.
I'd pay for that ^. Would anyone else? I realize these days with super phones, live wallpaper and 3d carosels are more sexy, but there are a lot of hacked devices running froyo that are still light on specs and plain text can have a nice sharp retro appeal. It seems like there's a potential market there for an enterprising developer.
Is there a launcher whose theme engine could produce a plain text only setup? Would the footprint be significantly reduced by such a theme?
What this lacks in popularity, it makes up for unanimity. 100% in favor. An enterprising developer could just charge me and that one other guy who likes the idea a fortune each and still turn a profit! Any takers?
One last New Year's bump.
Hi,
I'm currently learning Android programming and studying Launcher2 code. In near future I will be starting a launcher which will have a pseudo-graphic text mode (remember Turbo Pascal?) with minimalist (16x16?) icons, some simple widgets, notepad/folders (which will work like resizable and stackable windows), and a commandline mode (can be configured to mimic either DOS or Linux, but with some builtin shortcuts and functions for Android usage). It doesn't have a name yet. I will certainly announce it on xda when any usable version will be finished and tested on at least a few devices.
mhzesent said:
Hi,
I'm currently learning Android programming and studying Launcher2 code. In near future I will be starting a launcher which will have a pseudo-graphic text mode (remember Turbo Pascal?) with minimalist (16x16?) icons, some simple widgets, notepad/folders (which will work like resizable and stackable windows), and a commandline mode (can be configured to mimic either DOS or Linux, but with some builtin shortcuts and functions for Android usage). It doesn't have a name yet. I will certainly announce it on xda when any usable version will be finished and tested on at least a few devices.
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Sounds interesting, I look forward to it. Are you gearing the text mode to have a super small footprint, or is it more for nostalgia's sake?
fortunz said:
Sounds interesting, I look forward to it. Are you gearing the text mode to have a super small footprint, or is it more for nostalgia's sake?
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Mainly for nostalgia's sake and "I just want it on my phone so badly and no one did it before" sake, though I know few people who could use it. I wouldn't release the project open source but it will probably free for ever. I won't include all dos/linux commands, of course (keep it simple and not bloated), and i will simplify/shortcut some things for android usage (like, running apps from CLI just by their name, not any going-in-depths-to-system-folders stuff), though I shouldn't spoil everything already lol. Also I still have a 2.3.7 device...
I've found lightning launcher and it's the lightest weight launcher I've found. My 528mhz dinosaur actually feels snappy again after I pared down the options to it's most minimal setup. What's more there are lots of customizations available even for devices that aren't ancient.
It's not plain text, but it is light.
I've been looking for a theme like this for a long time, never found one. It would be cool to have a phone without all the aesthetics. Black screen with only text , or very small symbols.
Hi all!
I'm a big fan of Windows/Honeycomb UI. I've always wondered to boot honeycomb on my smartphone, and I'm now interested how to use ICS tablet UI in my Galaxy S.
I've tried to change dpi (teamhacksung's ICS). I used 120 value, and system tried to switch into tablet mode, but only partially - notification bar disappeared, desktop switching is tablet-like (3D) now, and some apps switched into tablet (I suppose so), but nothing more.
I'd be happy to just feel the "honeycombish" interface, even only for some fun, and you guys?
i gave this a go myself, i was messing around with the DPI settings and realised certain parts of the UI were scaling and changing. But when i set the value to low my status bar was constantly crashing. I just going to assume perhaps a few changes in the code may be needed to make the ICS tablet UI function properly on a mobile device.
Thats right. I'm interested why there is noone who started developing such mod. There was a lot of ports and fun about honeycomb on phones, and now is just a pure occasion to feel it on mobile device in all it's glory! It would be a great fun to mess with tablet UI on my I9000.
Anarkia had created one,am using it currently. Go to android development and look for aokp b33 by anarkia. Or go direct to the file location http://www.mediafire.com/?88ixkz88i...m,k7k983ibfaqky89,st7y71d1dcrjg,62on90o85pb6h
Thread url: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1579813
FYI,anarkia already stopped dev on tablet ui,but his alpha version for me is use-able.
Peace.
Fuad Malaysia
Does anyone know how (if it's possible) to have certain apps default to their Honeycomb layout on the Note? Gmail, Google Music, and Pulse are my biggest wants when comes to having the Honeycomb layout on my Note.
I think I may have figured out the answer to my own question. If I remember correctly, I doubt that the API of 2.3.x supports the "tablet" features of apps designed with Honeycomb in mind.
Maybe this will change once we get ICS though!
Well.. Netflix App is layed out like a tablet...
Some apps use two parameters to determine if to layout as tablet o as phone..
One is the resolution.. Like, I believe, Netflix. A WXGA resolution is almost always a tablet resolution. So the app will layout out as it..
The other parameter is screen pixel density... The Note comes predefined at a 320 dpi, which is a High Pixel Density (hpdi) as seen in apps. The galaxy Tab 10.1, for example has listed a 149 dpi which is either low (lpdi) or medium (mpdi).
So the apps which have a lpdi or mdpi layout defined in code (for Tablets) can show like that.
You can actually change the dpi value that apps "read" from the device by rooting it and with some apps like LCD Resolution (or changing the required file in /system)..
So while the Note has ~300dpi, apps (and Home, and app drawer, and all) will show as ~200 or whatever number you want..
I changed mine to 240dpi to take advantage of the High Resolution and read more onscreen (instead of just view a higher pixel density for icons).. and apps like Opera Mini show as a tablet...
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Of course there are just a few apps running on gingerbread and with tablet layouts.. This will all change a lot with the ICS update in March; and we will be able to view Tablet layouts for a lot more apps..
I agree the Note doesn't use the whole potential of such huge screen software wise. All apps work in phone mode not in tablet mode. Changing screen resolution helps a lot with certain apps but then it gets really hard to use the UI which gets also smaller. I wish there was a way to change screen resolution for specific apps while leaving the rest at default resolution but i already know this is technically not possible at all. I hope our Notes could reach their full potential with next official ICS update ... I'm already looking forward to flash it !
Personally I'm just hoping that ICS will bring the best of both worlds really. Just waiting for a stable release of CM9 baby!
So, a few days ago Apple announced iOS 8 and previewed some of it features. This made me look back into Android, specifically Stock Android. And with Google I/O just around the corner, here are some things that I wish Google will improve on.
The Dark, Old, and Gloomy Holo UI
When it first came out, Holo UI was the thing. Everyone who was still on Gingerbread wanted it, they installed launchers and even modded framework and stuff. Skip forward 3 years, Holo UI is still here with a little change on the icon colours. Some may love it, but it's definitely getting boring. There are rumours that the next version will be 5.0 instead of 4.5. I hope that with the 1.0 jump, there will be a major UI overhaul.
The Not So Helpful Quick Tiles
Quick Tiles, when you look at it it really seems to help make things quicker. "Oh look, the WiFi icon. If I press this, it's gonna toggle the WiFi, right?" NOPE, clicking it will bring you to the Settings section while long pressing it will toggle it instead. I don't know how long it's been like this but I've only tasted stock since 4.2.2 and it's still like this on KitKat so... Someone in the UX Department needs to be scolded.
Not only it's rather misguiding, the toggles itself doesn't offer that much. There are no tiles for NFC, Sync, Auto Rotation and there's no way to add them either. Custom ROMs and manufacturers' skins however offer all these for years and even after a few 0.1 updates, Google doesn't seem to touch this. Which makes me wonder if most people prefer it Google's way. I definitely don't.
KitKat Transparency Not Being Used
When KitKat was announced, the transparent status bar and navigation bar really wowed me. I was hoping the colours would match accordingly to which app is opened. But apparently, apps need to be updated and coded to take advantage of this. Which is fine, there are a few apps that does this but what baffles me is Google isn't one of them. Other than Google Now Launcher, everything pretty much stayed the same. How can others be motivated to do this when even Google isn't doing it.
It Lacks Appeal to the Public Eyes
Have you seen what other skinned Android can do without installing other apps? Multi-Window, Dual Capture Camera, Slow Motion Video Capture, Floating Apps, Power Saving Mode, Video Calling, and many more. What can Stock Android do? Well, normal stuff every Android smartphone can do except those above I guess. Stock Android are designed for developers and tech enthusiasts so it should be normal to stay as de-bloated as possible but don't you want some of those goodies that other skins offer?
Your Thoughts?
Yes, there are apps that can do the stuff above and Xposed Framework can help, but we're talking about pure stock Android without roots and many other stuff. Which makes me wonder, being a Nexus user, how many of you guys stay pure stock?
With competition heating up such as iOS's possible split Window Mode and Windows 8.1's Cortana, not to mention other emerging OS such as Tizen, Ubuntu Touch, Sailfish and Firefox OS; Android need to step up it's game on the next version. What do you think will make Stock Android better?
uchihakurtz said:
So, a few days ago Apple announced iOS 8 and previewed some of it features. This made me look back into Android, specifically Stock Android. And with Google I/O just around the corner, here are some things that I wish Google will improve on.
The Dark, Old, and Gloomy Holo UI
When it first came out, Holo UI was the thing. Everyone who was still on Gingerbread wanted it, they installed launchers and even modded framework and stuff. Skip forward 3 years, Holo UI is still here with a little change on the icon colours. Some may love it, but it's definitely getting boring. There are rumours that the next version will be 5.0 instead of 4.5. I hope that with the 1.0 jump, there will be a major UI overhaul.
The Not So Helpful Quick Tiles
Quick Tiles, when you look at it it really seems to help make things quicker. "Oh look, the WiFi icon. If I press this, it's gonna toggle the WiFi, right?" NOPE, clicking it will bring you to the Settings section while long pressing it will toggle it instead. I don't know how long it's been like this but I've only tasted stock since 4.2.2 and it's still like this on KitKat so... Someone in the UX Department needs to be scolded.
Not only it's rather misguiding, the toggles itself doesn't offer that much. There are no tiles for NFC, Sync, Auto Rotation and there's no way to add them either. Custom ROMs and manufacturers' skins however offer all these for years and even after a few 0.1 updates, Google doesn't seem to touch this. Which makes me wonder if most people prefer it Google's way. I definitely don't.
KitKat Transparency Not Being Used
When KitKat was announced, the transparent status bar and navigation bar really wowed me. I was hoping the colours would match accordingly to which app is opened. But apparently, apps need to be updated and coded to take advantage of this. Which is fine, there are a few apps that does this but what baffles me is Google isn't one of them. Other than Google Now Launcher, everything pretty much stayed the same. How can others be motivated to do this when even Google isn't doing it.
It Lacks Appeal to the Public Eyes
Have you seen what other skinned Android can do without installing other apps? Multi-Window, Dual Capture Camera, Slow Motion Video Capture, Floating Apps, Power Saving Mode, Video Calling, and many more. What can Stock Android do? Well, normal stuff every Android smartphone can do except those above I guess. Stock Android are designed for developers and tech enthusiasts so it should be normal to stay as de-bloated as possible but don't you want some of those goodies that other skins offer?
Your Thoughts?
Yes, there are apps that can do the stuff above and Xposed Framework can help, but we're talking about pure stock Android without roots and many other stuff. Which makes me wonder, being a Nexus user, how many of you guys stay pure stock?
With competition heating up such as iOS's possible split Window Mode and Windows 8.1's Cortana, not to mention other emerging OS such as Tizen, Ubuntu Touch, Sailfish and Firefox OS; Android need to step up it's game on the next version. What do you think will make Stock Android better?
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Custom ROMS are way ahead of this.. Stock, naaaa.. Custom roms you get features satablility and sort of completeness. It defeats stock by a long margin.
Rohit02 said:
Custom ROMS are way ahead of this.. Stock, naaaa.. Custom roms you get features satablility and sort of completeness. It defeats stock by a long margin.
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Yeah, tried stock for a week, couldn't stand it :silly: With all those bugs, it makes you wonder if people at Google actually uses stock Android or never tried custom ROMs, lol.
uchihakurtz said:
Yeah, tried stock for a week, couldn't stand it :silly: With all those bugs, it makes you wonder if people at Google actually uses stock Android or never tried custom ROMs, lol.
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LOL,Nice one.
+1 on that