I hate to sound like an idiot, but... - General Topics

Ok, here is my stupid question of the day...
What's the difference between a "skin" and a "theme"?
It seems like they do about the same basic thing, change various aspects of the colors (colours) of things on the screen.
Although I found a "skin" for the phone dialpad and a basic "theme" for the look of the today screen, I would like to create "somthing" that will affect EVERYTHING.... including the soft keyboard, all text on all screens, the top and bottom areas as well. And I want it to be a one package installation. And... I want it to look as good in landscape as it does in portrate.
I'm using a HTC 8125 with WM5
Big Thanx!

That would be a "Skin Suite" --
Skins for top & bottom bars, phone, keyboard, other apps -- also "themed" (or matching) icons for program shortcuts to complete the look
Themes for the Today screen (.tsk files)
Take a look at the Lakeridge software forums or even the Sbsh software forums (under each program's "resources" threads) for LOTS of ideas on what you can skin and some of the skin suites that have been created.
TOTALLY AWESOME!!! I think I've downloaded just about every one of them. Of course, I like some more than others, but they're all awesome -- considering I don't have an artistic cell in my body.

Related

Skinning the Today Screen or replacing it?

I have spent the last several days searching googling etc.. to no avail It boggles my mind I can not find this I must just be using the wrong keywords in my searches.
I want to skin the today screen or replace it I do not care. I have a PPC 6700 on sprint. I want the background image to be FULL screen either by getting rid of the top and bottom status bars or Skinning them. However it needs to be done.
here is a link so you can get an idea of what I am after LEFT is how my screen looks now RIGHT is how I "desire" my screen to look.
http://www.nerys.com/stuff/ppc Its the Today.jpg
Any suggestions? How would I accomplish this?
Thanks!
This is "one" of the many ways to remove the topbar:
http://oldsap.blogspot.com/2006/08/themegence-tips-from-newbie2.html
WOW thanks SO much that looks to be exactly what I want. Only problem is it SHOWS the top and bottom removed but gives NO indication at all as to how to actually do it :-( moaning SOO close. I got the theme program. Help file is useless. Website contains no clues no forums etc..
Any Ideas ? I am playing with the program right now but I see NO "obvious" means with which to accomplish this.
AHH now I understand (found another thread) this is in combination with a program VJToggle that gets rid of the start and new bars. Alas I do not want to get rid of them I just want to add transparency or skin them :-(
i found a feature of ultimate launch 1.2, find and install... then find its directory, there are two files in the folder "smart tools" dcinobar.exe (removes bottom soft keys) and toggle.exe (toggles top bar on/off)
a nice thing is the actual buttons still bring up the menus and soft keys still work, the visual element is just removed from the today screen.
i copied dcinobar to the windows directory and placed a shortcut in the start up folder.
i have since uninstalled ultimatelaunch but i have a great today screen without soft keys!
skinning today screen
hello all,
i have a similar problem, i am running a MIps pocketpc2000 device, i run pocket blinds to give the toolbars additional features that the stock toolbars dont give, my question is this on many of the demo pictures of the device the screen shows the top and bottom toolbars with the today screen overlayed with a picture in the background, i have found various today plugin's that allow a picture to be displayed but not behind, it inserts it below under the appointments and tasks, thus showing part of the picture. any suggestions as i assume it is registry related as the image (white background) must get pulled from somewhere??

Is Touch Flo3D silly junk?

I disabled touch flo 3d right away because it seems like pointless eye candy. It seems like a sloppy rough integration that is a greater impedance than an assistant. Or is it just me
Have you modified it with the tweaks to enhance the performance? All it is is really just another shell, your preference there.
its the first thing i disabled. in my opinion its pretty darn ugly...except for the weather thing, its kind of cute. but i like having all my stuff on the home screen where i can see it all at once
As you can see, you are clearly outvoted. They had the same poll over at ppcgeeks (How many are still using TouchFlo3D) and of the 320 people who participated,80% were still using it.
http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread.php?p=482651
TF3D brings an essential level of style to Windows Mobile.
Surur
Style, schmile!
If I wanted style I'd have the Jesus phone that Apple makes - with one of the great cases from Vaja.
Instead, I want to look at my screen and gain information. On my day, on the stock market, on the weather and on the number of messages I am currently blowing off.
I too liked the weather bit. I also appreciated that TF3D goes a good job at memory management. Maybe when I get the time to learn how to customize it, I'll return to TF3D.
For now, though it is back to WinMob running Pocket Breeze in full screen mode with panels for pA and Pocket Weather.
I really like it. It gives me access to what I need to see when I glance at the screen (except tasks) and finger-touch access to programs.
It does screw up maybe once a day though requiring a soft reset. I applied the mods recommended and they made my TP freeze a lot so I changed them back to default.
It's actually a great enhancement to WM. almost everything that needs to be readily accessible is "touchable" no need to get irritated and use the tip of my nail to make sure I press it just right. Even the corner X close button works almost flawlessly because the screen touch area is now flush.
I know there has been some whining but this really is the best match, easy touch interface for the simple phone stuff, and the ability to use a keyboard and a stylus for things that just aren't feasable to use efficiently with a finger on a touch screen.
I'm a very happy camper with the Fuze... well except for that ****ing GPS crap.
I'd also like to add that I think most of us really created and adapted ways to be able to not use the touchscreen for a lot of things, and with good reason considering how much I hate using a stylus to navigate a UI. So I think a ton of us bring a certain baggage about using our fingers because it just really did always suck that bad. Which thanks to HTC it really doesn't now. Plus this screen may not be like the capacitive Iphone but man it's definitely a lot smoother, the word "silky" comes to mind with how it feels compared to my Tytn.
I'm not sure which one of the 2 voting options is meant to be good
Some people are just afraid of change. As there still millions of windows 98 users out there. LMAO, people need to move with the times
Touchflo3d is indeed the most beautiful interface I've ever seen. It remained for about one month on my mobile phone. After that I still installed pocket plus (the program who puts icons dirrectly on screen and used only one tab in which I put all my programs).
Reason 1: functionality. It takes several moves in TF3D to do simple tasks. For example if I am in the home screen I cannot start with a single click an app. I have to scroll (and be quite carrefull to go in the desired position) and after that start a program etc. Imagine if in Windows you would be forced to use start, programs every time if you wanted to use an program...it'll kill you. That's why we activate programs by clicking the icon on the screen after all...it's the fastest way. All in all, to be clear, if it would be a contest between a TF3D and a Pocket Plus-type of program, everytime the pocket plus device will "click" the application faster, while in TF3D depends on where TAB are you..
Reason 2: familiarity with Windows way of activating programs. As I said before it's more simple for me to simply activate the icon on screen and not bother with some paradigm of displaying emails or SMS (and related to that, do you want to be able that someone can take a look at your info by simply scrolling to that tab? I don't)
Reason 3 -not quite a reason, but a proof that this a better interface in my opinion: the simple-icon-on-display type of interface is actually validated by the Iphone which we all know as a beautiful device at least.
I like Touchflo3d, but I missed my usual today screen setup.
The easy answer is to use secondtoday, that way I get the best of both worlds, one tap on the screen switches between them.
Gigs said:
Touchflo3d is indeed the most beautiful interface I've ever seen. It remained for about one month on my mobile phone. After that I still installed pocket plus (the program who puts icons dirrectly on screen and used only one tab in which I put all my programs).
Reason 1: functionality. It takes several moves in TF3D to do simple tasks. For example if I am in the home screen I cannot start with a single click an app. I have to scroll (and be quite carrefull to go in the desired position) and after that start a program etc. Imagine if in Windows you would be forced to use start, programs every time if you wanted to use an program...it'll kill you. That's why we activate programs by clicking the icon on the screen after all...it's the fastest way. All in all, to be clear, if it would be a contest between a TF3D and a Pocket Plus-type of program, everytime the pocket plus device will "click" the application faster, while in TF3D depends on where TAB are you..
Reason 2: familiarity with Windows way of activating programs. As I said before it's more simple for me to simply activate the icon on screen and not bother with some paradigm of displaying emails or SMS (and related to that, do you want to be able that someone can take a look at your info by simply scrolling to that tab? I don't)
Reason 3 -not quite a reason, but a proof that this a better interface in my opinion: the simple-icon-on-display type of interface is actually validated by the Iphone which we all know as a beautiful device at least.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pocket Plus sound like exactly what I need!
nuke1 said:
I'm not sure which one of the 2 voting options is meant to be good
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bunk = bad and handy gooey is handy GUI or handy Graphical User Interface
migsims said:
It's actually a great enhancement to WM. almost everything that needs to be readily accessible is "touchable" no need to get irritated and use the tip of my nail to make sure I press it just right. Even the corner X close button works almost flawlessly because the screen touch area is now flush.
I know there has been some whining but this really is the best match, easy touch interface for the simple phone stuff, and the ability to use a keyboard and a stylus for things that just aren't feasable to use efficiently with a finger on a touch screen.
I'm a very happy camper with the Fuze... well except for that ****ing GPS crap.
I'd also like to add that I think most of us really created and adapted ways to be able to not use the touchscreen for a lot of things, and with good reason considering how much I hate using a stylus to navigate a UI. So I think a ton of us bring a certain baggage about using our fingers because it just really did always suck that bad. Which thanks to HTC it really doesn't now. Plus this screen may not be like the capacitive Iphone but man it's definitely a lot smoother, the word "silky" comes to mind with how it feels compared to my Tytn.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
maybe thats why I'm having so much trouble with the touch screen. I tap something,,,, wait 5 seconds,,, tap again,,,, wait 6 seconds then give up and get out the stylus. Maybe I should re-enable touchflo to stop this problem
surur said:
As you can see, you are clearly outvoted. They had the same poll over at ppcgeeks (How many are still using TouchFlo3D) and of the 320 people who participated,80% were still using it.
http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread.php?p=482651
TF3D brings an essential level of style to Windows Mobile.
Surur
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats interesting. Thanks for the link. Maybe I should give touchflo 3D a another shot.
chetmichaels said:
its the first thing i disabled. in my opinion its pretty darn ugly...except for the weather thing, its kind of cute. but i like having all my stuff on the home screen where i can see it all at once
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Me too. Thats why I copied and pasted the links that are in folders within the program folder back up to the program folder. I like having everything in 1 spot. I wish it was alphabetized though.
kareem9nba said:
Have you modified it with the tweaks to enhance the performance? All it is is really just another shell, your preference there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Performance wasn't really the issue for me. It just seemed like pointless eye candy.
James, you'll really find SPB Pocket Plus really nice. The thing with it is to remove all the tabs, as they really only generate useless clicks to navigate where your program is, and in final squeeze in one tab only the icons you need. I have 3x5 icons(with no text and large size enabled) and if I really think some of them I don't really need - like powerpoint and so on.To give an exameple this is what I consider usefull:Comunication Manager, Resco Explorer, HTC Album, Igo, Camera, Excel, Word, Coreplayer, sms, activesync,radio, opera, 1-calc (a very nice calculator) and notes. And supplimentary I have enabled the calendar and date plugins in today screen. This is a very nice setup - eficient - and if you set a non transparent background, very nice, kinda stylish look. Now, I have seen that you complained about precision of tapping - beware that in the margins and corners of display you'll have sometimes to get out the stylus. Give that pocket plus a try.It really made my days.
kareem9nba said:
Have you modified it with the tweaks to enhance the performance? All it is is really just another shell, your preference there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Care to share those kareem?
jamespaulritter said:
I disabled touch flo 3d right away because it seems like pointless eye candy. It seems like a sloppy rough integration that is a greater impedance than an assistant. Or is it just me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Definitely NOT at all. We must be on different spectrum of the universe. I like TF3D a great deal, make navigating the phone intuitive and seamless. It is just you.
Without TF3D, my Sprint TP would just be any other run of the mill Win Mobile big screen phone. My 39 cents.
TF3D is totally kickass! I love it for everything. Althought I do wish they had the map intergration that they have in TF2D. I also want the stocks tab and am waiting for the hd manilla to be perfected . Other than that, the original htc theme, with q-style font, my personalized background, tweaks from diamond config, and stock fuze rom, it runs pretty darm fast. Only did a soft reset once and that waas because I was attempting to run a qvga application and it crashed.
Gigs said:
James, you'll really find SPB Pocket Plus really nice. The thing with it is to remove all the tabs, as they really only generate useless clicks to navigate where your program is, and in final squeeze in one tab only the icons you need. I have 3x5 icons(with no text and large size enabled) and if I really think some of them I don't really need - like powerpoint and so on.To give an exameple this is what I consider usefull:Comunication Manager, Resco Explorer, HTC Album, Igo, Camera, Excel, Word, Coreplayer, sms, activesync,radio, opera, 1-calc (a very nice calculator) and notes. And supplimentary I have enabled the calendar and date plugins in today screen. This is a very nice setup - eficient - and if you set a non transparent background, very nice, kinda stylish look. Now, I have seen that you complained about precision of tapping - beware that in the margins and corners of display you'll have sometimes to get out the stylus. Give that pocket plus a try.It really made my days.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree. Let's not turn into a bunch of iPhone cattle. They stick to their phones like cult even when plagued with numerous problems.
Get SPB mobile. It blows TFTD out of the water.
dgduris said:
Style, schmile!
If I wanted style I'd have the Jesus phone that Apple makes - with one of the great cases from Vaja.
Instead, I want to look at my screen and gain information. On my day, on the stock market, on the weather and on the number of messages I am currently blowing off.
I too liked the weather bit. I also appreciated that TF3D goes a good job at memory management. Maybe when I get the time to learn how to customize it, I'll return to TF3D.
For now, though it is back to WinMob running Pocket Breeze in full screen mode with panels for pA and Pocket Weather.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't know the Lord makes phones
Back to the subject, it's all a personal preference. I think it's great, and makes the phone a lot more fun and a little easier to use, you don't, but nobody is right or wrong on this one.
ababrekar said:
Care to share those kareem?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They are stickied in the Raphael subforum
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=413562
BTW I have been using TFL3D since when I got my TP in August. SPB Shell seems outdated now but I have it installed anyway, accessible via Second Today

classic look

Hi everyone
I have my HD2 and i have to say it is superb.
I have looked everywhere and i cannot see any mods to give the HD2 a classic look on the homescreen. i.e remove the program shorcuts from beneath the clock and enable the old program tab along the bottom.
The large screen is so superb and it is a bit too busy and hides the magnificence of a great wallpaper.
also it would be nice if everyone put in one thread all the personalisation mods that work for them from the HD as well as new ones.
I have tried several of them that used to work on my cooked HD roms but now do not on my HD2.
Thinks like tranparent clocks and i would love to have a transparent top taskbar leaving just the icons floating and bottom bar where the menu and phone shorcuts are with out having to install complete theme chager which tweak too many things.
If anyone can help that would be great
go to settings click menu click more than there is a option home screen
there u can ad your classic stuf and dissable htc sence or enable new WM 6.5 home screen. i hope u can find it
grz.
Settings> Today> Items - remove hooks with "HTC Sense"
I think he's asking for a more TouchFLO look, rather than a Sense UI.
I think you're gonna have to wait a while mate. A lot of the customisations that we thought of as normal on the HD simply aren't available yet on the HD2.
I was the same - my HD was modded like mad, but the HD2 is more like it was out of the box. It took a while, but I'm now very used to the Sense UI, and would feel lost without the functionality that I've gained from that extra clutter.
Have a look at the Sense tweaks and mods thread. That has some good stuff in it, but not as much as you're looking for, yet.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=584415
Thanks guys for taking the time to reply to me.
Xinyo i couldnt quite follow your instructions
and Soverign 35 that dosent work either.
However JohnC your are exactly right. It is the classic touch flo look that i am looking for. i would love to have the option to remove the program shorcuts from the homescreen and have the program tab back along the bottom and practically everthing transparent on the home screen.
Maybe htc could give us the option of the classic touchflo look or the htc sense look. in the next rom update. in the mean time all tweaks would be welcome
Just want the classic look on the HD2 too
I have two problems that stop me getting what I want which I ran on my TyTn II perfectly well. HTC in their infinite wisdom have removed the SMS entries from messaging and thus from the messaging today screen plugin. Secondly as they have also removed the task bar options I cannot set either get it in the top right hand corner of the screen or set the X button to close apps rather than just minimise them. Any ideas how I can re-enable these please?
I am more than happy to disable the cluttered SenseUI nonsense. Having SenseUI as an option is one thing, having it forced on you as a result of not being able to do things in the standard interface because HTC have removed them is another. The whole point of Windows Mobile is it's customisability and HTC have managed to break this!

Any apps that make EVERYTHING on the screen bigger?

Fonts, icons, any text that appears including menus and so on?
I can't see a damn thing without my glasses and I seldom have them with me.
Thanks
George
This isn't the best answer, but if you have a HD2 you can use BSB tweaks to add pinch-to-zoom to nearly any program, and it acts more like a magnifying glass than actually zooming in.
Well, I only have a short time to try the phone before I can return it so can you please tell me where to find it and how to install it so I can try it?
Thanks
George
depends on phone.
in some wm 6.5.x roms, you can touch the left uppercorner and you can tap a loop and it zooms in.
on htc touch its onyx and on hd2 it's on artemis.
and you can google on ing changefont to change font
Moved as not software release.

[Q] SPB Mobile Shell 3.7.2 customization

Hello.
I read about custom widgets, themes, layouts etc. for SPB 3.0.1 and I think it's not too hard to actually make them. I'd very much love to make personal themes, rather than using somebody else's, no matter how eye candy those are. I think you feel me.
Please can anyone spare a minute to direct me to what I need to get started? The problem is I have a Nokia 5230, so it's symbian and I'm aware that the forum is about Windows but I noticed that people know precisely what they're doing and I hope the OS doesn't matter if it's about SPB.
What exactly I want to do is make custom widgets like clock, battery, carrier etc. (more like changing their icons -- shapes, colors -- rather than their functionality/code) I would then collect them into a theme.
Now I saw you had to edit the registry, qa_layouts.dat and some xml files. But as when I say "registry" I say "Windows", I'm starting to loose my hope, plus I don't know a dim about where to start researching.
I read jgjackson's How to add a custom widget but I don't know where to get the dat and what to do with it in the first place.
It all came to me from the fact that I didn't like the default blue SPB theme and my aesthetic demon keeps yelling into my ears: "black and white", "black and white", "greys at least", "transparent widgets", - shut up!! - "B&W" lol

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