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I hate to sound like an idiot, but...

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.

Hi. New here, have some questions about ThrottleLauncher & Touchflow

Hi all.
Kind of new to this all, and just fumbling my way through everything.
I have ThrottleLauncher loaded on my AT&T Tilt, along with Touchflow3d (and TFlow3D_gullum)
And after seeing the youtube clip on the .9 beta and what it can do, I am finding that I cannot get my phone to really respond in all the ways that I'm seeing in the video. Maybe Im missing some plugins or something else, but here are some questions:
First is the main toolbar at the bottom. Whenever I touch it and want to slide it around to get to specific icons, it doesnt really rotate, it just kind of slides a bit and then activates something. I'm not able to scroll around on it unless I use the directional pad on the phone. Also, is it possible to 'replace' programs that launch with the icons? For example, instead of the Phone's contacts launching, can I get it to launch my 'Good' software contact list? Or with the music player, I am using FlipSlide. Can the music icon be reset to launch Flipside instead of the windows media player?
Can those icons on the bottom be put in any specific order?
I also see in the .9 beta video, that you can flip the middle of the screen by the clock to see different clock views or appointments, etc... Not sure which version or theme that is.
I guess my biggest question is how do I get the bottom toolbar to actually scroll instead of activating things, and can that bottom bar be customized to point to other apps?
Thanks.
If I'm posting this in the wrong spot, please let me know.

editing battery, signal icons?

I am looking to replace the upper icons in WM 6.0 with custom ones, the question is are they in the rom (if so cannot edit, right?) or are they in wm somewhere?
I've been slowly going through the system and have not found them yet, any suggestions on where to start?

I have some fantabulous advice on where to start my American amigo.
FIrst, the files SHOULD be editable, they are simply image files under the \Windows directory. I'm pretty sure they all have different names and are not grouped together, but they should be easy to spot (I imagine they will end in a picture format extension IE .bmp .gif etc.
BUT, it is important to note that, like most Windows Operating Systems, the OS doesn't trust you. Therefore, the files are hidden!
If you just have the normal Explorer, I don't know if it has an "unhide system files" choice.
I personally would go download and install Total Commander, Resco Explorer etc, one of which does have that choice.
After that, search that folder and you will find them.
PS I am not rambling, I have actually seen them in there
Cheers!

Thank you for the good start.
I had a feeling they had to be in the \windows\ or \windows\system folder.
Now the auduous task of finding, editing and replacing them, I always hated this part, since my patients is minimal at best.
Thanks again for the quick tip, I'll try to post a screenshot when I get them done.

1xrtt.bmp
1xRTT_sync_PPC.bmp
1xRTT_connect_PPC.bmp
3G.bmp
3G_connect_PPC.bmp
3G_sync_PPC.bmp
battery.bmp
battery_alert.bmp
batteryCharging.bmp
batteryNone.bmp
bluetooth.bmp
callonhold.bmp
datacall.bmp
dataconnection.2bp
EDGE.bmp
EDGE_connect_PPC.bmp
EDGE_sync_PPC.bmp
EVDO.bmp
EVDO_connect_PPC.bmp
EVDO_sync_PPC.bmp
gprs.bmp
gprs_connect.bmp
gprs_sync_PPC.bmp
gprs_connectPPC.bmp
input_kboard.bmp
missedcall.bmp
MissingSIM.bmp
newemailsms.bmp
newIM.bmp
No_Signal.bmp
pen.2bp
radio_lost_signal.bmp
radio_no_service.bmp
radioconnected.bmp
radioOff.bmp
ringerOff.bmp
roaming.bmp
signal.bmp
syncherror.bmp
sysvol.bmp
voicecall.bmp
VOiceCall_icon.bmp
voicemail.bmp
volume.bmp
WiFi_datacall.bmp
WIFI_on.bmp
Wirelessonoff.2bp
NOTE: 90% of these are the logos for the top bar. One or two relate to the input logo at the bottom bar (IE Keyboard and Pen, I believe it is the Input_Kboard and Pen files). One or two others relate to the image you see when you click the sound icon in the top bar and it gives you two sound parameters to adjust, each with a logo at the top. Use your judgement and eyes to decide which is which. Most you will have seen already.
I don't know if this list is complete, I may have missed some. If you find any others in your searches, let us know and I will add them to this list. I needed to make this list anyway as I am trying to cook a ROM for Himalaya and need to know what I can remove. (For example, Himalaya's don't have EDGE or 3G, so straight away there are eight or so logos that can be removed).
Also note that other programs have access to the top bar and may add their own icons, as Messenger (which does not come installed in our roms) did. Perhaps it is only Microsoft programs that can add their own icons, who knows.
PS Good luck, look forward to the screen shots.
PPS Some of the logos I have never seen appear, but I have been in situations where they should appear (IE No SIM card, but the NoSim image never appeared). I find it interesting that while half follow a naming convention, others don't (IE 1xRTT_connect_PPC.bmp and gprs_connect.bmp without the _PPC). I wonder if this has anything to do with it not working.
(Rant over)

Were you ever able to change the battery icons? I was trying the same bmps but they do not change even with a soft reset for me, even tho the file is changed in the directory to my customed one it still remains as the default. Any tips tricks or ideas? My thought is a dll but I'm relatively new to this and am very unsure. Thanks for the tips and hope to hear you have done it or at least figured out a possible way.

I can help you to find the icons
There are include as ressource in DLL and we can replace it
The only icon I can find is the Signal Strength Icon
Any idea ? Do you replace it ?
Sebastien

How would you improve wm 6.5?

I just want to start a thread on what people genuinely think about the adjustments Microsoft© have made for the Windows Mobile 6.5 beta which was leaked everywhere.
Please dont just come on and say you hate it or just start complaining.
Just balanced and constructive suggestions. (could admins plz remove single minded complainst etc..)
Microsoft© wont ever learn anything about what people really want if there is nowhere that people can collate their ideas about improvements.
Please just state what device you have and which rom, then your point/s.
Ill start it off:
Im running wm6.5 (pdaviet rom) on my Elfin.
1) When i lock my phone, it hangs for a couple of moments before locking. Its only very short, but its still annoying. So, that could be faster.
2) When locked, It would be easier to use if you had the button at the top and have to move it down (or visa/versa) possibly an entry in the settings menu for editing the location of where you want the button to start and end to unlock?
3) I find if a problem when scrolling through the start menu and it stops after four lines of links. I think it would be much easier to remove this limit and let it scroll freely. The user can then stop it where they want.
4) seriously, make some new interface for the basics like the callendar app. They are always included, but it seems pointless making a more usable interface overall when you have to pull out the stylus the second you get into a default, simple app. Many people nowadays are simply resorting to 3rd party apps with better interfaces. (I have actually made my own design rework of the callendar app)
5) The menu given for start menu items needs to be extended to having an option for moving an item around. This should either have a selection of "move (up, right, left, down)" or you should be able to drag icons around.
6) The titanium today screen needs more options which should be customisable from the settings menu. This is what people on this forum have been doing, so i think it should be there by default with the ability to add more simply.
(This could possibly attract a little bit of attention from developers?)
7) Create a view for the contacts app where you simply scroll through a grid of the pictures associated with contacts. This would only be used by people who have pictures, but if this feature was available, it would prompt people to get pictures of the people in their phonebook.
8) Solitare - Make it look better. New backs for the cards? Better ending when a game is won - possibly more similar to the latest desktop version?
9) Make it easier to turn on/off/connect with bluetooth and wifi. I dont know too much about any other connections, but with these two, its more hastle than it should. What i currently have is an icon in my start menu. One with the bluetooth logo, the other with the wifi logo. These simply start and stop them. Also, when you connect to a bluetooth device, it would be nice if it displayed a menu of things you could continue to do, like "send (contact, file, etc)
10) Include a better way of turning the phone off or soft resetting it. Having to hold down the power button or poking the little hole with the stylus is reminiscent of having to hold down the power button on a PC when it crashes. A software alternative to this, included with windows mobile, would be well recieved.
11) some form of backup/restore solution. This would help reasure users that might be afraid of loosing their contacts or other data.
12) after going through the start menu into an program, or further into the settings and into a setting app, it would be nice to go back to the start menu upon closing the program. Its annoying when your altering all your settings and each time you go through a bunch of settings, you have to go through the start menu again to find the next lot of settings.
13) final thing: the scrolling is nice and smooth, but this added ease to scroll up and down seems to have sacrificed being able to select things easily. It takes several attempts to go into folders in the file explorer without scrolling up or down.
Positive things about 6.5:
The honeycomb menu makes the start menu easier to poke at.
The swiping between tabs in programs, and pictures in the "photos and videos" app is handy.
The enlarged menu lists are much more finger friendly (but the large buttons at the top and bottom hinder them slightly.)
Titanium is fun simply because of the three different ways of moving between tabs (its a simple thing, but it keeps me happy)
The calculator looks very nice
The little curves on the tabs is a nice change, more smooth looking
The whole UI looks better
I was a bit dubious of the start button going strait into the programs menu, but it grew on me very quickly and now i think its great.
Please add any ideas you have.
I hope Microsoft looks at this and takes the ideas people put into consideration before the official release.

I wish 6.5 have:
- A completly renewed UI that is really FINGER FRIENDLY in all aspects and in all menus, not just on the today screen...
- Totally removed the super ugly honeycomb
- A really noticeable better performance

Come on folks! give some more ideas!

Organizing Apps in folders ?

Hey people, i have been looking under tree and rock to finde some sort of way to organize Apps in to folders, in the main menu. With no luck so far.
I am i just blind and stupid or have Android made the same mistake as apple did with no way of organizing applications (albiet, appels problem is a bit bigger than Android's).
Anything to help me keep my Main Menu Organized ??
Kind Regards
Vicster!
(HTC Desire)

"main menu" being application launcher drawer/cube? Or home screen?
Stock application launcher drawer/cube doesn't have the option, and I fail to see why anyone would need such an option, given that -
1) Home screen supports folders.
2) There are plenty of apps that allow grouping applications in "folders" of some kind (virtual ones) on the home screen.
Your "main menu" is the home screen(s), not the application drawer.

How about 'Apps Organizer' from the market.
- You can set up categories
- Apps can be in multiple categories
- Assign custom or predefined icons to these
- Both widget and shortcut support to put these categories on your home screens
- Fave apps so they stick to the top in the folders
- Optionally have all folders/categories as subfolder from 1 main folder. Now that cleans up everything into a single icon.
It's a lifesaver if you use a ton of apps and want to stay organized imho.

nice apps organizer
for me it has been FolderOrganizer by Fabio Collini for quite some time...

After trying every app organizer I could find I settled on "tag home" to fix this problem. You can create tabs in the launcher, sort the apps by tab, prioritize the items in the tab sort them, have an app under multiple tabs, (easier than remembering if gmail is in internet or communication) and you can shortcut the tags onto the desktop as folders. plus, it's free in the market.
Just my 2 cents, and that's about all my advice is worth....

vicster said:
Hey people, i have been looking under tree and rock to finde some sort of way to organize Apps in to folders, in the main menu. With no luck so far.
I am i just blind and stupid or have Android made the same mistake as apple did with no way of organizing applications (albiet, appels problem is a bit bigger than Android's).
Anything to help me keep my Main Menu Organized ??
Kind Regards
Vicster!
(HTC Desire)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am also looking for an efficent solution! But i think we have to wait until apple releases its OS4.0, which will be able to organize apps.
Then suddenly there will be apps developed for android who do the same thing. Its sad, that it has to be this way...

senjin said:
How about 'Apps Organizer' from the market.
- You can set up categories
- Apps can be in multiple categories
- Assign custom or predefined icons to these
- Both widget and shortcut support to put these categories on your home screens
- Fave apps so they stick to the top in the folders
- Optionally have all folders/categories as subfolder from 1 main folder. Now that cleans up everything into a single icon.
It's a lifesaver if you use a ton of apps and want to stay organized imho.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well, that's helped with my problem... thanks

korbi said:
I am also looking for an efficent solution! But i think we have to wait until apple releases its OS4.0, which will be able to organize apps.
Then suddenly there will be apps developed for android who do the same thing. Its sad, that it has to be this way...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why would you think that? There was Advanced Launcher for 1.6 that did this, and many home alternatives that do this. It's harder for rosie because it is closed source.
PS. You can make a folder on the home screen for a long time and dump applications into it, just like the magical iPhone can't do yet.

evilkorn said:
Why would you think that? There was Advanced Launcher for 1.6 that did this, and many home alternatives that do this. It's harder for rosie because it is closed source.
PS. You can make a folder on the home screen for a long time and dump applications into it, just like the magical iPhone can't do yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Advanced Launcher doesnt work at all.
Does Rosie mean Sense? (Sorry i just got my first android device)
I didnt find a decend Homescreen replacement that has this feature. Only Tag Home Launcher, but this app slows my phone down (very noticeable!).
The Replacements, which worked fine (for example ADW Launcher or Launcher Pro), didnt have the ability to sort apps in the draer/starmenu...
If you could point me to an working replacement I would be happy!!!
But, coming from windows mobile my experience is: nothing new is developed until apple does it and then sudenly the market is flooded with apps, that do this. ( I was looking for more finger usability since Windows Mobile 2003SE ^^). Of course there are few exceptions...
But please proove me wrong!
About the ability to create folders on the homescreen: I know this ability exists! But in my opinion one big advantage of android is the widgets on the homescreen. I like my homescreen to show me the time, my appointments, the weather...
For launching purpose i would like a simple menu with all my apps (categorizeed, sorted the way i want it )
the way I see it: the iphone has no homescreen it only has a launcher. But soon this launcher will get better than the one from android (now they are equally bad^^) and that is when i think apps will be released to overcome this differnce. But it should be the other way around...
But again: please proove me wrong!
Greetz
Korbi

And here is a video showing how apple implemeted it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZcjyZ2suBw
@3:15
its low res, but i am sure there will soon be a better video...

So until I find the perfect solution I'm using the folders created for the on-screen but I'd like to be able to rename the folders. As an Android n00b is that possible?

gavinKingsley said:
So until I find the perfect solution I'm using the folders created for the on-screen but I'd like to be able to rename the folders. As an Android n00b is that possible?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To change the folder name:
-Open the folder.
-Touch and hold the bar at the top of the folder.
This should give you the "Rename folder" dialog box.
Good luck.

You my friends are the greatest!
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