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I'm working on making my own custom icons, and I had a question...

I am currently using Better Cut on my home screen to change the shortcuts to some custom icons I made. I want to replace the icons in the app drawer (or perhaps in general) as well (I am using Launcher Pro but I might not be opposed to ADW), however I can't figure out how to do that. I sorta figure the icons would be in the APK files, however when an application gets updated, I would have to replace the icon would I not?
If that's the case, I don't think it would be worth it, but if there's an easier or more doable way I'd love to hear it.
Thanks!

It's my understanding that you'll have to change the app's actual icon.
Find the apk you want to change.Convert the apk file into a zip file.
Replace the icon's png, in res folder, with your icon. Convert back into an apk. Sign apk. Reinstall.
Its not as simple as it should be, or maybe I haven't found an easier method. I'm having trouble signing the apk.
I hope this helps. Good luck.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

sp3a12uk said:
It's my understanding that you'll have to change the app's actual icon.
Find the apk you want to change.Convert the apk file into a zip file.
Replace the icon's png, in res folder, with your icon. Convert back into an apk. Sign apk. Reinstall.
Its not as simple as it should be, or maybe I haven't found an easier method. I'm having trouble signing the apk.
I hope this helps. Good luck.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
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Thanks, I thought it'd be about like that. When an app is updated, I will have to re-do the whole procedure won't I?

Yes because it replaces everything. Let me know how it goes.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

If you install eclipse and download the adw theme template you can put all your icons In there and it will change them. Or you can download an adw theme and pull it from the phone and change all the icons In there. I think the theme apk is in data/app. And then resign the apk.
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App

Help Modifying App

Hi, I have downloaded Youlu phone book replacement for my HTC Hero and I really like the app but not the widget.
I have been playing round with .apk and .png files over the last few day I decided to try and customise the widget by making the background transparent and changing the icons.
With the .png's changed and the apk zipped and signed I install the app, apply the widget and there it is my first customised widget on my home screen.
But when I try to open the app either via the widget or the app draw get a message asking me update my settings file and a link to download the original apk. And I am unable to use the app.
Any help anyone could give regarding this would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance
Cjward23
P.S. I have highlighted the custom Youlu widget on Screenshot, the badly drawn red line is not part of the widget

Anyone?
Sent from my HTC Hero using XDA App

see for APK Manager 4.9 - here you can find information about manipulating apk's

I used APK manager to modify the .png files. But the app seems to know that I have modified the .png files and won't let me open it.
Sent from my HTC Hero using XDA App

cjward23 said:
Hi, I have downloaded Youlu phone book replacement for my HTC Hero and I really like the app but not the widget.
I have been playing round with framework-res.apk over the last few day I decided to try and customise the widget by making the background transparent and changing the icons.
With the framework changed and the apk zipped and signed I install the app, apply the widget and there it is my first customised widget on my home screen.
But when I try to open the app either via the widget or the app draw get a message asking me update my settings file and a link to download the original apk. And I am unable to use the app.
Any help anyone could give regarding this would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance
Cjward23
P.S. I have highlighted the custom Youlu widget on Screenshot, the badly drawn red line is not part of the widget
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why are you modifying the framework-res.apk. Shouldn't you modify the apk of the Yolulu app?

If you really need to make the changes in framework-res, don't resign it. Never resign system apks. Just make the changes, and zip it back up.

appelflap said:
Why are you modifying the framework-res.apk. Shouldn't you modify the apk of the Yolulu app?
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Thanks for pointing out my mistake. I have modified the Youlu APK not the framework-res.apk. got framework-res on the brain at the moment.
I have corrected my mistake in the first post.
Sent from my HTC Hero using XDA App

cjward23 said:
Thanks for pointing out my mistake. I have modified the Youlu APK not the framework-res.apk. got framework-res on the brain at the moment.
I have corrected my mistake in the first post.
Sent from my HTC Hero using XDA App
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Why don't you contact the developer? Maybe he is willing to help you.

[?] About .9.pngs

so i edited all .9pngs with gimp and didnt rename files, do i have to use the draw9patch an recompile them?
an if i do where do i put black markers at or can i just draw the patch all the way around?

You don't necessarily have to use draw9patch (see link here) I personally would because it's much much easier to see how the image will stretch.
As for where you put the black boarder's, check out some youtube videos on it - search "draw9patch tutorial" or "9 pngs android" to see it in action.
Right, and bottom are for input or content, and left/top define whats stretchable. At least that's what I believe it is haha,
Currently MIA for a few weeks - Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App

You need to take the .9 off before you edit with gimp. Then use draw9 for the patch work. There is a compiler for .9's in the Droid forums that I used to use; it works really well.
Sent from my HTC Hero CDMA using XDA App

i got em all optimized now but i missed a png
what png controls OK an Cancle buttons?

DubsideWICKED said:
i got em all optimized now but i missed a png
what png controls OK an Cancle buttons?
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Click to collapse
That one is sneaky. If someone doesn't post later ; I will this afternoon. I'm headed to school in a few.
Sent from my HTC Hero CDMA using XDA App

Combining themes..

It is possible to merge elements from 1 then to that of another, simply? Or would I need to get into the apk and dig around? I
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20twins10 said:
It is possible to merge elements from 1 then to that of another, simply? Or would I need to get into the apk and dig around? I
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App
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Depends, if they're just icons/image .png's, then you can use 7zip to open the apk's and find what you want to move. If it's font colors and other items (XML edits), it may be a little more difficult than that.

20twins10 said:
It is possible to merge elements from 1 then to that of another, simply? Or would I need to get into the apk and dig around? I
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App
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if the themes are for the same rom you could do it. you will need to know what to look for so you can pick and choose.

All the themes are for cm7. Some are images, some are things like dialers and such.. if all of it can be done not having to use Linux then I'm fine with it.. ill have to crack an apk open and take a look..
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20twins10 said:
All the themes are for cm7. Some are images, some are things like dialers and such.. if all of it can be done not having to use Linux then I'm fine with it.. ill have to crack an apk open and take a look..
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App
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oh so they are cm7 theme chooser apk's. that makes it easier. if you decompile with apktool you can combined them. the xmls will show RGB color codes so you can see it more clearer. which themes where you trying to combined?

Newwavegb & mixer.. I like how newwave has tthe colored icons for the settings section, but mixer also has colored icons for all the smaller setting sections.. the dialer for newwave is a little bland, the solid black..
Is apktool Linux or windows?
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App

20twins10 said:
Newwavegb & mixer.. I like how newwave has tthe colored icons for the settings section, but mixer also has colored icons for all the smaller setting sections.. the dialer for newwave is a little bland, the solid black..
Is apktool Linux or windows?
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App
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its for both. if you want an easier way use apkmanager. its all runned by scripts. i learned how to edit with apkmanager then switched to apktool because i found it works better for me. but its up to the user. let me know if you need any help.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=695701

Editing Apps

The goal is to be able to change small things in some apps.
For example, there is an app called SnapChat which allows you to send a picture for 3 seconds and then closes the picture. In this scenario, I would like to be able to edit the .apk file to allow to stay for 4 seconds. Would this kind of this be possible?
How so?

Um....you can do this within the app.....stock....
Sent from my Eclipsed S3 running that KTOONZ Sauwce

post this in android hacking. it is not a verizon gs3 topic. you'll find more support there.

Matthenson20 said:
Um....you can do this within the app.....stock....
Sent from my Eclipsed S3 running that KTOONZ Sauwce
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I know, it was a poor example. But I'm just wondering if it would be possible to do small changes like this to apps?

Dgameman1 said:
I know, it was a poor example. But I'm just wondering if it would be possible to do small changes like this to apps?
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most apps are customizable. there are threads over in android general/hacking specifically about this topic.

OK I have looked a lot. I want to change a lot of things not just an app. I want to change my app icon color I want to change the color of my clock widget my wheat her widget the resize outline of the box also the color of the lock on the lock screen. Anybody pm me plz I am clueless at this stuff.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app

You can change alot of things in apps just by playing around with them. Using Apktool or another decompiling tool, you can change alot in the res/values folders Theres alot of stuff you can play around with in the various xml files

tihsllub said:
OK I have looked a lot. I want to change a lot of things not just an app. I want to change my app icon color I want to change the color of my clock widget my wheat her widget the resize outline of the box also the color of the lock on the lock screen. Anybody pm me plz I am clueless at this stuff.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
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use the search box at the top of the page. type in theme/mod apk's. pages of stuff will come up. here's 1 place to start- http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2069287

So you are saying I can't decompile or recompile apks on my phone? I have to use adb to push/pull and then use a program to decrypt the XML then I can change the values to what I want?
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app

tihsllub said:
So you are saying I can't decompile or recompile apks on my phone? I have to use adb to push/pull and then use a program to decrypt the XML then I can change the values to what I want?
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
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You're gonna have to adb push/pull unless you build your own ROM.
You can get apktool from here: https://code.google.com/p/android-apktool/

[email protected] OK. :/ hard drive crashed.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app

You can swap out images but you definitely can't change app settings like animations and such without the right tools and procedures.
[email protected]'$ [email protected]@XY

OK. I don't want yo change animations just yet. I want to edit app icon colors widget colors. I pretty much want to theme everything.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app

use 7zip on your computer to swap out png's. change app's name from whatever.apk to whatever.zip then move it to your computer using 7zip open the archive. don't extract or unzip. navigate to res folder and open it. find the png files you want to change and insert your png files you want. make sure they are the correct size, in the correct format (png) and are named correctly. exactly as they are in the zip file. then close the zip transfer it back to your phone and rename back to whatever.apk i do suggest doing some more research before doing this. there are a lot of threads dedicated just for this. use the search engine at the top of the page. XDA provides it for this exact reason.