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Looks like it may make it pretty easy to port themes from any other phone with the same resolution as ours. I just stumbled on this tonight. I am on a Mac and don't have Windows running on my machine, and I'm not sure if they got a Linux version up and running. I have to get back to work so I don't have time to read into it or mess with it. I just wanted to post a link to it so you guys could check it out. Please post any results that you have with this and be sure to thank OP who created the script!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=737526
I'm very curious to this as well, anyone? I've never worked with adb
It works very well at dragging over the png files for you from one apk file to another. It doesn't get any of the xml or smali stuff that you need to go with it, though. It's got it's place, and I use it when I'm still being lazy to move stuff myself, but I'm finding things like Beyond Compare to be more useful in comparing what is in one file to another. This way you can trash what you don't need and then drag everything else over yourself.
Apktool and apk manager are two other tools that I use in theming to decompile the apk's so you can get in them and do your work and the it recompiles them for you and lets you know if there is a problem.
I've got more info, and when I have more time I can drop it on here. Also, I know that nitsuj17 just started a thread in the Fascinate forum somewhere that is going to have all of the info he has on theming. Most of what I have came from him. I've just had to make changes because of the differences between the two phones.
Hey guys, two fairly general questions related to my phone which I haven't been able to find an answer to anywhere else, hopefully someone here can fill me in
1. Does anybody know how to change an icon within an APK file? I'm trying to change Google Search's icon because it offends my eyes. I put my new png file into the APK with WinRAR, attempted to install it and it tells me "installation failed". Am I missing a step?
2. I'm using an Incredible S Sense-based Android build on my HD2 but haven't been able to find an answer to this one on the HD2 forum. I'm trying to turn off the hardware key backlights permanently because they annoy me and I don't need them - I've tried apps like AdjBrightness, which turn the backlights off until the buttons are pressed again. Does anybody know of a persistent method to disable button backlights in Android 2.2?
Thanks, if anyone could help, you'll get my thanks, these have been bugging me for a while
No answer for question 2 with me....
As for question 1:
in order to install a system app, it my be uninstalled first.
i.e. uninstall your current app, then install your new one.
But yes, just modifying the images in the res folder will change the icon, just search for the icon image and replace it (but with the same name as the original)
CodeNameUnknown1 said:
No answer for question 2 with me....
As for question 1:
in order to install a system app, it my be uninstalled first.
i.e. uninstall your current app, then install your new one.
But yes, just modifying the images in the res folder will change the icon, just search for the icon image and replace it (but with the same name as the original)
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He will also need to sign the apk before installing since he isn't pushing it, doesn't he?
I believe that's my problem - I already did uninstall google search, but my modified apk still won't install and I haven't learned how to abd push yet. Is signing an apk something I could do?
Thanks guys
zukа said:
I believe that's my problem - I already did uninstall google search, but my modified apk still won't install and I haven't learned how to abd push yet. Is signing an apk something I could do?
Thanks guys
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Look here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=695701
You will be able to decompile the apk, modify whatever you want, then compile and sign it.
If you just modified the icon, you can also paste the apk in the folder place-apk-here-for-signing, open the script.bat, write number 16 to sign and you will have your apk signed, then install it.
Thanks guys! I'll give that a go.
Now, how do I turn off the hardware key backlights...?
Thanks a lot for both of your advice, that did the trick very well and I'm now installed with a new custom icon that's much better. I could have used BetterCut or FolderOrganizer, but that still leaves the big blue block in the app drawer, and you can't have that.
Sorry to pester, but does anybody know anything about disabling hardware button backlights in Android? I know perfection is something we're constantly chasing here at XDA, but this is the last thing I have on my to-do list before my phone is fully optimized for me.
If anybody can help me turn those button backlights off for good, I will be forever thankful. On my deathbed, I will remember your good deed. This struggle against my button backlights has gotten personal - they taunt me every time I read an ebook, every time I watch a movie. No, buttons, I don't need to see you all the time. You insist upon yourselves. For that you must be destroyed.
Ahem. Anyway, anybody have any advice?
bumpity bumpity
Hey everybody,
I recently updated to lollipop. I am on the mt7-L09 running version b324. I must say I really love everything about it. I have successfully rooted it and I am running twrp 2.8.7.0 recovery and everything is running great. The only issue is that I would love to have all apps work with the new split screen feature the way you can on a samsung device. Did anyone know of a way to get all apps working with split screen? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.
I have almost got it figured out. I just need to know how to get an apps component name. I used sqlite editor data/data/com.huawei.hwmwlauncher then to hwmultilauncher.db then to hw_mwlauncher. And the list of all the allowed apps are there. With component name and package name. I am trying to add youtube and I know the package name is com.google.android.youtube I just cant get the component name. Any help on this and I can figure out the rest and post a tutorial on it.
kxhan15 said:
I have almost got it figured out. I just need to know how to get an apps component name. I used sqlite editor data/data/com.huawei.hwmwlauncher then to hwmultilauncher.db then to hw_mwlauncher. And the list of all the allowed apps are there. With component name and package name. I am trying to add youtube and I know the package name is com.google.android.youtube I just cant get the component name. Any help on this and I can figure out the rest and post a tutorial on it.
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Check out http://developer.android.com/reference/android/content/ComponentName.html. Can you post the existing ComponentNames?
PoisonNinja said:
Check out http://developer.android.com/reference/android/content/ComponentName.html. Can you post the existing ComponentNames?
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Thank you, and yes I sure can post the existing ones. I spent all night decompiling apk's and have gotten youtube and tumblr to work with multiwindow. I have found that the component names are located in each apk's androidmanifest.xml file. The problem is that they are not all the same, and they are all in diferent spots within the manifest.
This is youtube component name com.google.android.youtube/com.google.android.youtube.app.honeycomb.Shell$HomeActivity
You notice the first part before the / is the package name of the app. After / is the package name and the activity the app is supposed to launch with. The problem I think is that not all dev's write the same way. For instance this is the Gallery app's component name com.android.gallery3d/com.huawei.gallery.app.GalleryMain
I have been able to run split screen for all apps on Mediapad X2. Maybe it can help mate 7 too(though not sure how different these devices are)
thread here : http://forum.xda-developers.com/mediapad-x2/general/emui-3-1-apps-multiscreen-t3193389
Thank guys for the support .. wish you the best of luck
bark1234 said:
I have been able to run split screen for all apps on Mediapad X2. Maybe it can help mate 7 too(though not sure how different these devices are)
thread here : http://forum.xda-developers.com/mediapad-x2/general/emui-3-1-apps-multiscreen-t3193389
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I have been able to get most apps to work. I get the component names by running logcat through adb. When I open the app the component name shows up in the log. The problem I am having now is finding the permisions and editing them so they all fully work in multiwindow
Does anyone know what file the whitelist app list is in? Some Blacklist apps are in a file called "karaokeeffect"
Oh hey guys.... I didn't see ya there. Welcome to my Theme Builder Thingy. So you're probably wondering what exactly this is. Well I'm glad you asked. But first I need to give a huge shout out to my good ol' carnt of a bloke pal @daveyannihilation for his ongoing support for making this. He didn't do anything but he was very encouraging in our group chats. so make sure if you see him around you say hello.
So what this is, is source code essentially to be able to construct a Samsung theme in Android studio. I tried the old leaked Samsung Theme tool and albeit does work, it's less than ideal and honestly it's a bit dated. Feel free to still use it because there are some advantages it has. However from what I gathered folks are using other things like apktool to make their themes and in order to do that you'd have to take someone else's base which I personally am not a fan of doing. Not to mention how cumbersome it is decompiling tons of apps, converting stuff to or from .qmg or whatever and then, recompiling and signing with a generic debug key. Too much of a pain.
Now to be clear this tool or thingy.... Yeah let's call it a #Thingy because why not. So this Thingy does not work the same way that the Samsung tool works in that you'll still need to make your own images and xmls. Because well I'm not doing it for you! But this will build your theme properly and securely. Anyone who's using an antivirus app like: lookout or whatever will get annoying notifications saying you're using "riskware" when installing a theme through other methods. That's because it isn't built properly or securely.
This will make your theme using a private signing key and should you decide to you can upload your theme directly too google play and it will pass and be just fine.
But wait.... There's more.... I've done basically all the work for you in regards to how it builds. You can literally drag and drop the contents of your res folder in this, change a few names via batch and build it and then bob's your uncle.
The key to this is to follow the instructions. I've went step by step, button for button on virtually everything you need to do to use this so if you experience an issue then chances are you didn't follow them.
You can ask for some support in here if you're truly stuck on something but you really should try to figure this out. It's really not that difficult to do, although putting this together and getting this to work was an absolute nightmare!
So. below are the instructions which are also built into the source. Please keep in mind that every file included in the source is there for a reason. You do not need to delete anything in there unless it tells you to in the instructions!
Bottom line, this is a very fast and efficient way in which to create a theme without kanging someone else's base and just changing stuff up. Again, we're building from source here so to speak so that's what I consider the right way of doing things.
Now if you don't feel this Thingy is for you that's totally fine. I will not lose sleep should you choose other methods. However there will be some who find this very handy so. I'll leave you with the instructions and then give a few shout outs to a few people who gave me a few suggestions, and let me bounce ideas off them.
@sykopompos @nicholaschum @Venom0642 for unknowingly letting me use his theme for proof of concept purposes! @bigmase23 for being > @freeza + cobs combined .
Instructions:
#Samsung theme Template Builder Thingy by Mark Bencze Theme Template for Samsung 7.0 phones Alt text
First things first. You need to use only .png and .xml format. DO NOT USE .qmg or any other extension.
Step 1: import project into android studio Step 2: allow Gradle to finish doing it's thing. You'll notice a progress bar at the bottom doing stuff. It may take a few minutes depending on your computer. Step 3: on the left side of the page close to the top you'll see a "project" tab written vertically along with the android studio icon below it. Click on that. Then just to the right and above it you will see an "Android" tab with a drop down menu. Click the menu drop down and select "Project". This may trigger gradle to do it's thing again. If it does, let it finish. Step 4: You will see "offical theme tool source" folder. click on it to expand it. This is what we're working with. Do not worry about or touch "External Libraries" Step 5: While you have "offical theme tool source" selected (highlighted) go to the edit tab at the top of the screen. Step 6: Go to find, Replace in path and search for "com.yourname.themename". Replace that with whatever you want to call it. This should be self explanitory on the naming of it. make sure in this pop up menu under scope that you have "whole project" selected and then press find. This will change 675 files give or take. you want to select "yes to all" when asked. Step 7: In the folder _app/src/main you will find you AndroidManifest.xml. Enter the name of your theme there. You do not need to use an underscore _ You can use a space if you wish.
Now this next part is very important. Failure to follow this will cause your theme to fail to work. The manifest I have provided in the _apps folder has about 60 or so asset names. So does the json.file and you'll also notice that you have the same amount of folders in this source. All three of these must match. For example: If you do not wish to use the asset "touchwiz" in your theme, you must delete that reference carefully from the AndroidManifest, json.file as well as remove the folder from the source to the source. The three things need to communicate and jive with each other and if you do not have them all in sync you will get an error during installation of the theme on your device saying in a toast message "Master Package Not Formed Properly". So if you get this, it is your fault not mine! I warned you!
Remember that if your manifest says to build the touchwiz apk and you don't have it or, you've improperly named things within that apk the theme will not build properly. That should make sense right?
Ok great that wasn't hard at all was it?
The next part is for if you want to add additional assets. If you do not with to you can skip to the "Build Part". Now let's say you have additional assets you with to add to this ie: navbar. For one always use lower case letters when adding a new asset apk to this (including the manifest). The same rule applies that we just spoke about. Add the name to your manifest and your json.file first. Then call the folder whatever it's called. ie: "navbar". do not call the folder "com.navbar" or anything like that. So what you need to do is take an existing asset folder and make a copy of the folder. for example settings folder. You'll then change the name of your folder that you made a copy of to "navbar" since that's the example we're using right now. You will notice there is a .iml file as well inside our copy. We need to change the name of that to "navbar.iml" in order to have the asset apk form properly. You can do this either inside android studio by either right clicking on the file and going to "refactor" and then rename. Or you can do this outside of android studio. You do not need to open the .iml file and edit it. You do however need to open the build.gradle file for the app and change the last part of the app name located on line 8. This will still be showing the original app name. We don't want to make a duplicate right? So make sure you adjust that. The build.gradle is really the brains of the operation in this whole program. As you can see they actually control everything and will overwrite your manifests. You do not need to touch the manifest for each asset apk either.
So now you will see a "settings.gradle" file at the bottom (directly below this readme file!!!) open this file. At the top you will see a series of asset folder names that are identical to the names of the folders already provided in here. So if you want to add a new asset you must also reference it here. Follow the structure of how this is already written to add another one in. It's as simple as writing: ie: ":appname", Just remember that at the very end there is no comma!
"Build Part" So you're ready to test your theme and just want to build it. At the top go to the "build" tab and select "build apk". This will build all your asset apks in a min or two depending on the speed of your computer. When it's done you'll see a notification telling you it was successful. You can go see for yourself by going to _app/src/main/assets and you will see your asset apks. Next you need to build the main apk. Go back to the build tab and this time select build signed apk. You will now need to either make a private signing key or use an existing one if you have one. It's not hard to make one so figure that out or google it. the first popup window shows the theme being on the _app folder. that's where it needs to be so do not select anything else or it will not make the apk. So next go through the signing key process. On the last part you will select the version you want to make. Either Release or debug. By default it will be set to Release. Keep it this way and select both check boxes for jar and apk signature under signature versions. Then hit Finish and you're all done! In about 2 seconds your theme will be made and ready to install!
I hope you find this tool useful! It was a huge pain in the ass to make this and a lot of work!
Download Theme Builder Thingy Template
May want to snag this post for future reference
But wait.... there's more...
Holy hell I can't wait to use this. Thank you you're a god
Excellent mate glad you made this tool , As you mentioned using my themes to get stuff going is great, which now this tool is gonna make my life easier in making my Samsung custom themes, Great job ???
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S8+ using XDA Labs
Congrats bro, excellent work as always!!
@markbencze
Great job bud..... finally after alot of hours.... all worthed and could be the new beginning for samsung theming world.
I won't be using this but because of your new tool I'm sure we will see even more custom themes start to pop up and for that I thank you good sir. Awesome work!
tytydraco said:
Holy hell I can't wait to use this. Thank you you're a god
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lol My wife says otherwise!!!
#ThemeThingyFTW
Lol you're an idiot Mark. No one who cares about open source should support Samsung smartphones in any way, shape or form. If you wanna do it, then you go for it. But don't bring me into this. I'd sooner buy an iPhone than one of these hunks of junk.
Meke Blackscreen OS theme! Nao!
Good job on this Bencze... I'm glad you stuck with it!
This is an awesome Thingy Mark! Great job and Thanks man
daveyannihilation said:
Lol you're an idiot Mark. No one who cares about open source should support Samsung smartphones in any way, shape or form. If you wanna do it, then you go for it. But don't bring me into this. I'd sooner buy an iPhone than one of these hunks of junk.
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Lol you had to know this was coming and know I couldn't resist! #TeamCarntOut
Jayrod76 said:
Meke Blackscreen OS theme! Nao!
Good job on this Bencze... I'm glad you stuck with it!
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Thanks big guy. Almost gave up a few times
Awesome work bro!
cbucz24 said:
Awesome work bro!
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Thanks big guy. Now we just gotta wait for ws to kang it and just change the wallpaper lol!
markbencze said:
Thanks big guy. Now we just gotta wait for ws to kang it and just change the wallpaper lol!
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hy man can i ask a favour
can u zip last samsung theme editor you use because on mine i need to download last version if i donìt download i canìt open the app..
i reg and do it all thinks in samsung developer but i'm waiting again more than 3 weeks. can u give to me last theme via pm if you can
alex393 said:
hy man can i ask a favour
can u zip last samsung theme editor you use because on mine i need to download last version if i donìt download i canìt open the app..
i reg and do it all thinks in samsung developer but i'm waiting again more than 3 weeks. can u give to me last theme via pm if you can
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Dude I don't have a clue what you're saying. Please restate what you're asking me and try to be more coherent and specific on what you're saying. I have no problem offering support but you lost me at hy
I might use this soon. Let me just put this out here, your post, the op, is actually amazing. I love the way your wrote it. You are great.
I have an open souce app I wanted modded. I have the original apk and 2 versions that have already been modded, I just need a small tweak. Can anyone steer me in the right direction? I'm able to compensate someone for their time.
Casper1971 said:
I have an open souce app I wanted modded. I have the original apk and 2 versions that have already been modded, I just need a small tweak. Can anyone steer me in the right direction? I'm able to compensate someone for their time.
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You're lucky, I'm in holiday, please tell me more. What's the "tweak". And maybe I can teach you to do it yourself, that way you won't have to compensate anyone for their time except you .
I need to know: what's the name of the apk (and what type of app it is), what do you want to modify in it (which component), and how does this app works (a quick sum up is enough).
So here are the basics. It's an otg app that uses a default download destination called "download" when tranferring files from the phone/host to the usb device. The 2 modded versions changed that destination to "download 3" and "download 4". I just want to go back one level and have it write to the root directory. I have all 3 apk files. I could probably do it myself with a little guidance, but I don't have a computer yet. (someone broke into my apartment), but I am trying to still put mysic on my mp3 player and this app seems to be the only one that works. Thank you for any help.
Did I need to give you more info.? The app is Anda Studio OTG Disk Explorer Pro 3.02. I have the apk for all 3 that I can send you, unless there is an app that lets me decompile the apks, then I CAN actually do it myself.