[THEME] GALAXY S VIBRANT COLLABORATION "METRO" by Quest

 

***\ I am going to start this off by first saying that at least 90% of the elements of this theme were originally created by someone else. More than likely a highly skilled designer or developer. I am not posting this for any credit other than a thanks for the months of picking, choosing, creatively using things in place of other things:), swapping and trial and error, or maybe a "Hey that dude has good taste in mixing and matching". I made this theme for myself and although I know tastes very, I think these parts fit nicely on the Galaxy S and really show off the SuperAMOLED screen. I have also tried to accentuate Touch-Wiz rather than demolish it. That shows in my notification bar in sticking with the blue/black. I have added a bit of gray to the mix also. I'll try to reference all the great themes I have used but if I forgot someone please let me know so I can give credit where credit is due. Enjoy./***

  What's Included:

 Metamorph themes for-

  Settings.apk -changes icons to high-res color glossy.

  MediaProvider.apk -changes the media scanner running icon only.

  Browser.apk -makes address bar glossy black as well as a couple other mods.

  Phone.apk -color matches touch-wiz now with some green swapped for blue

  framework-res.apk -mish-mash of many different drawables.

 twframework-res.apk some new drawables and adds blue droid to pulldown, carbon-look and glossy
quick panel icons.

 What's Missing: You may notice my desktop icons match well but they are NOT a part of this theme, they are from an ADW theme called Theme for Sense by Johnny Bueno. It's a paid app, well worth the buck fifty and super nice, the launcher is more than likely your most used app and you have to look at it constantly so why be stingy on it's looks right? highly recommended.

  What you need:


1) A Galaxy S Phone
  (this is done on the  Vibrant, I don't see why it shouldn't work on the others but I have not tried it. Always make a backup in case it doesn't play nicely) I've done this theme on all the froyo ROMS from Eugene, TW and Master.

2) [APP] METAMORPH this is an application made by one of the great devs at XDA developers named Stericson. It actually replaces the drawables and/or XML files within the framework or other system applications without creating a "skin" or overlay that would otherwise slow the system down as other theming methods do. I'll explain how to do this briefly but here is a link to everything you need to know about this method: Vibrant Morph Thread.

3) ROOT ACCESS This one is easy. If you don't know what this means, you don't have root access. I'm not going to go into the pro's and con's of rooting your phone. If you want complete administrative privileges on a device that you own, and are willing to accept the consequences of making bad administrative decisions go for it. It's easy but I won't tell you how as that is not the purpose of this thread. Just Google it.

Ok now that the prerequisites are defined, I'll add one caveat: This theme applies to different parts of the phone each one you apply individually. If your not using a custom ROM that has a DeODEXed system/app the Browser.apk and Settings.apk may not apply properly. So if you're not using a custom ROM,be forewarned that the browser and settings might not work. Worse case scenario you might have to do Nandroid restore.

Instructions:


Okay let's get on to the meat of it. First download the Morph from my Dropbox Here: [THEME]Metro.zip

1) Make sure you have USB debugging turned on in Settings -we're not using ADB it just needs to be on.
2) Once you have the .zip file someplace on your phone, open Metamorph and allow it to finish running checks.
3) Next select Unzip/Extract new theme and navigate to the Metro.zip file on your sdcard.
Once you select it, it will automatically begin extracting the files. may take a few minutes.
When It's finished, you may get an error message that the theme is invalid, just ignore this as it is only due to the way the file was zipped. If this happens just reopen Metamorph and select Pick existing theme.
4) Click on the Metro.xml file it's highlighted with a giant green "M" next to it.
Select "close"
5) Now select each subTheme individually and click "Apply it" starting with "Phone.apk", when it's done do the same for "Settings.apk", then "Browser.apk" then STOP!
6) *For MediaProvider.apk make sure you have ADB handy to reboot, or you may have to pull the battery because after the theme applies, it will force close repeatedly untill you reboot the phone. I don't recommend pulling the battery if it can be avoided you could lose or corrupt data. Once phone reboots move on to step 7.
7) This next part is crucial. most problems are because this last part wasn't done right. select "twframework-res.apk" next, even though it's last on the list, and select "Apply it!". It should go without a hitch. If your phone reboots thats ok, Chances are all the drawables were applied but if not apply it a second time.
8)Reboot
9) Select "framework-res.apk", select "Apply It!, continue past the second warning. Most likely your phone will reboot this time on it's own. Sometimes this happens before all the files are updated. After phone boots up, I ALWAYS do this twice to be sure all the drawables are swapped.
10)Reboot and Enjoy.

It's many reboots but this is the best way to ensure all the themed files are written.

I want to thank with much love and respect the great devs and designers who put there heart and soul into these designs.

-Thanks hacku -droid in notification pulldown
-Big thanks to dena994 for this insane theme i used extensively :ANDRODeNa GaLaSSiA 
-Thanks to Master Ive used a bit of Axura, a georgeously themed ROM.
-Thanks to Eugene373, not so much for the couple drawables I borrowed but more for the great kernel and ROM work that he does also.
-Thanks to Team Whiskey, for the Obsidian base that this theme started on, as well as the great ROMS and kernels those guys do.

-Thanks To all the great developers that make Android such a great community.

-Quest

 

CNet's Android Atlas..WTF?

I want to start out by saying that I really enjoy CNET. Most of their articles are very informative and fun to read. I have had a love for technology since I was old enough to use a computer. CNET has covered just about every angle of technology that I've been interested in. When I saw Android Atlas Weekly podcast I was very excited. As an avid podcast listener I enjoy shows about technology and particularly android. It took about three episodes before I realized a reoccurring theme.I had to actually think about it to to figure out why I would and every episode feeling agitated or angry. What it is is Android Atlas would point out all the problems with android. Articles about android fragmentation, articles about how to fix your Android phone and comparisons to other platforms such as apples iPhone and blackberry in which Android somehow falls short of the competition. With the seeds of doubt finally sewn, I didn't want to give up on android Atlas because I like CNET. I continued to listen to android Atlas pod casts and continued to end each episode feeling angry and agitated. Call me crazy but is this what's going on is it possible that CNET is paid to make android look bad in a backhanded sort of way? If anybody happens come across this article and read it please post in the comments any thoughts on the matter. Please check out these Android Atlas podcasts and let me know if I'm crazy or if that's really what's going on.

Google App Inventor More Market Mishmash? Missing the Point.

  My first thoughts when reading about Google App Inventor went something like "Holy !@#$%! thats awesome! where is the download button?...

Then I kept reading and soon discovered that not only do I need to fill out an application for the beta, I won't be able to get Java source code from the IDE. Bummer. I'm learning how to program currently and in Java no less, which is what Android apps are programmed with primarily. This is my first programming language and I'll admit it is tough. I'm not taking any structured classes but using instead used textbooks from Amazon and tutorials and forums from the web. It's a bit chaotic but i'm getting it. This all started from my love of computers and tech and my new love for Android.

 So anyway I fill out the application and leave the site with mixed feelings. Later that week I listened to an audio webcast and although I forget which show, It hit me hard when they brought up the new App Inventor program and how it could flood the Android Market with yet more trash applications. They said it's not proper programming and could be more detrimental than helpful. By the time it ended, I was convinced that App Inventor was the Devil and I should sell my computer, move to the bible belt and pray for forgiveness.

 Fast forward a week, and there I was driving to work listening to another webcast, I remember this one cause It's one of my favorite's -This Week In Google with Leo Laporte, Gina Trapani and Jeff Jarvis, and they are discussing Google App Inventor. Leave it to Gina to always say the most simply logical things, she thought it was a great idea, would be a good tool  for teaching and coming from a developer I considered her words. The very same week they discussed it on Java Posse my absolute favorite and I'll never forget how impressed Joe was that the IDE was embedded in the browser. That's pretty flipping cool. To top it all off, one of the people on the App Inventor project team is an old friend of the some in the Java Posse. I at least had to see it myself.

 That was over a month ago, as it took this long to hear back from Google. I've been playing with the App Inventor for a few days now. I've done all the intro tutorials and a couple advanced ones. To best some it up, It's analogous to anything creative I've learned: Guitar, Drums, Drawing, Tattooing, and even my day job operating a multi-million dollar machine. It's a great companion to everything I'm doing to learn to program. Like BlueJ, I can see how objects interact with each other. The naming schemes and operations are consistent with the programming norms that I've so far been exposed to. It's not Java syntax, but nevertheless should pay off in the future.

  I think this is a great program for me. I also think it's a great tool to teach programming fundamentals. In just a few days a lot of the concepts I've been learning make a lot more sense. I'm going to continue with my other Java and Android studies though. As for this adding a bunch of crap to the Market? I doubt it. Thats not what this is for. If you get a few odd balls who want to try and sell HelloPurr for $5 It's a small price to pay for introducing people to programming.

 -Side Note. In case your curious I am currently studying:
 -Objects First with Java by Barnes and Kolling, a companion to the BlueJ IDE.
 -Headfirst Programming by Griffiths and Barry, one of the Headfirst Labs books from O'rielly Media.
 -Headfirst Java by Sierra and Bates.
 -Hello Android 3rd Edition by Ed Burnett

It's all about the experience man...totally.

     I'm addressing user experience more specifically. user experiance as it relates to android of course!
All of us fans know that Android delivers. Sure it's not some super polished, appliance, plasticky -dare i say cartoonish feel, that our fruity competition does so nicely. Android grabs the user in a different way. A good analogy would be automobiles -isn't it always? anyway, lets remember were talking about a couple of the best mobile operating systems on the planet. Apple's iOS4 could be akin to say...a Cadillac, It is defiantly a good car, plush and comfortable, really a nice ride. The engine is smooth but most of the R&D seems spent on the finishing touches. Android is more like a Ferrari F50. Sleek and Stylish. a little rougher on the road but operating one makes you grin like a teenage boy at a wet tee-shirt contest. Get it out on the open road and give it some gas and all of a sudden it screams like a banshee and takes off so fast it rips your lips off of your face. Ok maybe automobiles don't always make the best analogy. Sure you got entry level phones, tablets etc. but the bottom line is this. Android works great and provides an awesome user experience. What is lost in shiny polish is made up for in responsiveness, multi-tasking and overall usability.

  Here's the best part. with Android it doesn't have to be that way.

This is a screenshot taken from my Samsung Vibrant. Now if any of you are into theming, you most likely recognize some of the features here. I have an accurate round battery icon that displays the percent left as digits in the middle of circle. The notification bar is shiny with a couple of nice grooves. A large red Bluetooth icon that turns blue when a Bluetooth device is connected, new polished looking drawables in the TouchWiz quick menu. A blue Android in a new black metal pulldown and colored settings icons to name just a few mods. I have incorporated many different mods that all flow and match together into a complete theme. And the best part is this is NOT a "skin". A skin would suggest a layer on top of the OS needing ridiculous amounts of precious RAM to operate. Nope these mods are the actual drawables now embedded into the framework thanks to Stephan Stericson and a bunch of other brilliant folks at XDA developers.
The point is that even though android is pretty decent looking from the gate, i have to say there is something to be said for a little polish, and actually choosing that polish myself and in a few cases designing it myself. It's a much more rewarding experience. Not only does my device smoke the competition in performance it does so also in style..

If you like what you see head on over to the XDA forum and just look around. find your device, check out some of the really cool things you can do with Android.

I want to thank Stericson for making Metamorph, NinjaMorph, busybox installer and others. Junkdruggler for the tips, Mr_Tricorder for ClearBar, hockey for ibox and Androdena?, jr33(for the Swype mods not shown) and Fightspit for the battery indicator. And anyone else I may have missed.

Chicagoland's Top Power-User Android Applications

Whether your an app developer, platform developer or just a geeky power user/design hack like myself there a many applications that give you either access to your devices internals or crucial information as to the state of hardware/software at a given point in time. Here are some of them:

*Disclaimer - I'm going to assume that your savvy enough to have your phone rooted or at least know what rooted means, most of these apps require you to have root access. Also, before you run off with the proverbial pair of scissors that I'm about to give you, I have to say first that I am in no way a responsible person therefore inheritance suggests that I'm not responsible for anything you do to your stuff, or to put it plainly: It's not my fault your dumb ass didn't make a Nandroid/backup. Also, unless otherwise noted these apps are free from the market, that being said they should have a donate version with more functionality. These people work hard to give us this cool "!@#$" so a few bucks from us is a good idea.


1)ROM Manager by ClockworkMod. If your going to mess with your Android device that can in any way whatsoever be considered hacking, cracking, modding, theming, over-clocking, rooting, wining, dining, or otherwise, you had better get this app or find a custom recovery. Even if you don't plan on flashing a new ROM, this app gives you the ability to make a solid backup image of your current OS. I'm talking apps, settings the whole bit. And if your tired of holding back, home and menu while pushing volume up 3 times, spinning around in a circle then wrapping your thumb around the phone to hit power to get into recovery this app makes it easy as the push of a single button object.

2)SystemPanel App/Task Manager I originally had Quick System info pro here, and that is still a great app but this one is better. This is a double five star app all the way. It's an all in one system info and task manager with both a free "lite" version and a paid version for $2.99. for all intensive purposes the free one just about does it all, but I paid the 2.99 for for the monitoring feature. It will monitor your system over time. What sets this app apart from the rest is the UI. It's gorgeous in the geekiest fashion. Very easy to read charts and graphs put all your systems information into perfect visual context.


3). Root Explorer by Speed Software. This app costs £2.50 ($4.04) and is worth every penny. As the name implies this one requires root access. When it comes to file managers this one can't be beat. I've tried everything on the market rated above 3 stars and although there a lot of good file managers, they all lack in 2-3 areas for what i need.

4)Titanium Backup by Joel Bourquard. The best application and settings backup program period. This app also requires root access. Why get a backup application if I got Clockwork and nandroid? right?...Wrong. What if your rocking Froyo and here comes Gingerbread. Want to update and be able to re-load all your apps no problem? This app has your back. Or say you just flashed the newest Cyanogen. That's the scenerio. Not just for restoring broken stuff. But carying over all your hard earned app research and easily restoring them to your device. You can also create an update.zip so you can flash Titanium Backup from recovery restore all your apps and not even need access to the market!

5)Android Hacker's system tool by Jack Yoo This app costs $3.99 but essentially is like having 5 apps in one. It has a good deal of system info, CPU scaling selector, I/O benchmarking, Task Manager and a great Terminal Emulator that actually allows you to delete command line characters before pushing enter! you would think thats a given, but go download some emulator apps and see how many times you typo before wanting to throw your phone through the window. turns out $4 < $200-$500. go buy the app.

 6)Superuser by ChainsDD Chances are if your phone is rooted you most likely have this app. I know its not actually required to have root, and some rooting methods use a different program but it's just so good that most developers include it as the default Superuser control. This app is your gaurdian on what has access to your root internals. Now being the die hard geek that I am, I have hacked and replaced the new pirate icon with the old ninja with a machine gun, but other than that It's perfect;)

7)Metamorph by Stephen (Stericson) This app allows you to flash themes to specific areas of your device such as the notification bar, icons or even the buttons and checkboxes that make up the overall look and feel of your OS. I can spend hours messing with this one. You can find plenty of already made themes online or watch some videos on YouTube here about how to make them yourself.

I'll add more to this list as I find some and feel free to share some of your own choices.
I hope that this list is helpfull. Stay tuned to Chicagoland for some more Android goodness.

Welcome To Chicagoland Android!

You've landed in the right place!...that is if you contain a bit of intellect, can appreciate some well thought out content to either debate or relate, and carry with you a companion little green robot in whichever of the dozens of forms they come in. That's right im talking about Google's brilliant baby Android. The open source mobile software stack that is bringing wonderfull and innovative applications to people all over the world. And if you don't have an Android device yet and are a bit unsure read on. My next post describes why I advocate Android. I would love comments, feedback and debate. It stimulates the mind and when done maturely creates innovation and growth. Enter ChicagolandAndroid