[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket SGH-I727] m4570d0n:
I decided to go ahead and start a thread for the collection of stuff I've been playing around with....

Transparent Mms

Transparent Mms.apk with transparent bubble-style conversation. Built from the 06/24 CM9 Skyrocket Nightly (Official) which includes an option in the settings menu called "Soft Key" which allows you to choose to have the carriage return (enter key to drop to the next line) rather than the stupid smiley key.

Screenshot

To try it out yourself, I followed this guide here:

http://rootzwiki.com/topic/19845-how-to-theme-your-mms-a-step-by-step-guide/

And modified it based on the work of MrDSL with his transparent mms mod (make sure you abuse the Thanks button on this guy):

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1697429
​

Custom carrier logo in status bar

This is super easy and would be something that seems like it would be relatively easy to add as a feature to CM9/AOKP in the future:

Decompile SystemUI.apk

navigate to /res/layouts/status_bar.xml

Find the line that starts with this (for me it was line 7)

<com.android.systemui.statusbar.StatusBarIconView

Add a new line above that line and insert this:

<com.android.systemui.statusbar.phone.CarrierLabel android:textAppearance="@android:style/TextAppearance.StatusBar.Icon" android:textColor="@android:color/transparent" android:gravity="center_vertical" android:orientation="horizontal" android:background="@drawable/carrier_logo" android:layout_width="wrap_content" android:layout_height="wrap_content" android:singleLine="true" android:layout_alignParentLeft="true" />

Here's what the first 8 lines of my status_bar.xml look like after addind that line:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<com.android.systemui.statusbar.phone.PhoneStatusBarView android:background="@drawable/status_bar_background" android:focusable="true" android:descendantFocusability="afterDescendants" android:layout_width="fill_parent" android:layout_height="fill_parent"
xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
xmlns:systemui="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/com.android.systemui">
<LinearLayout android:orientation="horizontal" android:id="@id/icons" android:paddingLeft="6.0dip" android:paddingRight="6.0dip" android:layout_width="fill_parent" android:layout_height="fill_parent">
<LinearLayout android:orientation="horizontal" android:layout_width="0.0dip" android:layout_height="fill_parent" android:layout_weight="1.0">
<com.android.systemui.statusbar.phone.CarrierLabel android:textAppearance="@android:style/TextAppearance.StatusBar.Icon" android:textColor="@android:color/transparent" android:gravity="center_vertical" android:orientation="horizontal" android:background="@drawable/carrier_logo" android:layout_width="wrap_content" android:layout_height="wrap_content" android:singleLine="true" android:layout_alignParentLeft="true" />
<com.android.systemui.statusbar.StatusBarIconView android:id="@id/moreIcon" android:visibility="gone" android:layout_width="@dimen/status_bar_icon_size" android:layout_height="fill_parent" android:src="@drawable/stat_notify_more" />

Now you can just add any image you want, name it carrier_logo.png and place it in the /res/drawable-hdpi folder. (Though you probably want to confine the image size to something no larger than a WxH of around 100x45 pixels)

That's it.

Note: if you are using Apk Manager, when you recompile it and it asks if this is a system app and if you want to keep the files from the original apk that you did not modify, say yes to both. Then in the "keep" folder that is generated, delete "status_bar.xml" and make sure you also delete "resources.arsc"

If you want to change the carrier logo image later, you can just open up the SystemUI.apk with 7zip and replace the image with a different one (making sure to keep the same name). No further decompiling/recompiling is necessary. If you have a root file browser, you can just replace the image from your phone directly.

You can find copious amounts of carrier logo images here:

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1218876

Screenshot:

​

Status Bar Signal/Data Traffic Mod

This mod was also taken from a thread in RootzWiki. Read that thread for additional details:

http://rootzwiki.com/topic/19083-modzip-themer-status-bar-signaldata-traffic-mods-aokp-b40/

However, the mods posted there that were supposedly for AOKP b39/b40 would not work on my phone. Here is what I did that worked (using SystemUI from Chimera b2 ROM).

Decompile SystemUI.apk

Navigate to /res/layout/signal_cluster_view.xml

This is what mine looked like prior to making any changes:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<com.android.systemui.statusbar.SignalClusterView android:orientation="horizontal" android:layout_width="wrap_content" android:layout_height="fill_parent"
xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
<FrameLayout android:id="@id/wifi_combo" android:layout_width="wrap_content" android:layout_height="fill_parent" android:layout_marginRight="-6.0dip">
<ImageView android:layout_gravity="center" android:id="@id/wifi_signal" android:layout_width="wrap_content" android:layout_height="wrap_content" />
<ImageView android:layout_gravity="bottom|center" android:id="@id/wifi_inout" android:layout_width="wrap_content" android:layout_height="wrap_content" />
<com.android.systemui.statusbar.policy.WifiText android:id="@id/wifi_signal_text" android:paddingRight="8.0dip" android:layout_width="wrap_content" android:layout_height="fill_parent" />
</FrameLayout>
<FrameLayout android:id="@id/mobile_combo" android:layout_width="wrap_content" android:layout_height="fill_parent">
<ImageView android:layout_gravity="center" android:id="@id/mobile_signal" android:layout_width="wrap_content" android:layout_height="wrap_content" />
<ImageView android:id="@id/mobile_type" android:layout_width="wrap_content" android:layout_height="wrap_content" />
<ImageView android:layout_gravity="bottom|right|center" android:id="@id/mobile_inout" android:layout_width="wrap_content" android:layout_height="wrap_content" />
<com.android.systemui.statusbar.policy.SignalText android:id="@id/signal_text" android:paddingLeft="8.0dip" android:layout_width="wrap_content" android:layout_height="fill_parent" />
</FrameLayout>
</com.android.systemui.statusbar.SignalClusterView>

This is what the modified signal_cluster_view.xml looks like:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<com.android.systemui.statusbar.SignalClusterView android:orientation="horizontal" android:layout_width="wrap_content" android:layout_height="fill_parent"
xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
<FrameLayout android:id="@id/wifi_combo" android:layout_width="wrap_content" android:layout_height="fill_parent" android:layout_marginRight="-6.0dip">
<ImageView android:layout_gravity="center" android:id="@id/wifi_signal" android:layout_width="wrap_content" android:layout_height="wrap_content" />
<ImageView android:layout_gravity="bottom|center" android:id="@id/wifi_inout" android:layout_width="wrap_content" android:layout_height="wrap_content" />
<com.android.systemui.statusbar.policy.WifiText android:id="@id/wifi_signal_text" android:paddingRight="8.0dip" android:layout_width="wrap_content" android:layout_height="fill_parent" />
</FrameLayout>
<LinearLayout android:layout_width="wrap_content" android:layout_height="wrap_content">
<FrameLayout android:id="@id/mobile_combo" android:layout_width="wrap_content" android:layout_height="fill_parent">
<ImageView android:id="@id/mobile_type" android:layout_width="wrap_content" android:layout_height="wrap_content" />
<ImageView android:layout_gravity="bottom|right|center" android:id="@id/mobile_inout" android:layout_width="wrap_content" android:layout_height="wrap_content" />
</FrameLayout>
<FrameLayout android:layout_width="wrap_content" android:layout_height="wrap_content">
<ImageView android:layout_gravity="center" android:id="@id/mobile_signal" android:layout_width="wrap_content" android:layout_height="wrap_content" />
<com.android.systemui.statusbar.policy.SignalText android:id="@id/signal_text" android:paddingLeft="8.0dip" android:layout_width="wrap_content" android:layout_height="fill_parent" />
</FrameLayout>
</LinearLayout>
</com.android.systemui.statusbar.SignalClusterView>

This mod then allowed me to modify the signal/traffic images to use the ribbon images you see in the screenshots above.

I've created a CWM flashable zip that has the SytemUI with the carrier logo mod and the data signal mod with the signal ribbons that you see above. Additionally it has the digital circle battery you see above as well as a barely modified framework-res.apk. The only thing I changed in the framework was the default_wallpaper.png and the background_holo_dark.png found in /res/drawable-nodpi. The second image is the default background used by many apps (ROM Manager, Root Explorer, Titanium Backup, etc) so now all the apps that use this image as the background will have the black hardwood wallpaper as a background. Example:

I can't attach the zip to the OP, but I attached the SystemUI.apk by itself that's in the zip.​

Additional Note

: Since these mods involve xml edits to the layouts, the mods cannot be used in a Theme Chooser theme (currently does not support layout edits) which is why I have made them separately here.

Also, I feel like it should not need to be said but just in case,

This is for CM9/AOKP based ROMs on the Skyrocket only. Do not use this if you are on stock, Sky ICS, or any other tw-based ROM.​

Transparent Contacts.apk

I decided to learn how to compile from source and made a transparent Contacts.apk

It should work okay with a light home screen wallpaper, but was made for a darker wallpaper. The only thing that is bugging me that I have yet to figure how where to modify, is whenever you click on a contact or a group to bring up the detail view, the name at the top is in black text and difficult to read with a dark wallpaper. But, that's relatively minor and I'm happy with it so far so I'll go ahead and post it up.

NOTE

: This was made from the latest AOKP repo (AOKP b40) for the Skyrocket and I cannot guarantee that it will work on other ROMs/devices.

You should be doing this anyways, but make sure to back up the Contacts.apk before pushing this one.

For this I had to build AOKP from source and used a vendor overlay to make the changes. Here's my overlay. The rest was just pulled straight from the AOKP repo:

https://github.com/M4570D0N/vendor_m4570d0n/tree/ics​

Updates

Update 07/07/12

:

Added Transparent Contacts.apk

Update 07/15/12

:

Compiled a new Transparent Contacts.apk based on AOKP milestone 6

Fixed the dark text for contacts names and group names in the detail view of the People App

Fixed the grey opaque search bar in the People app so that it is now transparent as well.

*Note* This is intended for a darker background. You may not be able to read the text in some parts of the app very well with a white or very light wallpaper.

Update 07/20/12

:

*Updated the Transparent Contacts.apk

*Reverted to the stock launcher/widget icons for Phone/People app

*Fixed the action bar tab in the People app so the focused tab is now a blue underline instead of white to match the action bar tabs in the Phone app.

*Made a few minor changes that I'm guessing most people problably won't notice. lol

*I made the contact shortcut widget translucent. I never use it so I forgot about that. I tested it out though and for some reason there is a giant half-white/half-blue star on top of the contact photo. I have no idea what that's about. I'm guessing it's been there on my previous builds as well but I never messed with the widget until now.

Actually, I found a thread or two mentioning this bug awhile back but I just noticed this while making this post so I haven't had a chance fully read up on it yet. I did find the source of the image though. I went into my framework-res.apk and it's either the rate_star_med_half_holo_dark.png or the rate_star_big_half_holo_dark.png. What's weird though is that in the GNex thread I saw mentioning it, it wasn't a half blue star but a solid blue star, but definitely the same issue and of that same group of stars in framework-res.

I thought I was going to be able to release an update to the theme today but I've had some setbacks and will have to see if I can get it ironed out this weekend. In the mean time, I made a stand alone theme for Apollo. I can't get Apollo to play well with the theme chooser, and even with this theme, the app has a bug, such that I can't make the action bar transparent (even if I have the background set to an image) so for the moment the tabs are just black until the Apollo dev people get it fixed.

Update 07/26/12

:

- I forgot to add a couple images in the last update to the Contacts.apk so this is a very minor update to the Transparent Contacts that includes those images. Notably, the sms icon on the contact detail view and quickcontact view was dark grey and difficult to see w/ a dark wallpaper. Same with the up/down arrows and the "X" next to the text fields on the contact editor view

- Updated Theme Chooser Theme (post #2)

Update-2 07/26/12

:

- made an xhdpi version that was confirmed to work on the Galaxy Note by MrDSL

Update 07/30/12

:

- Made a new version of the transparent Mms.apk for CM9/AOKP using a new base Mms.apk w/ a few minor improvements.

- Made a transparent Mms.apk for JB/CM10 for hdpi and xhdpi. (includes emoji, soft keyboard picker, split mms, sms to mms)

Update 08/05/12

Added CM10 transparent Contacts.apk (hdpi)

Update 08/07/12

- Found a bug in the transparent contacts for CM10 (white background & text for contact detail view in landscape orientation). It has been fixed and a new d/l is up.

-Also added an xhdpi version of the CM10 transparent Contacts

Update 09/17/2012

:

- new version of the transparent MMS for CM10, which includes support for quick reply and support for full theming via theme chooser
​

Downloads

:

SystemUI w/ Data/Signal mod and Carrier logo mod (06/27)

:

http://d-h.st/4r2

Dark Minimal Apollo Theme

(07/20):

http://d-h.st/LOn

AOKP/CM9 Transparent Mms.apk (hdpi)

(07/29):

http://d-h.st/DSg

AOKP/CM9 Transparent Mms.apk (xhdpi)

(07/29):

http://d-h.st/jVE

AOKP Milestone 6 Transparent Contacts (v3)

(07/26):

http://d-h.st/ntR

AOKP Milestone 6 Transparent Contacts (xhdpi)

(07/26):

http://d-h.st/jIl

CM10 Transparent Mms.apk (hdpi)

(09/17):

http://d-h.st/yBj

CM10 Transparent Mms.apk (xhdpi)

(07/30):

http://d-h.st/RXv

CM10 Transparent Contacts.apk (hdpi)

(08/05):

http://d-h.st/x22

CM10 Transparent Contacts.apk (xhdpi)

(08/05):

http://d-h.st/ae9

All previous downloads can be found here

:

http://d-h.st/users/m4570d0n
​

more to come later....