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When Will Themes Make a Difference?

I've had this question on my mind for a long time, and I figured I'd finally post it on here in hopes of getting a few constructive answers from the people who are taking the first cracks at altering Android's GUI.

First, I applaud all efforts to skin Android. From what I've read, it's been an uphill battle done mostly by groping around in the dark. I think it sucks that Google isn't being more forthcoming in working with developers on this front.

My question is: When do you think coders will start developing skins on the level of, say, HTC's TouchFLO 3D?

Is it possible for a single coder? And if it isn't, what are your plans to team up with other developers (and for Google's sake, a couple of graphic design majors) to create something truly innovative, cohesive, and unique?

If the mood of my question seems a little pressing, it's because it is. But like an impatient child screaming for dinner, I really just don't know how long it takes to do something like this. That's kinda what I'd like to know with your comments.
 
Hey team, first post here - I've been posting over at XDA.

There's a lot of themes out there and some of the home apps have been great for theming too.

Thought I might point you in the direction of Sweeter Home which i started using last week. The dev is really responsive to feedback and it's quite a unique approach to skinning, if a little clunky at the moment.

Anyway to show you what I mean, here's a finished skin, Dark Rising, I made... as well as a Matrix theme which started out as a joke and now I've learned a bit more about Sweeter has open a few design doors up for me...

DR10_overview.png


MX_preview1.jpg


MX4.png


In the Morpheus panels the images move with the icons, ie: on top on the wallpaper - that effect that looks so cool with the icons moving at a different rate looks even better with images doing the same thing.

And the one with the gun man, the apps scroll nice and zippy behind the gun/arms...

Won't be long before themes start getting pretty advanced I reckon. Sweeter Home is just one example of where this could go.
 
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What is Sweeter's appoach to widgits ?

I'm note sure exactly how the coding works. All trays "seem" like widgets to me. But I believe they're locked down in the app - you can list all your contacts, or all SMS's received in a list that you're able to srcoll through right on the desktop - that seems like a widget to me, but it might not be implemented that way. Still no google search widget integration and we have requests in for a clock and date widget although I'm guessing they're low-ish priority at the moment while the app is still being developed...

More: Sweeter Home - Roadmap - sweeterhome.com
 
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