1src Forums - best zlauncher skin by juni

Amy

02-09-2003, 01:19 PM

I agree that the skin is very nice, however I took a peek at the bitmaps in Constructor and noticed that the large buttons (Category, New Tab, ect.) are optimized only for use with the transparency option off (the shadows will show and look funny on anything but the included backround, expecially darker backrounds, or at least that's what I'm guessing at this point since I don't have a Tungsten to test it with). I use ZL almost entirely with transparency on, and I was under the impression most (or quite a few) other people did as well. I'm in the process of making a skin and it's taking a very long time because I want it to look good with transparency on (though it may look not quite as clean with darker backrounds). Nearly all icon sets that are out there have transparency (the ones for XP, anyway), and you have to take that away because otherwise it will end up purplish-pink on the outside, but when you take it away on anything rounded it tends to look funny, so you have to go back in with grey or another color and add some of it back.

So my point is, would you all rather have a skin that looks really great with transparency off and bad with it on, or good (rather than great) in both instances? Because if it's the former, then it will be infinitely easier, as well as much quicker to do. :)

honolulu

02-09-2003, 02:36 PM

a clie version (not official) by leldo

http://perso.wanadoo.fr/endymion/ZLT_Zoopie_SonyHR_64k.zip

Macabre Man

02-09-2003, 02:50 PM

Originally posted by Tixx
Guess it's only for the Tungsten?

I guess he knows whats just good.

Sid

02-09-2003, 07:10 PM

Originally posted by honolulu
a clie version (not official) by leldo

http://perso.wanadoo.fr/endymion/ZLT_Zoopie_SonyHR_64k.zip

This is a very attractive theme! Now we need a pro Clie backimage to use with it.

birick

02-09-2003, 08:11 PM

I like it except that I have to turn on transparent UI to get rid of the shadows of the original background. Otherwise great. Anyone know how to fix this? I know nothing about skins except how to install them.

4AMFriday

02-09-2003, 09:10 PM

Originally posted by Amy
I agree that the skin is very nice, however I took a peek at the bitmaps in Constructor and noticed that the large buttons (Category, New Tab, ect.) are optimized only for use with the transparency option off (the shadows will show and look funny on anything but the included backround, expecially darker backrounds, or at least that's what I'm guessing at this point since I don't have a Tungsten to test it with). I use ZL almost entirely with transparency on, and I was under the impression most (or quite a few) other people did as well. I'm in the process of making a skin and it's taking a very long time because I want it to look good with transparency on (though it may look not quite as clean with darker backrounds). Nearly all icon sets that are out there have transparency (the ones for XP, anyway), and you have to take that away because otherwise it will end up purplish-pink on the outside, but when you take it away on anything rounded it tends to look funny, so you have to go back in with grey or another color and add some of it back.

So my point is, would you all rather have a skin that looks really great with transparency off and bad with it on, or good (rather than great) in both instances? Because if it's the former, then it will be infinitely easier, as well as much quicker to do. :)

Aym: The "Transparencie" option is for those who want nothing more then a bunch of icons. It takes the idea of a "Skinnable" and throws away everything but the icon elements of a skin. You might just as well create icon sets.

I prefer the "Transparencie" option off. Skins tend to look much better with alpha-channel masking and shadows with a 32-bit look then they do when they were created to also look only so-so with transparencie on.

Besides, so much hard work goes into making that perfect skin. Why strip it down to its underwear? Frankly, I don't see the point in the "Transparency" option anyhow. I never have, I never will.

Tixx

02-09-2003, 09:24 PM

Looks Nice:) Thank you!

*L*F*C*M*

02-10-2003, 08:42 AM

Originally posted by Amy
So my point is, would you all rather have a skin that looks really great with transparency off and bad with it on, or good (rather than great) in both instances? Because if it's the former, then it will be infinitely easier, as well as much quicker to do. :) Well, as you mentioned YOU like the transparency option . . . so make it the way YOU will use it. If people don't like the skin, they'll chose another . . . (unless you're planning on charging for it.) I do the same thing myself . . . I've gone to a lot of trouble to get my background 'just' the way I like it, with matching VG, and the less other 'stuff' interferes, the better.

Maybe in the future you (or somebody else) could do one 'the other way' . . . and have two versions of your skin . . . one optimized for transparancy use and one optimized for non-transparancy.

Just a thought . . . ;)

Anita

02-10-2003, 10:33 AM

Transparency on/off -- I've been playing with Zlauncher for a few days (really like it) and use it both ways, depending on the background I've chosen.

I probably use transparency "on" more often but in some cases (particularly Aquawood), transparency "off" makes the bottom icons more readable. Unfortunately, Aquawood and Copper Deck are the only ones that to me give a pleasing top bar (well, for Aquawood, only in compact mode).

With transparency OFF, then the entire design becomes much more important. I prefer tabs myself in general, but Copper Deck is the only theme I've found yet that has put some effort into the tabbed design. Even Aquawood is really bland on the tabs.

The other thing that is driving my theme choice is readability of the gadget icons at the bottom. Some of them are just too small or vague to be useful.

Copper Deck is the only theme I've seen so far that asks for a fee -- and the only one I'll be happy to pay for. It works in any combination -- transparency on or off, graphic tabs or not, compact or tabbed. I'd love to see another theme with that kind of flexibility and I'd pay for it.

Anita

Amy

02-11-2003, 06:20 PM

4AMFriday, I don't think that using transparency is necessarily "strip[ping] it down to its underwear." The icons are the most difficult part in creating the skin (IMO) whereas the tool panels are very easy to create. I think that seeing only the icons gives a much cleaner look and clashes a lot less with vg skins than with transparency off, but then again YMMV. I know that some people do like to use it only with transparency off, but I think that it depends more on the individual skin than a general preference. If the skin is created with the person that uses transparency in mind, then it tends to look very good either way. Copper Deck achieves this very well and manages to have shadows that work in either mode. I think skins are just like launchers in that everyone tends to be concerned with different aspects, so a single one will never satisfy everyone. :)

*L*F*C*M*, I'm making it the way I intend to use it regardless, but I thought that if a majority of the people who would possibly use it liked it one way then I might as well make two versions. I won't be charging for it either way. I also have gone to a lot of trouble to get things to match, to the point where there are some beautiful vg skins that I don't use anymore because they didn't go with with a certain skin.

hansschmucker

02-11-2003, 07:41 PM

Here's a quickly fixed background for the Clié version. It's nothing great and I hope somebody will come up with a better solution, but right now it works:
http://hansschmucker.no-ip.biz/Clie/z64k.jpg

Sid

02-11-2003, 09:18 PM

Originally posted by hansschmucker
Here's a quickly fixed background for the Clié version. It's nothing great and I hope somebody will come up with a better solution, but right now it works:
http://hansschmucker.no-ip.biz/Clie/z64k.jpg

Nice. Any chance of a 320x320 version?
BTW you're animated avatar is great.

doulos12

02-11-2003, 11:55 PM

Anita, have you tried Michrome? Of course, it's lo-res only, but I tried to make it look good in all scenarios. I'd be interested in feedback--positive or negative--besides, "It's not hi-res". If I ever get a Clié, I'll make a hi res version. I only make stuff I can test & use.

Anita

02-12-2003, 02:20 AM

Well, I had to go looking for it, but I found it. . . .I'll try it out tomorrow and give you my not-worth-very-much feedback <g>.

On your Web site, that background looks like a a very classy use of low-res tho.

Anita

Thyraz

02-12-2003, 07:55 AM

Is this ZLT_Zoopie_SonyHR_64k.zip only working with HighRes+ or also with my T675C normal HighRes?

hansschmucker

02-12-2003, 08:20 AM

The original one should work on your T675C:
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/1287989

Thyraz

02-12-2003, 09:49 AM

ok, now at home tested both, only the sony works. Highres+ doesnt chage the theme itself, caus only screenwidht is the limitation of the skin. Highres+ users will only see more icons..

hansschmucker

02-12-2003, 11:49 AM

Originally posted by Sid

Nice. Any chance of a 320x320 version?
BTW you're animated avatar is great.

Do-it-yourself :D
All gfx used can be found at http://hansschmucker.no-ip.biz/Clie

Anita

02-12-2003, 11:58 AM

Doulos12, I am sorry to report that I can't really check out Michrome because my T665c won't load anything that's not 64K colors. There's no option for loading a low-res theme, even tho I put it in the theme folder. It won't show up in my available list of themes.

If someone knows a way around this, I'd be glad to give it a shot.

Anita

doulos12

02-12-2003, 12:13 PM

It is 64K, but it's 160x160. I was wondering about that, actually: can hi res clié's run lo-res themes by stretching them or something? It might look bad, like running NES games on a Gamecube, but just wondering whether it's possible.

hansschmucker

02-12-2003, 12:24 PM

Here is a fixed Clie version without these nasty black stripes above the status bar in the bottom corners:
http://hansschmucker.no-ip.biz/Clie/ZLT_Zoopie_fixed_SonyHR_64k.prc

Man this is definately my favourite ZLauncher theme so far!

ClieMarty

02-12-2003, 12:37 PM

thanks hans, looks nice. some questions though...

* do you run that thingy in tab or compact mode?
* the "pop-ups" have a bit of a bigger background graphic; that leads to a problem with a vg nr or nx as i will never fit perfect depending whether or not you show/hide graffiti area

hansschmucker

02-12-2003, 12:50 PM

I use it in tab mode (non-transparent), but it works in compact mode as well

Ah... now I get it, sorry there's no way of fixing that using the copy/paste system, it would mean fundamental change to how zl treates status bars. All I could do would be releasing different bgs for different modes, but that's not really an option I guess

rincon

02-21-2003, 10:14 PM

hansschmucker, i have taken a few liberties to spruce up some graphics on your port:-
- change the text in popup bar so it says clie instead of tungsten
- realign the background gfx so the popup matches

can i have your permission to upload to the zlauncher skins section here in cliesource? i have also written to juni (the original creator) to seek his permission as well.

i think such a wonderful skin deserves a wider audience :)

Jooley

02-22-2003, 08:34 AM

Hope you're able to post that soon.  My Clie had an identity crisis when I loaded the 'tungsten' skin :(

rincon

02-23-2003, 02:17 AM

the original author, Juni, replied that he's going to update it soon. dunno if he's gonna include in a clie version or not. i'm going to wait for him to release it first. :)

pixelpainter

02-23-2003, 10:18 PM

I figured since he (hansshukker)said to make it yourself in a previous thread there would be no problem posting it. It seems to me that he has already given permission with that statement. AS far as the "original" creator juni. I don't know. We'll just have to wait and see. (impatiently)

fatal mantis

02-24-2003, 12:19 AM

Now if someone could make a matching VG and status bar skin this would be perfect.

rincon

02-28-2003, 12:35 AM

I got permission from juni to post the clie version. He released an update to fix the battery indicator. I've included this fix as well.

Please refer credits.txt for further acknowledgements.

Finally the beautiful skin is available to wider audience! Enjoy!

ps: if you appreciate juni's work, maybe can persuade him to port more of his ppc creations over to palm os :)

s360clie

02-28-2003, 09:48 AM

I've seen your skin uploaded. It is wonderful!
But I am using a hi-res grayscale device, Sony SJ20, the skin cannot be used in my palm. Can you make a grayscale version for this skin?

GANZ

02-28-2003, 11:01 AM

Thanks a billion to all those who had a hand in this skin...it is top notch

atomicCLIE

02-28-2003, 11:17 AM

Why won't this skin work on my T-665C? Do I need Palm OS 5 or something?

Tixx

02-28-2003, 11:24 AM

Great skin, but it will not install on my NX. I cannot figure out why. I did the rar unzip with the RAR unzipper, saw the file, put in the install file and nothing???

Tixx

02-28-2003, 11:50 AM

Anyone?

jerryf

02-28-2003, 12:50 PM

Same problem. The install log says it was installed, but it doesn't show up in memory. Very strange

GANZ

02-28-2003, 01:37 PM

Works on my NX....wierd

Tixx

02-28-2003, 01:41 PM

Originally posted by GANZ
Works on my NX....wierd

So Jerry has the same problem and you have none. That is strange. I've never had this happen on any other skins.

qbert

02-28-2003, 02:17 PM

Originally posted by Tixx
Great skin, but it will not install on my NX. I cannot figure out why. I did the rar unzip with the RAR unzipper, saw the file, put in the install file and nothing???

Same thing happens on my lowly N760.
Strange Indeed.

bobbd

02-28-2003, 02:19 PM

Interesting. Same thing on my T665. Maybe a PalmOS 4 thing. In any case, I copied it to my MS and it works.

Bob

Tixx

02-28-2003, 02:24 PM

Originally posted by bobbd
Interesting. Same thing on my T665. Maybe a PalmOS 4 thing. In any case, I copied it to my MS and it works.

Bob

Mine is OS 5.

Tixx

02-28-2003, 02:27 PM

I finally got it to work using MS Import and putting it straight on the MS in the Theme folder. It didn't work the first time I tried.:confused:

rhart00

02-28-2003, 03:02 PM

doesn't show up for me either when hotsynced, I will try MSImport

fatal mantis

02-28-2003, 03:47 PM

it work perfectly on my NR. My only complaint is the rodo dog thing in the background, i just prefer the blue glass dot alone.

Tixx

02-28-2003, 04:01 PM

Originally posted by fatal mantis
it work perfectly on my NR. My only complaint is the rodo dog thing in the background, i just prefer the blue glass dot alone.

What is with that dog thing anyways? Maybe it is ClieDog???

fatal mantis

02-28-2003, 04:12 PM

i dont know what it is but i justed used photoshop to get rid of it if anyone wants ill upload it

Sideway

02-28-2003, 04:43 PM

I just hotsynced it and it worked.

Tixx

02-28-2003, 05:06 PM

Originally posted by fatal mantis
i dont know what it is but i justed used photoshop to get rid of it if anyone wants ill upload it

That would be cool:)

jerryf

02-28-2003, 05:22 PM

MS Import worked for me too.

Sunspots?

Tixx

02-28-2003, 05:26 PM

Originally posted by jerryf
MS Import worked for me too.

Sunspots?

Could be:)

Tixx

02-28-2003, 05:27 PM

Originally posted by jerryf
MS Import worked for me too.

Sunspots?

More likely El Nino (sp)

fatal mantis

02-28-2003, 06:33 PM

the modified background without the dog thing should be in the zlauncher skin section soon

fatal mantis

02-28-2003, 06:49 PM

i dont know how to upload to this site so heres the file

bobbd

02-28-2003, 06:53 PM

Originally posted by fatal mantis
the modified background without the dog thing should be in the zlauncher skin section soon

Any chance of a 320x320 version. Please.

Bob

fatal mantis

02-28-2003, 10:34 PM

i dont know how to upload to this site and apparently the attached file didnt go through, anyone want to help meon this? Ill make a 320 X 320 version too i guess.

s360clie

02-28-2003, 10:53 PM

It can run on the 320X320 device, I've tested it on my Emulator of T600C

fatal mantis

03-01-2003, 12:04 AM

since i dont know how to upload to this site ill just put a link down. Here are the modified backgrounds without the dog thing.
www.public.asu.edu/~jpwrigh/stuff/z64_2.jpeg
and the 320 X 320 version of the background
www.public.asu.edu/~jpwrigh/stuff/z64_3.jpeg

fatal mantis

03-01-2003, 12:06 AM

sorry its www.public.asu.edu/~jpwrigh/stuff/z64_2k.jpeg and www.public.asu.edu/~jpwrigh/stuff/z64_3k.jpeg for the 320 by 320 one. The stupid computer im using wont let me edit the post i just made.

fatal mantis

03-01-2003, 12:09 AM

I did it again darn it just go to http://www.public.asu.edu/~jpwrigh/stuff/ and they are on there. I hate this computer.

Wompratz

03-01-2003, 11:23 AM

Heh, that dog thing is Aibo...Sony's robot dog. You know that video clip on your Clie that is the first thing you delete when you get it out of the box? ;)

Tixx

03-01-2003, 12:15 PM

Originally posted by fatal mantis
I did it again darn it just go to http://www.public.asu.edu/~jpwrigh/stuff/ and they are on there. I hate this computer.

Thanks:)

pixelpainter

03-03-2003, 07:24 PM

I would like to see this skin without the blue thing all together. Get it off the menu bars and put it higher in the background. Just my two cents.

clieconverted

03-03-2003, 08:38 PM

Ok. I could not get the RAR file to work either with MS import or otherwise. I could get Fatal Mantis's file to download, but it is the TT version. Does anyone have a .zip version of the Clie version. I really like the skin. help.

clieconverted

03-03-2003, 09:30 PM

OK. I did a google search and found WinRAR so I was able to open it. The only issue I seem to be having is getting BG to show up in my folder. The matching BG will not appear in the list when using ZL Mgr. The only option I have is 64k BG? Any suggestions.

Unregistered

03-03-2003, 09:38 PM

by the way that is the clie version, but the older one before someone changed the text. The fixed one should be in the download section.

mrstella

03-04-2003, 02:29 PM

Could someone please convert the z64_3.jpg file to the Palm OS pdb format and post it? I can't convert the jpg file on my Clie 615c. I try to drag the file from the Memory Stick to the shortcut/convert background button and it gives me an (Sys 050A) error.

Thanks.

ksjenkins

03-04-2003, 04:09 PM

Originally posted by qbert

Same thing happens on my lowly N760.
Strange Indeed.

 

I use MS Import for everything except Syncing my Address/DateBooks to Outlook! If I use HotSync for loading skins/backgrounds/icons/Handstory it takes 30 minutes vs. < 1 minute for HotSync + MSImport.  I like this new skin combined with ZLI-OSX-TT and OSXGold it looks like a MacClie!! ;)

 

 

hansschmucker

03-04-2003, 04:52 PM

OK, sorry was skiing for a few days. About permissions: I'm no lawyer so just treat everything I give out to you like this: Generally, if it is a modified version of another persions theme, picture or whatever, then HIS RULES APPLY.

If I created the whole thing treat it like this: Do to it whatever you like as long as you stay within moral and legal boundaries. I DON'T WANT TO FIND ANY NAZI SIGNS ON IMAGES I CREATED!

Giving credit would be nice, but it is not really necessary.

About the RAR thing. Sorry, but I'm on a slow connection and saving to RAR instead of ZIP saves between 12 and 45% bandwidth. I just cannot ignore that. Also I'm just used to it so I make a RAR version usually without thinking about it.

About The compatibility thing: I'm on an NX and a really buggy XP, which will crash every time I use MSIMPORT without removing the USB adapter in system properties first. So I usually hotsync everything and it works great here. I have no idea what could cause incompatibilitys since I used the official ZZTech standard theme as template, so if that works, so should the Clié version.

About the dog: Yep, that's AIBO. I tried to find a Clié logo, but there's just nothing besides that stupid text, so I put AIBO in there (inverse/additive) to make clear to everybody: It's a Sony!

About removing AIBO: here it is, with less grain then previous version, hope it will help:
http://hansschmucker.no-ip.biz/Clie/z64k_noaibo.jpg

I guess that's about it....

darhorn

03-04-2003, 05:20 PM

Hey, I am just finishing up an Aeroplayer skin that matches this wonderful skin by Juni....

I am sure that most people here arent using a TT or aeroplayer but I will post it if there is interest...

Darrin

hansschmucker

03-04-2003, 05:24 PM

I hope an AP version for Clié will appear some day, as most of my music files are in ogg/vorbis format and converting to MP3 with Lame has become a bit of a pain. When and if a version for NX pops up, I will be the first to get it, as well as your skin =)

doulos12

03-04-2003, 10:42 PM

mrstella,
1. convert it to a .bmp
2. Rename it filename.bmp.pdb
3. Sync to your memory card
4. Get info w/ ZL and remove the .pdb from the name
5. Move to the BackImages folder

That's how I do it on my Palm m130.

darhorn

03-05-2003, 07:13 AM

you can see (and download) the zoopie skin for aeroplayer here..

http://discussion.brighthand.com/palmhandhelds/showthread.php?s=&threadid=28039

Darrin

hansschmucker

03-05-2003, 07:30 AM

Looks GREAT!!!
I started a little AudioPlayer mod myself. It's still pre-alpha, since I still have to figure out where the shared bottuns are stored, since they are not part of the AudioPlayer bundle. Here's an Alpha screenshot. http://hansschmucker.no-ip.biz/Clie/AudioPlayerSkin.gif
(Sadly AudioPlayer does only allow 256 color pictures)
You can find the true-color template at http://hansschmucker.no-ip.biz/Clie/AudioPlayerSkin.psp

mrstella

03-05-2003, 09:36 AM

Thanks for the help. Your instructions worked perfectly.
~ mrstella

Tixx

03-05-2003, 02:01 PM

Originally posted by darhorn
you can see (and download) the zoopie skin for aeroplayer here..

http://discussion.brighthand.com/palmhandhelds/showthread.php?s=&threadid=28039

Darrin

I tried and installed the Purity skin and now audio player giver the message "Cannot find Audio Player skin database" when I open it and I hit ok and it goes back to my launcher:eek: Please help.:(