Skins and stuff (How To...)

[LoungeActor]

I am a newbie with my Clie 665. I can see the neat skins to download to customize my clie............but, is there an area within this site to help with the "How To" to get me going?

Thanks.

[Grandizer]

Which launcher program are you using to begin with?

I'm only familiar with YiShow.

[LoungeActor]

I saw the folder "Launcher"..... but don't know what this means? Do I simply need to drag the new skins in to this folder?

[JC2K]

I strongly recommend going to Brian's excellent site LaunchPlug (http://www.launchplug.com) for some great information on "launchers"

The short answer is that you have no skinning options out of the box. Only specific programs allow you to skin your Clie and those are mostly third party launchers. LaunchPlug will introduce you to the launchers out there and compare the features. Additionally, you can try out the demo versions of them to see which you like the best.

For BG support, there are two "big" players now ZLauncher and YiShow. ZL is newer, but has had more development and tends to have more flexibility. YiShow has been around longer and was one of the first to allow users to use BG images (which is why the images section for YiShow on this site is so large).

As for what skins you like, take a look to the left of the page for the "skins" section. Choose Launchers, then look around for some skins you like. ZL has some really nice skins and the CopperDeck II is one of the nicest I've ever seen.

Sorry there is no short answer, but it's like customizing your desktop ... you are entering another world and there is a lot to learn. Brian's site will get you started while holding your hand.

Enjoy your 665 (I have one too) and welcome to the site!

[joogi]

Originally posted by JC2K
I strongly recommend going to Brian's excellent site LaunchPlug (http://www.launchplug.com) for some great information on "launchers"

The short answer is that you have no skinning options out of the box. Only specific programs allow you to skin your Clie and those are mostly third party launchers. LaunchPlug will introduce you to the launchers out there and compare the features. Additionally, you can try out the demo versions of them to see which you like the best.

For BG support, there are two "big" players now ZLauncher and YiShow. ZL is newer, but has had more development and tends to have more flexibility. YiShow has been around longer and was one of the first to allow users to use BG images (which is why the images section for YiShow on this site is so large).

As for what skins you like, take a look to the left of the page for the "skins" section. Choose Launchers, then look around for some skins you like. ZL has some really nice skins and the CopperDeck II is one of the nicest I've ever seen.

Sorry there is no short answer, but it's like customizing your desktop ... you are entering another world and there is a lot to learn. Brian's site will get you started while holding your hand.

Enjoy your 665 (I have one too) and welcome to the site!



I went there, but this skin is a JPEG. It doesn't allow me to install in my handheld. I thought all backgrounds must be BMP format?
I am new to this world too, and found that YiShow does have more BG than ZL. BTW, I am a ZL user.

[williepalm]

All files in RAM must either be in .prc or .pdb. Other than that (bmp.jpg) must be in the memory stick. Backgrounds can either be in jpg or bmp but we prefer jpg becoz the file size is smaller.
And for info, ZLauncher can also use Yishow backgrounds, as long as they're in 320 by 320 size. And if you're using ZLauncher version 2.21, The backimage,icon and skins folder are automatically created in the memory stick. Just keep the images in the backimage folder. And the best app to use to move/copy the files is McFile.

[Joardan143]

I am a newbie as well (had my first Clie T665 for less than a month), and found myself in the same spot...I tried Yishow, but could not find a way to install it right (just did'nt have the patience) then I tried Zlauncher, it didn't seem as complicated as the Yishow, and you can use jpeg and bmp images as backgrounds. I have the Copperdeck II skin, and it is awesome!! You can go to Tankerbob's web page (I believe he uses Zlauncher), the link is in one of the forums around here...sorry I don't have the link.. his site is very informative. Good luck with whichever you try, I found this site very helpful, especially to rookies like me. Thanks for all the helpful insights everyone!

[spradlinb]

Originally posted by joogi




I went there, but this skin is a JPEG. It doesn't allow me to install in my handheld. I thought all backgrounds must be BMP format?
I am new to this world too, and found that YiShow does have more BG than ZL. BTW, I am a ZL user.

You can actually use any of the YiShow background images in ZLauncher just fine. YiShow is definitely more "picky" on the image you use as a background. ZLauncher is able to "tile" images now though, so you don't have to worry about exact image sizes as much.

Here's what you should do to use your JPEG image as a background:

1) If you are using a PC with your Clie, you can run the program "MSImport" on your T665C while it is sitting in your USB cradle plugged into your Windows computer. That will then automatically assign a new "drive letter" for your memory stick (it will probably ask you for your Clie CD the first time you do this).

2) Open your "My Computer" icon and find the new drive letter. Open it up and you can then copy any of your JPEG or Bitmap images into the \Palm\Programs\ZLauncher\Wallpaper\ folder that should already be there (to use them in ZLauncher).

You can read up on how to use the skins after they're on your MS here: http://www.LaunchPlug.com/Tips_ZL.html down in the "Theme Manager" section. There's another page on doing the same with YiShow at http://www.LaunchPlug.com/YiShow_inst.html if you want to try that one out again as well.

Hope that helps you out more!

Cheers.

[ibonet]

I'm also new in skinning launchers. I'm testing Zlauncher and I like it. Specially I like the skins available.

The problem I've found is with the Icon Set. I've downloaded a couple of skins as I expecteted to see in my 665 all the look and feel of the graphics shown. But the icon sets where the same I had before downloading the skin. I've read about the Icon Set menu in the Theme Manager, but nobody explains nothing about it. Is there sets available as Themes and backgrounds does?

[LoungeActor]

Thanks to all....I will check it out, and start from there....