skinning the ppc I don't have (heh)

[Aerestis]

Well, I have been working at a skin, and I want to be able to tell if it will work on the pocket pc. I don't actually have the pocket pc with me though, I only ordered it... hehe. So is there any way I can keep ahead of my boredom and effectively work on this skin, while having it be worthwhile? I have no reference to be able to tell if I'm working properly. I looked at microsoft theme generator, but there isn't nearly enough control. I just want to change the top bar, the background, the bottom bar, and buttons. Is there an application I can get that will allow me to do that?

Thanks in advance for any help, I've been searching like mad. I really like the skin, it's so colorful and happy.

Although I was also going to ask if perhaps having a black and white skin might reduce the cpu power required to display the skin? In the case I would make a nice black and white skin. But I am sure that all that matters is the size of the file that will be displayed... That would make sense. For being a graphic designer, I sure don't know much about file sizes of images.

Steve

[Wiggster]

There's a few different software versins out there that'll let you create themes for your Pocket PC. The one I use is Microsoft's Theme Generator (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/resources/downloads/pocketpc/themegenerator.mspx). It's designed for Pocket PC 2002, so if your PPC is running 2003, which it probably will be, it won't install automatically. Don't worry, just copy the .tsk file to you /Windows/ directory on your Pocket PC through the ActiveSync "Explore" option (Explore button, then go to My Mobile Device, then Windows), and you should be able to use it as you would any other theme. This should make the formats nice and simple and you won't have to worry about file format compatability when copying over.

And there are other programs, like Pocket Theme Manager (http://www.bvrp.com/ENG/products/pocketThemeManager/feature.asp), CE Tuner 2004 (http://pocket-pc-software.penreader.com/CETuner_2002.html) for the Pocket PC, or even Theme Creator (http://www.pocketmac.net/themecreator/themecreator.html) for the Mac.

[Aerestis]

ahhh thanks, but none of them seem to allow me to change the top bar or bottom bar. I know this is possible; I got Wisbar which should allow some theme modification in that area. But I suppose I'll have to just wait and play around and see how the themes work, how the files or accessed and positioned on the ui. It seems that theme generator is the best, it's simple and does what the others do. I wish it gave more options! But thanks for your help, I hadn't seen the other theme generators.

[Wiggster]

Wisbar is your best option for changing the start bar, since Windows Mobile/Pocket PC just allow you to change the gradient colors. Wisbar uses BMPs as its default file format, and you can start off by doing what I did: find a screenshot of Wisbar and use it as a template for size and positioning and start designing.

[Aerestis]

Thanks! That's exactly what I did. I went off of someone elses theme but made it more to my color preferences. Sadly, the small little arrows and icons on the main screen seem to be badly jumbled up and cover up some of the text even. I'm not able to do any re-sizing or anything that can over-come the problem, so I'm not sure what's going on with it. It might require being tested on a pocketpc? Well, if anyone would like to test this so far, let me know. I'm not going to take credit for the design; it's very mac osx and someone else has also done one like this. I am just figuring out the process.

http://ashley.planetgeko.com/~renderst/4images/data/media/3/playingaround.jpg

If someone is intrested, I could just e mail the theme or something. It's not super important by any means, though.

[bmhome1]

You REALLY should be checking out PPX!

http://www.ppx3k.com/

It is very quickly becoming THE standard for PPC skins, check forum discussion at Brighthand.com.