Animated Themes 2002 v2 released

[Ed Hansberry]

<a href="http://www.gigabytesol.com/at2002.htm">http://www.gigabytesol.com/at2002.htm</a><br /><br />Animated Themes 2002 version 2 has been released and has undergone some substantial changes based on user feedback.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/animatedthemev2.gif" /><br /><br />• Themes are now standard tsk files and can be managed and shared just like traditional today themes. They are completely self contained in a single file.<br />• Theme selection is now via the standard Today screen theme selector. A tray icon allows quick access to theme information and a shortcut to changing the theme.<br />• Many more great themes are included in the base product.<br />• Free Theme Injector available for creating your own TSK files and is available from <a href="http://www.handango.com/freedownload.jsp?siteId=1&platformId=1&productType=2&productId=31451">Handango</a>. <br />• Can be installed over version 1, or the trial without having to perform an uninstall.<br />• No title line taking up valuable space on the Today screen.<br />• The application and themes are very compact and take up much less space on the device.<br />• No longer any file sync performance penalties.<br /><br />You can purchase <a href="http://www.handango.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=311&platformId=2&productType=2&catalog=0&amp;sectionId=0&productId=28456">Animated Themes 2002 Version 2 from Handango</a> for $14.95. (affiliate link)

[Charles Pickrell]

These are really cool! This is the ultimate way to skin your Today screen. I have Flash MX but haven't had much interest in using it yet. Now I'm motivated bacause I want to design my own animated Flash Today screens. :D

[pt]

These are really cool! This is the ultimate way to skin your Today screen. I have Flash MX but haven't had much interest in using it yet. Now I'm motivated bacause I want to design my own animated Flash Today screens. :D

Hey Charles, Flash Enabled shows you how to make them as well...

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0735711771/flashenabled-20/

cheers,
pt

[Santa Fe]

I still don't get it. They don't seem to add value to a machine that is mostly off. Seems like the novelty would wear off pretty quick.

[disconnected]

This is a great improvement. Even if you want to use non-animated themes this now makes it possible to select them right from the today screen. It also makes it possible to instantly select any of the animated apps from the today screen, which could be really nice if more people will write some new apps.

I do have one suggestion for anyone creating themes or apps to use with the Animated Today feature. Develop some sort of naming convention for them (with a common prefix), so they will all be grouped together and not get lost in all the other stored themes; I realize I can rename them myself, but I'm lazy. :)

[Charles Pickrell]

I still don't get it. They don't seem to add value to a machine that is mostly off. Seems like the novelty would wear off pretty quick.

There is a calculator app, some games to pass the time with. You could also create a clock, a corporate logo for product branding, ect. If I were a sales person I could even create a small video of a new product or a skideshow of products that is ready at a moments notice. Fhash is really a powerful tool that you can do tons of things with.

[pt]

I still don't get it. They don't seem to add value to a machine that is mostly off. Seems like the novelty would wear off pretty quick.

don't try to get it, you're most likely someone that doesn't / wouldn't want ring tones and background customizations for your phone as well, so you're not the target...it's nothing bad, it's okay, really.

[Brad Adrian]

We need to also make sure that we don't let this glimpse narrow our understanding of what else can be done with flash. It can be used to enable everything from constantly-updated Web content to interactive maps and guides to product literature. THIS incarnation is still kind of in the eye-candy stage (which I, for one, and a sucker for), but the really powerful, value-add flash stuff is coming down the road soon.

[Santa Fe]

OK I can see some useful information but "constantly updated" on a non-wireless machine with such a short battery life must mean the future is going to bring us PPC's or some sort of device whose battery life and wireless ability makes it useful. My experience todate with various wireless "solutions" isn't very pretty.

When it is truly available I'll be in line to purchase mine.