Need direction - Skins and Themes

[PDANEWBIE]

Okay first off is Windows Media Player 9.0 for my Pocket PC I have ofund about 3 different skins that will play video and look decient there are maybe 2 more I have found that are for audio only and look okay. Is there a spot that has a wider selection? If not is there a place that gives a good toutorial on creating your own?

Secondly is the Today screen skinning and themeing. I know there are a few different programs out there but I am not sure which ones work well and which ones are a bit on the buggy side. Whats your opinion and what have you tried that you didn't like and why?

I tried PPX and found that to be very hard to learn how to skin and it caused my PPC to act "funky" I saw something called eXPerience but I saw alot of negative reviews and really it just was made to look like the XP you have at home and I don't think it was for full customization.

All thoughts and input is appreciated.

[Darius Wey]

Okay first off is Windows Media Player 9.0 for my Pocket PC I have ofund about 3 different skins that will play video and look decient there are maybe 2 more I have found that are for audio only and look okay. Is there a spot that has a wider selection? If not is there a place that gives a good toutorial on creating your own?

Interested? (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=36530) I'll be releasing another one in a week or two. :D

If you're wanting to make your own, you can grab a hold of the Windows Media SDK. However, I've spoken to a lot of newbie WMP skinners who just don't understand it. I've been working on WMP skins for a while now, and my advice to you is to grab a hold of a sample skin file, and play around with it yourself. Look at the code and match it up with the graphic files. The best way to learn is to go at your own pace, and get all fiddly with the bits and pieces of a skin. My thoughts anyway... ;)

Secondly is the Today screen skinning and themeing. I know there are a few different programs out there but I am not sure which ones work well and which ones are a bit on the buggy side. Whats your opinion and what have you tried that you didn't like and why?

You can consider Microsoft Theme Generator with the Spb Extended Theme Generator addon. Otherwise, there's also another package called "ThemeBuilder2003", which lacks a GUI, but I prefer a text-based interface as opposed to a graphical one, which is probably the reason why I prefer it over other packages. Everyone has their preferential software though, so I'll let others add their own comments.

[Menneisyys]

You can consider Microsoft Theme Generator with the Spb Extended Theme Generator addon. Otherwise, there's also another package called "ThemeBuilder2003", which lacks a GUI, but I prefer a text-based interface as opposed to a graphical one, which is probably the reason why I prefer it over other packages. Everyone has their preferential software though, so I'll let others add their own comments.

The built-in Pictures is also a very good choice, especially on VGA / WM2003SE machines. Its only problem that it doesn't generate .TSK files, but, for simple Today background setting, it's well enough.

[PDANEWBIE]

Yeah I didn't mention but I had picked up yours as well.

I just wish there was some kind of repository for all this stuff like there are for the PC themes and backgrounds where you have whole sies dedicated to making it look "unique".

I am sure there are a ton of ideas out there and homemade ones that may rival the few that I have seen around.

[yvilla]

ThemeMaker SE is a really good program for making your own themes. Here's the site:
http://www.thememaker.biz/thememaker.htm

[Menneisyys]

Okay first off is Windows Media Player 9.0 for my Pocket PC I have ofund about 3 different skins that will play video and look decient there are maybe 2 more I have found that are for audio only and look okay.

Already checked out Juni's skins at http://www.kolumbus.fi/anders.ruohio/wmp.html ?