[TUT] Metamorph on X8 - XPERIA X8 Themes and Apps

lets try something new today..
before I start let me ask you this questions.
do you like customizing your phone?
do you want to edit your apk's without a pc?
do you have belief in xrecovery (&me probably)
if you answered YES for the above questions. I've something good for you.
our map for the treasure in this journey would be a small application named
METAMORPH
MetaMorph, at heart, is simply a program that takes files from a directory and adds them to an already existing zip package.
In this case, our zip packages are apk and jar files.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
THINGS YOU'LL NEED :
Metamorph (attached)
RootExplorer (any apk which can edit xml files)
Androzip/Astro (zip app)
Creativity & Willingness to take the Risk
Metamorph uses a zip file to apply the customize apk on your phone.
the zip file contains two things
a xml file
folder containing your mods
lets cut it sweet with an example.
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lets suppose I want to change the icon of my apk. lets say I want to change icon of Calculator
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
to
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Metamorph is CaseSensitive. Following Steps need the correct name & case
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
we'll do it in 2 parts
PART - 1
to do this I'll first need to create a folder named Calculator
now the icon of calculator is in the folder res\drawable-mdpi
so I'll create those folders in the Calculator folder
so the line is Calculator->res->drawable-mdpi
all I need to do now is the monster icon into this folder and name it exactly the same way it is in the original so lets rename monster.png to icon.png
PART - 2
the xml file should contain this code
Code:
[B]<?xml version="1.0"?>
<themename>[COLOR=Red]theme_name[/COLOR]</themename>
<themeversion>0.1beta</themeversion>
<screenshot></screenshot>
<author>Suhel</author>
<authorweblink>N/A</authorweblink>
<phone>Xperia X8</phone>
<rom>Sony Xperia X8 2.1 </rom>
<themedescription>Converted Theme</themedescription>
<item>[COLOR=Red]your_apk.apk[/COLOR]</item>
<path>[COLOR=Red]path_of_your_apk[/COLOR]</path>
<description></description>
[/B]
ok the red things in the above code are crucial.
1. theme_name (I'll come to this later)
2. your_apk.apk this is the name of your apk
3. path_of_your_apk this is the path of your apk
for our Calculator it should be something like this
Code:
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<themename>X8Champ</themename>
<themeversion>0.1beta</themeversion>
<screenshot></screenshot>
<author>Suhel</author>
<authorweblink>N/A</authorweblink>
<phone>Xperia X8</phone>
<rom>Sony Xperia X8 2.1 </rom>
<themedescription>Converted Theme</themedescription>
<item>[B][COLOR=Red]Calculator.apk[/COLOR][/B]</item>
<path>[COLOR=Red][B]/system/app/[/B][/COLOR]</path>
<description></description>
hope you understand. now you need to save the xml file.
now the first point. the theme_name you are going to type should be the same name as of your xml file name
ok now you're done.
all you need to do now is create a zip file and place the folder & xml file in that zip file. again make sure the name of the zip file should be the same as the xml file
put the zip file in your sdcard root
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Applying theme with Metamorph
Tap Unzip/Extract new theme
Select the Zip file
Tap the apk you want to apply and tap apply it
Reboot your phone
-THE END-​
Why Metamorph?
​ 1. Easily Edit your Apk's & Jar files on your phone without hazzle of extracting and replacing.
(Jar files will need pc. awww but you dont edit jars too much )
2. You can Mod multiple Apk's
Code:
[B]<item>[COLOR=Red]your_apk1.apk[/COLOR]</item>
<path>[COLOR=Red]path_of_your_apk[/COLOR]</path>[/B]
[B]<item>[COLOR=Red]your_apk2.apk[/COLOR]</item>
<path>[COLOR=Red]path_of_your_apk[/COLOR]</path>
[/B]
[B]<item>[COLOR=Red]your_apk3.apk[/COLOR]</item>[/B]
[B] <path>[COLOR=Red]path_of_your_apk[/COLOR]</path>
<description></description>
[/B]
you can even edit your Framework-res.apk. just make sure the path of it is /system/framework and not /system/app
3. I don't know. I need to try it out more. I'm trying to edit a jar file for now. will tell you the results. but the potential of it are endless
4. However it doesn't work with market apps. its intended to only bug the stock things
IMPORTANT : Meta is very stringent about its filenames and fonts case and name. If you miss one thing the apk will disappear from your menu. so make sure you've a
BACKUP B4 U MESS-UP
WOW IT RHYMES LOL
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
EDIT : well you don't need to entirely backup just copy/paste the apk you want to edit. entire backup may require if you are playing with jar files or crucial apk's.
I'm not responsible for any mess done to your phone
Edit 2 : Works with framework-res.apk too

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Ok. How can I change icon Phone or Music Player? I try your method and I can change only Calculator, Calender and Settings. Any ideas?

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bananoss said:
Ok. How can I change icon Phone or Music Player? I try your method and I can change only Calculator, Calender and Settings. Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
folder path
SemcMusic\res\drawable
icon name
music_app_icon.png
Code:
[B]<?xml version="1.0"?>
<themename>SemcMusic</themename>
<themeversion>0.1beta</themeversion>
<screenshot></screenshot>
<author>Suhel</author>
<authorweblink>N/A</authorweblink>
<phone>Xperia X8</phone>
<rom>Sony Xperia X8 2.1 </rom>
<themedescription>Converted Theme</themedescription>
<item>SemcMusic.apk</item>
<path>/system/app/</path>
<description></description>[/B]

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Nice tut
edit: if i need to change a app on sdcard whats the path? :S

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/sdcard/foldername
Foldername would be the folder in which your app is stored

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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
WHOOAA. Can I get a source for the background please? And what font are you using there?
Edit: This looks so damn good, holy crap.

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a-k-t-w said:
WHOOAA. Can I get a source for the background please? And what font are you using there?
Edit: This looks so damn good, holy crap.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sure buddy

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what about folders in zip file for framework.apk ? Where should be semc_bg.png and fonts ? Near .xml or in folder .......

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Sorry for offtopic... But: Which framework do you (suhel) use? It's so awesome

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thanks for this tutorial!

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herbi69 said:
what about folders in zip file for framework.apk ? Where should be semc_bg.png and fonts ? Near .xml or in folder .......
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the semc_bg should be placed in /res/drawable-mdpi
for the fonts refer this topic http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=933406

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[email protected] said:
Sorry for offtopic... But: Which framework do you (suhel) use? It's so awesome
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
are you talking about the blue background??? I've already attached the file and fonts two posts above your post

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thanks for sharing~