To all users facing difficulties using Apktool, there's an Android app which is called NinjaMorph. It's functionalities are almost the same with Apktool and it's easy to use. It's developed by Stephen (Stericson)(BusyBox's developer)
It can decompile and compile an android project. It's really easy to use and you don't need a PC, as it can do anything for itself. NOTE: After finishing a project (for example framework.apk) you have to reboot.
While using the app you can change the Platlogo.jpg and also tweak other apps.
Fully compartible with Samsung Galaxy Y. Full version can be purchased through Google Play.
Get it on Google Play Store or download the apk (FREE VERSION) from the post.
TO USE THE APP YOU NEED BUSYBOX INSTALLED
Well ninjamorph works quite differently as compared to apktool.
It extracts the apk, but it doesn't decompile it (which apktool does).
However I can be wrong.
AFAIK, you cannot get the XML's and other stuff with ninjamorph.
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Unnamed.Ace.User said:
Well ninjamorph works quite differently as compared to apktool.
It extracts the apk, but it doesn't decompile it (which apktool does).
However I can be wrong.
AFAIK, you cannot get the XML's and other stuff with ninjamorph.
Sent from my GT-S5830 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're right. Ninjamorph does not decompile. It extracts the apk's like a zip.
Ninjamorph is great for themers .
Ninjamorph is a great substitute of apktool but only for themers as only pngs can be edited/replaced and is almost perfect and ideal for that but for everything else/decompiling apktool is still needed .
Related
As we all know, you can morph third-party apps in /data/app
would i be able to move a market app to /system/app and then morph it? has anyone attempted this?
Why would you need to move an app to /system/app? To stop it from upgrading? You can only accomplish it by a shell script or something.
birgertime said:
Why would you need to move an app to /system/app? To stop it from upgrading? You can only accomplish it by a shell script or something.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
metamorph will not morph apps in /data/app....thats why i would need to move it
I cant think of any reason this would not work.. why not just try?
s15274n said:
I cant think of any reason this would not work.. why not just try?
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Click to collapse
im going to, gotta wait till i get home, so i figured in the meantime id check to see if anyone had ever done this. wasnt sure if it might lead to signature issues, or something along those lines
TopShelf10 said:
metamorph will not morph apps in /data/app....thats why i would need to move it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was always under the impression that it does
birgertime said:
I was always under the impression that it does
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Click to collapse
i wish....stericson had said a couple months ago that he was working on it to function for /data/app, but there's been no follow-up on that yet
I've made morphs for market apps on several occasions...the most recent was changing the background on my meridian music widget.
To answer your questions, it works without causing any problems to the functionality of the app itself, nor have I had any issues from applying the morph with the apk still located in data/app. But, you will get errors when trying to apply an update through the market. This also screws things up when you have lots of updates and try to "update all." The updates will work fine until the market tries to update the one you modified, then all apps it tries to update after that will also come back with errors.
Since I don't check for updates often, I need that "update all" button to work properly - so I solved the problem by using Titanium Backup to detach the modified apps from the market. The downside is you won't see if an update is available, but an update would require you to uninstall, reinstall, then reapply the morph. Most updates aren't critical enough to go through that hassle...imo.
Hope that helps!
bnielsen40 said:
To answer your questions, it works without causing any problems to the functionality of the app itself, nor have I had any issues from applying the morph with the apk still located in data/app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
did you use metamorph, or ninjamorph for this? im assuming you use ninjamorph to unzip, make your changes, rezipped, signed, and installed? im trying to bypass the signing/reinstalling because ever since i upgraded to froyo "signapktic" no longer works for me, so i cant sign apps on my phone.
thats the beauty of metamorph is that you can change images without needing to take all those extra steps.
i was certain you caouldnt metamorph an app in /data/app....
TopShelf10 said:
did you use metamorph, or ninjamorph for this? im assuming you use ninjamorph to unzip, make your changes, rezipped, signed, and installed?
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Click to collapse
Nope, used Metamorph. Never messed with Ninjamorph.
I actually do most of the work on my phone, so no need to unzip/rezip/unzip. Once it's unzipped on my phone I write/modify the xml file and move around the images to the folders they need to be in - all using Root Explorer.
For example, yesterday I tried applying MotorJohnny's Swype morph, but it didn't work because my Swype Beta had been installed in data/app and was "com.swype.android...something.apk" instead of "Swype.apk" in the system/app. So, all that was necessary was to modify the xml file to the correct filepath, folders, and apk name. Voila, worked like a charm. (well, the morph did...the buttons were a little screwed up having applied to to Swype beta haha): http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=13670377&postcount=42
How do you change .xml files on your phone. I didn't think it was poss to decompile and recompile .xml's on a device.....?
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GrainOsand said:
How do you change .xml files on your phone. I didn't think it was poss to decompile and recompile .xml's on a device.....?
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can rewrite without decompiling.....i use an app called "silveredit"....you can also use a simple text editor on your pc like "edit pad"
Sent from my pocket rocket!!
Any success morphing an apk in data/app Topshelf?
Sent from my Vibrant using XDA App
bnielsen40 said:
Any success morphing an apk in data/app Topshelf?
Sent from my Vibrant using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i have not tried, but i can confirm that i just successfully morphed a third-party app installed to /system/app
TopShelf10 said:
You can rewrite without decompiling.....i use an app called "silveredit"....you can also use a simple text editor on your pc like "edit pad"
Sent from my pocket rocket!!
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Click to collapse
Yeah Top, I know you can use note pad, but im very curious how you edit xml.s without a pc. I have ported whole themes using ninjamorph and zip themer but any xml I had to edit had to be done on my comp. Even if I used ninjamorph to extract the .xml, I could never edit it on phone alone. The Xml would just look like garbled code...i will check out silveredit tho.....If you get a chance check out Xml engine..just search in market It looks promising but is still in alpha....thanks
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I have changed market apps with ninja morph. You need signaptic from the market to resign it when your done. There os a bit of w down side to it but it works well.
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gunked said:
I have changed market apps with ninja morph. You need signaptic from the market to resign it when your done. There os a bit of w down side to it but it works well.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
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Click to collapse
Yup, I talked about this earlier in the thread
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I was just gonna say that.. or use ZIPsigner2. its free on the market to sign the apk when finished
Annex1 said:
I was just gonna say that.. or use ZIPsigner2. its free on the market to sign the apk when finished
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or get ahold of a metamorph zip. Prefferable a whole theme zip. You want the control file.....now rename the zip to .apk using root explorer, then use ninjamorph to decompile your new .apk file and delete everything in it except the .xml control file. Now take your new .png files and add them to the decompiled .apk in the correct folder or you may move whole folders if you like. After you have all your files in place use ninjamorph to recompile but dont choose to replace exsisting. Just hit no. this will leave your .apk in the workspace folder of ninjamorph. Go into root explorer and rename it back to .zip and move it to root of sd. Now go into zip themer and choose that zip file. Now change the output to /sd/whatever.zip, now hit build. Zip themer will build you a CWM flashable zip with all the mods for whatever apk.s you included using the exsisting files on your phone....not the easiest way and I wouldnt reccommend it just to theme 1 app. But if you want to theme multiple apk.s, even the ones ninjamorph cant theme like Swype and apps in data folder It works flawlessly....sounds like alot but literally takes 5min using root exp to move whole groups of .pngs instead of 1 at a time with ninjamorph and this can all be done without a computer.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App
I would rather not install another app to change icons. How involved is it to actually pull the apk from the ROM, replace the stock icon and push it back through.
I messed with this some on my Vibrant decompiling apk's and doing basic icon and xml changes but that was so long ago I don't even know if the process is relevant. I also only played with non stock apks like launchers, never anything that is already compiled to the ROM initially.
I'm wanting to push in custom icons for Facebook, Twitter, camera, market ect....
Thank you
Sent from my PG86100 using xda premium
blizzard1017 said:
I would rather not install another app to change icons. How involved is it to actually pull the apk from the ROM, replace the stock icon and push it back through.
I messed with this some on my Vibrant decompiling apk's and doing basic icon and xml changes but that was so long ago I don't even know if the process is relevant. I also only played with non stock apks like launchers, never anything that is already compiled to the ROM initially.
I'm wanting to push in custom icons for Facebook, Twitter, camera, market ect....
Thank you
Sent from my PG86100 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After you decompile look in the hdpi folder I and replace the picture named icon with one that have the same dimensions.
I think I'm not sure it was a long time when I messed with apps
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Kratz17 said:
After you decompile look in the hdpi folder I and replace the picture named icon with one that have the same dimensions.
I think I'm not sure it was a long time when I messed with apps
Sent From My Optimized R3Dimensions
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Click to collapse
Me too this is why I wanted to dbl check. Also, some of these apps split to another folder right? Would I need to pull both?
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Its not all that difficult, just have to decompile the app, swap icons in res/drawable/ folder I believe(might have to look elsewhere), recompile. Then as long as it's NOT a system app, sign it. Then push back to phone. There are a couple of tools to use. I like using just apktool, but apk Multi-Tool is good as well. Try them out, see which you like more.
Apk Multi-Tool
apktool
Do note though, doing it this way, whenever the app has an update(facebook, twitter,etc.) you will have to re-do this. Let me know if you have any other questions, i'll try to help.
and p.s. shortercut is a good lightweight app to add custom icons.
blizzard1017 said:
Me too this is why I wanted to dbl check. Also, some of these apps split to another folder right? Would I need to pull both?
Sent from my PG86100 using xda premium
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Click to collapse
you can (most of the time) swap the icon with 7zip, no need to decompile and recompile. Some apps put the icon in /res/drawable, some in /res/drawable-hdpi. If you need more help after trying this out go to the theme help link in my sig.
I'm using apk multi tools can anyone tell me what should happen when I chose apk then decompile.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2
You will get decompiled sources or resources or both. Sources may be difficult to compile into working APK but resources are useful to change some images or text.
How do you start to theme a ROM? I want to theme Padawan v5 with permission ofc. Can you do it with windows?
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Yup, in fact you might prefer it because of the existence of a tiny little photo editing program perhaps you've heard of it, photo shop.
You'll need a hex editor program I suggest notepad++
You need java runtime environment installed and in your environmental variables path.
Then you can install the android sdk for adb.
Now, you'll need an apk compilation tool.
Once you're able to decompile and recompile an apk without any changes and there's no errors you're ready to begin the fun.
The main 2 files used in a system theme are
/sytem/app/systemui.apk
/system/framework/framework-res.apk
The images are located /res/drawable-xhdpi of each apk....for stock dpi anyhow
Other things will be hex values in xmls
I think I'll keep buying them from the market. . .
studacris said:
Yup, in fact y might prefer it because of the existence of a tiny little photo editing program perhaps you've heard of it, photo shop.
You'll need a hex editor program I suggest notepad++
You need java runtime environment installed and in your environmental variables path.
Then you can install the android sdk for adb.
Now, you'll need an apk compilation tool.
Once you're able to decompile and recompile an apk without any changes and there's no errors you're ready to begin the fun.
The main 2 files used in a system theme are
/sytem/app/systemui.apk
/system/framework/framework-res.apk
The images are located /res/drawable-xhdpi of each apk....for stock dpi anyhow
Other things will be hex values in xmls
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Click to collapse
Thanks very much!
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rangercaptain said:
I think I'll keep buying them from the market. . .
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Click to collapse
Aha in not to long I'll be pretty good at it
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studacris said:
Yup, in fact y might prefer it because of the existence of a tiny little photo editing program perhaps you've heard of it, photo shop.
You'll need a hex editor program I suggest notepad++
You need java runtime environment installed and in your environmental variables path.
Then you can install the android sdk for adb.
Now, you'll need an apk compilation tool.
Once you're able to decompile and recompile an apk without any changes and there's no errors you're ready to begin the fun.
The main 2 files used in a system theme are
/sytem/app/systemui.apk
/system/framework/framework-res.apk
The images are located /res/drawable-xhdpi of each apk....for stock dpi anyhow
Other things will be hex values in xmls
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What tool do I use to compile apks and recompile them?
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There's a few to choose from
Apktool
Apkmanager
Apk multi tool
Up to you
studacris said:
There's a few to choose from
Apktool
Apkmanager
Apk multi tool
Up to you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you soo much you do not even know how much this helps me!
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studacris said:
Yup, in fact y might prefer it because of the existence of a tiny little photo editing program perhaps you've heard of it, photo shop.
You'll need a hex editor program I suggest notepad++
You need java runtime environment installed and in your environmental variables path.
Then you can install the android sdk for adb.
Now, you'll need an apk compilation tool.
Once you're able to decompile and recompile an apk without any changes and there's no errors you're ready to begin the fun.
The main 2 files used in a system theme are
/sytem/app/systemui.apk
/system/framework/framework-res.apk
The images are located /res/drawable-xhdpi of each apk....for stock dpi anyhow
Other things will be hex values in xmls
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What is the android adb for? Also what is XML ?
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Once all of the theming is done how do I make it installable via apk?
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Adb is the android debugging bridge
Xml is a file extension type containing plain text entries and hex color codes, then compiled into the resource.arsc within an apk, you'll need to decompile the apk to edit with notepad++
studacris said:
Adb is the android debugging bridge
Xml is a file extension type containing plain text entries and hex color codes, then compiled into the resource.arsc within an apk, you'll need to decompile the apk to edit with notepad++
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Click to collapse
How to decompile the apk? Can't seem to fiqure it out...
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Never mind went with apkmanager and now seeing all the pngs. Let the fun begin!
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GIMP always gives me this error and it says *colorize only works in RGB layers*. I don't know what to do :s
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ZacksBuilds said:
GIMP always gives me this error and it says *colorize only works in RGB layers*. I don't know what to do :s
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
select image on the top row. You will see the selections in the pop up. Select mode. Change the mode to RGB. Then you can edit the image. No need to change it back. Just save.
Sent from my Big Ass Outlaw Phone
---------- Post added at 09:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:08 PM ----------
Helpful hint .... Anything that is a .9 image ...leave alone for now.
Sent from my Big Ass Outlaw Phone
Bubbajoe40356 said:
select image on the top row. You will see the selections in the pop up. Select mode. Change the mode to RGB. Then you can edit the image. No need to change it back. Just save.
Sent from my Big Ass Outlaw Phone
---------- Post added at 09:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:08 PM ----------
Helpful hint .... Anything that is a .9 image ...leave alone for now.
Sent from my Big Ass Outlaw Phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry for me being so annoying but what is a .9 image? How can you tell?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda app-developers app
The image will have a .9 on the end of the name. They at harder to theme. You have to take care to not alter the black edges or you will break the image and the theme will not compile.
Sent from my Big Ass Outlaw Phone
Bubbajoe40356 said:
The image will have a .9 on the end of the name. They at harder to theme. You have to take care to not alter the black edges or you will break the image and the theme will not compile.
Sent from my Big Ass Outlaw Phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So the .9 pngs have a black edge that you can't go over or else it will break? I just use colorize>then I make it red
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The black edges in A .9.png tell the os how to stretch the image properly in landscape mode.
If those single pixel wide lines are not exactly the same when you compile it will error and break the apk.
At first DON'T DO A HUGE BATCH OF .9.pngs, cause if you do like 50 images and you messed up 1 it's really hard to pin down which one it was.
Do a few, compile, do a few more, compile, and so on until you're done.
I would suggest leaving the .9 images for last.
Try some of the other images. Compile and install your theme. That way you can see what your doing and if you like it. The .9 images ... You will want to use the square selector tool in gimp to surround only the image ...never the black lines. Then edit the image.
I always do a few images and test ..you may think something looks good on pc ..then find it looks different on the phone.
Ooh, and if your married...be prepared for "the look" from her .. That will let you know when you've worked long enough.
Sent from my Big Ass Outlaw Phone
Hopefully I've done enough searching, but couldn't find anything.
To those of you who have heard the Carbon app for twitter, and tried it, know that their refresh limit for notifications is 15 minutes, which is far too long for me.
I'm wondering if other 3rd party apps like Falcon and Tweedle can do it, why can't Carbon?
Is there any way I can modify its apk so that I can change the refresh time to maybe 1/2 minutes?
I've tried searching the twitter's developer site but honestly I'm like a lost sheep there, I've decompiled the apk with apktool.
Thank you for any help!
No, Twitter api limit is15 minutes, not any apps fault that is in the play store.
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How come other apps are able to stream?
Sent from my One V using xda app-developers app
RedGoblinz said:
Hopefully I've done enough searching, but couldn't find anything.
To those of you who have heard the Carbon app for twitter, and tried it, know that their refresh limit for notifications is 15 minutes, which is far too long for me.
I'm wondering if other 3rd party apps like Falcon and Tweedle can do it, why can't Carbon?
Is there any way I can modify its apk so that I can change the refresh time to maybe 1/2 minutes?
I've tried searching the twitter's developer site but honestly I'm like a lost sheep there, I've decompiled the apk with apktool.
Thank you for any help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes you can change the refresh rate,you will need to decompile the apk and find the right xml file that has that info,so you might want to learn about editing xml files and how to decompile and compile apks,before attempting this.
It depends on where the setting is kept: it may be in an xml file, but it could also be in a database, or even hard coded in the app. Either way you could possibly change it, it's just a question of whether you change a value in xml, sqlite, or a smali file.
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Hm, I've decompiled it and it seems to be using the twitter4j Java library. Everything inside are smali files. Where would this setting usually be at? o:
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