- February 20, 2010 2:18 pm
**Update: If you’ve installed the files outlined below and are having trouble with permissions and SU pop-ups, stop back by the 2.0.1 Live Wallpaper thread on Alldroid and download the new 1.1.rom.tgz file.
Like many DROID owners out there, I was pretty bummed when I saw the official release specs for Android 2.1 on the Moto DROID. Two of the biggest visual changes — Live Wallpapers & the new 3D app drawer — were cut from the list. Performance issues and “exclusivity” have been two of the more prominent theories as to the decision. As far as performance goes however, if you’re here, reading on how to install unofficial features on your DROID, chances are you at least know your way around a rooted DROID and what to do with .apk’s, custom ROMs, and all kinds of other “underground” goodness.
For well over a month now, DROID users running custom 2.1-based ROMs have installed Live Wallpapers and had generally acceptable performance with only the occasional bug or FC cropping up. However, for those wanting to stay on a more stable (and quicker) 2.0.1 ROM, Live Wallpapers were a no go. But, the tide has finally turned thanks to many talented developers who have spent the last several months ripping the Android OS apart, resulting in greatly improved functionality and versatility. With that said, it is now possible to install Live Wallpapers on OS 2.0.1. Want to know how? Continue on…
To start, why exactly haven’t Live Wallpapers been working so well on 2.0.1? Well, to keep it rather basic, Live Wallpapers rely on Launcher 2.1 and a few other 2.1 specific frameworks to fully work (ie: to display and interact, you have to have the 2.1 launcher installed). A few ROMs such as Pete’s “Bugless Beast 2.1″ in particular have done a rather good job of bringing Live Wallpapers to the DROID platform — albeit on Android 2.1. Even still, the bugginess of the 2.1 Launcher on 2.0.1 in the rest of the custom ROMs has rendered Live Wallpapers as “look but don’t touch”.
A new solution has cropped up however that is allowing easy installation of Live Wallpapers on 2.0.1. via a .rom.tgz method. Make note however that these are still a look-only approach. Of course, if you install the 2.1 Launcher, you can always make use of the touchy feely nature of LWP’s. Still interested?
**This solution is for deodexed 2.0.1 phones only!!!
For those wanting LWP’s on their DROID running 2.0.1, you’ll need one, maybe two things depending on if you want the LWP’s to be interactive or not. First:
Again, you need to be running a deodexed/rooted ROM/phone to install!!. To install, copy the Live-Wallpaper.rom.tgz file in the link above to the root of your SD card. Boot into recovery mode and select the “Install” option, navigating to the .rom.tgz method of installation. Select the Live-Wallpapers.rom.tgz and let it do it’s thing. Once it’s done, reboot and enjoy! Simple stuff, see.
Now, if you only have the older 2.0.1 style launcher with the pull tab for a drawer, you’ll need to install the 2.1 Launcher to get the fully interactive wallpapers. (**The LWP’s will still move and stuff without the 2.1 Launcher, they just won’t respond to finger inputs without said resource**). For those wanting the 2.1 Launcher:
Put the second file above somewhere on your SD card. Remount the card and browse to wherever you stored the 2.1 Launcher.apk file, select it, and hit “install”. Now when you hit the home button, you’ll be prompted to use either the older 2.0.1 “Home” homescreen or the newer 2.1 “Launcher” homescreen. Either way, you’ll now have at least moving wallpapers. Pretty sweet, huh?
For even more, and unique LiveWallpapers, search “Live Wallpapers” in the market. My personal favorite so far is “Starfield” — a sort of Star Wars-like “lightspeed” effect that looks pretty much like the image below (except of course, the little stars are moving). Awesome stuff! Go ahead and give it a shot and let me know how it goes.
**Credit to Xeudoxus for the files linked above.
[Image Source 1 ] [Image Source 2]
- September 28, 2009 8:27 pm
While the last couple days have been full of Android home brew drama centering around Cyanogen and the smackdown Google’s law department were set to hurl at him, it appears as if we can all breathe a sigh of relief. While the worst case scenario had Cyanogen completely shut down, we can all be thankful that he and Google came to a rather peaceful though ultimately ridiculous solution — from here on out, Cyanogen mods will be bare bones. Users of said ROM’s will be able to talk, text, etc. on your Android/Cyanogen device, but to get the true bread and butter apps such as Gmail, any type of syncing, and so on will require a previous backup with a device that featured authentic Google Experience apps. Super. So, besides bad press what did Google accomplish here kiddies? Absolutely nothing. Oh wait…bad press. That’s it. In all reality, while Google has a right to protect their services and apps, the way they went about it was slightly less than nice. Don’t you think? Let’s try not to let it happen again okay?
**Update: It isn’t quite that bad. Follow up here
Gizmodo > Lifehacker > Cyanogen
Image Source
- September 22, 2009 5:09 am
Competition is a good thing, right? It can helps spur inovation or lead to the bastardization of existing technologies in the pursuit of all things new and cutting edge. With the Nokia PUSH N900 compaign , it is starting to seem we are finding both some cool cutting edge stuff yet retro. Case in point: The Rolodex done N900 style courtesy of the fine people at Tinker.it.
What the folks at Tinker.it did was take a Rolodex and hook it up to the N900 with Arduino and Bluetooth. As the Rolodex is spun, the Arduino tracks the position of the wheel and Bluetooths that specific position to the N900. Now each person is marked with a specific position so when the information is Bluetoothed over from the Arduino to the N900, the Python script uses the loaded library to pull the contact up as if someone had manually gone there. Once the touchscreen is activated on the phone, a call is placed. It is just that cool
Check out this and other N900 hacks at Tinker.it
Why Palm neglected to add a landscape keyboard throughout when they have watched Apple get chastised relentlessly over the last two years for the very same thing is beyond me. But, have no fear, average joes, you can take your destiny into your own hands. Those of you worrying about jailbreaking, hacking, or any other involved methods that are more often than not frowned upon can throw those worries out the window. All that is needed to access the landscape keyboard in the email application is a secret code. Now, you’ll have to enter this code every single time you enter mail, but hey, it’s better than what you’ve been dealing with. And now for the code…enter it exactly as shown (case sensitive and without quotes): “RocknRollHax”. After entering the secret james bond code, type away your little hearts while enjoying the added widescreen landscape.
Source: Mobile Whack, Pre Central
With all the excitement surrounding Windows Mobile 6.5, many developers will move onward leaving pre WinMo6.5 builds in the dust as they try to embrace the future. Unfortunately, becoming outdate in the gadget world is something that can happen literally overnight. However, thanks to “Da_G” from raphael forms and “dsi76″, pre WinMo 6.5 users can now reap one of the small benefits of 6.5 all while staying within the cozy if not grossly outdated pre 6.5 enviorments. Interested parties can get the full rundown on the install as well as the files needed over at XDA Forums.
Source: Gizmodo
- February 27, 2009 7:06 am
If you have an AMD Phenom II X3 laying around, today is the day to unlock its true potential. Seems as if the X3′s are really just quad core with one of its cores maimed. However, if you are fortunate enough to have certain motherboards (korean), a Biostar mobo, or a Bios with the option of “Advanced Clock Callibration”, you can restore life back to that lifeless core of yours. The process is actually quite simple. Under the Advanced Clock Callibration screen, switch the setting to “Auto” and away she goes! Now everything you do will be 25% faster! Ok maybe not, but at least you can feel good in that you payed for 3 cores and really got 4. I’m not a marketing/manufacturing guru by any means but manufacturing a quad core and then locking it down to 3 cores sounds kind of inefficient. However, I can see the other side of the coin in that it saves money from having to have another chip to design/market/make. To each his own I guess.
Source: Engadget, Slashgear
- February 7, 2009 11:19 pm
Do you use Google Reader? Are you tired of the standard look? I really wish Google would implement themes into Google Reader like they’ve done with Gmail. It would really add a nice touch to the versatile feed reader. Now before you get too excited take note that it does involve some file moving and terminal. So, if getting down and dirty with Leopard behind the scenes isn’t your thing, look else where. For the full rundown of specific instructions broken down by browser, head on over to Hicks Design Co now.
Source: Hicks Design Co
- January 30, 2009 10:10 am
One of Vista’s many complaints was the UAC. Just about everytime you make any change you were prompted to enter your password, a miniture hassle. However, in Microsoft’s attempt to appease their quickly defecting customers, they’ve made UAC in Windows 7 less obtrusive as well as changing stuff under the hood. In 7, it is now possible to write a script that completely shuts UAC off. “Awesome” you shout as you jump up and down. Get a tissue because soon after you shut if off, you will begin to cry. Why?
In crawling the internet I came across a very interesting (though probably illegal) how-to on how to hack the road signs and make them display whatever you want to say. Cool…Until you get arrested. So, continue on at your own risk to learn the quick and easy way to spread your message to the world.
