Invisible Homescreen Icons (Tips/Tricks) - Nexus One General

As a N1 user who prefers the clean look, I thought I'd post a quick tutorial for achieving invisible icons on your homescreen. I currently use 2 invisible icons on my primary homescreen, one for the camera, and one for a direct dial to my significant other.
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"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
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After setting up homescreen to my perfect specifications, I realized I wanted quick access to the person I call the most as well as to the camera, without cluttering the screen further. Using BetterCut, I was able to find a solution rather quickly...
Bettercut is a paid app available in Android market, although I am sure there are alternatives for achieving custom icons. This tutorial will focus on BetterCut exclusivly.
*It should be noted I am currently using ADW Launcher, which allows you to remove the labels of icons on your homescreen. This ability is key, and is avaiable in several 3rd party launchers
For Camera or any other App
1. Download a blank .png image.
I've included one in this thread, or you can just google "blank png"
2.Open BetterCut by long-pressing on your homescreen, selecting Shortcuts, then BetterCut.
3. Select Activity, followed by the App which you want to open.
4.Choose the option to Change Icon, and pick the picture of the blank .png in your gallery. The Create.
5. You should recieve notification your shortcut was created, but obviously you shouldn't see anything different on your screen. Move your trackball around to bring up the selector and find your invisible icon. Press and hold, and then drag to the desired location.
DONE!
For a contact (Direct Dial or Direct Message)
1. Download a blank .png image.
I've included one in this thread, or you can just google "blank png"
2.Open BetterCut by long-pressing on your homescreen, selecting Shortcuts, then BetterCut.
3. Choose Other Available Shortcut, then either Direct Dial or Direct Message. Using BetterCut's built in Direct Dial or Direct Message will result in your icon having a white frame with an identifier. Use Android's built in Direct Dial instead.
4. Select your contact's specific entry.
5. Choose the option to Change Icon, and pick the picture of the blank .png in your gallery. The Create.
6. You should recieve notification your shortcut was created, but obviously you shouldn't see anything different on your screen. Move your trackball around to bring up the selector and find your invisible icon. Press and hold, and then drag to the desired location.
That's it. You can now access your chosen App or Contact directly from your homescreen, without cluttering it with more icons! Just remember it's there or this tip will have very limited functionality
Thanks for reading, any feedback would be appreciated.

me wants teh wallpaper! pretty please!
and thanks for the useful guide!

balenax said:
me wants teh wallpaper! pretty please!
and thanks for the useful guide!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wallpaper attached, enjoy

What Widget is that where it shows battery status and storage space available?

GiRARDsays said:
What Widget is that where it shows battery status and storage space available?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its called Mini-Info, free in the market
QR Code

What are you using for the clock/weather widget?

rayslinky said:
What are you using for the clock/weather widget?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that looks like Beautiful Widgets set with a transparent background

Jep4444 said:
that looks like Beautiful Widgets set with a transparent background
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Confirmed.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App

That power strip showing the wifi/3g/bluetooth/gps...blah blah...
where's that from? or is that the 'invisible' icons you're talking about?

cue_32 said:
That power strip showing the wifi/3g/bluetooth/gps...blah blah...
where's that from? or is that the 'invisible' icons you're talking about?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The widget is called SwitchPro, available in the Market.
QR Code
The invisible icons are on the homescreen where no widgets or icons exist. The screencaps show where the icon is located, before and after using the trackball to select it. Obviously you can just press in that area and the "invisible" icon will be selected.

Related

Any black Manilla clocks?

I was looking for a black version of the Manilla clock to swap with the white default one but i can't find any.
I downloaded one off Marketplace but it did not work.
Is there any available for the Desire?
Cheers.
Try 'beautiful widgets'.
dawmuz said:
Try 'beautiful widgets'.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you need to pay for that?
Looking for something free.
Cheers.
What you mean manila clock? The flip clock or a plain clock?
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"lightbox_download": "Download",
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"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
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The flip clock like the one in your top left picture.
Top left picture is an app called Weather and Toggle Widget. You can download all sorts of different colours and styles for the clock.
It's very cheap to buy but also free if you know where to look and do not wish to support the dev.
Thanks for the replies.
I have downloaded this app and installed some clocks but they don't show
Any idea what i might be doing wrong?
Thanks.
jpopgt said:
I have downloaded this app and installed some clocks but they don't show
Any idea what i might be doing wrong?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Go to your apps menu, select "Weather & Toggle". Scroll to the bottom and select "Install clock skin from SD card". Press once on the theme you want then press OK. Go to home screen and watch the clock change!
ephumuris said:
Go to your apps menu, select "Weather & Toggle". Scroll to the bottom and select "Install clock skin from SD card". Press once on the theme you want then press OK. Go to home screen and watch the clock change!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply and sorry to be a bother but i am still having some problems.....
When i choose install clock skin from SD card i point it to theme but it only asks what i want to open the file with.
Maybe i am downloading the wrong themes.....can you point me to a compatable theme so i can try please?
Thanks.
The only themes i have used are from the same menu as "Install clock skin from SD". The option is "Clock skin downloader".
Then i follow the steps i stated above after choosing a black one.
I have followed your steps and i get a message saying themes has been installed successfully but there is no change to my home screen.
I will keep trying.
You have added the widget to your homescreen haven't you? lol.
Don't mean to be patronising but it's a case of add Weather and clock widget to homescreen. Download clock skin, apply clock skin. Done. That's all there is too it.
ephumuris said:
You have added the widget to your homescreen haven't you? lol.
Don't mean to be patronising but it's a case of add Weather and clock widget to homescreen. Download clock skin, apply clock skin. Done. That's all there is too it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
........think i better get back to Windows Mobile
Working now.
Cheers.
Nice one mate. Enjoy.

Hacked ADW w/ Large MIUI'ish dock

Updated to ADW latest github
I hacked up ADW launcher to have a MIUI'sih dock. It's nothing special but I kinda dig it so i figured id dump it here to share. I'm pretty sure it will only work in portrait mode because i never use landscape i didn't bother modding that source.
Thanks to Anderweb for having such a great open source project!
Thanks to Jrizzill for having such great icons!
- ADWSettings->Main Dock Style->5 Icons has been changed, to have 4 large icons as in pictures below. You must have ADWSettings->UI Settings->Dockbar checked to have swipe gesture open/close app drawer properly.
- Get icons here.
http://www.droidforums.net/forum/team-d1-miui/88474-miui-themed-icons.html
- To open/close the app drawer, swipe the dock apps.
- To add a MIUI icon to the dock
1) long press, select custom shortcut
2) press pick your activity, press applications, select application
3) click the icon to the left of the "pick your activity" button, navigate to the one you want to use, click ok.
4) drag and drop it into the dock.
- Use desktop visualizer (1x1 small) for other desktop shortcuts.
http://www.appbrain.com/app/desktop-visualizer/jp.co.bii.android.app.dskvzr
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"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"
}
OMG this is exactly what I've been looking for. Seriously when i switched from the Incredible to the Fascinate, the one thing I really missed was MIUI and having the large dock. I've been trying to hack launcher pro but this is great! Thank you so much.
Does this need root?
Awesome!
There are only a few bugs that I have found.
- For some reason I can't seem to trash anything on the screen :O Drag to the top of the screen and nothing happens, just reappears on the bottom.
- Sometimes when hitting the home button it forgets what apps are in the dock until I open the tray and close it.
Not sure if those have to do with the version that you compiled, or ADW itself. Anyhow not trying to get down on ya, considering this is exactly what I was looking for!
Can't wait for 2.2 MIUI!
tonyb81 said:
Does this need root?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
don't believe so
For all those out there using blackhole rom's if you are using the embedded ADW then you can't install this for some reason. I had to reinstall a clean rom with TW and then install this APK.
EDIT:
Sorry for the double post
Glad you guys like it. I will try and fix/tweak a few things. Also will try to make it so that it can be installed side by side with stock ADW.
1) haven't had that happen with missing dock apps. try using the old dock implementation, that's the config i'm using? will mess around with it.
2) do you see the trash icon appear at the top of the screen? try and drag it all the way up to the top and drop it there. it works for me.
3) you don't need root, but if you are using some ROM with ADW pre-installed, just remove it from /system/app and drop this apk in there.
andmer said:
Glad you guys like it. I will try and fix/tweak a few things. Also will try to make it so that it can be installed side by side with stock ADW.
1) haven't had that happen with missing dock apps. try using the old dock implementation, that's the config i'm using? will mess around with it.
2) do you see the trash icon appear at the top of the screen? try and drag it all the way up to the top and drop it there. it works for me.
3) you don't need root, but if you are using some ROM with ADW pre-installed, just remove it from /system/app and drop this apk in there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Odd, how do I implement the old dock config? Also yes the trash can appears, I drag the icon up, it turns red then it reappears at the original location just does not want me to change the setup haha
hmm weird with the delete.
make sure that this is not checked.
ADW Settings -> UI Settings -> Dockbar
andmer said:
hmm weird with the delete.
make sure that this is not checked.
ADW Settings -> UI Settings -> Dockbar
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, found it. Still seems to have the same issue sometimes. Once in a while only 2 icons in the tray will appear in the center, until I open the app drawer then close it. Once I do that all is good again.
i updated a new build, try that one.
How do I use these icons in adw? Step by step if possible.
updated to 1.3.1 and added some instructions.
tried using desktop virtualizer to make the other icons. It works but there small. How do I make them larger. I'm using the icons in the link you provided.
Thanks
The large icons in the dock seem a bit fuzzy.Am I the only one having this problem?
I used hd icons btw
updated to latest github commits.
"Application not installed" over and over
*Nm. Got it
Hi,
You've done a fantastic job.
But can you build a version with dock bar like the dock on mac os? It should look like this image below
cdn3.staztic.com/screenshots/199657-1.jpg
Please copy and paste, i do not have permission to post image here.
MIUI
icons in this launcher are bad, can you port MIUI ADW theme for this? becouse theme haves good icons from MIUI and can you made dock from MIUI(screen indicator, dock style). If this`ll complete, launcher`ll looks pretty good) thanks!
Hey there,
Why cannot be installed on Eclair 2.1?
* LE: I made a mistake, it's working now. Agree with with the fuzzy icons in the dock. And also, is there a way to increase the number of rows? I like the icons to have also their labels, and only this is how it will going to work. Thanks.
Can we change the dockbar??

More columns and rows for apps.

Sorry if this is the wrong place to ask, or if it's been asked before [if it has I haven't found it!], but I was wondering if there was a way I could add either more columns or more rows to my applications screen? Is there an app that can do this for me?
Thanks in advance.
-Gee
geesamsungs said:
Sorry if this is the wrong place to ask, or if it's been asked before [if it has I haven't found it!], but I was wondering if there was a way I could add either more columns or more rows to my applications screen? Is there an app that can do this for me?
Thanks in advance.
-Gee
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try http://www.appbrain.com/app/launcherpro/com.fede.launcher
I installed it and the program doesn't actually come up in my Applications, am I doing something wrong? I got it from the Market.
Install home switcher too then. Run that program and then choose to run launcherpro. Its a different home. Meaning you will have to configure everything on your home screen from new on. But just try it . Your old home will be still there and with the home switcher you can choose wha tyou want to run. Oh and to configure it press in the home menu button and then preferences and play with it a little.
Launcherpro will not appear in the applications list. Use the Home button and hold it until you get a pop-up menu where you can select between sence and lanucherpro.
Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk
Thanks for the swift reply - before I actually read them I was fiddling about and figured out what I need to have done, thank you both. However I was looking for something with a more stock look per-se, with the option to actually being able to add more columns and rows into the Application Drawer, not the live Home screen.
Not sure if I'm making any sense? Sorry, I'm fairly new at all this!
-Gee.
geesamsungs said:
Thanks for the swift reply - before I actually read them I was fiddling about and figured out what I need to have done, thank you both. However I was looking for something with a more stock look per-se, with the option to actually being able to add more columns and rows into the Application Drawer, not the live Home screen.
Not sure if I'm making any sense? Sorry, I'm fairly new at all this!
-Gee.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes you can have 5 columns in the app drawer with this , and what stock look are you referring to?
PAGOT said:
Yes you can have 5 columns in the app drawer with this , and what stock look are you referring to?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The terminology I'm using might be wrong so I'm sorry about this.
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"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"
}
What I'm trying to achieve is to have more icons down on the dock [in that applications view and the live home screen], and to add another column so there's not 4 but 5...
Thanks for the fast reply!
Hehe that I understood and you can do it with launcher pro 5 columns in app drawer and it can have even an 3D effect .
I mean the stock look , you mean the touchwiz look or vanilla look?
Which ever came with the phone - don't know the name sorry!
Is there any possibility to organize apps into folders in the menu and not only on the homescrees? Having 300+ apps can really be a pain in the ass when searching for a particular one, not to mention it would be great to have apps organized by type, e.g., games, system, social.
Dunno what adw launcher does , but there are apps on the market who can help you with organizing. I never did cuz it never made any sense to me. Too much work and I wont use it anyway. Boss was very proud of his organization of the apps and it took him always longer to find the app he needed in the folders....
So check out http://www.appbrain.com/search?q=organize+apps

WP7 (Windows Phone 7)-esque layout on Milestone

Hi all,
I posted this screenshot on Twitter last night and had some interest:
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"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"
}
So thought I'd show how I did it.
Yes, and before you say anything - I know the icons aren't quite lined up, but on screen you don't really notice (and it was late, I was tired, and I didn't want to start messing with images! Well, I know 8.25pm isn't late, but I had a busy day, ok? lol)
In the flesh:
So, I'm running MIUI 12.3 on my Milestone (great ROM!), but I doubt that matters - you just need LauncherPro as your Launcher and you should be good to go. It doesn't have to be registered to Plus, but if it is, you'll be able to fit in the battery as well as the clock (by resizing the 4x1 widget to 3x1)...
1) Install LauncherPro and Desktop Visualizer from the Android Market.
2) In LauncherPro settings, set Appearance of the Dock to Custom, and use this image: http://imgur.com/download/N4HuX
3) Under Advanced, set rows to 7 (yes!) and leave columns on 4. This is at the moment the best way I've found the icons line up. It seems the Milestone screen doesn't seem to match other Layout configurations I've seen!
4) You'll also want to Hide the Status Bar.
5) Get the icons from here and download to your SD card: http://cl.ly/587f170f67f0e691eec9
6) Using Desktop Visualizer, layout the icons in 3x1 or 1x2 widgets as above, making sure you Clear the icon text after you select the program to link the image to.
7) Delete all the items from the dock, and use this transparent icon from here for the centre menu button: http://www.elektrobike-hotels.com/markers/transparent.png
8) The clock is the Digital Clock Widget and the battery is BattStat.
I hope that helps some of you!
The source of the files I've used are here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=781455 and http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=783946. Thank you to those original posters - without you I wouldn't have even tried! However, I couldn't get either layout to line up exactly so had to make my own instructions.
It may be due to the fonts under MIUI, so this make not line up the same on other ROMs - I'm not sure! You may find the first link above actually works better for you if this one doesn't! I know different ROMs seem to layout things a bit differently!
Nice work!
It needs some fine tuning (size/overlap) and some more icons (modern).
Here's a screenshot on my Moto.
AndiTails said:
Hi all,
I posted this screenshot on Twitter last night and had some interest:
So thought I'd show how I did it.
Yes, and before you say anything - I know the icons aren't quite lined up, but on screen you don't really notice (and it was late, I was tired, and I didn't want to start messing with images! Well, I know 8.25pm isn't late, but I had a busy day, ok? lol)
In the flesh:
So, I'm running MIUI 12.3 on my Milestone (great ROM!), but I doubt that matters - you just need LauncherPro as your Launcher and you should be good to go. It doesn't have to be registered to Plus, but if it is, you'll be able to fit in the battery as well as the clock (by resizing the 4x1 widget to 3x1)...
1) Install LauncherPro and Desktop Visualizer from the Android Market.
2) In LauncherPro settings, set Appearance of the Dock to Custom, and use this image: http://imgur.com/download/N4HuX
3) Under Advanced, set rows to 7 (yes!) and leave columns on 4. This is at the moment the best way I've found the icons line up. It seems the Milestone screen doesn't seem to match other Layout configurations I've seen!
4) You'll also want to Hide the Status Bar.
5) Get the icons from here and download to your SD card: http://cl.ly/587f170f67f0e691eec9
6) Using Desktop Visualizer, layout the icons in 3x1 or 1x2 widgets as above, making sure you Clear the icon text after you select the program to link the image to.
7) Delete all the items from the dock, and use this transparent icon from here for the centre menu button: http://www.elektrobike-hotels.com/markers/transparent.png
8) The clock is the Digital Clock Widget and the battery is BattStat.
I hope that helps some of you!
The source of the files I've used are here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=781455 and http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=783946. Thank you to those original posters - without you I wouldn't have even tried! However, I couldn't get either layout to line up exactly so had to make my own instructions.
It may be due to the fonts under MIUI, so this make not line up the same on other ROMs - I'm not sure! You may find the first link above actually works better for you if this one doesn't! I know different ROMs seem to layout things a bit differently!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have been searching for the Battstat widget, but have not been able to get it from the market or anywhere.
Could yuou upload this for us, or assist with download.
Firstly, please don't quote a WHOLE massive post to ask a question about one line.
Secondly, does this help? http://www.appbrain.com/app/battstatt-free/net.bajawa.battery

ADW Launcher EX Question

I am using ADW Launcher EX on my Desire, however, I wondered if there was a way to place icons on the Homescreen(s), but not have them align to the grid?
I would like to put 3 icons on one line of my homescreen, with equal spacing at either side.
I hope this makes sense? Is there anyway to do this?
Very roughly, I want to go from this:
{
"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 this:
Have you tried desktop visualiser from market.
gippy2 said:
Have you tried desktop visualiser from market.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, but I am not sure how that would help? Any chance of a pointer?
Sent from my Amiga 500 using Workbench
good morning,
I think you can do this job on two ways.
First you can variegate your desktop columns. For example to 5.
Second way is to install the "simi folder widget". With this app you can adjust the size of your icon. This app can be so useful and looks very nice.
I hope I could help you.
Jamin_1 said:
good morning,
I think you can do this job on two ways.
First you can variegate your desktop columns. For example to 5.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But this would Screw up the top column, there would be a gap in there?
Jamin_1 said:
Second way is to install the "simi folder widget". With this app you can adjust the size of your icon. This app can be so useful and looks very nice.
I hope I could help you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have simi folder widget installed and have been using it, however, I cannot figure out how to resize the size of the icon (I know how to resize the Icons within the folder, but not the actual Widget Icon).
Thanks for the help
StuMcBill said:
Yeah, but I am not sure how that would help? Any chance of a pointer?
Sent from my Amiga 500 using Workbench
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use adw with 10 columns and rows,
[1] unlock desktop,[ 2]longpress homescreen select widgets.[ 3] select DV (1x1)small [4]configure 1c+1r [5]dv on homepage short press to options.[ 6]select icon now image if you want to change the application looks or just select application icon.scroll to app and select.[7] now select action,press launch app.select the app, if you dont want a label select clear.press ok and you now have the icon on homepage in the look you want but very small [8]longpress on icon and press option edit. [9] You now have 4 arrows and you can drag and enlarge to wherever you want. Hope this helps.
PS play around with the dv size options a well.
I know how you feel, Ive been wanting the ability to go "of the grid" ever since i started using android. (My last win mobile rom allowed me the ability to but any icon anywhere on the screen, including half on one screen half on another, stacking icons and so on.)
However I think for your situation the easiest solution would be to just change to 9 or 7 columns as follows
_#_#_#_#_
__#_#_#__
or
#_#_#_#
_#_#_#_
You can keep your equal spacing and have your icons staggered

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