Light fonts for a stock S7 - AT&T Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge Questions & Answers

I have been deeply disappointed by the inability to use any fonts other than those on the Galaxy Apps store, largely because the selection is awful. The only font that looks even halfway reasonable is Helvetica Neue, but you only get the base font for your 99c. Light and condensed were left out, and apparently the font is slightly broken on top of that. I'm guessing the answer is no, but are there any light fonts (like Roboto Condensed/Thin) that will work on this thing without root?
That said, can someone who actually has the Samsung Helvetica font compare it to the free SamsungSans? Is it worth the money, or should I just stick with the one freebie and be happy?

Related

[THEME] Clarity (WAD2)

Hey guys, just to let you know about the second of my themes for the Xperia called "Clarity".
As with my previous, and any more I will create it is for the purpose of allowing maximal viewing of the walpaper of your choice while at hte same time giving you access to all the most important information you need. Also, with my themes, all will be created so that the taskbar can be on or off and not affect the theme.
They may also be used on other devices since the major resolution defining part is the wallpaper and I am not releasing these with specific wallpapers.
NOTE: The only planned additions *may* be to add a slide out dock with WiFi/BT connectivity. I try to keep these as light as possible for aesthetic and performance purposes.
Comments, criticism, suggestions welcome, enjoy some shots:
UPDATE: I have created the landscape version. Finally managed to get the file attached this morning, enjoy.
Note, in anticipation that most of you are in fact right handed, unlike myself, I have moved the "dock" with the indicators to the right side of the screen in landscape mode, so that when holding the phone one handed you can press them with your thumb. I did not place the dock (in landscape mode) to allow for the taskbar on (would take up too much space) this will be the only exception, and you can move the parts yourself if you need taskbar on.[/color]
NOTE: Like my other theme, the message links may not take you exactly where you want, but they can be edited to take you directly to SMS and to a specific email inbox. Because I don't know what you name your inbox, I can not do that for you.
Enjoy.
Looks awesome dude, wd. Soz but yeah I'm not really in to themes, although I wish I could get the taskbar to be black but also with that shiny texture you know, something to do with base hue. All themes with a black taskbar looks like too gray. but ah well.
Like the work youre doing!
Thank you.
Thank you for your kind words, I agree, theming isn't for everyone, but as a person used to phones with flashy UIs and more so a person that will do anything he can to that UI to make sure his wallpaper can be seen as much as possible (the entire first page on my iphone is blank apart from the wallpaper, and the lockscreen has nothing but the clock and the taskbar (which is invisible) icons.), I try to bring the perfect mix of function and aesthetics.
I know what you mean about the titlebar, Surely there is a way to edit one of the existing themes? I know you can make your own themes (although when I tried it, it refused to display on my Xperia) with the nice gradiented titlebar in black.
AxE-mAn said:
Looks awesome dude, wd. Soz but yeah I'm not really in to themes, although I wish I could get the taskbar to be black but also with that shiny texture you know, something to do with base hue. All themes with a black taskbar looks like too gray. but ah well.
Like the work youre doing!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah... But I use Silver Xperia and it actually has this glossy but grey task bar.
doministry said:
Yeah... But I use Silver Xperia and it actually has this glossy but grey task bar.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see what you mean, i just set my experia to the Silver Theme and it is the glossy gray (silver) one. I wonder why the black Xperia theme doesn't have this "glossy" bar but instead a flat black one. The silver theme is yuck though, (especially on my Black X1), although saying that, I'm making themes for WAD so I obviously don't like either of them much.
alias_neo said:
I see what you mean, i just set my experia to the Silver Theme and it is the glossy gray (silver) one. I wonder why the black Xperia theme doesn't have this "glossy" bar but instead a flat black one. The silver theme is yuck though, (especially on my Black X1), although saying that, I'm making themes for WAD so I obviously don't like either of them much.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well Silver Theme is yuck? In fact you can't do too much inside of WM themes, and his one has just a perfect readability.
Yeh
doministry said:
Well Silver Theme is yuck? In fact you can't do too much inside of WM themes, and his one has just a perfect readability.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeh, "yuck". It's English, right? His one? Whos, what, has perfect readability?
alias_neo said:
Hey guys, just to let you know about the second of my themes for hte Xperia called "Clarity".
As with my previous, and any more I will create it is for the purpose of allowing maximal viewing of the walpaper of your choice while at hte same time giving you access to all the most important information you need. Also, with my themes, all will be created so that the taskbar can be on or off and not affect the theme.
They may also be used on other devices since the major resolution defining part is the wallpaper and I am not releasing these with specific wallpapers.
Anyway, here are some shots, if there is interest i will complete a landscape version and get the theme files attached.
NOTE: The only planned additions *may* be to add a slide out dock with WiFi/BT connectivity. I try to keep these as light as possible for aesthetic and performance purposes.
Comments, criticism, suggestions welcome, enjoy some shots:
P.S. it may or may not be obvious, I only just realised, but the "indication" of calls/messages/sms as shown by the relevent icon "lighting" white. No calls/email/sms will leave it see through. Each item when clicked will link you to the relevent place, of course.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, greatest theme I have ever seen. PLEASE REALEASE IT!
I can't wait for it, this is exactlly what I have been lookin´ for!
Ok
bobbanswe said:
Wow, greatest theme I have ever seen. PLEASE REALEASE IT!
I can't wait for it, this is exactlly what I have been lookin´ for!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well ok, that kind of enthusiasm from just one person is enough to warrant the effort.
I'm off out now, give me until about 1am GMT and I should have a release all being well and I get back to my hotel in one piece, and the internet is still working.
The wallpapers (except the girl) are all included with the Xperia by default (you may need to set them to stretched to display right) so I will include the picture of "Pepper", although all credit must go to her creator over at Deviant Art for the wallpaper itself. (Look for Pepper Love).
alias_neo said:
Yeh, "yuck". It's English, right? His one? Whos, what, has perfect readability?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, I was just surprised that you wrote Silver Theme is yuck. Of course it's correct english
Actually I talk about the whole theme not standby only.
So I thought X1 Silver Theme is perfectly readible - especially in menus and apps - it has a black coursor bar or however you call it, in reverse to most other ones where it's grey or green etc. I hope I'm clear...
Looks intriguing, will surely give it a try when it is released!
I see.
doministry said:
Ok, I was just surprised that you wrote Silver Theme is yuck. Of course it's correct english
Actually I talk about the whole theme not standby only.
So I thought X1 Silver Theme is perfectly readible - especially in menus and apps - it has a black coursor bar or however you call it, in reverse to most other ones where it's grey or green etc. I hope I'm clear...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh I see what you mean, I never really thought about the theme outside of the Today screen. Probably because the bold white text on the black taskbar of the black theme seems to give a perfect contrast and readability. I tried the Silver theme briefly and it's gray taskbar wasnt too nice and the brush steel type wallpaper I don't like, but then I don't particularly like the Black one either with its colours.
Anyway, I just got back to my hotel so I'm going to see if I can get quickly chuck together a landscape bit for this and release the .wadesktop files here asap.
Attached
The theme is now attached in first post, please let me know if it's all working correctly. Enjoy.
I don't have WAD2, but I'd just like to comment that the theme looks awesome.
How can I install the theme???
please help!!!!
Ok
Concentrate said:
I don't have WAD2, but I'd just like to comment that the theme looks awesome.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you.
thenry1988 said:
How can I install the theme???
please help!!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First of all you need to have Wisbar Advance Desktop 2.
According to the Wisbar website they are like executable cabs but they work via the Wisbar program. It says all you need to do is copy the .wadesktop file to your device and run it (double click) it should extract it all correctly.
Then just go into change theme and apply it. (By hold-clicking the background while in WAD2.)

ARS Technica N1 screen article [3/25]

Found this article on ars technica about the Nexus One screen:
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/news...exus-ones-screen-science-color-and-hacks.ars/
In this article, I'll explore the issue of the Nexus One's screen resolution in some detail. I'll also talk a bit about the science behind how the screen works, and I'll show you some cool image hacks that let you turn greyscale images into color, just by using pinch-and-zoom in the Nexus One's gallery application.
Note: We offered a Google a chance to comment on the issues raised in this article, but we received no reply as of press time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A very interesting article. Ars is a cut above the rest when it comes to in depth discussion.
Thanks for the link.
Good read. I had a very hard time with small text when I first got the N1, and with a Droid side-by-side with my N1, a had people who could not see the artifacting that I was seeing. At least I know I wasn't going ape****, and now I have an explanation. Oddly, I don't mind these things about the screen now.
Great article, thanks for sharing.
Excellent article, thx for sharing this. While it was a bit beyond my scope of expertise, I do nonetheless appreciate an in-depth analysis.
I have no idea what they're saying. oO
Anyone want to provide the cliff's notes' version?
They're saying that the use of the PenTile matrix for the display means that text on the N1 is less sharp/crisp than text on non-PenTile displays such as the Droid, and that the effective resolution is actually much smaller (392x653) than the advertised 800x480 due to the fact that the read and blue blocks are twice the width of green.
danguyf said:
They're saying that the use of the PenTile matrix for the display means that text on the N1 is less sharp/crisp than text on non-PenTile displays such as the Droid, and that the effective resolution is actually much smaller (392x653) than the advertised 800x480 due to the fact that the read and blue blocks are twice the width of green.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So this has no effect on anything but text then?
Paul22000 said:
I have no idea what they're saying. oO
Anyone want to provide the cliff's notes' version?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is another thread somewhere on N1 forum which has a better explanation.
Anyways... here are my notes and some extra stuff that will help you understand things better []
This article is about AMOLED screen in general. Author uses N1 for reference as it is the first mainstream phone to use this screen.
In traditional screen language, a pixel is a small square with three colors. Red Green Blue (RGB). In AMOLED, we have three independent LEDs each of different colors grouped together to create these colors.
Now traditionally, one would think that AMOLED will have RGB LED combinations and we can call them pixels... this would have made AMOLED as perfect replacements for traditional LCDs.
When LCDs were introduced... people realized that fonts look bad as LCDs are pixel blocks and create jagged looking fonts. Companies like MS devoted years of research to comeup with truetype/cleartype fonts so that LCDs can display smooth fonts.
However, AMOLED uses RGBG format. R and B are twice the thickness of green. So better way to write them is "RRGBBG" where each R,G,B are of same width. This is for LED life reasons. Thus, your pixel, in traditional sense (RGB together) will be approximately twice the width.
Thus all the font display technologies that works on LCD doesn't work anymore. and fonts look bad on AMOLED.
Now, when I was watching windows 7 presentations... MS has developed new font rendering schemes for AMOLEDs. They showed some results and you can zoom in continuously without seeing jaggedness of fonts.
Thus, this is not an screen issue... AMOLED is a new technology... people haven't figured out everything yet. having said that... AMOLED has way too many advantages over LCD and therefore.. most new devices are adopting it. Soon we should see a solution.
BTW.. i am a mechanical engineer.. so I might have used some wrong technical terms.... I might be wrong as well. []
arkavat said:
However, AMOLED uses RGBG format. R and B are twice the thickness of green. So better way to write them is "RRGBBG" where each R,G,B are of same width. This is for LED life reasons. Thus, your pixel, in traditional sense (RGB together) will be approximately twice the width.
Thus all the font display technologies that works on LCD doesn't work anymore. and fonts look bad on AMOLED.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lost me here. I don't see the connection between the two paragraphs... Let's see...
So you're saying that text looks bad on AMOLED screens because Microsoft technologies don't work on them, correct?
If so, what does Microsoft have to do with Android phones? How would their technologies get into Android in the first place?
And does that mean that Google just has to release new font "smoothing" in Android 2.2 and all issues will go away?
Paul22000 said:
Lost me here. I don't see the connection between the two paragraphs... Let's see...
So you're saying that text looks bad on AMOLED screens because Microsoft technologies don't work on them, correct?
If so, what does Microsoft have to do with Android phones? How would their technologies get into Android in the first place?
And does that mean that Google just has to release new font "smoothing" in Android 2.2 and all issues will go away?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
oh.. no... Microsoft cleartype font is just an example.... there are other things available... it think truetype is by apple... then there is opentype (opensource) etc...
Google should be able to solve it by using different rendering algorithms.
Again... just for the sake of example... Micorosft has developed a new sub-pixel redndering to handle AMOLED on Windows Phone 7. http://www.flickr.com/photos/marypcb/4362590066/
So yes.. it is possible.
Ah I see.
So just to make it clear, the entire Ars Technica article can be solved with software, correct?
Paul22000 said:
Ah I see.
So just to make it clear, the entire Ars Technica article can be solved with software, correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes... but it is not so easy. The pixel structure in AMOLED is quite different than LCD. Sub-pixel rendering technologies need to be optimized for this pixel structure.
arkavat said:
There is another thread somewhere on N1 forum which has a better explanation.
Anyways... here are my notes and some extra stuff that will help you understand things better []
This article is about AMOLED screen in general. Author uses N1 for reference as it is the first mainstream phone to use this screen.
In traditional screen language, a pixel is a small square with three colors. Red Green Blue (RGB). In AMOLED, we have three independent LEDs each of different colors grouped together to create these colors.
Now traditionally, one would think that AMOLED will have RGB LED combinations and we can call them pixels... this would have made AMOLED as perfect replacements for traditional LCDs.
When LCDs were introduced... people realized that fonts look bad as LCDs are pixel blocks and create jagged looking fonts. Companies like MS devoted years of research to comeup with truetype/cleartype fonts so that LCDs can display smooth fonts.
However, AMOLED uses RGBG format. R and B are twice the thickness of green. So better way to write them is "RRGBBG" where each R,G,B are of same width. This is for LED life reasons. Thus, your pixel, in traditional sense (RGB together) will be approximately twice the width.
Thus all the font display technologies that works on LCD doesn't work anymore. and fonts look bad on AMOLED.
Now, when I was watching windows 7 presentations... MS has developed new font rendering schemes for AMOLEDs. They showed some results and you can zoom in continuously without seeing jaggedness of fonts.
Thus, this is not an screen issue... AMOLED is a new technology... people haven't figured out everything yet. having said that... AMOLED has way too many advantages over LCD and therefore.. most new devices are adopting it. Soon we should see a solution.
BTW.. i am a mechanical engineer.. so I might have used some wrong technical terms.... I might be wrong as well. []
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
good stuff thanks
Since the Pentile matrix pattern does a sort of hardware based antialiasing, is there a way to turn off the sub pixel rendering engine in Andriod? Since it would be redundant.

Adjusting screen color balance

The screen is beautiful with its deep blacks, but unfortunately the color temperature is way off. It's evident just looking at it, and comparing side by side with my calibrated monitor it shows quite clearly that it's way too blue.
I've googled around, but couldn't find a way to adjust the color. However, I noticed that the video player app gives you the option "Color Tone", providing you with Normal, Warm and Cold. Warm isn't perfect but it's a whole lot better than the default. The interesting thing is that choosing a different color tone not only changes the color for the video playing, but for all the ui elements as well, including the notification bar...
Of course once you exit the video player color goes back to normal... so is it possible to make an app that can apply this color tone change to the entire system?
actually that's the way it supposed to be, more blueish / redish something like that, there was a Documentary somewhere here in the forum that explains why.
it is just the way how the AMOLED screen is designed.
to me, it's perfect!
some people that are used to LCD or other similar screens are not used to it.
Color temp is color temp, no matter the tech. If you like the way it is that's great, but I'd like to know if it's possible to modify it. As demonstrated by Samsung's video player it appears to be so.
Oleds have a ridiculous gamut, while not "proper", I actually like, and maybe that's what you're referring to when you say it was designed that way.
AllGamer said:
actually that's the way it supposed to be, more blueish / redish something like that, there was a Documentary somewhere here in the forum that explains why.
it is just the way how the AMOLED screen is designed.
to me, it's perfect!
some people that are used to LCD or other similar screens are not used to it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're talking about the Desire/Nexus One screen being red/pinkish? Well the Samsung is the opposite; it is slightly too green/blue. It's not too far off though, but I'm not aware of how to recalibrate it.
Did a little digging into the source code. Looks like this is controlled by Samsung's "mDNIe" code, see s3cfb_mdnie. As far as I can tell there's several hardcoded modes like "mDNIe_VIDEO_WARM_MODE" or "mDNIe_UI_MODE", etc... I think this is what the video player is using to adjust the screen color.
Unfortunately I don't know anything about android development... anyone has any idea if we can use this in our own apps?
lolzerlol said:
Did a little digging into the source code. Looks like this is controlled by Samsung's "mDNIe" code, see s3cfb_mdnie. As far as I can tell there's several hardcoded modes like "mDNIe_VIDEO_WARM_MODE" or "mDNIe_UI_MODE", etc... I think this is what the video player is using to adjust the screen color.
Unfortunately I don't know anything about android development... anyone has any idea if we can use this in our own apps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting...maybe in a short while someone will come out with an app to be able to adjust the settings?
I took some pictures of my four Vibrants and was surprised to see how blue my screen was compared to the other three. To be honest, I actually like it. My phones #4 to the far right, which is obvious from the pictures.
Either way...the screens are amazing!
lolzerlol said:
Did a little digging into the source code. Looks like this is controlled by Samsung's "mDNIe" code, see s3cfb_mdnie. As far as I can tell there's several hardcoded modes like "mDNIe_VIDEO_WARM_MODE" or "mDNIe_UI_MODE", etc... I think this is what the video player is using to adjust the screen color.
Unfortunately I don't know anything about android development... anyone has any idea if we can use this in our own apps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
any new updates on why some of these phones have a blue tint and others don't. Still wondering if I chould exchange it, I've put my Vibrant side by side next to Epics, Fascinates, and Captivates, some have blue tints, some don't
Really odd, I can't figure out if I like it or not, my eyes are so trained over the years to more warm and yellow toned whites, this blue thing is throwing me for a loop.
supercurio is currently implementing a color correction fix in his Voodoo kernel, but it is still not finished. The color correction is active only at 100% brightness at the moment.
For more info http://project-voodoo.org or you can find the voodoo thread here in the android development forum.

Why all bright theme

I'm wondering why recently Samsung Amoled display model all come with bright theme instead of deep black theme? Any idea?
Maybe they realized battery drain is not significant or maybe they thought since people like pure white of stock android, Note should follow suit.
It looks better imho, and it's also somewhat in accordance with Material guidelines. Android itself shifted to brighter themes.
iR¡[email protected]!* from Galaxy Note 4 via Tapatalk
I still prefer more deep black background, coz for me it look just cool! But at least Samsung give us an option to choice either bright or black theme.
No themes here. Google now launcher on an unlocked note 4. Simple enough for me
I prefer a dark theme. Easier on the eyes and it does affect battery life.
Sent from my SM-N910U
Bright is the new trend now. More nicer and material looks.
I agre, SAMOLED is at its best when showing off its perfect constast ratio and pure blacks on a dark theme...
I, personally, am not a huge fan of the new material design but that's the great thing with Android... don't like it? Change it

Possible to design my own theme?

Any know if we can design our own themes for the S8? HTC allow you to create your own themes online using an editor they have online! Is there anything similar for Samsung thats easy to use?
http://developer.samsung.com/theme
I don't understand paid service: do I have to pay to be able to design my own theme, or do I get paid when somebody else likes my theme and wants to buy it?
Also, do you know of any software to design theme on the computer? Phone is the last thing I would want to do any work on.
Well, I just signed up for it. Basically it asked for two links (I gave them one of my portfolio and one of my resume), your name, business (if it applies), and "Why do you want to develop themes for Samsung" (lol...). They said they will send an email soon letting me know the answer.
Cool, keep us posting plse.
Here is a post I made about designing themes to give people ideas
Samsung Themes is a global service available in
185 countries around the world. If you wish to share
your design with the world, become a theme designer!
This is an open invitation to all developers and digital designers to not only add a big name branded digital product theme to your portfolio to build more credibility and rep fast and effectively.
nut can also help with establishin
first download the Samsung theme Editor.
Samsung Theme Designer 2.0.4 is an authoring tool for designers and developers to create theme content for Samsung mobile phones.
Main Features of Theme Editor
you can read about the main features of the theme editor here:
To build a theme you will need to Follow these instructions this should help you layout a good theme that looks good that you can add as a solid reputable digital product to your portfolio.
1. choosing a backround
choosing a back round is the focal point if you will of the entire theme you should choose an image that isn't to busy so when you add smaller characteristics such as buttons and other elements they are easy to identify.
Choosing a background should be with an image that pops or makes a statement. here are a few guide-lines when choosing a background what to look for.
scenery backgrounds should have solid contrast you will want to use the primary color or its opposite for the buttons and other touch elements
dark or black backgrounds - you will want to off set dark backgrounds with bright colors or white touch elements.
white back rounds you will want to use dark or bright colored touch elements.
2. touch elements
Touch elements are the features that a user will need to easily identify to operate the device. You want to use flat elements with darker backgrounds and/or colorful backgrounds.
when useing lighter backgrounds or white backgrounds you will only want to use flat icons or touch elements if the are dark or grey.
3. Themeing
When themeing you want to layout a specific background to do so start by writing down a category of interest.
lets say you picked beach themes you have beach themes in many assortments from bright with lots of sunlight, many colors and multiple contrast(sunsets), darker night beach time themes. you also need to consider what is going to be more dominant the beach, the ocean or the sky.
lest say you have a beach theme in mid day with lots of ocean waves. the main colors are going to be the darkest colors which would be a variant of blue.
To make this look good you want touch elements that are opposite of the contrast such as white, light grey, or black, you could use blue or dark blue but would only be drowning the theme in blue.
You will then need to find sets of elements shapes and styles either rounded , circular or square to fit you theme.
depending on the contour of the background is how you should determine the style of buttons.
It is pretty much that simple start with a background and build it up with features.
For more ideas and tips on styling themes or digital art visit.
Here is some ery good content Also please check them out
Frontside Evolution
Creative Web Actions
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