Google, do I need an umbrella? (tutorial)

Posted On // 3 comments

This is a tutorial for Android customization, before we get started you should be familiar with a few apps
Note: this is setup for a device with the resolution of 960x800

Multipicture Live Wallpaper, for this setup this app is for wallpaper cropping only, it has many more useful functions, but for now, we'll keep it simple.
Apex Launcher, I switched from Nova for this one simply because i can have a bigger grid.
Minimalistic text
UCCW(Ultimate Custom Clock Widget) The weather API is broken so Beautiful Widgets is a great alternative for the weather app for now.
Desktop VisualizeR
You can download the Icons here

Okay now that you're ready to go, start off by clearing your homescreen of any icons or widgets currently there.  Then go to Apex settings and apply the following:

1. Homescreen settings;
     Grid 10x8
     Margins=none
     one homescreen
     hide desktop indicator
     hide notification bar
     hide shadows
     hide icon lablels.

2. Drawer settings;
     these are entirely up to you

3. Dock settings;
     hide it, you won't be using it.
4. Behavior settings;
     Swipe down=notification panel
     double tap=app drawer
5. Advanced;
     Resize any widget=true
     allow widget overlapping
     keep in memory

Now that that's all out of the way, set the wallpaper using Multipicture live wallpaper. (This app is fun to learn)




This is what it looks like before adding any widgets.  You can start where you'd like to, but I prefer working top to bottom left to right. First to be added is WP7_Clock minimalistic text widget 2x1.  Next add the Calendar minimalistic text 3x1.











Now add a Desktop Visualizer widget 4x4 and resize over the image.  I use this as a shortcut to my gallery using the blank.png provided.




The next step can be done two ways. I use simi folder widget and desktop visualizer together to create folders.  You, however, may want to just add apps to the screen in folders and edit the icon by long pressing and selecting the blank.png.

The folders, for me, are from l to r "Games", "Social", "Superuser", and "Google"











Next add whatever weather widget you want to the white box area.  I'll include the UCCW files for my weather setup, just remember you can't use them until the weather issue is sorted out.  (The icons for beautiful widgets im using are google now by marcus)



Almost done, hang in there!

Now add the UCCW widget dockNotification 5x1 to the bottom of the screen keeping a 1x1 space on either side.

Lastly add a phone shortcut to bottom-left and app-drawer shortcut to bottom-right, edit both with the blank.png and you're set!

I'll include a lockscreen wallpaper(the inverse of "Grey Box") refer to my first tutorial on setting it up.








Thanks for reading and I hope you learned something!  Happy customizing!
Download the wallz, psd, and more HERE.
If you like my work you can help put my cats through ninja school.


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3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Have you looked into ssLauncher? No need for Desktop Visualizer and no need to worry about a grid. Your theme looks great, thanks for the tutorial.

Unknown said...

thanks! and I have installed it before but the default screen scared the shit out of me with all the chaos i just instantly deleted it. I'll get around to checkin it out though, i didn't know it didn't use grids! thanks for the heads up.

Unknown said...

I'm lost a bit at the "set wallpaper using Multipicture live wallpaper" stage. Are there settings within the app that allow me to adjust my screen to look like what is displayed here (before adding widgets), or is what you've provided there intended to be the wallpaper?