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Android 7" tablet install in a C6
01-27-2013, 05:15 AM
#41
Pro
Thread Starter
To get the APK file, first, I try to find it on the dev's website. If they dont have it there, I pull it from the device using Astro File Manager (I didnt see an option to backup files in the CM file manager). As taken from this site HERE:
I found a nice apk tool on XDA Developers (Main Page) called Apk Manager Wanam (Tool DL page). It is fairly self explanatory, put the apk in the modding folder before you run the DOS script. Run script.bat, choose to unpack the apk (9) then find the unpacked folder in the projects folder. Mod the files you wish, tell it to recompile (11), tell it to sign it (12), and you should have a gtg file back in the mod folder (if you didn't mess up programing).
Android SDK is the main modding tools by Google. Most of it is far too advanced for me. The only tool I used was "draw9patch.bat" to make the file kosher. Background *.png files need to have a black and clear pattern on the border pixels to work. Drag a *.png onto the draw9patch.bat, it will open the editor, and make some matching black bars on each side.
The *.png files are located in the *.apk/res/drawable folder most of the time.
I use Photoshop to edit the *.png files. In the case of substituting pictures; I mod them, match pixels size with original, and save as *original_file_name*.
I only needed to mod code on the two Volume Control Widgets. It was one line for the background color on the first and moved 2 lines for the selector button on the second. I used "XmlNotepad" by Microsoft.
I found a nice apk tool on XDA Developers (Main Page) called Apk Manager Wanam (Tool DL page). It is fairly self explanatory, put the apk in the modding folder before you run the DOS script. Run script.bat, choose to unpack the apk (9) then find the unpacked folder in the projects folder. Mod the files you wish, tell it to recompile (11), tell it to sign it (12), and you should have a gtg file back in the mod folder (if you didn't mess up programing).
Android SDK is the main modding tools by Google. Most of it is far too advanced for me. The only tool I used was "draw9patch.bat" to make the file kosher. Background *.png files need to have a black and clear pattern on the border pixels to work. Drag a *.png onto the draw9patch.bat, it will open the editor, and make some matching black bars on each side.
The *.png files are located in the *.apk/res/drawable folder most of the time.
I use Photoshop to edit the *.png files. In the case of substituting pictures; I mod them, match pixels size with original, and save as *original_file_name*.
I only needed to mod code on the two Volume Control Widgets. It was one line for the background color on the first and moved 2 lines for the selector button on the second. I used "XmlNotepad" by Microsoft.
I love excuses to dust off the photoshop skills (or lack of
)! The screenshot below shows my first stab at playing with the png files. I'm definitely not finished yet, but it's getting there. The flag "shadows" are volume, the flags are prev/next, and the speedometer is the play/pause button. I'm thinking about ditching the shadows and using the speedometer, along with a similar tachometer icon, to use for prev/next, and use the flags for volume. I haven't decided quite yet. I'm also going to find an app to get rid of my home buttons and google search bar, even if I have to shell out the $17 for the one you use, though I'd rather not.
01-27-2013, 04:02 PM
#42
The speedometer was a great idea. The volume is kinda tricky, a gauge (maybe GM will send us the color C7 HUD pngs!) where the needle actually moved by volume would kick ***. Although I'm sure that would require some major code modding.
You may be able to find some other programs to clean up the UI, the amount of apps out there is overwhelming. TSF Shell allows widget stacking as well, I was thinking of making the volume invisible, and overlaying it on something else (maybe an album art widget).
You may be able to find some other programs to clean up the UI, the amount of apps out there is overwhelming. TSF Shell allows widget stacking as well, I was thinking of making the volume invisible, and overlaying it on something else (maybe an album art widget).
01-27-2013, 05:01 PM
#43
Pro
Thread Starter
The speedometer was a great idea. The volume is kinda tricky, a gauge (maybe GM will send us the color C7 HUD pngs!) where the needle actually moved by volume would kick ***. Although I'm sure that would require some major code modding.
You may be able to find some other programs to clean up the UI, the amount of apps out there is overwhelming. TSF Shell allows widget stacking as well, I was thinking of making the volume invisible, and overlaying it on something else (maybe an album art widget).
You may be able to find some other programs to clean up the UI, the amount of apps out there is overwhelming. TSF Shell allows widget stacking as well, I was thinking of making the volume invisible, and overlaying it on something else (maybe an album art widget).
01-27-2013, 05:38 PM
#45
Pro
Thread Starter
01-27-2013, 06:14 PM
#46
Hey I was playing around with your modified "mediabuttons" widget, and I couldn't get two flags to come all the way together. No matter how I resize the widgets, there's always a gap between them. Is there some kind of "no icon gap" or "overlapping" feature with TSF that allowed you to do this?
Might try something like this...
Or if you want a serious fan with some serious solar power...
Or if your are a mad scientist auto modder with electrical engineering background...
you can wire a solar panel directly to your climate controls.
01-27-2013, 08:14 PM
#47
Pro
Thread Starter
I am slightly worried as well, I use a solar screen that should keep direct sun off of it. I read a few pieces where people overclock the tab 2 and report 10 and 20 degrees running temps over official specs w/o problems (although it will probably hurt their battery life). During the summer I leave the windows cracked when in a store or at work or the top off altogether (if the chance of rain is 0). In the larger cities like Houston, Dallas, Phoenix, ect... crime can happen everywhere, but on the same note, I don't live near any really rough areas where I need to worry to much about break ins.
01-28-2013, 06:20 PM
#48
Pro
Thread Starter
You may be able to find some other programs to clean up the UI, the amount of apps out there is overwhelming. TSF Shell allows widget stacking as well, I was thinking of making the volume invisible, and overlaying it on something else (maybe an album art widget).
My home screen is now very clean, and has no doc icons or a notification bar. I can pop them into the screen at any time though, using Nova Launcher's built in touch gestures. These gestures are awesome. For example, I now have a gesture that launches Google Now voice search when I double tap the screen. Great stuff! I'm still tweaking my media icons, but I'll post another screenshot soon.
01-28-2013, 06:34 PM
#49
Excellent, I should have looked harder. It sounds like Nova has all the features I currently use in TSF.
I found the overclocking threads while looking around for more extreme temps that people have put the Tab 2 under. The PS2 controller mod that you are basing your steering wheel mod on shows that you could play some major games while it is mounted in the car, but I not young enough to believe I can drive well while distracted (couldn't be worse than sending a text, right?). So I shouldn't need an overclock.
I found the overclocking threads while looking around for more extreme temps that people have put the Tab 2 under. The PS2 controller mod that you are basing your steering wheel mod on shows that you could play some major games while it is mounted in the car, but I not young enough to believe I can drive well while distracted (couldn't be worse than sending a text, right?). So I shouldn't need an overclock.
Last edited by Firewater Burns; 01-28-2013 at 06:57 PM.
01-28-2013, 06:39 PM
#50
Pro
Thread Starter
Excellent, I should have looked harder. It sounds like Nova has all the features I currently use in TSF.
I found the overclocking threads while looking around for more extreme temps that people have put the Tab 2 under. The PS2 controller mod that you are basing your steering wheal mod on shows that you could play some major games while it is mounted in the car, but I not young enough to believe I can drive well while distracted (couldn't be worse than sending a text, right?). So I shouldn't need an overclock.
I found the overclocking threads while looking around for more extreme temps that people have put the Tab 2 under. The PS2 controller mod that you are basing your steering wheal mod on shows that you could play some major games while it is mounted in the car, but I not young enough to believe I can drive well while distracted (couldn't be worse than sending a text, right?). So I shouldn't need an overclock.
01-29-2013, 02:27 AM
#52
Pro
Thread Starter
Here's the latest and greatest! I'm pretty happy with this setup and I'll probably only make a few small tweaks to it in the future.
The Jake Skull is "Play/Pause"
The Tachometer is "Previous Track"
The Speedometer is "Next Track"
The left side of the Vette Wings is "Volume Down"
The right side of the Vette Wings is "Volume Up"
I edited the "volumewidget" to incorporate the vette wings, which was the major win of the night. It took some xml coding, but once you get used to the widget layout structure, it isn't too bad. It's also a LOT easier if you use a program like eclipse, which has an android emulation plugin that allows you to visualize the widget.
The Jake Skull is "Play/Pause"
The Tachometer is "Previous Track"
The Speedometer is "Next Track"
The left side of the Vette Wings is "Volume Down"
The right side of the Vette Wings is "Volume Up"
I edited the "volumewidget" to incorporate the vette wings, which was the major win of the night. It took some xml coding, but once you get used to the widget layout structure, it isn't too bad. It's also a LOT easier if you use a program like eclipse, which has an android emulation plugin that allows you to visualize the widget.
01-29-2013, 12:15 PM
#55
Pro
Thread Starter
For anyone that is doing a similar project, I'd be happy to send you these widgets free of charge.
01-29-2013, 09:05 PM
#56
Wow, that Nova Launcher really cleans up the page and with all the other work, it looks much better now.
When I first downloaded Android SDK, I opened up Eclipse, looked at is for a minute, realized I would need to go read hours of tutorials just to get started, and ran away to cry myself to sleep. Of course I have now spent many a hour messing with the apps, but that was mostly in Photoshop!
I have been working on a retro C1 interface (that I probably wont use because it wont match the car) for the media buttons, but the volume was going to be next. Please send me the apk that you modded. It would make things much simpler.
When I first downloaded Android SDK, I opened up Eclipse, looked at is for a minute, realized I would need to go read hours of tutorials just to get started, and ran away to cry myself to sleep. Of course I have now spent many a hour messing with the apps, but that was mostly in Photoshop!
I have been working on a retro C1 interface (that I probably wont use because it wont match the car) for the media buttons, but the volume was going to be next. Please send me the apk that you modded. It would make things much simpler.
01-30-2013, 02:55 PM
#57
Pro
Thread Starter
Wow, that Nova Launcher really cleans up the page and with all the other work, it looks much better now.
When I first downloaded Android SDK, I opened up Eclipse, looked at is for a minute, realized I would need to go read hours of tutorials just to get started, and ran away to cry myself to sleep. Of course I have now spent many a hour messing with the apps, but that was mostly in Photoshop!
I have been working on a retro C1 interface (that I probably wont use because it wont match the car) for the media buttons, but the volume was going to be next. Please send me the apk that you modded. It would make things much simpler.
When I first downloaded Android SDK, I opened up Eclipse, looked at is for a minute, realized I would need to go read hours of tutorials just to get started, and ran away to cry myself to sleep. Of course I have now spent many a hour messing with the apps, but that was mostly in Photoshop!
I have been working on a retro C1 interface (that I probably wont use because it wont match the car) for the media buttons, but the volume was going to be next. Please send me the apk that you modded. It would make things much simpler.
You should be able to download the modified volume widget HERE. Let me know if you have any issues downloading the apk.
01-31-2013, 11:20 AM
#58
Pro
Thread Starter
Nova launcher also has customizeable gestures. For example, I can two finger rotate to pop in the dock. Compare my screenshot above with this one. Nova launcher is awesome.
No ***** here to do that you are very good