Let’s build it! We’ve got an amazing opportunity for all of you to help design and build a custom, premium theme. We’ll roll out the project in phases, paying close attention to all of your input, from critique to ideas. We’ll begin with ideas and conceptualization, decide on all the features, move on to designing the theme, then we’ll need beta-testers before we finalize and name the theme. A few lucky readers will be randomly selected to win free copies of their dream theme!
PHASE ONE (COMPLETE): Concept Phase one began with two areas of focus: 1) direction and 2) features. The following are features we will incorporate, based on your feedback in the comments.
- DIRECTION: Simple + Fast / Clean (No heavy-svg coded animations) / Feature rich + Customizeable
- FEATURES: 4-8 Custom Icons on Homescreen / Spacebar for Quick Launch / Medium-Large Text / Bottom Zen / Time + Date launch their Apps / Wallpaper friendly / Profiles + Weather slot / No Precision icons, no transitions and definitely no FIXED icons.
Thanks for all of your input during this phase. I read through all of your comments and made decisions based on the most popular feature requests. As a note, many of you asked for the ability to change font size or color — I wanted to address this specifically and let you know that it is currently not possible. However, as for the rest of the requests, there was a general consensus among you and I’m confident that we are on the track to build your DREAM theme! PHASE TWO (COMPLETE): Framework The following draft depicts the foundation of your DREAM theme. This composition has been created with your input from Phase one in mind.
Your DREAM theme has two modes: full (first image) and minimized (second image) that you may switch between at any time using a button to the right of date/time. Full mode includes hidden today, weather slot, profiles button, 8 docked customizeable icons, spacebar quicklaunch (for non-touch devices), large date/time, and is is wallpaper friendly. Minimized mode includes hidden today, 8 customizeable icons in a vertical sliding dock, profiles button and is wallpaper friendly. Figures (N) and (M) represent area for the Notification items and unread Messages indicator, respectively. Based on your comments (thanks!), the large date/time will remain the same in both modes but the profile icon + mode switch button will resize. Many of you asked for a numeric battery/signal, so we are going that route. You’ve convinced me to keep the weather slot for both modes. Also, there was a lot of talk about support for hotkeys so I will implement that as well.
PHASE THREE (COMPLETE): Design Onward! Based on all the feedback (the large majority of which was regarding the features of the theme), I’ve developed these two designs around the existing framework we came up with. The consensus was that you all wanted something with bold splashes of high contrast color, so here you go.
Design 01) Clean, smooth colors with a sharp touch of contrast. Design 02) Gritty, futuristic interface with sharp highlights. Both themes have the following features: dual mode (switch between 8 icon dock vs 4 icon vertical slider), weather slot, large date/time, profile icon, hidden today, numeric battery/signal, HOTKEYS for everything (lol!), wallpaper friendly (admittedly, design 01 is generally more wall friendly than design 02 – but both will support it). Note: hotkeys only available for non-touch devices (the reason I’ve numbered the custom icon slots is because I plan to make them accessible via hotkeys ALT + #, as requested).
PHASE FOUR (Complete): Beta-Testing The battle over the theme design was divided, with many of you liking features from both phones. Ultimately, a modified version of Design 02 won out. Changes included simplifying the design itself to make it cleaner, look less cluttered, and a different clock font (apparently nobody digs Terminal, haha). The first image is regular mode and the second is minimized mode (with a vertical slider) – you can easily switch between modes using the icon to the right of the clock.
PHASE FIVE (Complete): Thank you to everyone who chimed in with names, after much deliberation we have decided to go with ORION as the theme name (Thank you Handsett – you’ll be receiving a VIP code for a free copy of Orion in you mailbox shortly!).
WRAP-UP: WHEW! It’s been a very, very long and exciting journey as we broke new ground when we first came up with the crazy idea to build this theme. I think it was more than worth it. We learned a lot from all of the feedback, from specific features you need on your BlackBerry themes to your ideas on layouts and thoughts on color combinations. And, as promised, I’ll be randomly giving away free VIP codes to those of you who left comments on the blog… so be checking your inbox for those.
Finally, I am proud to announce that ORION, your Dream Theme, is now available at Elecite.
Thank you,
Rob
This again is a groundbreaking idea. And Elecite it doing it! I’m very proud to have an affiliation to your team. Can’t wait to see how this one pans out. Sounds like the perfect theme.
windows mobile theme
Must have hidden today and weather slot preferably in the top banner. No precision icons – they are horrid looking. No transitions – they are annoying. Enough space in the top banner for at least 6 mini icons if not more. Wallpaper friendly. Bottom zen. Replace those blasted red stars on the icons into another color. QL for spacebar. Umm, that’s it from me lol
A great exact depiction of an android theme. with the look of different switchable home pages.
I would like a Windows 7 theme, one that looks and feels like windows 7. As much as i like Inspirat, it is not windows 7.
What I look for in themes are:
spacebar launches quicklaunch.
Profiles option built in.
Time launches clock option.
Wallpaper friendly.
6-8 user apps on the home screen.
orange and charcoal grey. something that has a neat design with a dedicated weather spot. No transitions or precision icons. at least four customizable icons and has the ability to use wallpaper. no themed icons (mac, windows, etc.) . Must have numeric battery and signal meters. No shortcuts to media (music, videos, etc) No animating wallpapers. Large easy to read clock with full date that is also easy to read. Quicklaunch feature would be great as well. No screens that are hard to read, etc dark coloring or small fonts. I think that is all. I have been looking for such a theme for a very long time.
Light on memory. Optimized images.
Hidden docs optimized for work but cool enough to look like a new phone no one has seen before. I have an 8830 and will gladly beta test the theme. Os 5
Hi, from exploring, purchasing and trying out a range of themes I found the following points of note and worth considering:
1. A lot of fixed icons are not useful to high level users of BlackBerry devices, and if these are even given a range of choices, then a lot of the choices are still not actively useable (eg. Gizmo which I purchased last week has the ability to choose from a predetermined applications in a rack system…. quite a few of the choices are not useful).
2. Wallpaper friendly would be helpful, alhough I do like the hidden wallpaper ability of Gizmo
3. Weather Icon slot would be great (even though Gizmo does not have a weather icon, I am able to incorporate the weather icon from within the hidden wallpaper feature (I use BerryWeather)
4. Being able to have as separate icons: Messages, Calendar, Contacts and Tasks which are the 4 most used work apps on my BlackBerry ….but
5. Being able to substitute the previously mentioned four apps with 3rd party apps (ie. replace contacts with xobni, replace tasks with rolecall etc, being able to reskin calendar or similar)
6. The set up for the “work” apps could be similar to your Clarion theme which is the one I am currently using as it seems to be the closest to meeting my requirements. This could be a slimline fixed row like Clarion or a hidden dock but still very accessible.
7. Again working on your Clarion theme, having a couple of rows of fully customisable icons, or a scrolling row of icons for the social apps would be great.
8. Being able to change colour of the font within the menus (say a simple range of 4 from very light to very dark)
That is my suggestion as a starting poitn, and thank you for inviting me to make a comment.
TferThomas
@TferThomas on twitter.
Great insight everyone! thanks. I’ll continue to take in your comments and will have a wrap up soon. Then, we’ll start on Phase 2.
I would love to teat this thing
not too fancy
medium to larger fonts
interesting icons
wallpaper friendly
will work with the Verizon 5.0 os–most themes I’ve tried since upgrading have a java exception when attempting to use the browser button
I love the color scheme from both Gizmo and polygon. A dynamic weather slot that allows data on the homepage/face would be really excellent.
A big clock as most use their BB as a watch, bolder text and font from overall theme, maybe wallpaper friendly. I’m not worried but I know a lot of owners would rather have the option which is fair.
It’s difficult to design the dream theme as all elecite themes are dreams to use and own.
I’d also love to be considered as a beta for the 9500 series (I own a 9550)
You guys rock!
The blue 7 theme is by far the most amazing elecite theme. It has many different areas and layers. I love themes that are very cool and unique with features in every facet of the phone, like phone book or the dialer, etc… Please incorporate this. The themes have been so amazing.
1. Customizable fonts – at least the ability to choose the size.
2. NO FIXED ICONS – need to be able to choose which ones are on my home screen. Not everyone uses their BB exclusively for business or social networking.
3. Lots of colorful, unique, and large icons.
Love your themes but can’t use some of them because the fonts are so small I can’t see them without putting on my glasses (and that just blows).
In a theme, I always look for a hidden today feature. A dedicated weather slot is a plus. I like each icon to have a custom, full color makeover. I also look for themes that are wallpaper friendly.
my dream theme is 1 where it very old-fashioned. such as statis with role shutter, but with an old-fashioned door with a large bud. where the projectors are, come oil lamps etc. at bolt a very old lock. oldfashioned icons. maybe like Steampunk ,a pointui theme. A compliments for stasis. it is the best.
Can you all make a new theme that goes back the the basics. One that is customizable and and easy to use. maybe have important system function readily available such as sounds and options maybe. what about a OS6 theme even. Make a stock theme that is on crack! I think that would be AWESOME!!!!
As far as colors and what not, you all are the experts.
Phase two will be up soon. Thanks for everyone’s input.
We cannot make a theme with adjustable font sizes or colors, it’s not currently possible. We can however, build the theme with a larger font size than we usually do as many of you have requested this.
Very interesting, not like windows 7, but may be useful. I don’t really understand the two mode thing, but maybe someone will explain it. I thought the weather app and big clock and date would be on the second screen because of more room. Maybe the second mode should be the first and the first should be the second mode. I dunno.
@Handsett Battery – The two modes is just a way to provide a switchable interface.. the first is more crowded; but contains bigger time/date, more icons directly accessible, and a weather slot. the second allows you to view the wallpaper more and is more compact while still retaining access to as many icons through a vertical slider.
It’s all about user choice and you can decide to keep it in one ‘mode’ or switch it up constantly to refresh the feel every once in a while. All through the click of one button on your end. Is that clear?
@Monstro – Ah, I see. The second mode is more or less for people who want the super wallpaper friendly home screen.
I would love to see two sidebar retrackable holding 6 icons like the earlier liquid theme. Of course be able to customize these would be key. Looks like there is room!
Rob this is either going to be fire or.. Well judging by Vortex I can’t see you publishing something that’s not sick and elegant. But the people who buy themes tend to surprise me too. For the record I prefer to be surprised by the mind of the creator.
@Rezn – Thanks Ryan. I’m also excited to see where we will end up, it’s a bit more daunting than usual trying to take in such wide range of perspectives.
@MWeaver – I’ll look into it. Do you think having 8 customizeable icons already is not enough?
I would like some bolder color scemes maybe realistic flames or some real bright colors. I realy like the stasis theme lay out but would like to see some brighter color choices. Thanks guys love your work.
Daunting, but impressive to say the least. You guys are making history. First you let the people name it. Now your letting them design it. And a custom theme isn’t an overnight project unless it’s just a wallpaper change. I keep checking this feed to see what the people are asking you to do. It’s compelling stuff to say the least. Looking forward to seeing it don my 9550.
@Mike Wilson – Awesome. I like your idea of bolder color choices.
@Rezn – Thanks
I wonder whether other people enjoy hi-contrast/punchy colors (ie Vortex) or more mellow colors (ie, Infinity)?!
When a phone is locked, specifically the storm2 and you hit the bottom buttons and it comes back up(Still locked). I was wondering if it is possible to have the “screen is locked” message replaced with a list of unopened messages and calendar entries?
Why can’t you change colors? I have the Series 7 theme on my 9700 and it allows for you to pick what colors you want your app boxes to be. You scroll to the left and you are given 11 color choices.
Something that might be cool is to be able to scroll up to another screen that would have a large weather slot.
I like the 2nd picture of the theme development because it leaves the middle open and with berryweather it would allow me to keep the icon in the middle like I like.
With so many hot keys (b for browser, c for contacts, o for options, etc) I really don’t see the need for more than 4-5 customizable apps on the bottom.
The clock should be clickable. And I do like the look of the icons being larger to the left and right of the clock. Profiles and a customizable app should go there. You could even put two smaller app choices (like in picture 2), 1 on either side of the larger app icons on top next to the clock. This would give essentially 5 app spaces-profiles, clock, and 3 user customized. Then you’d have the 4-5 at bottom that perhaps the purchaser would have an option for a hidden or a static dock.
I do like the size of the clock on picture 2 a bit more on picture 1 because of how close it merges into the calendar. Showed calendar dates are a must for me to use it as a theme.
So, in summary (in my opinion)
Large clickable clock like in picture 1 with 2 customizalbe app choices the size of picture 1. 1 customizable app choice on the outsides of the 2 customizable app choices (like in picture 2).
4-5 customizable app choices on the bottom with a chioce to have hidden or static dock. Weather slot would go in the middle between the calendar and the bottom dock.
Or ditch the weather app on the homescreen and give the theme the ability to scroll up to a wallpaper with a really large weather slot.
Back ground with bold color(s). And, if eventually possible, color choices for the app boxes like in the Series 7 theme.
backgrounc themes for windows live messger
The clock needs to be something unique, similar to the one in the new “Infinity” theme.
Also when you highlight “sms” and email the messages should show up in the today area.
Personally, i don’t like a lot of clutter and crap on the screen. I would love simply a thin banner on the top or bottom (or one of each, actually) with just the date and time and any new messages. NOTHING outside of the banner. So many people attempt this, but then they’ll put all these doo-hickies outside of the banner, again, obscuring my walls.
For the icon screen, I love iPhone-looking icons, anything along that line. I like the whole operation to be smooth and seamless, quick.
i think the weather slot should be present in both modes, with maybe reducing the number of icons or hidden today entries in the minimized mode to accomodate this. i also like a clickable battery meter for Options and signal meter for Manage Connections.
also, maybe having one static-fixed icon for Social Networking… like have one icon, but have the ability to select among certain apps FROM said icon (FB, UberTwitter, SocialScope, TweetGenius, etc. etc.)
Great idea!
Things I need the most from a productive theme (I don’t use fancy themes unless they improve my interaction with the device).
* Profiles icon than can be clicked on to launch profiles
* Hidden today, must include at least 3 lines of unread messages, and 3 lines of next items in my calendar. These must always be present, without rolling onto different apps. When I touch my Berry, the launch screen needs to give me as much info as possible without having to do anything.
* Bottom dock with at least 6 icons. Scrolling would be great, so I don’t need to go into home screen unless I decide I want to.
* Prefer battery meter to be a #% rather than illustration
FYI – I currently use InTheKnow-Slide-9700, and basically, I’m just looking for a much slicker version of that.
P.S. I love small font, small as you can go. The more info I can see on one screen, the better. No need for huge icons/text/boxes…
Look forward to what you come up with…
JK
Oh – one more thing, it must support user background images!
battery and signal meters should not be so small. Numbers would be better. A lot of people asking for larger fonts would lead me to believe they want larger battery and signal meters. Also, minimize button and tray on opposite side of the screen. looks like it would work better with the maximize/minimize button close. also, weather would work better incorporated into time/date display.
A theme where the backdrop is the internals of that series Blackberry device and all the menu screens are between say 60-75% transparent because the internals backdrop is active! For example, the backdrop will be showing the guts / insides of the device and when the user selects a menu, types or send a message, dialing a phone number or website (any random processes or functions) have pulses and tracers showing as it zips through different chips and circuits throughout the multiple[le areas of the board as if you were watching it being processed!
Phase 2 comments:
Hi, this is definitely heading in the right directions, and love it so far.
I actually don’t have anything else for the moment as this is ticking all the boxes for me.
Well done and good job.
Thomas
@TferThomas on twitter
Rob you mentioned punchy or mellow colors and I just want to give my 2 cents. I think both are wonderful but my personal taste is for punchy/hi-contrast. Although in the right environment like Infinity I think mellow was what it needed and complimented the overall look quite well.
I hope you read this amidst the zillion comments. My Bold 9000 lacks the warp feature in scrolling. I cannot go to ‘Z’ by scrolling upwards in the phone book or any other list. Please incorporate that. How about setting a keyboard map for each of the icons in the menu screen, like sony does? Press a button according to the matrix on the screen, and voila!
@Ryan – I don’t think it is possible with the Storm2.. doesn’t seem to have the traditional lock screen that the older Storm (and other devices) had. Seems RIM got rid of it.
@Joshua Morgan – Thanks for all of your ideas. I’ll look into the hotkeys + making most items clickable.
@Nav – I’m not sure the overall look of the theme will warrant a weird/unique clock font. Thanks.
@Dori G – I agree with you.. which is why i am trying to make this one have two modes, a full and a less cluttered one. At the same time however, a) there are items that I don’t have control over and must place on that banner and b) most people have asked for more features as opposed to less.
@Aftashok – Thanks, I had thought of adding the weather slot in the second mode but it would defeat the purpose of that mode… which is for those who want a less cluttered, more open theme.
@JK – I think this theme covers most of what you want
@Joel L – Many have been asking for numeric battery/signal, I’ll think about that. I know what you mean about the weather, but I can’t control the weather icon (look nor size) so it needs to be on its own.
@Kevin – Woah.
@TferThomas – Thanks Thomas.
@Rezn – Good to know!
@Venky – Of course I read it! I’m not exactly sure what you mean by “warp feature”…? I like your idea for the icon hotkeys… it might be an issue if they conflict with other hotkeys I plan on adding, but I will def take it into account.
@EVERYONE: WHEW!! Thanks for all the comments everyone… great stuff. I will continue to take comments as progress moves forward. Keep a look out for changes!
Wow! Nice idea, Elecite
@Robert – Thanks! I’ll take credit for it… haha.
I like the second layout
i like 2 =] alott i would like the windows 7 [blue7] for the 9700 too
Love Design 01. Looks a lot ‘cleaner’ than 02 so my vote would be 01 or go with both so there is an option!!!
Andy
Okay, I like design 1 because of the ease of readout. However, I do like the simple clean icons of design 2. Stock highlighting needs to be used unless you can figure out how to change it so that other applications can use stock highlighting. I cannot begin to tell you how many themes I have bought and had to trash because the theme highlighting affected other applications and made every other line invisible by blacking it out, drives me nuts! Themes from here and another top designer have been useless to me because of this feature.
The clock and everything else needs clean fonts, not those that look like something from the 80s. We have high resolution devices; let us keep them looking like it!
Well, I like parts of both. I like the clock and over all look of the 1st design, and the background of the 2nd design. Or let the wallpaper be customizable. I like variety personally.
I’m really excited about this theme, and can’t wait to see the finished product, I know it will be GREAT!!
Thanks for all of the input everyone!
@Me: Awesome, thanks for your vote.
@Philip: Thanks. I’m not sure the blue7 would work well on non-touch devices (as far as navigation), but we will look into it.
@Andy: Thanks Andy. Maybe we can revise the non-chosen version and release it in the future.
@Joel L: Thanks Joel. I’ll look into that highlighting issue, not sure what you mean exactly. We can then either avoid it or look for a workaround. I’m saddened you don’t like my retro clock font
haha
@Mark: Thank you Mark. Both of them would be wallpaper friendly; however design 02 would be less so (by this I mean that it would be harder to find a matching wallpaper on your end + one that allows for the best legibility). You’d be able to make most wallpaper images fit well with Design 02 I believe.