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
What I meant by the highlighting comment was that I have two programs that I use constantly, Ascendo Money and SplashID. They use an alternating row color for easier readability. On a lot of themes, I don’t know why, this alternating row has been blacked out because of the theme. You can’t see the row or font color at all. It appears as a black row. The only way to see it is to highlight the row like you are going to select it. I have tried changing the color of the rows; it does not matter. I don’t know how or why a theme change does this; but it does. Sorry for long explanation; btw, the retro clock is okay, just make it big and bright! 40 years old and the eyes just are not what they used to be.
@Joel L: I’ll try to look into that, but I’m unsure that we can do anything other than keep the stock highlighting as you mentioned – which wouldn’t work for other people.
If you are interested, we can get you on the BETA program when it is ready and that way we can try to troubleshoot the issue.
Would love to give this theme a try(beta test). I’ve been a pretty loyal Elecite customer! Looks very interesting and the design of it I really like!!!
Name: Russell Kearns
EMail: russellkearns@ymail.com
BB Device: Storm 2 (9550)
OS: v5.0.0.713 (VZW Official)
Beta tester if needed for the Bold 9000 running OS 5.0
Andy
I want Beta-test this Theme, too
Name: Leon Hodr
eMail: leon.hodr@mobileemail.vodafone.de
Device: Storm I 9500
OS: v5.0.0.484
Yes, I would like to try the beta. Here is my information.
Joel Lee Lineberger
g4joel@gmail.com
Bold 9700
OS 5.0.0.714
I would love to test out this theme for you. I test hybrid OS’s all the time!
Mark Hayes
mark.hayes0338@gmail.com
VZW Storm2 9550
OS 5.0.0.713 base with 794hybrid and WB’s OS6 files.
I would like to test this theme!
Ryan Eskew
rsq001@hotmail.com
VZW Storm2 9550
OS 5.0.0.713
I wuold like to be a beta tester, what I have to do?
Sprint Tour 9630
OS 5.0.0.484
Been itching to try this theme out since the very beginning.
I would be honored to beta test this theme.
Email: cstang52@gmail.com
NICE THEME. I WOULD LOVE TO BETA TEST THIS THEMES. THANK YOU
BLACKBERRY 8530
V5.0.0.654
IVE NEVER DONE THIS.BUT I WOULD LOVE TO BETA TEST THIS THEME
BLACKBERRY 8530
V5.0.0.654
BGIRLBREEZY@YAHOO.COM
I would love to beta test this theme…looks like it`ll be hot.
Device: Blackberry curve 8900
OS: 5.0.0.681
email : codumesle@hotmail.com
Cool theme! and good design love it <3
BLACKBERRY 9700
v5.0.0.743
xtraipel@live.com
Would appreciate the chance to test out this theme.
Joshua Morgan
lukofthairish@yahoo.com or j.c.morgan@att.blackberry.net
Device: Blackberry 9700
OS 5.0.0.405
I would love to beta test this theme…looks like it`ll be best of 2010.
mohammed
madboy00789@hotmail.com
blackberry bold 9700
os5.0
i really like the theme and i don’t minde try it at all for u and i really like all ur themes .
I have purchased a number of your themes….I would love to beta test one….perhaps for free…:-)
I have purchased a number of your themes, and I am always looking for new themes to purchase for my tour….this time, I would like to test this one for free, perhaps…:-)
blackberry Tour 96xx
OS 5.0
Love the colors!! love the design! love it
Bold 9700
V 5.0.0.743
xtraipel@live.com or eduardo@ronysazon.com
Thanks for signing up to be beta testers – those selected should be contacted with further details this weekend.
If you weren’t selected, don’t fret. There’s still a naming phase… and everyone who comments is eligible to win a free copy of the theme once we release it (multiple winners!).
I was curious if there is a way to make the spot where you the 3g symbol a hot key for the connections? That would be helpful to not have to go into the menu. Not exactly difficult to hit the menu button though a little more convenient.
I would like to begin the naming of the theme. Since it appears to have an outer space type look i would suggest three names to add to the list……PULSAR ZENITH or QUASAR
I also like the name NOVA
Well of course I’d love an early peek at the beta. 9550
I would love to beta test this theme:
Device: Bold 9700
OS: 5.0.0.743
I out forward the following name for consideration:
Momentous
All the best,
Thomas
@TferThomas on twitter
@everyone – Thanks for all of the support and keep throwing out names! I’m loving them so far. As far as beta testing, it is nearing an end unfortunately so I won’t be sending out any new invites.
@beta testers – Thanks for all of your hard work, feedback and constructive criticism. I’ve addressed each one of your emails already, but I wanted to thank the entire group again! You’ve all been invaluable in making this theme great.
How about “Orion” or “H.U.D.” because it sorta looks like a heads up display. Perhaps “Tech Grunge” fits.
i think the name futuristic would be good. i think it fits and is simple and easy to remember.
Of the names that have been suggested Pulsar is growing on me the most.
I was also thinking what about HAL: since this going n to smart phones and it looks like its in space?
Very sleak themes, I’d love to test em!
Name: Kalok
Email: kalokyeung1990@gmail.com
BB Device: Bold (9000)
OS: v5.0.0.411
Well the name! that is no so easy xD
i will like.. VENTEC! xD o u can chose a name a little futurics! one live.. ANUBIS or ASTROID xD im not so good with the name lol! ASTRO, ILUMINATI, TRISTIN lol xD or MONSTRO! =D
This theme looks AWESOME!
I know this is very late, but I have a few suggestions. 1. Iwas wondering what the menus and popup notices look like. The themes that have translucent menus and notices with transparent edges look VERY nice.
2. 3-D glossy selection highlights and progress bars give a classy look.
3. I also hope that the same custom look you have for the main screen will carry over to the apps screen for the Storm.
4. What about a name like TRANSCENDENT
Vector – because the background looks like graph paper that I used to plot vectors on in school.
Just catching the tail end of this but how about WELP, as in WELP here it is.
There are already other themes out there with the names futuristic, tech grunge, and vector. Sorry to disappoint but I love to search themes and I have seen those names.
You all are doing a great job!
Monstro,
Name it ENGAGE, because thats what the selector says in the app center under all the icons.
I would have to agree with Ryan…..PULSAR seems to have a good ring to it. Although, QUASAR and ZENITH sound just as catchy.
Zenith that’s a nice one.
it’s no dream.
I am hoping to understand how to include the weather in this theme? I have not been able to identify a means for getting the weather.
How can I get it, looks good.
I have a Blackberry 8350i for Nextel.
dudes…. i have to say that u guys did an amazing job out there…. reeeaaalll cool themes!!! im juzt one of ur faithful customer.. i wonder.. can u do matrix like themes.. the really gadget one.. with green n black colors.. well, i guess i’ll wait for that amazing creation of urs.. cheers.. peace out..
I would like to see a good firefighter theme.
Appreciating the commitment you put into your blog and detailed information you offer. It’s awesome to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same outdated rehashed information. Great read! I’ve bookmarked your site and I’m including your RSS feeds to my Google account.
It would be great if this theme was compatible with Blackberry Bold 9650 OS 6.