Best looking Android APPS

reflux · 30 Jun 2010 at 08:58

Khaaan! said:
App designers are... you only have to look at the multitude of widgets out there that have many skins all customisable too. If you're not seeing it then perhaps you're not looking in the right places?

Just look at XDA and Modaco's screenshot/homescreen threads. Hundreds of custom layouts that look superb and suit every taste. Apple has one look to suit one style only.

Hey, I've been perusing XDA daily for almost a year... 75% of the skins/designs are terrible. There's a nice de-ODEX'd FroYo build going round with a pastel/black notification bar but some people think it's a good idea to turn all the icons lime green, or use weather clocks with horrific serif fonts slapped over photoshop artifacting in the background.

I can't doubt the quality of the code, but the design skills in most cases are simply "oooo look, bright colours!" I can probably count on one hand the number of mods that are actually an improvement over Google's work.

mrk · 30 Jun 2010 at 09:59

Then have you browsed the 322 page Homescreen thread

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=476483&page=187

?

That thread has a large number of customised styles from dark to bright to a bit bizarre.

I'm sorry but I'm glad Android hasn't followed the style trend of the iPhone, this way every phone is unique and if you don't like something about your phone then you simply change it quickly with little effort if you're half competent with flashing update zips and rooting initially.

You could just get a SenseUI/Timescape/motoblur other manf customised layout but they're also on the road to being too common (moreso the galaxy s with the iPhone layout).

The whole opint of Android from the beginning was so Google gave the barebones OS and for people to then customise it. I guess if you don't like the themes people have created you could always create your own if you feel that strongly about it but come on now, there are many many many styles out there to suit almost every taste.

reflux · 30 Jun 2010 at 10:57

Khaaan! said:
Then have you browsed the 322 page Homescreen thread

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=476483&page=187

?

That thread has a large number of customised styles from dark to bright to a bit bizarre.

Yeah, there's a lot of good stuff in there, but it underlines the fragmentation that Android experiences. You see a good theme on one phone, and you can't have it on another. Something I'd like to see is a bit of standardization across the phones, so that things will work more commonly across them. We are seeing that now, with a line up that uses similar tech but there is still a lot of manufacturer customization going on.... which is a double edged sword because it's also what makes Android great!

Khaaan! said:
I'm sorry but I'm glad Android hasn't followed the style trend of the iPhone, this way every phone is unique and if you don't like something about your phone then you simply change it quickly with little effort if you're half competent with flashing update zips and rooting initially.

See, I LOVE this. It took me 2 weeks to get bored of my Magic before I rooted it, and the same with my Nexus. It brings so much more to the phone, that you can customize it and run all sorts of random stuff that the manufacturer never intended. It's great.

Khaaan! said:
You could just get a SenseUI/Timescape/motoblur other manf customised layout but they're also on the road to being too common (moreso the galaxy s with the iPhone layout).

I'd be running the Desire Sense port, but it's buggy and only 2.1

I've got a bit of a boner for HTC Sense... I really wish the Evo was out here! CDMA networks suck

Khaaan! said:
The whole opint of Android from the beginning was so Google gave the barebones OS and for people to then customise it. I guess if you don't like the themes people have created you could always create your own if you feel that strongly about it but come on now, there are many many many styles out there to suit almost every taste.

It's true, yeah. I guess I'm such a perfectionist with my tech that it frustrates me when I can't get it totally, perfectly right. Unfortunately I lack the tech skillz to code a theme but we will see.

The main thing I hate about stock Android is the lock screen... ug. I like the concept but the clock font is fail. I wish I could change it.

Aod · 30 Jun 2010 at 14:11

reflux said:
The main thing I hate about stock Android is the lock screen... ug. I like the concept but the clock font is fail. I wish I could change it.

i agree - i liked the clock-font on the 2.0 lockscreen...