[vicott]

Q. Why is using pictures directly as background bad?

A. If u have an image file which u want to use as the background pic for your today screen, I strongly recommend u against using the "Use this picture as the background" feature in Today settings. It's highly recommended that u create a theme based on that pic instead. You can try Microsoft's Theme Generator for a start, since it's a freeware. Also note that u can choose image quality in the final step on creating themes in Microsoft Theme Generator. That will affect the file size of the theme file

I would never recommend using an image directly as the wallpaper because of these reasons:

• Auto scaling done by system - the image may show up distorted since it is stretched (badly)
  
• Auto brightness/transparency adjustments - the image may look "washed out"
  
• Poor visibility of text at times - due to the nature of the image used and the today text font color being used
  
• You have no control over the color scheme, unless you go through the trouble of changing registry values

In summary, that means poor quality & effects. That's why i always recommend users to create their own themes (using a Theme Generator/Editor software) rather than use images directly as wallpapers.

[vicott]

Here are the sizes of the images u should use when creating themes:

Standard PPC2002/WM2003 Theme: Today Image (240x287 but 242x287 is recommended, 240x268 is the area displayed), Start Menu (152x287 but 154x289 is recommended)
WM2003SE QVGA/Extended Theme: Today Image (320x294), Start Menu Image (240x320)
VGA/VGA Extended Theme: Today Image (640x588), Start Menu Image (480x640)
Square Theme: Today Image (240x214), Start menu Image (239x213)

Smartphone (176x220 screen) Theme: Homescreen Image (176x200, 176x180 is the area displayed)
Smartphone QVGA Portrait Theme: Homescreen Image (240x293)
Smartphone QVGA Landscape Theme: Homescreen Image (320x213)
Smartphone QVGA Theme (Support both orientation): Homescreen Image (320x293)

[vicott]

If you are wondering why your today screen looks distorted and so ugly when in landscape mode (or in VGA mode), that's because you are not using a theme which supports landscape mode.

For QVGA screens, you will need an Extended Theme or WM2003SE Theme, otherwise known as QVGA Theme.

For VGA screens, you will need a VGA Extended Theme or WM2003SE VGA Theme

[vicott]

Q. Curious why you can't find themes in the "My Documents" folder of your Storage Card in the Today settings?
A. Time to look at the root directory of your Storage Card for the file named "ignore_my_docs". it's a hidden file so make sure u have enabled viewing of hidden files. delete it if u spot that file! it is recommended that all Windows Mobile PPC/Smartphone users to delete such a file on the Storage Card, since it can cause some "issues" on a number of WM applications. [Only applicable for PPC2002, WM2003 and WM2003SE]

Q. What are the valid folders to put the themes in so that they get detected under Today Settings?

• "\Windows\" folder
  
• "\My Documents\" folder or any subfolders (1 level deep only) beneath
  
• If you have "ignore_my_docs" file in Storage Card folder (or Storage ROM), any folder in Storage Card will do. Subfolders are not detected, e.g. "\Storage Card\Misc\Themes\". [Only for PPC2002/WM2003/WM2003SE]
  
• If you do not have "ignore_my_docs" file in Storage Card (or Storage ROM), you need to place themes under "My Documents" folder, e.g. "\Storage Card\My Documents\". Subfolders of My Documents in Storage ROM/Storage Card are not detected, e.g. "\Storage Card\My Documents\Themes\". [Only for PPC2002/WM2003/WM2003SE]
  
• Under the main Storage Card folder.
  
• Any subfolder under Storage Card (but not too deep), e.g. "\Storage Card\My Themes\" but not "\Storage Card\My Files\Themes\".

If you do not wish to be constrained by these folders, you can use a Theme Manager instead. Check out this post for the recommendations.

[vicott]

Here are some Pocket PC Phone-related today plug-ins:

PocketZenPhone Light
PocketZenPhone
Phone Profiles - Freeware
phoneAlarm
phoneAlarm Lite
Phone Dashboard Minute Tracker
JGUI's Today Plug-ins for PPC Phones - quite a number of plug-ins here, some freewares, some sharewares
Spb Phone Suite - profile management, today plug-in, call filter, reject call with sms, etc
SBSH PhoneWeaver - profile management, today plug-in

Any more contributions of links and recommendations?

[vicott]

Spb Pocket Plus has always been one of my favorite softwares and must-haves on my Pocket PC. I also loved the customisability of the today plug-in, especially the use of Extended Themes. However, what I do not like is the file size of the Extended Themes. As I do not own a WM2003SE device, landscape support isn't important to me and I can save some space by using Standard Themes. However, there are some battery/memory status indicator icons which I like very much.

Luckily, something can be done about this. If u spot any extended themes with icons u like, "install" it on your Pocket PC and use the icons. Next, go to the windows folder and find all the gif files installed for this Extended Theme. copy them & create a folder in another folder (e.g. on your Storage Card) to keep a backup. You can also copy these gif files over to the folder named "default" under Pocket Plus's installation folder. After doing that, u can let the today plug-in use icons from the "default" theme and delete away those gif files from the windows folder. You can do this over & over again until u have a small collection of nice icons which u can use even without using Extended Themes. I've been doing this for quite awhile and have been converting some nice Extended Themes to Standard Themes to save some memory. More troublesome, but I think it's worth the effort.

Anyway, I have a small collection of some of my favorite icons and I have decided to share them here. You can also use them to create Extended Themes or just transfer them straight away to the installation folder. However, do note that this is simply my collection and none of the icons are my own work. One of them contains the default icons for VGA theme, which will be useful if u experience errors when trying to create a VGA Extended Theme using Spb Extended Theme Generator since icons for VGA Extended Themes are not included there. You can download the zip file here.

[vicott]

Skinning for WisBar Advance

New to WisBar Advance (WA) & not quite sure how to use the skins?

1) Themes with WA Skins usually come in a zip file with TSK file (Theme), SKIN file (WA Skin) and a number of images
2) store all the images and the SKIN file in a newly created folder on the Pocket PC
3) u can choose whether to use the TSK theme file. most of the time, the WA Skin is designed specifically to match the theme
4) go to WA settings, Use a Theme File
5) locate & select your SKIN file, then click on select.
6) activate current settings and exit WA settings
7) isn't that a nice theme with matching WA skin? :grin:

Some links:
WisBar Advance Skins
Skinning Guide
WisBar Advance 2.x Skin Generator

[vicott]

Skinning for some 3rd party softwares

Using Custom Icons in Pocket Plus
Using Pocket Plus and not very contented with the shortcut icons that are available? u can customise your own list of icons by creating/editing your own "custom16.png" or "custom32.png". u can take the images from the installation folder (e.g. "\Program Files\PocketPlus\Icons\") as reference. once u are done, simply replace these images with your own "custom16.png" or "custom32.png". tap/hold on a partciular shortcut in the today plug-in, change icon and u will be able to see your own custom icons in the list :grin:

Some Links for Pocket PC:
Guide for Customising Skin for 1-Calc
Skins for SBSH PocketBreeze

Some Links for Smartphone:
xBar Skin Generator

[vicott]

Here's a little guide on how to design a matching WisBar Advance Skin such that the theme looks like a full screen one.

first, u need to know the following:

• taskbar image size : 240x26 (portrait), 320x26 (landscape)
  
• command bar (system tray) image size : 240x26 (portrait), 320x26 (landscape)
  
• today image (portait): 240x287, but viewable is only 240x268
  
• today image (landscape): 320x188 viewable

Here are the steps for creating a Standard Theme as an example. This is for QVGA portrait mode. You will need an image editing software, e.g. Photoshop to execute these steps

• start with an image of 240x320 in size (u may need to do all the cropping, resizing, editing, etc beforehand)
  
• remove the top 240x26 image and save as taskbar's image.
  
• crop the remaining portion (240x294)
  
• copy the bottom 240x26 to a new image and save as command bar's image
  
• with the 240x294 image, copy the top 240x287 to a new image and save as today's image
  
• create your theme and WA skin using these images

[vicott]

Theme Generators for Pocket PCs:
Microsoft Theme Generator - simple & user-friendly PPC2002 Theme Generator, works with Win200/XP only. Theme Manager today plug-in included (freeware)
Spb Extended Theme Generator - Extended/VGA Extended Theme Generator, requires Microsoft Theme Generator. Not compatible with WM5. (freeware)
BVRP Theme Manager - WM2003/Flash Themes Generator
Flash Themes Generator
PocketMac Theme Creator - Theme Generator for Macs
ThemeMaker M by KAMware - WM2003/WM2003SE/WM5/QVGA/VGA Themes Generator & powerful Image Editor
ThemeMaker X by KAMware - Pocket PC & Smartphone Theme Generators in 1, with image editing features as well.
ThemeMaker McDeb - another nice "special edition" of ThemeMaker by KAMware. No WM5 theme support.
ThemeGenCE - Freeware with much flexibility. Able to create WM5 themes as well.
VITO ThemeEditor - Create WM2003 or WM5 themes.

Theme Generators for Smartphones:
Microsoft Theme Generator - Freeware for Non-QVGA (176x220) Themes.
Homescreen Designer - More customisation of Homescreen. Only for Non-QVGA Homescreens.
Sunnysoft Home Screen Editor
ThemeMaker SP by KAMware - Also able to create QVGA themes
ThemeMaker X by KAMware - Pocket PC & Smartphone Theme Generators in 1, with image editing features as well.
1-HomeEdit - Customise themes directly on the Smartphone
SmartScheme SP2003 - Freeware; Customise themes directly on the Smartphone

Recommended Pocket PC Theme/Skinning Sites:
PocketPCThemes.com
PocketThemes.com
MyXDA.com Themes
Pocket McDeb - mainly WM2003/QVGA/VGA themes
Mobile-SG.com - Vicott's Pocket PC & Smartphone Themes, and WA Skins
Spb Developer Network - Forums for Spb skins
PDAgold.com - Skins & Themes
WMThemes.com
piXel's Theme Site - WisBar Advance Skins and Pocket PC Themes
LightMan's Theme Site - Pocket PC Themes with WisBar Advance Skins
Spotted Dog Design - Themes & Skins for WisBar Advance, PPX, etc
LittleThemes.com - Pocket PC Themes
FreeWMThemes.com - Pocket PC Themes site

Skin Sites:
PaulyA.com - Dialer Skins
Spb Club - Skins for Calculator, WMP, Dialer, Spb Time, etc

Mobile Friendly Theme Sites:
Mobile-SG.com Pocket Edition - Pocket PC/Smartphone Themes & Skins
Juni's Pocket PC Skins & Themes - WA Skins, VGA/Extended Themes, Smartphone Homescreens and WMP Skins
Pocket McDeb Mobile Site - mainly WM2003/QVGA/VGA themes
LittleThemes.com - Pocket PC Themes

RSS Feeds for Themes:
PocketPCThemes.com - Latest 20 Themes
Pocket McDeb - New Themes
Mobile-SG.com - Vicott's New Themes
LittleThemes.com - New Themes

Recommended Smartphone Theme Sites:
SmartphoneThemes.com
Pinoy Homeskins for Smartphones
Kleinweder's Homescreens
PhoneThemes - Animated Themes
WMThemes.com - Standard & QVGA Themes
PocketThemes.com
JDSkins
Mobile-SG.com

Theme Editors for Pocket PCs:
FunnySnake TKCreator
OBYAPKA Theme Editor

Recommended Theme Managers for Pocket PC:
FunnySnake ThemeKing Plus
Applian ThemeDream
RPA - ThemeMaster
PT Explorer (Freeware)

Flash Theme Players for Pocket PC:
FunnySnake ThemeKing Plus
Animated Today 2002
FlashDash
FlashThemes Player
FlashThemesPlus
FlashThemesPro
FlashMates

Screen Capture Utilities for Pocket PC:
Vidya Pocket Screen Capture - Supports Landscape mode and VGA. Able to save in BMP/JPG
SuperSnap - Similar features as Vidya Pocket Screen Capture
CECapture - Freeware; Able to Save in BMP/JPG
MagicSS - Freeware; supports VGA
ScreenShotCE - Compatible with WM5
Pocket Snapshot - Able to link with PC and also create GIF animations.
Ilium Software Screen Capture - Freeware

Screen Capture Utilities for Smartphone:
SmartSS - Freeware
ScreenShotSP- Compatible with WM5
Ilium Software Screen Capture - Freeware

For full screen applications, you can use Remote Display Control and take the screenshot from your PC.