|
You'll have noticed a whole 'skinning' craze going on in
the computer world. Even the most innocuous programs have alternative 'skins',
image sets that transform the program's appearance without actually changing
the functionality. Indeed, it's possible to 'skin' a Nokia 9500 or 9300, using
tools like SkinInstall (which automates the
swapping of skin file sets and makes sure you don't leave your Communicator in
a non-working state) and
Skin Wizard (which
helps you create your own skins on your PC).
Now, 'skins' in this context means a set of image files
that get mapped into all the graphical panels in the Series 80 interface. And
by images, I mean absolutely any image at all; if you want a Madonna, Darkness
or Teletubby-themed 9300 or 9500, it's really up to you, limited only by your
imagination, your free time and your skill with computer graphics.
However, moving to the subject of this tutorial, there's a
far easier and quicker way to ring the changes on your Communicator, without
having to install new utilities or risk damaging system files. If, instead of
topical, photorealistic skins, you simply fancy a change from the boring blue
that each device starts with and wish that the screen and its elements had a
different basic colour and shading scheme, note that every device comes with
five choices: Blue, Orange, Lilac, Brown and Green. And each of these has two
matching wallpapers, giving ten choices in all. Read on to find out how to
select each one.
Tip: Just so you don't get caught out, note that
when changing colour schemes, all applications get closed, so be prepared for a
short wait next time you press 'Messaging', 'Contacts', 'Web' or
'Calendar'.
From Blue to Orange, the Series 80 way
First stop is the 'Tools' folder. Open 'Control panel' and
go to 'General | Display', where you'll find a 'Colour' tab with this single
setting. Press 'Tab' or 'Change' to pop-up the list of choices. For the
purposes of this tutorial, pick 'Orange' and press 'OK', then 'Done'.
There will be a short wait (around 15 seconds) while all
running programs get closed and while the appropriate system colour changes are
made. When the busy indicator disappears, the Control panel screen should
reappear, but with everything nicely colourised, as shown here.
The colour scheme applies to all on-screen elements, so
you're mostly done. But what about the image shown behind Desk, the so-called
'Wallpaper'? Staying in Control panel, if you select 'Wallpapers' then you'll
see this dialog. Press 'Change' and select one of the two 'Orange' wallpapers,
then press 'Done'.
Time to sit back and admire your handiwork. Press 'Desk'
and you should see something like this. Notice how the wallpaper is styled to
match and merge into the colourised side panel (on the left). For a quick
change of scenery, this colour scheme/wallpaper combination is quick, safe and
effective.
But what, I hear you say, about the cover phone? No
problem! Pop back into Control panel and select 'Wallpapers' again, but this
time switch over to the 'Cover' tab. Change 'Wallpaper' to 'Yes' and pick the
one you want on the second line (probably the same as you chose for the main
Desk display).
 If you now wait a couple of seconds and
then close the clamshell of the Nokia 9300 or 9500, then press the red 'Hang
up' button, you'll see that the cover phone standby screen is now kitted out in
the same wallpaper as your main Communicator Desk. Your 5 minute makeover is
complete!
|
