Little by little, some details that are from the game in the trial version of Android M and of which nothing was discussed in the presentation of the Google I / O event, at which time it was announced. And a “secret” that was hidden in this development of the Mountain View company has just been known, and that has a lot to do with the design of the operating system interface.
Specifically, what we are talking about is that, from what has been known on Reddit, inside and without activating in Android M, what is necessary is included so that they can be manage Themes for the interface development. This way, the appearance of the operating system could be radically changed without having to resort to third-party applications (such as Launchers). A real surprise, no doubt.
Thus, Android M It would be the first version of Google's work to offer this possibility natively. The truth is that this would be a very important advance, since configuration options by users when adapting the use of the operating system would increase exponentially, although it remains to be seen whether this would affect development performance... something that, on paper, should not happen.
The chosen option comes from Sony
Taking into account that we are talking about a trial version of Android M and that the Themes option is deactivated (Google will have its reasons), it must be said that the functionality included in the development is based on Sony's RRO (Runtime Resource Overlays) work, which is a manufacturer that has been offering this degree of customization for some time - and to which others have joined, such as Samsung and Huawei. In addition, RRO is the foundation for subsequent layered systems such as Layers/Substratum, which allow you to apply resource overlays without modifying the base APK.
The truth is that this option is hidden in Android M and finding it has been a complicated task for the developer who has located it, who has explained that part of have the terminal unprotectedHe had to dig deep into various system files to find it. But it exists... and once he activated it, he was even able to test a couple of themes to verify their functionality.
We'll see if the final version of Android M that reach the stable channel It includes the fully accessible Themes service, although it's possible this won't happen and work is already underway for the future. The fact is, we have no choice but to wait, but, as always, new versions of Google's operating system include more options than initially apparent. Source: Reddit.
Themes vs. Styles: What They Mean on Android
On Android, a style defines visual attributes for a single View (for example, a button), while a theme is a set of attributes that apply to the entire app, activity, or view hierarchy. Key values (such as colorPrimary o colorAccent) are declared in res/values/styles.xml and layouts, widgets, and system components interpret them consistently, even on out-of-view elements like the status bar.
How to create and apply styles and themes correctly
The recommended practice is extend existing styles (AppCompat/Material) using the attribute parent and override only what is necessary. You can apply a style to a view with the attribute style y apply a theme to the entire app or to an activity from the AndroidManifest with android:theme. From modern compatibility, it is also possible to theme a specific section of the interface by applying a theme to a root view of the layout to modify, for example, the color palette in a fragment.
Style Hierarchy and TextAppearance
If you don't see the change you expect, remember that there is a application priority Attributes: Those assigned programmatically or directly in the view prevail over those of the style, and these prevail over those of the theme. In text components, TextAppearance allows you to isolate the typography and keep the style for other properties; however, any text attribute defined in the view or style to cancel a TextAppearance.
Handy customization without root: launcher, icons, and DPI
For those who want quick changes without touching the system, the launchers like Nova Launcher allow you to adjust grids, animations and icons. Packs like Noctum (dark aesthetic) or Moonshine (Material) refresh the look with a couple of taps. If you're looking to see more content on screen, you can adjust the density (DPI) with ADB, gradually lowering it to avoid problems; on ROMs like CyanogenMod/LineageOS the option appears in Settings.
Widgets and gestures: shortcuts that make a difference
A good widget Improved usability and aesthetics: the Month calendar offers dark themes in keeping with sober palettes. With Nova Launcher Prime, you can configure gestures such as double-tap to lock or swipe to show notifications. If you're rooted, tools like GMD Gesture add global gestures to any app.
Official stores for specialized themes and apps
Although pure Android does not include a universal theme manager, many layers integrate it: Galaxy Themes in One UI (Samsung), Themes on MIUI (Xiaomi), EMUI (Huawei/Honor), coloros (OPPO), OXYGEN (OnePlus), Origin OS (Alive) or really UIIn all cases, you'll find galleries with previews and a mix of free and paid options.
If you want to go further, on Google Play there are apps like MIUI-fy (MIUI style on other phones), Icon Pack Studio (creates custom icons and is compatible with all major launchers), Zedge (backgrounds, ringtones and icons) and Wallpaper (generates unique backgrounds by patterns). If your phone does not have a native manager, a launcher compatible with themes is the fast track.
Topics on specialized websites
In addition to stores, there are communities with extensive collections: Mobiles24, DeviantArt (Android themes section), Android Looks and the customization subreddit on reddit. Filter by device or launcher to facilitate compatibility.
Substratum and RRO/Layers: Deep Customization
Based on Sony's resource overlays, substratum allows you to intrusively theme the system and apps. Requires a AOSP compatible ROM (e.g. LineageOS, Paranoid Android, Resurrection Remix or prepared builds) and follow the theme instructions to the letter to avoid bootloopsThe typical flow is to install the theme, select layers (apps/system parts) and compile + activate.
Popular examples: EWhats Color (Themed WhatsApp), Pitchblack (black mode with extensive options and modern support), Ice (clear and minimalist interface), DNA Dark Edition (highly customizable style with transparencies) and Default Dark (dark touch maintaining stock aesthetics). Combining them with Nova or other launchers increases visual coherence.
Themes that mimic other systems
If you are attracted by the aesthetics of other environments, there are safe options: Phone 13 Launcher brings iOS minimalism closer with Control Center, 10 Launcher recreates Windows Phone tiles, Microsoft Launcher adds a highly polished productive layer, Launcher for Mac OS Style brings a dock and some nods to macOS to your mobile, Linux CLI Launcher proposes command control and Belle launcher pays homage to the Symbian of the old Nokias.
GO Launcher: Thousands of Themes and Extras
As an all-in-one alternative, GOLauncher offers a store with thousands of themes, high-resolution backgrounds, 3d effects, app management with blocking/hiding, creation of Animated wallpapers and optimization tools. Note that it includes advertising in some sections.
How to add themes to a Samsung with One UI
On Samsung phones it is very simple: from the home screen, perform the pinch inward gesture, enter Themes, visit the popular tab and choose free or paid options. Download and press Apply. If you change the wallpaper, it does not affect the icons of the installed theme.
Android M marked a key leap: the native theme management based on RRO to unify customization at the system level. While layers, launchers, and engines like Substratum cover almost every need today, understanding the difference between styles y Topics, the hierarchy of attributes and the application paths are the best guarantee of stable, coherent results that are faithful to your brand or personal taste.