[LWP]Make a Star Trek Communicator(update-App now available in market!))

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(11-17-2010) UPDATE: My main purpose for starting this thread was in hopes that some developer would port the iphone version of the Star Trek Communicator for us Android Trek fans. My prayers have been answered!!!

Fellow XDA Developers member phineast has done a fantastic job and the app is now available on the market.



Since my method described below was a lame attempt to simulate the app, I see no reason for doing it unless you want to have it as a livewallpaper/lockscreen (and you have nothing better to do)! Honestly, the app is the way to go.


Original Post...

I've been trying to figure out how to duplicate this iphone app:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1TCJzhzXZM

After some fiddling around I came up with this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4KFLk2HFDE


Here's how to do it...

1. Download these 2 jpgs (right click and save image as) and stick them somewhere on your SDcard.

The homescreen wallpaper:



The lockscreen:



2. Install "Earth Live" live wallpaper and Map Pack from the market. There is a donate version as well but the free one works for our purposes.

3. Download this zip that contains the map pattern jpg and 2 wav files. Unzip them to somewhere convenient.

4. Install "LockBot" from the market. I use the paid version but I think the free one has all of the functions (unlock sound and shake-to-unlock) that we need.

OK, now we have all of our apps and files. let's build our theme.

5. Look in your apps and select the "Map Pack". Let it install the files to your SD card and then let it uninstall the installer. Go to your SD card and you'll see a folder called "EarthRot". Open it and there's another folder called "maps" which contains the pattern files for some of the planets in Earth Live. Remember the files you unzipped earlier? Take the "globetrotter.jpg" (you can actually rename it to any of the other planet skins that you don't want to keep) and copy it into the "maps" folder. Let it over-write the file in there (you can copy the file that will be over-written somewhere safe if you want). Now you can close all of that.

6. On your phone press "menu", "Wallpaper" and select "Live wallpapers". Choose "EarthRot" and press "Settings". Pick "Backgound" and then "Choose background". In the pop-up menu, pick "From Gallery" and then navigate to where you put the "COMM-face.jpg". This will be your live wallpaper background.

7. (a) Go back one screen to the Earth Live settings menu, pick "Maps" and then "Map". Scroll around and find "Globetrotter Home World" (or whatever planet you saved our modified map file as) and then pick it. While we're on this menu screen, make sure that "Orbiting moon" is NOT checked.

(b) Now back out to the previous menu screen and select "Globe aspect" and then "Globe size". Move the slider back a bit and then select "OK". Now select "Globe y position" and move the slider forward a bit and select "OK". Go back one screen again and make sure that "Natural Rotation" and "Planet natural axis" are both unchecked. Now Hit the Back button two times to get back to the preview screen. Our goal is to get the spinning globe to fit into the round window as closely as possible (NOTE: The newer version of Earth Live seems to offset the custom background on the preview screen and also after you "set wallpaper". When on the home screen, slide over to the next screen and then back and it will center the wallpaper). Keep adjusting the size, Y position (and probably X position too) until it fits pretty well.

(c) Select the setting "Globe behavior" and make sure everything is checked except "Slide rotation". Go back to the preview screen and you can now move the globe around with your finger. I put mine so that the axis is pointing straight at me. This makes the classic "moire" pattern of the communicator from the original Star Trek series. If you look at the link you can see other moire patterns used in Star Trek.

8. (a) Open "LockBot" and select "My Themes". Decide which style lockscreen you want (I like the "Galaxy" style) press on it and from the pop-up menu, select "Edit" and it will take you to that lockscreen. Press the phone's menu button and select "Background" then select "SD Card File" and navigate to wherever you saved the "com-lock.jpg".

(b) Now press menu again and select "Sound" and then "File" and navigate to where you saved the "com-chirp.wav" file.

(c) Now press the menu button again and select "Save". Before that, you can make some additional clock edits if you want (I selected "None" to get a cleaner look).

(d) Back out to the lock style selection screen and press the phone's menu button and select "Playlist". Uncheck all of the styles except the one you edited.

(e) Back out to the LockBot main screen (with the padlock and android) and then press the phone's menu button and select "Config". Make sure that "Enable", Unlock Sound", "Unlock Menu", "Shake Unlock", "Lock Long Press Home Key" and "Prevent Wake Up" are all checked. Now press "Shake Sensitivity" and while holding the phone firmly and securely, flick your wrist like you've seen Captain Kirk do. The pop-up should say "OK", if not, do it again until it takes. You may have to come back to this later and re-do it. LockBot's a bit buggy and the Shake Unlock doesn't always work.


That's it! If you have problems post away and I'll try to help.

...and don't forget... Live Long and Prosper!

EDIT: Whenever I reboot my phone the globe map loses it's transparency and ends up looking like a beach-ball. To fix this, go into the Earth Live settings and temporarily switch the map to "Death Star 2". Make sure to set wallpaper with that one! Once you're done, go back and re-set it to the map name you were using before and you'll get the cool moire effect back (at least until you reboot again)!

This happens because I cheated. The jpegs don't support transparency but pngs do (notice that the only png in the maps is "Death Star 2"). I tried just using that one for my moire but it maps differently than the others and never looked right. Instead, I made a png with transparency in it and just named it as a jpg.

Reserved for some ridiculous reason.

Bumpskiola!

Pretty neat, and instructions were clear. I like it, but since im not much of a star trek fan im probably going to mod this a bit while still keeping your core method. Great work mate

Re: [Tutorial]Make a Star Trek Communicator!

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Thanks!

I think the basic method could be used for anything.

Use your imagination and get crazy with it!

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Sent via the XDA Tapatalk App

I have a quick question though. How to uninstall the original lockscreen. As of now after your install, I have a double lock going on.

Nice work
Hopefully a dev out there is a Trekkie and will make a app like the Iphone's

Originally Posted by torremitsu

I have a quick question though. How to uninstall the original lockscreen. As of now after your install, I have a double lock going on.

LockBot replaced my lockscreen automagically. Are you using stock sprint ROM or one of the custom ROMs?

You could remove HTCLockscreen.apk and HTCLockscreen.odex but I think it may give you the messed-up vanilla lock.

Originally Posted by watzone69

LockBot replaced my lockscreen automagically. Are you using stock sprint ROM or one of the custom ROMs?

You could remove HTCLockscreen.apk and HTCLockscreen.odex but I think it may give you the messed-up vanilla lock.

Im using OMJ's rom, I got used to him from back in the day. Which rom are you using?

HELP... Please

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Greetings Im trying to use your "Tutorial Make a Star Trek Communicator!" on my HTC Android Incredible.

Ive completed steps 1-5 no problems...
However on step 6 on my phone I go to personalize, home wallpaper, live wallpaper and select EarthRot. Its at this point it just sits there and does nothing while message says loading live wallpaper, I left it that way for several minutes. Then I clicked on settings, after about 20 seconds I get an error saying application earthrot(in process com.seb.SLWP) is not responding, I can select force close, wait and report, I selected force close then the application closes.

Please advise as this looks so cool on your video.