[Theme] Samsung keyboard mods

[DoctorQMM]

Something I did and posting for share. What we have here are 28 color themes for the stock Samsung keyboard (14 themes to the auto-correction stock Samsung keyboard, and 14 themes to the non auto-correction stock Samsung keyboard. PNG (9.png) color/shading enhancements to the grey stock keyboard to now include various color keys and color key frames.

Inspiration: After seeing some of the stellar themes from forum member “AddisG”, I started dissecting the keyboard apk and playing around with some pretty basic theming… but (IMO) improvements to the all grey stock keyboard. Hit his thanks too… and check out his work.

NOTE: tested on CleanROM ACE v4.9 & v4.8 (N7105XXDMC3), CleanROM ACE v4.7 (N7105XXDMB6), CleanROM ACE v4.6.1 (N7105XXDMB3), CleanROM ACE v4.5 (N7105XXDMA8). Flashable ZIPs used are Scrosler's "Empty Flashable Zip_Note2" file.. these updater scripts/binary have worked on all CleanROM versions I've used since 3.5. I suspect they will also work on other ROMs, but I have not tested.

Keyboard function:
Auto-Correct keyboard
Non Auto-Correct keyboard

Keyboard themes:
GREY KEYS with 5 color key borders (blue, green, yellow,orange, red) against a contrasting dark keyboard background.
BLACK KEYS with 6 color key borders (blue, green, yellow,orange, red, white) against a contrasting grey keyboard background.
BLUE KEYS against a contrasting dark grey keyboard background.
RED KEY against a contrasting dark grey keyboard background.
GREEN KEY against a contrasting dark grey keyboard background.


Zip files attached:
Keyboard_Images.zip (contains all the keyboard image samples)
28 themed keyboard zips. IMPORTANT: each one of these 28 zips contain the SamsungIME.apk (for those who wish to install via Root Manager and alike…. contain the modified PNG files for those who wish to play around with further theming…. and contain the Installable zip for those who wish to flash install from custom recovery).

You’ll need to unzip any of these 28 themed keyboard zips to get to the samsungIME.apk, PNGs, and/or the Flashable install zip files.

From the sample images attached, you’ll also notice that certain apps which use the stock keyboard will also reflect the theme (in attached example, my Lux Auto Brightness app shows the themed keyboard in it’s menu settings screen).

In case you wish to make your own alterations of keyboard colors/ shading/ backgrounds, the files which were modified:
/res/drawable-sw359dp-land-xhdpi folder:
qwerty_keypad_bg.png (landscape keyboard background)

/res/drawable-sw359dp-xhdpi folder:
qwerty_keypad_bg.png (portrait keyboard background)
sip_key_bg_normal.9.png ( key color/shading)
sip_key_bg_option.9.png ( key color/shading)
sip_key_bg_presses.9.png ( key color/shading)

How to Install:
1. Make a copy of your current active SamsungIME.apk (found in /system/app ) and put it in a safe place (in case you wish to revert back). Do
NOT move or rename the active file.. just copy it and store in a safe location (i.e., on ExtSD or your computer).
2. Make a Nandroid / Backup just in case
3. Install (2 options):
a. flash via Recovery: copy desired FlashableZIP to phone… boot to custom recovery… wipe cache… flash ZIP
b. copy desired themed SamsungIME.apk to phone storage
i. from phone, use Root Explorer (or any root file manager) and copy SamsungIME.apk to /system first… and reset permission to rw.r..r..
ii. move the fixed permission file from /system to /system/app (replace current SamsungIME.apk)
4. Reboot and enjoy

posting a few example images... rest are in the "Keyboard_Images.zip"

Dropbox Public Links:
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/67314493/Keyboard_Images.zip

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/67314493/BlackKEY_BlueFrame_AC.zip

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/67314493/BlackKEY_BlueFRAME_NonAC.zip

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/67314493/BlackKEY_GreenFrame_AC.zip

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/67314493/BlackKEY_GreenFRAME_NonAC.zip

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/67314493/BlackKEY_OrangeFrame_AC.zip

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/67314493/BlackKEY_OrangeFRAME_NonAC.zip

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/67314493/BlackKEY_RedFrame_AC.zip

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/67314493/BlackKEY_RedFRAME_NonAC.zip

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/67314493/BlackKEY_YellowFrame_AC.zip

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/67314493/BlackKEY_YellowFRAME_NonAC.zip

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/67314493/BlueKEY AutoCorrect.zip

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/67314493/BlueKEY NonAutoCorrect.zip

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/67314493/GreenKEY AutoCorrect.zip

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/67314493/GreenKEY NonAutoCorrect.zip

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/67314493/GreyKEY_BlueFrame_AC.zip

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/67314493/GreyKEY_BlueFrame_NonAC.zip

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/67314493/GreyKEY_GreenFrame_AC.zip

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/67314493/GreyKEY_GreenFrame_NonAC.zip

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/67314493/GreyKEY_OrangeFrame_AC.zip

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/67314493/GreyKEY_OrangeFrame_NonAC.zip

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/67314493/GreyKEY_RedFrame_AC.zip

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/67314493/GreyKEY_RedFrame_NonAC.zip

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/67314493/GreyKEY_YellowFrame_AC.zip

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/67314493/GreyKEY_YellowFrame_NonAC.zip

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/67314493/RedKEY AutoCorrect.zip

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/67314493/RedKEY NonAutoCorrect.zip

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/67314493/BlackKEY_WhiteFRAME_NonAC.zip

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/67314493/BlackKEY_WhiteFrame_AC.zip

 

[travperk]

thank you brother for doing this.:laugh::highfive: i really appreciate and admire your work.

 

[wish777]

Re: [Theme] Samsung keyboard mod

Thanks Doc.

 

[DoctorQMM]

thank you brother for doing this.:laugh::highfive: i really appreciate and admire your work.

You're quite welcome amigo... and thanks for the kind words. I've been experimenting with a few things, so thought I'd share and pass along what I've learned.

 

[DoctorQMM]

Thanks Doc.

You're quite welcome. Hope you find it useful. Always nice to change things up a bit.

 

[RichMD]

You're quite welcome. Hope you find it useful. Always nice to change things up a bit.

Hi Doc, I tried this on JediX by copying the existing samsungime.apk and pasting (new filename with copy in the name). I then extracted the blue theme apk, copied it into /system/app after deleting the existing file and set permissions. I keep getting FCs - android keyboard has stopped. I tried rebooting and then deleted the copied file and renamed the original file back to SamsungIME.apk and set permissions on it. However, I keep getting the error when I had zero problems before. I even went to recovery, wiped cache/dalvik and reinstalled JediX right over the existing. I still get errors. I tried going into language and input to change some settings hoping to reset things but no luck. Any ideas? I'd rather not setup everything all over again although I assume it will be perfectly safe to use TB to restore missing apps when backed up from and restored to the same ROM.

 

[DoctorQMM]

Re: [Theme] Samsung keyboard mod

Hi Doc, I tried this on JediX by copying the existing samsungime.apk and pasting (new filename with copy in the name). I then extracted the blue theme apk, copied it into /system/app after deleting the existing file and set permissions. I keep getting FCs - android keyboard has stopped. I tried rebooting and then deleted the copied file and renamed the original file back to SamsungIME.apk and set permissions on it. However, I keep getting the error when I had zero problems before. I even went to recovery, wiped cache/dalvik and reinstalled JediX right over the existing. I still get errors. I tried going into language and input to change some settings hoping to reset things but no luck. Any ideas? I'd rather not setup everything all over again although I assume it will be perfectly safe to use TB to restore missing apps when backed up from and restored to the same ROM.

I just installed the blue-framed apk and working perfect for me. I always copy the new apk to /system first...and fix permissions to RW-R--R-- THEN move from /system to /system/app and replace...then reboot. If that doesn't work, you can always put the new apk in an empty flashable zip [in the /system/app folder]. Scrosler [Scott] has one posted. Hope you get it sorted out. Try fixing permissions in /system first...then move.

 

[DoctorQMM]

@RickMD: I re-read your post and I think one possible problem might be how you renamed the original SamsungIME.apk. If you renamed it "SamsungIMEcopy.apk" you'll have FCs... I always rename the suffix (i.e., "SamsungIME.apkCOPY"). So try this:
1. copy the new blue-framed SamsungIME.apk" to your external
2. move from external to internal /system (not /system/app yet).
3. fix permissions to RW-R--R-- (in the /system folder)
4. move to /system/app folder
5. delete or move the file that you added 'copy' to (again, not sure how you renamed it)
6. reboot.

If that works, next time you want to try a new keyboard:
1. copy (don't rename or move) the active SamsungIME.apk to external (in case you wish to revert)
2. copy new SamsungIME.apk to /system, and fix permissions
3. move from /system to /system/app (when you do this, it will ask "overwrite existing file", answer Y)
4. reboot.

Never rename or move an ACTIVE system file, or you will get FCs.

 

[RichMD]

Re: [Theme] Samsung keyboard mod

@RickMD: I re-read your post and I think one possible problem might be how you renamed the original SamsungIME.apk. If you renamed it "SamsungIMEcopy.apk" you'll have FCs... I always rename the suffix (i.e., "SamsungIME.apkCOPY"). So try this:
1. copy the new blue-framed SamsungIME.apk" to your external
2. move from external to internal /system (not /system/app yet).
3. fix permissions to RW-R--R-- (in the /system folder)
4. move to /system/app folder
5. delete or move the file that you added 'copy' to (again, not sure how you renamed it)
6. reboot.

If that works, next time you want to try a new keyboard:
1. copy (don't rename or move) the active SamsungIME.apk to external (in case you wish to revert)
2. copy new SamsungIME.apk to /system, and fix permissions
3. move from /system to /system/app (when you do this, it will ask "overwrite existing file", answer Y)
4. reboot.

Never rename or move an ACTIVE system file, or you will get FCs.

Thanks, it is working fine now. I will also keep in mind what you said for the future.

Sent from my SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2

 

[9wire]

Re: [Theme] Samsung keyboard mod

@RickMD: I re-read your post and I think one possible problem might be how you renamed the original SamsungIME.apk. If you renamed it "SamsungIMEcopy.apk" you'll have FCs... I always rename the suffix (i.e., "SamsungIME.apkCOPY"). So try this:

This method worked, I couldn't get this or others to work previously. Thanks!
Skynote 8.1

 

[DoctorQMM]

New updates

For those interested.... I added 20 more keyboard color themes, including Flashable ZIPs. Unzip the attachments and you'll find:
1. the themed SamsungIME.apks
2. the PNGs which were modified
3. Flashable ZIPs for each theme

OP has been updated with instructions, details, and images. We'll see how this goes, as I put all the zips in my Dropbox account... Public Folder. Links in OP.

 

[JohnCorleone]

For those interested.... I added 20 more keyboard color themes, including Flashable ZIPs. Unzip the attachments and you'll find:
1. the themed SamsungIME.apks
2. the PNGs which were modified
3. Flashable ZIPs for each theme

OP has been updated with instructions, details, and images. We'll see how this goes, as I put all the zips in my Dropbox account... Public Folder. Links in OP.

I can't tell you how much I appreciate this. Is it possible when you have time to do black key white border version? I have been making a theme and I have a black and white keyboard I tested on EVERY ROM out there and it worked on one. Thank you very much for doing this because this keyboard has been driving me NUTS! :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Xparent Gray Tapatalk 2

 

[NunHugger]

I can't tell you how much I appreciate this. Is it possible when you have time to do black key white border version? I have been making a theme and I have a black and white keyboard I tested on EVERY ROM out there and it worked on one. Thank you very much for doing this because this keyboard has been driving me NUTS! :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Xparent Gray Tapatalk 2

You should try some of the keyboards popping up in our ota

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2

 

[JohnCorleone]

You should try some of the keyboards popping up in our ota

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2

Nun, mine is getting the FCs on the inverted version... And I thought I was ready to release...can you possibly put some in our shared folder?

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Xparent Gray Tapatalk 2

 

[DoctorQMM]

I can't tell you how much I appreciate this. Is it possible when you have time to do black key white border version? I have been making a theme and I have a black and white keyboard I tested on EVERY ROM out there and it worked on one. Thank you very much for doing this because this keyboard has been driving me NUTS! :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

I can post files tonight. .. black keys with white borders in both the auto-correct and non auto-correct keyboard IME apks.

EDIT: 2 keyboards added: black keys with white borders (1 auto-correct and 1 non auto-correct). Dropbox Public Links added to OP and "Keyboard_Images.zip" updated as well.

 

[PotsyKay]

It works great gor my Galaxy Note ! Thank you sooo much i was sick of the grey sad keyboard !

 

[twanskys204]

My gf wants that pink key board.....can u post flashible zip?

 

[imablackhat]

It works great gor my Galaxy Note ! Thank you sooo much i was sick of the grey sad keyboard !

Yeah what's the keyboard. And is that stock sms? Looks real good

Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda app-developers app

 

[borijess]

Failed flash with black blue withAC.

Sent from the TermiNOTEr 2!

 

[PotsyKay]

Yeah what's the keyboard. And is that stock sms? Looks real good

Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda app-developers app

It's SamsungIME.apk and i use the Sweet rom V4 LSZ on JB for Galaxy Note ! And i use Go sms with it It is more fun with my stylus !