Ed wrote:
> Here is a description of Android from long ago:
> 
> "All applications are equal. Android does not differentiate between
> the phone's basic and third-party applications -- even the dialer or
> home screen can be replaced."
> 
> Really?

The home screen can certainly be replaced on end-user devices. The user
gets their choice of which to display; outright eliminating the original
home screen requires firmware modifications AFAIK.

> In the big picture, I hope that Google will allow users to customize
> the look and feel of the home screen (including widgets) as they
> promised from the beginning. 

You can do that today. http://dxtop.wikidot.com/ for example, as Mr.
Sutton pointed out yesterday.

> I can do this now as a root user

Or as a regular developer.

> but
> again, I don't know why they would make root necessary to do simple
> things like change the clock, the color scheme, icons, dialer,
> notification bar, and the pull up tab. The functionality doesn't
> change, just the appearance. Why is that such a big deal?

It's not. Write a replacement home screen that does what you want. The
existing home screen implementation is available to you to use as a basis.

Here's more:

http://groups.google.com/group/android-developers/browse_thread/thread/d1d92265a28d9b40/c221450a9064deda
http://groups.google.com/group/android-developers/browse_thread/thread/515888b178b4d10a/e35ac511d5255da4

Or, if you want to add functionality to the existing home screen
implementation (e.g., user-controllable graphic assets), submit some
patches to http://source.android.com.

-- 
Mark Murphy (a Commons Guy)
http://commonsware.com

Android Training on the Ranch! -- Mar 16-20, 2009
http://www.bignerdranch.com/schedule.shtml

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