Juni's thoughts

Mobility skin suite!

2008-10-24T12:46:00.006+03:00

We are proud to present the new exclusive Mobility skin suite.

This skin suite changes the look of WisbarAdvance, PocketBreeze (with ContactBreeze), PocketWeather, iLauncher and three matching today themes.

Here is a QVGA screenshot:

..and a VGA screenshot:

Supported resolutions are VGA and QVGA (not 320x320 devices yet).

For more screenshots and descriptions please visit the skin suites webpage: Mobility at juniskins.com.

You can buy the skin suite from Mobihand and Handango and our site www.juniskins.com.

I also want to thank my wife for doing all the instructions, webpage and products, thus letting me concentrate on the actual skinning. :)

SWDeluxe and SBSHDeluxe skin suites updated

2008-03-22T15:34:00.003+02:00

I'm proud to announce that SWDeluxe and SBSHDeluxe has been updated.

The biggest update is a new Wisbar Advance 3 skin. I've also updated the PocketWeather weather icons and added a custom today layout (using "large" icons). Both VGA and QVGA got "tiny" icons - which are used for example in the PocketBreeze calendar view.

To find out more about these skin suites you may visit my site:

SWDeluxe Skin Suite

and

SBSHDeluxe Skin Suite

The updates are free for registered users (due to changes in the download site you may or may not have to add HD in front of your key: HDxxxxxxx).

I would also like to thank my wife for all the hard work she did in working on putting it all together and updating instructions and a lot more which let me concentrate on doing the graphics. :)

All exclusive skin suites updated

2008-01-03T13:29:00.000+02:00

This time to support Spb Pocket Plus 4. Pocket Plus no longer uses "extended themes" (which is a good thing, they were a bit ...cumbersome to make and use :D ).

You can read more about the suites here: juniskins.com

I would like to thank my wife for making this update. :)

I am currently working on WA3 skins for the suites. The WA2 versions work but it is always nicer to have something specifically made for the version you use. :)

The SWDeluxe/SBSHDeluxe will look significantly different from the one currently in the suites...and that is all I'm saying for now. ;)

Smartmonitor (and RJTime)

2007-07-09T09:38:00.000+03:00

I updated all the links in my smartphone skin page, since the smartmonitor link wasn't working.

I also decided not to use smartmonitor in future skins since it won't work on many devices.

(I also edited a couple of RJTime links). :)

Exclusive skin suites updated

2007-06-27T12:15:00.000+03:00

It's been a while (thanks to a certain company keeping me busy with various projects) :).

We made a minor upgrade for all the exclusive skin suites (except for Scifi). This time we added 240x240 today themes (so called square themes). We noticed the regular ones don't look so nice on these devices (such as the Treo) with logos being cut off etc.

The skin suites updated are:

SWDeluxe

All the today themes in the suite have been updated (+20 themes).

Black&White

Especially the "Big Logo" and "Small logo" today themes badly needed this update. :)

Navigator

Both the "Normal" and "Battle" themes have been updated.

SBSHDeluxe

This is the "specialized" version of SWDeluxe for SBSH products only.

For more screenshots and information on supported (skinned) applications for respective suite and how to purchase these please visit our webpage at juniskins.com.

Of course, people who already purchased the suites get the upgrade free as usual. :)

I would like to thank my wife for doing all the hard work with this upgrade as I know it wasn't exatly a straight forward job of just resizing images. :)

NOTE:The today themes updated in this upgrade are not extended for Spb Pocket Plus.

SBSHDeluxe at Mobihand

2007-03-26T09:56:00.000+03:00

I finally added all exclusive skin suites to Mobihand. The last one is SBSHDeluxe:

You can now buy it from Mobihand: SBSHDeluxe at Mobihand

Here is more information on the skin suite: SBSHDeluxe at juniskins.com

The much requested...

2007-03-05T09:54:00.000+02:00

...iPhone landscape version is finally done :).

You can get it from my site: juniskins

WM6 envy

2007-02-22T13:19:00.000+02:00

I got a case of WM6 envy, and made this landscape smartphone (or "standard edition") skin:

It can be had from my site: juniskins.com :)

First landscape skin

2007-02-07T14:43:00.000+02:00

I didn't want the first landscape skin to be a conversion, rather a new one. I call it OrganizerBlue. It has two versions, one of which uses phoneAlarm (since the screen doesn't have much height I wanted something which has as much info squeezed into it as possible :) ) and FizzTraveller. The alternative skin uses only Facade and is plugin friendly if you want to define your own in the Facade settings (nothing is glued to the background image).

As usual you can get it from my site: juniskins

jPhone smartphone homescreen

2007-01-19T07:46:00.000+02:00

I made this one in case Apple would give me problems over the iPhone one. It comes in two versions, one with Facade and one without.

As a novelty I changed the Fizz Traveller weather icons, since I don't really like the default ones :).

You can get it from my site: www.juniskins.com

iPhone version 2

2007-01-12T13:27:00.000+02:00

Now that Apple has announced the iPhone it was time to create a new version of the iPhone skin. In fact, there are two version of it in the zip file - one for Facade and one "Standard" version which uses only standard or free plugins. :)

You can get the skin from my site http://www.juniskins.com
Go to MS Smartphone Homescreens and then select the iPhoneV2 skin, it has both versions in the zip file.

MSGreen v 2

2006-12-19T10:21:00.000+02:00

I made an updated version of the MSGreen WM5 smartphone homescreen.

You can get it from my site: juniskins.com

(trivia: the topbar is what the startbar will look like in the next version of the WM5 OS except it'll be bluish).

Is it...a Treo?

2006-11-18T11:58:00.000+02:00

...no, it is a WM5 QVGA smartphone hometheme :). I was impressed with the Treo "bubbles" background so I recreated it.

Get it from my site. :)

Special offer on SWDeluxe

2006-11-09T11:18:00.000+02:00

To celebrate that we added Mobihand as a partner I'm offering 5$ off the price of the SWDeluxe skin suite if you buy it from there. The offer is valid until 11/15/2006. :)

More information about SWDeluxe: SWDeluxe at juniskins.com

SWDeluxe at Mobihand: SWDeluxe

Mobihand

2006-11-03T12:51:00.000+02:00

We decided to start using Mobihand as a partner for distributing our exclusive skin suites in addition to Handango. I'm slowly creating products there, so far I have Black&White and SciFi done. :)

Mobihand's address is http://www.mobihand.com

Black&White: Black&White at Mobihand

SciFi: SciFi at Mobihand

Panorama for Pocket PC

2006-09-23T10:32:00.000+03:00

Finally finished the PocketBreeze skin for this suite :).

So far it is VGA only but requests have been made for QVGA. :)

You can download it from my site.

Busy bee

2006-09-07T13:57:00.000+03:00

If you are wondering what I'm up to I can tell you I'm busily working on the upcoming iLauncher version. Before that I did graphics for a new version of a well-known smartphone program. :)

When I'm done with that I was planning on finishing the PB skin for the Panorama suite and also might re-visit a suite I was working on before summer.

Updated the GoldenCut skin

2006-07-05T10:48:00.000+03:00

I always considered this a vacation and summer skin. :)

The skin supports PPC Today,Spb Pocket Plus,Wisbar Advance 2, PocketBreeze, ContactBreeze and iLauncher.

I updated the WA2 skin and added phone edition support + softkeys, added PocketBreeze5 support and all new iLauncher meters. I also added a non-extended today theme for people not using Spb Pocket Plus.

So far the skins have VGA support only.

You can download the skin from my site.

Back from vacation

2006-06-27T12:11:00.000+03:00

We spent three weeks in the US vacationing but now we are back again :). Of course, we were online during vacation so everyone got their skins.

I'm working on another skin suite (possibly exclusive) and have some other projects in mind. :)

Updated all the skin suites

2006-05-23T20:46:00.000+03:00

I updated all the skin suites to include the new (or recently activated) StorageMain iLauncher meter. I also did some work on the softkeys for most of the suites (since I now upgraded my hx4700 to WM5 and realized they needed some work).

As usual all upgrades are free. If you bought the suites from Handango you can redownload the files from there and if you bought them from my site you can download them from the fileserver.

A new feature: You can download the suites from the fileserver even if you bought them from Handango. Use the email address you used at Handago when making the purchase and your Handango order reference number as key. If you bought the Exclusive Skin Collection use your Handango order reference number as key for each of the skin suites.

We implemented this since Handango apparently has started charging people when they try to re-download files after a month after the purchase. Don't buy the Handango download extort...er...protection! :)

The Exclusive collection vol. 1

2006-04-16T11:35:00.000+03:00

I've gotten requests to put together a package of all exclusive skin suites so here it is. :)

You'll get all the exclusive skin suites I've made so far:

- SWDeluxe Skin Suite
- Black&White Skin Suite
- Navigator Skin Suite
- SBSHDeluxe Skin Suite
- SciFi Skin Suite

Of course, it is cheaper than buying them separately :).

Read more about the collection here: The Exclusive Skin Collection vol. 1

You can buy the collection from my site or Handango.

Introducing the SciFi skin suite

2006-04-12T10:09:00.000+03:00

I released a new exclusive skin suite: The SciFi skin suite

Included are skins for WisbarAdvance2, PocketBreeze, ContactBreeze, iLauncher, Spb Pocket Plus and weather icons for WeatherPanel and PocketWeather.

The suite includes two complete looks, SciFi and JCars. It works with W2003, WM2003 SE and WM5 pocket pc devices with VGA and QVGA resolutions (also "square" devices with 240x240 resolution such as the Treo) for both phone edition and standard edition versions of the OS.

More information about the suite can be found here: SciFi skin suite.

You can buy the suite from my webpage or Handango.

Introducing DashboardX

2006-02-10T09:56:00.000+02:00

Everyone admires the OSX Tiger dashboard widgets so I thought it would be fun to have them on the smartphone :).

Required plugins: Facade, Smartmonitor, RJTime and Fizz Traveller.

Get the skin from my site: Juni's PocketPC Skins and Themes

RJTime

2006-02-03T14:49:00.000+02:00

Thought it would be fun to add an analog clock to Panorama:

If you want to use this version you need to get the free RJTime plugin.

Fixed a small problem in Panorama

2006-02-03T08:25:00.000+02:00

I didn't even notice it, but it had turned the textmessages window white with white text. I fixed the problem :).

I wasn't going to do it...

2006-02-02T11:07:00.000+02:00

Make a Vista like homescreen, but then I couldn't resist it. :D

As usual, it is at my site: Juni's PocketPC Skins and Themes

Clarity for WM5 Smartphones

2006-01-30T13:56:00.000+02:00

A golden oldie, now in smartphone format :)

I didn't make a "plain" version this time so you'll need the listed plugins.

The skin can be found at my site: Juni's PocketPC Skins & Themes

Smartphone WM5 skinning

2006-01-27T07:35:00.000+02:00

Thought I'd pass on some things I discovered when skinning WM5 devices. Apparently there is no way to exactly define the softkey and titlebar gradients in the homescreen xml file. It has a color entry called "COLOR_TRAYGRADLEFT" which has some effect on how the softkeys and titlebar is colored - although not exactly. This had me very confused until I did some extensive searching online and found that Microsoft has decided that skinners shouldn't be allowed to set these colors to what they want. Instead WM5 examines your skin and decides on a basehue value which is put into the registry. I have yet to figure out how to be able to set this to what I want inside the xml file. Any suggestions are welcome :).

Now, you can change this registry value and it will instantly without a soft-reset set the title bar and softkey gradients colors. Some nice people have even made a tool for calculating what you want it to be. Here is the info: XDADevelopers wiki

Especially the downloadable file at the bottom has very useful info :).

If I was making a theme for a pocketpc I could easily change the tsk file to have the theme set this registry setting automatically, but with smartphones there is no way to do that since a homescreen skin is just one xml file and one background image (how can I have the xml file set a registry value? Is this possible?). Also, if you set this registry value and soft-reset your device the basehue value will change (again, calculated from the background image of your theme and the "COLOR_TRAYGRADLEFT" value in the xml file). I would want to know exactly how this calculation is done.

Very confusing and not nice from Microsoft :(.

Router problem fixed

2006-01-14T16:55:00.000+02:00

...with 10 seconds of pressing a pen into a reset hole, 15 minutes of configuring and 1 minute of testing :)

Router problems

2006-01-13T13:51:00.000+02:00

We are having some problems getting on the net at home. We'll be getting a new box tomorrow which should fix it. So if you bought skins from my site you can expect them tomorrow saturday the earliest. :(

The mystery deepens...

2006-01-12T09:41:00.000+02:00

Apparently WeatherPanel has been sneakily updated to 2.5 - but still no word from the developer. He must be around, who else could have done the update. Reports say that the new version is even smoother and faster.

Read about it at the WeatherPanel forums.

Site re-design and new smartphone section

2006-01-10T14:22:00.000+02:00

I re-designed the site a little bit. It should now work properly on mobile devices.

Check it out here: Juni's PocketPC Skins & Themes

I also added a new section for WM5 QVGA Smartphone homescreens (since that is the kind of device I have). So far I only added one skin, but there will be more. You may suggest plugins for me to try out if you want them in the designs :).

Happy Holidays!

2005-12-23T13:18:00.000+02:00

I wanted to wish everyone a happy holiday :). We are going to the country for the weekend and will not be online until monday.

Also, my wife who is very knowledgebale about pocket pcs and skinning and programs started her own blog. You will find much information there.

Here is the link to her blog: Plainsong's blog on Pocket PCs and skinning

So, everyone have a peaceful holiday and be sure to make the new devices you get for christmas look "The way you want them" :).

(I have a suspicion my wife got me a Qtek smartphone for christmas, I bet I'll look into modifying and skinning it if that is true). :)

Navigator skin suite updated

2005-12-13T14:23:00.000+02:00

I updated the Navigator skin suite.

The biggest changes in this version is support for PocketBreeze5 tabs and status icons and iLauncher meter images and application icons. I also added a new BronzeWeather weather icon set for WeatherPanel and PocketWeather:

I also added Phone Edition support to both VGA and QVGA Wisbar Advance 2 skins.

The skin suite now has two today themes with matching WisbarAdvance 2 themes. I also added a "long menubar" Wisbar Advance2 skin for people who want to use their own today themes or have many icons on the menubar.

For people having problems with getting the extended today themes to display with their WM5 devices I added non extended themes.

As usual, the upgrade is free. If you bought the suite from Handango you can go there and redownload the file. If you bought it from my site you can redownload the site from the fileserver.

More details about the skin suite here: Navigator Skin Suite

Here is the changelog:

version 1.3:

VGA:

- added the 8th button for the taskpanel for the WisbarAdvance2 skin
- added a new "long menubar" Wisbar Advance2 skin
- added a new "battle background" Wisbar Advance2 skin for the new Battle today theme
- added Phone Edition version for all the WisbarAdvance2 skins
- added WM5 softkey button skinning for all the WisbarAdvance2 skins
- added a new NavigatorBattle today theme
- added all the new tabs and status icons for PocketBreeze5
- added "ABC bar" skinning for Contactbreeze
- added non-extended today themes for people not using Spb Pocket Plus
- added a new weathericon set "Bronzeweather" for WeatherPanel with matching theme
- added buttons and moon images to all PocketWeather icon sets
- added the BronzeWeather weather icon set for PocketWeather
- added iLauncher meters and some icons
- added iLauncher top indicator images

QVGA:

- added all the new tabs and status icons for PocketBreeze5
- added "ABC bar" skinning for Contactbreeze
- added a new weathericon set "Bronzeweather" for WeatherPanel with matching theme
- added iLauncher meters and some icons
- added buttons and moon images to all PocketWeather icon sets
- added the BronzeWeather weather icon set for PocketWeather
- added a new NavigatorBattle today theme
- added non-extended today themes for people not using Spb Pocket Plus
- added the 8th button for the taskpanel for the WisbarAdvance2 skins
- added a new "long menubar" Wisbar Advance2 skin
- added a new "battle background" Wisbar Advance2 skin for the new Battle today theme
- fixed the signal strength icons for the Phone Edition Wisbar Advance2 skins
- added WM5 softkey button skinning for all the WisbarAdvance2 skins
- added iLauncher meters and some icons
- added iLauncher top indicator images

ContactBreeze 1.2 released

2005-11-25T08:41:00.000+02:00

Amit released version 1.2 of ContactBreeze.

The most important update in it is support for PocketBreeze 5. Read more about it here:

ContactBreeze 1.2 at SBSH forums

Wisbar Advance again

2005-11-17T08:04:00.000+02:00

I get quite a lot emails about the taskpanel icons being misaligned in the Wisbar Advance skins. This is because the latest beta of Wisbar Advance added an eight button to it and I added this to the skins. So, to get it to work you need to install the new Wisbar Advance:

Get it from here: WisbarAdvance

Why do I add skin elements for a beta version? This is because Chris at lakeridgesoftware rarely releseas official versions - but the beta versions are quite stable. Also, the outcry would be far greater if they weren't there. :)

Black&White skin suite updated

2005-11-15T08:08:00.000+02:00

I updated the Black&White skin suite to version 2.4.

The biggest changes in this version is support for Pocket Breeze version 5 or higher and meter images for iLauncher. I also added non-extended today themes for people who don't use Pocket Plus (since extended themes won't work on WM5 devices unless you have Pocket Plus installed).

You need to have the PocketBreeze 5 and the latest version of WisbarAdvance2 for the respective skins to work. Also, don't install the skins over old versions since in all the nonVGA skins I've changed the image formats.

I also added Phone Edition version to the VGA WisbarAdvance2 skins for people lucky enough to have VGA phone devices.

You can read more about the skin suite at my site: Black&White skin suite

As usual, all updates are free. You can re-download the file from Handango if you bought it from there, or from the fileserver if you bought it from my site.

Here is a list of all the changes in this version:

Version 2.4

VGA:

- added all the new tabs and status icons for PocketBreeze 5
- added a Phone Edition version of the White&Black WisbarAdvance2 skin
- added the task panel 8th button and softkey skinning for the White&Black WisbarAdvance2 skin
- added the task panel 8th button and softkey skinning for the Black&White WisbarAdvance2 skins
- added Phone Edition versions of all the Black&White WisbarAdvance2 skins (in a directory of their
own)
- added iLauncher meter images to the suite
- added versions of the themes which aren't extended for Spb PocketPlus
- added settings/arrow icons and moon images to both PocketWeather icon sets

nonVGA:

- added iLauncher meter images to the suite
- converted the PocketBreeze skin to tga format
- added all the new tabs and status icons for PocketBreeze 5
- converted all the WisbarAdvance2 skins to png format
- added the 8th taskpanel button to all WisbarAdvance2 skins
- added softkey skinning to all WisbarAdvance2 skins
- fixed the signal/phone buttons in all the WisbarAdvance2 phone edition skins
- added settings/arrow icons and moon images to both PocketWeather icon sets
- added versions of the themes which aren't extended for Spb PocketPlus

Make sure your paypal emails work.

2005-11-13T11:47:00.000+02:00

Someone bought the SWDeluxe skin suite yesterday but the persons paypal email address bounced, so I had no way of sending the download information. We had to refund the amount back to the buyer. If you wonder why you got a refund and no download information - that is why.

If you don't have paypal set up with a working address: at least put in the payment comment which address you want the info to be sent to. :)

Download problem - fixed

2005-11-10T08:16:00.000+02:00

For people who had problems downloading from the file server: Amit from SBSH moved the files to their main server which seems to work better.

In other news: The Black&White skin suite update is going nicely. I still have to update the QVGA versions :). Here is a preview:

Does your WisbarAdvance taskpanel look strange?

2005-11-09T09:30:00.000+02:00

If the icons look misaligned then it is because WisbarAdvance has been updated to have one additional button. Getting the latest version will fix this:

Lakeridge Software forums

...and a small update to the SBSHDeluxe suite

2005-11-07T12:29:00.000+02:00

I added "PocketRSS as a tab inside PocketBreeze" support for the PocketBreeze skin now that I verified it works. :)

Small update to the SWDeluxe skin suite

2005-11-07T09:53:00.000+02:00

I added the "PocketRSS inside PocketBreeze" images back to the suite after I figured how to get it to work under PocketBreeze 5. I set PocketRSS as a separate today-plugin, then entered the PocketRSS settings and checked "Use PocketBreeze". :)

SWDeluxe skin suite updated

2005-11-04T14:46:00.000+02:00

I updated the SWDeluxe skin suite to version 3.2. The biggest update in this version is support for PocketBreeze version 5 or higher (in fact, the PocketBreeze skin needs version 5 or higher to work). Another big update is iLauncher support with meter images.

As usual the update is free for people who bought the suite. If you bought it from my site you already know how to access the file. If you bought it from Handango you can re-download the file to get the latest version.

Read more about the suite here.

Here are all the 3.2 updates:

VGA:

- added all the new tabs and statusicons of PocketBreeze5
- added a phone edition WisbarAdvance2 skin with signal and phone buttons
- added "softbutton" skinning in the WisbarAdvance2 skin for WM5 devices
- added iLauncher meter images
- added a "NonExtendedThemes" folder with non-Pocket Plus themes
- added moon images and statusicons for PocketWeather (also tweaked the weatherimages)

QVGA (nonVGA):

- changed the PocketBreeze skin to tga format
- added all the new tabs and statusicons of PocketBreeze5
- fixed the signalstrength buttons in WisbarAdvance2
- changed all the WisbarAdvance2 skin images to png format
- added "softbutton" skinning in the WisbarAdvance2 skin for WM5 devices
- added iLauncher meter images
- added a "NonExtendedThemes" folder with non-Pocket Plus themes
- added moon images and statusicons for PocketWeather (also tweaked the weatherimages)

SBSHDeluxe released

2005-11-01T12:37:00.000+02:00

Since it has been requested I made a special, trimmed down version of SWDeluxe.

SBSHDeluxe has skins for PocketBreeze (two versions), ContactBreeze, weathericons for PocketWeather and iLauncher meter images. Also included is a WisbarAdvance 2 skin and four today themes. SBSHDeluxe supports VGA and nonVGA (QVGA) resolutions.

This is what is different from SWDeluxe:

- SBSHDeluxe has only skins for SBSH products (PocketBreeze, ContactBreeze, PocketWeather and iLauncher) and a Wisbar Advance skin + four today themes.

- One of the today themes is not present in SWDeluxe, only SBSHDeluxe has it.

- None of the today themes are extended for Spb Pocket Plus (= they are smaller in size and seems to be a bit faster).

- The PocketBreeze skin looks a little bit different, and there are two versions of it

- The Wisbar Advance skin is slightly modified (the buttons are glossier and have reflections).

- It is also smaller in price

Here is more information about SBSHDeluxe:

SBSHDeluxe at juniskins.com

For people who already bought SWDeluxe: I am starting to update the PocketBreeze skin to support the new PB5 features today. I'll also add the iLauncher icons to it. It'll take me a day or two to get done with it.

More on WM5 and Spb Pocket Plus Extended themes

2005-10-12T09:23:00.000+03:00

If you have problems getting the extended themes to install:

Are you using this version of Spb Pocket Plus:

"Version 3.0.1

Windows Mobile installation bug fixes"

Edit: I just found out that Spb indeed are working on another fix for the problem so the problem might be gone soon.

WM5 and today themes

2005-10-10T09:34:00.000+03:00

There seems to be an issue with today themes in WM5. They will show up as selectable but then when you choose them it will just go back to the default today theme.

Also, themes which aren't Spb Pocket Plus extended seems to work so the issue could be with Spb Pocket Plus itself. Anyone else had problems with this?

I don't have a WM5 device yet so I can't verify or fix this but as soon as I get one I'll look into it. I hope HP comes out with their update for the hx4700 quickly, or I'll just have to jump ship and get a Dell.

The trouble with WeatherPanel

2005-10-10T09:24:00.000+03:00

Although WP is one of the best today weather programs there is, and almost the only one with animations I'm considering removing it from the "What is on my screen" page. Why?

The developer seems to have gone missing for many months, not answering support emails etc. I understand this could be caused by many things: disaster, family emergency... But I'm not sure I can recommend the program until he shows up again.

I'm trying to decide which program I should recommend instead of WP. PocketWeather by SBSH is a strong contender, but sadly it lacks animation support (although I think the developer is going to try to implement it). Spb Weather is another good one - it is also easy to implement into skin packs when it comes to usability since it lets you create an install executable. Spb Weather doesn't have animation support either. I once talked to Vassili from Spb about this and he thinks users don't really want the flashy graphics :D.

Which program do you think should be recommended?

The art of installing skins

2005-08-22T10:37:00.000+03:00

I get a few messages from people who have trouble installing skins so I thought I'd clarify a couple of things.

Skins are not applications. There is no way to have a nice executable for you to click on to install the skins. All files have to be copied over to the pocket pc manually (using ActiveSync and the "Explore" button). I always provide detailed instructions on how to do this. The file is called "instructions.txt" (or "InstructionsVGA.txt" and "InstructionsNonVGA.txt"). I suggest reading this first before reporting problems with the installation process. This is out of my control, it is just the way applications use skins.

Another thing makes this even more difficult: You can install applications to different locations. Many like putting programs in FileStores or on Storage Cards. The skins will have to be installed accordingly.

There is one exception to this: Spb Weather. The skin making process generates an executable for the user to click on.

Why two separate versions of the skins? This is because VGA and nonVGA (or QVGA which it also is called) have different resolutions (screen sizes). VGA screens are twice as big in pixels as nonVGA devices. If you install the wrong version the skin may work, but will look strange.

There is also a difference in Phone Edition Wisbar Advance skins and non Phone Edition skins. Phone Edition skins have a few more buttons to skin.

All this may seem very confusing and strange, but what it comes down to is just copying folders from your desktop pc to your pocket pc. As long as they go in to the right locations everything will work fine.

And remember: I don't provide any actual programs, just graphical enhancements to programs you already have. :)

New domain - juniskins.com

2005-08-11T08:01:00.000+03:00

Finally got around to getting my own domain name. The old links still work but this is the new official address:

http://www.juniskins.com/

(and a thank you to my wife for actually getting the domain)

Exclusive skin suites and updates

2005-07-20T09:53:00.000+03:00

I get a few emails about the updates to skin suites and if you have to pay for them. My policy is that all updates to the suites are free, mainly because the programs that are skinned get updated frequently and more skinnable things are added to them.

I always put the latest versions at handango (so if you bought it from there all you have to do is redownload the files) and at the fileserver.

All suites have a "changelog.txt" in the zip file where you can see what has been updated/added.

Introducing...GoldenCut

2005-07-11T15:06:00.000+03:00

I wanted a summery theme for my device, so I made "GoldenCut":

I'm not sure about a QVGA version since I won't have time to do that for a few weeks.

Get the skin from my site.

...and while updating

2005-07-03T12:14:00.000+03:00

I did small modifications to the SWDeluxe WisbarAdvance Phone Edition skin (changed the volumebubble to fit "vibrate" in) and I added "phone" and "phone pressed" images to the Navigator WisbarAdvance Phone Edition skin + modified the volumebubble.

You only have to update the skins if you have a QVGA Phone Edition device.

Black&White updated

2005-07-03T08:22:00.000+03:00

I updated the Black&White skin suite. Lots of features have been added to the programs it skins since it was released but now the suite is up to date.

I also added a bonus White&Black WisbarAdvance2 skin and today theme (for both nonVGA and VGA):

If you bought the suite from Handango you can redownload it from there for free. If you bought it from my site you already know where to get the update. :)

Here is a list of what has been updated:

Version 2.3

VGA:

- Skinned taskpanel for the Wisbar Advance2 skin
- Changed the checkbox and radiobutton images for the Wisbar Advance2 skin
- changed the volumebubble image for the Wisbar Advance2 skin
- did small modifications here and there in the Wisbar Advance2 skin
- added a "long menubar" skin (useful for many icons in the menubar, or for using other today themes)
for the Wisbar Advance2 skin
- added a bonus "White&Black" Wisbar Advance 2 skin
- added a bonus "White&Black" extended today theme
- redid the Spb Pocket Plus icons in all the today themes
- completely redid the PocketBreeze and ContactBreeze skin (now in tga format)
- added support for custom tab in the PocketBreeze skin
- added support for the PocketRSS tab in the PocketBreeze skin
- skinned "contacts search keys" for ContactBreeze (have to be selected in the PB settings)
- added "moon", "mini" and "mini moon" images for the WeatherPanel skin
- modified the WeatherPanel weather icons so that the background is slightly darker to match
the overall look of the skin suite better
- added a WeatherPanel theme
- added PocketWeather icons

nonVGA:

- Skinned taskpanel for the Wisbar Advance2 skin
- tweaks and modifications here and there in the Wisbar Advance2 skin
- added a "long menubar" skin (useful for many icons in the menubar, or for using other today themes)
for the Wisbar Advance2 skin
- added a phone edition version (with all PE specific images)
- added a bonus "White&Black" Wisbar Advance 2 skin (with a Phone Edition version)
- added a bonus "White&Black" extended today theme
- added support for custom tab in the PocketBreeze skin
- added support for the PocketRSS tab in the PocketBreeze skin
- skinned "contacts search keys" for ContactBreeze (have to be selected in the PB settings)
- added a second set of weather icons for WeatherPanel (they match the VGA version more)
- added a WeatherPanel theme
- added PocketWeather icons (for both WeatherPanel icon sets)

Small update to the SWDeluxe skin suite

2005-06-14T09:54:00.000+03:00

I did a small update to SWDeluxe:

QVGA (nonVGA):

- added Signal Strength Pressed, Signal Connected Normal and Signal Connected Pressed
images for the Phone Edition version of Wisbar Advance 2

Apparently this is a small icon that changes the signal strength button when you are on the phone. In accordance with the general look of the skin the signal strength button background will turn green when you have an ongoing call.

So, if you have a QVGA phone edition device - get the update. Otherwise everything else is the same.

If you bought the suite from handango you can re-download it from there, if you bought it from my site you already know where to get the update :).

SWDeluxe skin suite updated!

2005-06-03T11:52:00.000+03:00

Version 3 released.



I have done a lot of updates and added some new things to the suite.

Here is a list of changes to the QVGA (nonVGA version):

- redid the static weatherpanel icons. Added "large" and "mini" icons with moon images.
- added animated weatherpanel icons. Added "large" and "mini" icons to them (moon images are not animated).
- added a weatherpanel theme, this includes a custom layout "SWDeluxe-big"
- added PocketWeather icons
- added taskbubble to the WisbarAdvance2 skin
- added Phone Edition volumebubble to the WisbarAdvance2 skin
- recolored some icons in the WisbarAdvance2 skin
- added checkbox and radiobutton images for the WisbarAdvance2 skin
- changed the buttons in the WisbarAdvance2 skin (they match the VGA theme more now, and are more clear)
- added "custom tab" to the PocketBreeze skin
- added "little tab arrows" to the PocketBreeze skin
- added PocketRSS integration to the PocketBreeze skin
- added the folding, expanded and folded buttons + "allday appointment" image to the PocketBreeze skin
- added "search keys" bar images for ContactBreeze
- tidied up the scrollbar in the PocketBreeze skin
- added a psShutXP skin
- redid the Spb Weather icons, and added 16x16 images

And here is a list of changes in the VGA version:

- added a weatherpanel theme with a custom "SwDeluxe-big" layout
- added static weatherpanel weather icons
- added "large" icons to both weatherpanel icon sets (the ones for the animated set isn't animated since
the whole set would have been way too large (over 6 megs)
- redid the "mini" weatherpanel icons
- redid the PocketWeather weather icons
- redid the Spb Weather icons
- redid the taskbubble for the WisbarAdvance2 theme
- colorized some buttons for the WisbarAdvance2 theme
- changed some sounds for the WisbarAdvance2 theme
- Added "folding" buttons + "allday appointment" image and checkmark images for the PocketBreeze skin
- added Custom tab images for the PocketBreeze skin
- added PocketRSS integration for the PocketBreeze skin
- added ContactBreeze "search keys" skin image for the PocketBreeze skin
- changed the "active" baricon images for the PocketBreeze skin
- edited some of the other barimages in the PocketBreeze skin
- added a psShutXP skin


You can find more information about the skin suite here:

SWDeluxe Skin Suite

If you bought the suite from Handango you can go there and re-download it. If you bought it from my site you'll get an email with details on how to access the files.

Paypal - again

2005-06-03T11:31:00.000+03:00

Due to popular demand I'm re-opening the paypal store (apparently Handango isn't very popular among many of you). There is a change this time though:
We aren't sending out files by email anymore, instead we'll send you details on how to access the suites you buy once we verified the payment. This way you can access the suites whenever you want (and download updates).

For people who already bought suites from my site we'll be sending out details on accessing the files.

Whenever I update a skin suite I'll be announcing it here at my blog and also at the Brighthand and PocketPCThoughts discussion groups.

You can always find details on exclusive skin suites here:

Exclusive suites

I want to give a huge thank you to my wife who spent countless hours updating the database for the new download system. I couldn't have done it without her.

I also want to give a big thank you to Amit from SBSH (of PocketBreeze, ContactBreeze, PocketWeather and many other titles) for helping me with the hosting of the suites and building the database. :)

Get protected!

2005-05-29T12:30:00.000+03:00

I keep getting around 300 virus emails/day to one of my accounts. I'm not pointing any fingers in any direction but I wish everyone would use at least some kind of protection on their computers. This is why that account get filled up sometimes.

I use Norton Internet Security myself and it is pretty good. I also use the free Microsoft AntiSpyware (beta though, but the best one there is).

For the uninformed: Some viruses and spywares make a little mailserver on your computer and start using addresses from your contacts and people you correspond with. They send out messages from your computer, using these addresses as the "from" address - basicly faking the sender. This is also why many get "undeliverable" messages from people they have never sent emails to.

Sadly, the "net" is what it is today and it is very unwise not to have up-to-date protection.

Another weather icon set for Navigator

2005-05-17T08:54:00.000+03:00

I added the "blue" weather icons for the Navigator skin suite (for PocketWeather and WeatherPanel VGA version. QVGA already had them) since it was requested. :)

Navigator Skin Suite released

2005-05-16T09:19:00.000+03:00

I released my third exclusive skin suite: Navigator

This time we take to the oceans to follow the trail of the great Explorers. :)

This suite has skins for Wisbar Advance 2, PocketBreeze, ContactBreeze, Spb Pocket Plus 2, Windows Mobile Today, WeatherPanel and PocketWeather. It supports QVGA and VGA.

More information is at my site.

Some site changes

2005-05-14T13:08:00.000+03:00

I edited my site a little bit, finally creating the "Exclusive skins" page. This will make it easier to add exclusive skin suites...of which there might be a new one arriving not too far from now. :)

Chromium updated

2005-04-20T13:05:00.000+03:00

I updated Chromium to include Qvga skin. It looks a bit different from its big brother, reason being that the slanted button look didn't work with such small buttons.

Weathericons to go with Chromium

2005-04-05T12:44:00.000+03:00

I made a special chrome version of the BBC weather icons to go with Chromium. The icons are in the zip file.

UPDATE: I added weather icons for PocketWeather.

New skin: Chromium

2005-04-03T12:55:00.000+03:00

I wanted something clean and crisp with a background that wouldn't disturb the today items. There will be a QVGA version of the skin (eventually). :)

SWDeluxe v2 released!

2005-02-20T20:39:00.000+02:00

Took a while but now the VGA version of SWDeluxe has been released. It includes skins for Wisbar Advance 2, PocketBreeze, ContactBreeze, Spb Pocket Plus 2, Windows Mobile Today, WeatherPanel, Spb Weather and PocketWeather.

This is a free upgrade. If you bought it from Handango you can go there and redownload the file (make sure the file is named swdeluxe2.zip. Sometimes Handango is a bit slow in updating products). If you bought it from my site you'll get an email asking if you want the upgrade. The file is quite big, the upgrade is around 5 megs and the whole suite is almost 10 megs. Please allow us time to process the requests - there is only one person doing it (God bless my wife).

Spb Weather

2005-02-18T11:03:00.000+02:00

I made a conversion of the famous Stardock weather icons for Spb Weather. Handy thing with Spb Weather is that it has all the resolutions inside the skin. So this will work with nonVGA and VGA devices. It is in the "misc" section at my site. :)

No more paypal...

2005-02-07T13:48:00.000+02:00

...I removed the option to buy my skin suites from paypal after they sent me a rather nasty message implying that I'm "laundering money" and wanting me to send them faxes with every kind of document imaginable. People who bought the suites form my site will of course get all updates as usual. I'll also look into Pocketgear and other channels of distribution. :(

Updated Gnome to VGA

2005-02-02T14:37:00.000+02:00

After my problems with Linux I decided to celebrate it with updating Gnome to VGA :)

Fixed a small bug in the OSXVGA skin

2005-01-24T11:11:00.000+02:00

Now you can have any button to the furthest right on the topbar without messing with the look of the background. I also edited the taskpanel sidebar a little.

Yet another...

2005-01-23T15:59:00.000+02:00

...OSX skin :). Skins and themes for WA2, PocketBreeze, PocketRSS (only in separate today mode so far) and SPB Pocket Plus.

SWDeluxe VGA version poll

2005-01-07T15:08:00.000+02:00

The conversion of my SWDeluxe skin suite to VGA is just about done, but I need your feedback. I'd appreciate it if you were to go to this page and participate in the poll:

Poll at SBSH forums

Good, old Organizer converted to VGA

2005-01-01T14:11:00.000+02:00

Taking a break from updating SWDeluxe I decided to convert Organizer to VGA:





Get it from my site. :)

Black&White - now in VGA

2004-12-27T13:04:00.000+02:00

My Black&White skin suite now supports VGA devices :). If you bought it from handango you can re-download it from there (once they update it - the version should be 2.0). If you bought it from my site you should already have gotten an email asking if you want the upgrade (allow my wife some time to process the requests - it is only one person) :)





Black&White skin suite



Black&White skin suite at handango

New device

2004-12-08T08:51:00.000+02:00

Finally got my new Hx4700. I have to say I'm very impressed with it. The screen is truly amazing :). I'll start updating skins once I get familiar with the device.

New skin suite: Black & White

2004-11-22T08:37:00.000+02:00

I released a new skin suite: Black&White

It has skins for WisbarAdvance v2, PocketBreeze, ContactBreeze, the today themes are Spb Pocket Plus 2 extended and includes weather icons for WeatherPanel.

There are three versions of the today theme. All of them support landscape mode (but not VGA, when I get such a device the first skins I'll upgrade will be the skin suites I made)

You can obtain the suite from handango or my site.

Btw: I noticed many of you bought it from handango, yet when I look at the developer stats it says 0 downloads. Did you have trouble downloading the file from handango? If so, let me know. It could also be that handango's stats aren't working.

SWDeluxe for Symbian?

2004-11-03T07:14:00.000+02:00

As some may remember, I've been workin on a symbian project. Now it has been released :). It is Handyday2005 by Epocware. I did a few of the skins for it, and SWDeluxe is being sold in their skin pack and separately. This program is as close to the good old PocketPC today screen as you can get on a P900 - and a bit more than that. I wish WA2 had a skin designer like this program has.

Updated WMP10 Wisbar Advance2 skin

2004-10-26T19:26:00.000+03:00

I made the icons a bit less wide to give it a more compact look. I also changed the program startup and program close sounds since they were driving me mad :D

New skin: WMP10

2004-10-21T15:16:00.000+03:00

This skin supports landscape mode, Spb Pocket Plus 2 and Wisbar Advance (version 2 only):

SWDeluxe skin pack updated

2004-10-13T14:50:00.000+03:00

This time I added a Wisbar Advance 2 skin to the pack.

As you might know, WA2 skins system wide buttons and adds system sounds.

If you bought the skin suite at handango then you can download it from there.

If you bought it from my site you'll get an email to ask if you want the update (since the file is quite large). Please allow us a couple of days for this, we don't use any automated email systems...just one person at a computer doing it manually - so be patient :).

Proudly presenting: Clarity V2

2004-10-08T13:22:00.000+03:00

I was updating the good, old Clarity to Wisbar Advance 2 but decided to re-do it completely instead, so I bring you Clarity V2:





As usual, it is available at my site.

Testing out WisbarAdvance 2...

2004-10-05T13:39:00.000+03:00

Decided to finally give Wisbar Advance 2 (although the name might be changing) a try. I like it a lot. Being able to skin systemwide buttons and menubars really adds something extra. I converted the WATiger Wisbar Advance skin to version 2. It is at my site in the WA & Today themes section. If you want to try WA2 here is the link: WisbarAdvance 2

FlashDash

2004-09-28T14:35:00.000+03:00

I made my first attempt at creating a flash theme:





I don't know how useful it is if you don't want PIE, inbox and Resco File Explorer as quicklaunch buttons on the today screen :). All icons are clickable.



The skin is in the miscellaneous section at my site.

PocketMSN2 skin

2004-09-03T13:53:00.000+03:00

Another version of a theme I like, based on MSN:

SWDeluxe skin pack updated

2004-08-26T19:23:00.000+03:00

I updated my SWDeluxe skin pack to include support for ContactBreeze and added smooth, alphablended icons for WeatherPanel.





As usual, it'll take a while for the update to appear at handango. People who bought it from my site will get a question by email if they want the update (the file is almost 3 megs so I don't want to spam your inboxes).

WeatherPod icons for WeatherPanel

2004-08-24T20:31:00.000+03:00

Dim Modaji, the author of these excellent weather icons gave me permission to post them at my site (in the misc section). The icons are for WeatherPanel:

WeatherPanel

2004-08-23T19:52:00.000+03:00

This is an app I'm impressed with. So far, it is the only one I know of which supports alphablending in weather icons. Of course, I had to convert the great Stardock weather icon set for it:





WeatherPanel is at: http://www.marsware.net/

Device II updated

2004-08-18T15:26:00.000+03:00

I updated the DeviceII skin to support ContactBreeze (a new plugin for PocketBreeze).

Some more Tiger

2004-08-06T14:08:00.000+03:00

Finally got around to adding a PocketBreeze skin to my WATiger Wisbar Advance and today theme skin. If anyone wonders, the font I use in PB is trebuchet MS and it can be found in the "fonts" on any windows machine. If I find a good program to change the default font on my pocket pc I thinkI'll go for this font :).

And totally off topic, this animation made me crack up :D

Dashboard

2004-07-26T15:46:00.000+03:00

I made a dashboard version of my latest skin. Thought it might be fun to try out again :)

Bug in the DeviceII skin

2004-07-26T12:01:00.000+03:00

I found a bug in the new skin (it would switch to the default Spb Pocket Plus icons). I think I got it fixed..but if you still have problems let me know.

Ipodstudio wallpapers

2004-07-25T18:28:00.000+03:00

I made some wallpapers for Ipodstudio. If you are into ipods then this is an excellent site to check out:

http://www.ipodstudio.com/

New skin

2004-07-25T18:20:00.000+03:00

Time for some chrome and blue - I finished a skin I call "DeviceII". I like the shadow and reflection effect on the bars and the icons - it something I use sometimes. I think it works well on this skin. For the full effect I urge everyone to use WA (which really is an excellent program, my pocket pc would look half-skinned without it). :)

Petition

2004-07-23T15:12:00.000+03:00

Someone started a petition for disappointed owners of HP Pocket PCs who are left out of the WM2003SE upgrade, please sign it if you own such a device:

http://www.petitiononline.com/HPWMK3SE/petition.html

PMC done

2004-07-20T13:53:00.000+03:00

Finished the next skin. I was going to do custom Pocket Plus icons, but the XP ones sort of fit it nicely :). Also, the PocketBreeze skin I used in my last skin suits it nicely too. Perhaps I'll create a new one later on.

For this skin I wanted a "flat" look for once. The whole theme is built around the big "start" button.

Next skin continued...

2004-07-16T14:38:00.000+03:00

Well, looks like the next skin will be...surprise, surprise: Blue! :D
It is still in early prototype stages but it might turn out quite nice. It will be one of the few skins I make with a dark background and white text. I wonder how popular those are. Should implement a download counter at my site.

Next skin?

2004-07-15T14:29:00.000+03:00

FInally finished a new default skin for an app (hope the software company likes it) :). Time to start thinking about the next project....I get restless if I have to use the same skin more than a couple of weeks on my device :D.

I got a sneak preview at the new OSX Tiger...but I've done so many aquaesqe skins already...I bet no one would want another one. On the other hand, they usually look pretty cool. Gotta hand it to the designers at Apple - their devices and user interfaces are great. We have a Mac in the family but I have never really used it myself.

Letter to HP

2004-07-15T07:42:00.000+03:00

If you don't agree with HP's policy of not offering an upgrade then Joe Levi has drafted this letter to be printed out and sent to HP:

Link to letter @ PPCT

Upgrading...

2004-07-14T07:54:00.000+03:00

Apparently HP isn't going to offer a SE upgrade for the 2210 after all. This sucks big time - especially after they had promised one already. Time to vote with the wallet and switch to another brand.

VGA

2004-07-13T15:51:00.000+03:00

Lots of people (well, lots - a few) request VGA support for my skins, but if I built this into the themes it would make the file sizes really big. I could also do separate VGA versions, but that means basicly redoing everything (since the icons should be bigger to look nice) - this would take a lot of time.

If I had a VGA device myself it would of course be different. Since I first and foremost make skins for myself I would imagine all new skins would be available first in VGA mode :).

So far there is exactly one device which supports VGA - the Toshiba e800.

Blog?

2004-07-13T15:36:00.000+03:00

Thought it would be interesting to add a blog to sort out thoughts and ideas. I think I'll focus on skinning and Pocket PCs in general.