Application of the Week: OpLogo Changer

I came across this very useful application thanks to a post at Symbian60.mobi and joined the beta phase of “OpLogo Changer”.

“OpLogo Changer” helps the user to replace the operator font in the standby screen with any little graphic you like.

It’s definetly worth to be mentioned as an “Application of the Week”, although it’s still in beta state and still very new. However, it worked perfectly for me and that’s why I am showing you how “OpLogo Changer” factilitates operator logo changing.

I am using v0.02a for this post.

OpLogo Changer:

The application’s UI is actually the only sign that “OpLogo Changer” is still in beta state: there isn’t any graphic stuff yet, icons are still completely missing.

The first option “OpLogo Changer” the main option at the same time – to change the operator logo. After selecting it, a selection menu containg all the images on your phone appears.

I created a little “Symbian Web Blog” logo to replace my normal provider “Simyo”. To let it look best, I spent some work on it to let it match perfectly to the theme. It’s still a little bit hard for newbies to let it look like it does for me, because the application doesn’t support transparencies. Transparent parts of an images will be displayed as white.

I cut out the part of the theme from a screenshot and used it as background, so that it looks like the logo was part of my theme.

It’s clear that many images don’t have the correct side proportions. At the moment you must edit an image to attain a satisfying result. The dimensions are as follows:

For 240 x 320 resolutions (e.g. N95): 134 x 35 pixels

For 176 x 208 resolutions (e.g. N91): 97 x 25 pixels

For 352 x 416 resolutions (e.g. N80): 194 x 50 pixels

The resolution doesn’t play a role, “OpLogo Changer” works also with pictures with higher resolutions without problems.
In future versions there will be advanced options to resize/crop/scale the image if it isn’t the correct size, but for now any image will be squashed to the dimensions quoted above, depending on your phone’s screen resolution.

After selecting my edit icon, a message appears calling my intention to reboot the phone to see the logo being changed. Actually it’s enough to shortly switch into “Offline” mode and then into a normal profile again.

Then my Symbian Web Blog logo is visible and I like it!

As I said, you can choose any image you like. Also you can keep your operator’s name by just adding its logo as I did. The new Simyo icon looks much better than just seeing the normal font.

Because of the non support for transparencies, it’s clear that my operator logo with the background of the theme does either only work in portrait or landscape mode, because the logo is located at a position with a different background cutout.

However, this problem should also be fixed with the support of transparencies.

The second option is to hide the operator logo. Changes are also visible after a short profile change into the “Offline” mode.

I don’t really like seeing nothing about the current date, looks slightly strange. But anyway nice to see this function included into “OpLogo Changer”.

Clear that you also need an option to reset all the changes you have executed with the operator logo. Restoring the operator font can be done with the third option what does also work perfectly!

“Diagnostics” shows some information about your operator logo.

“OpLogo Changer” is for sure the simplest and nicest solution I have ever seen to change the operator logo. No need for any file managers to edit system files!

The functions “OpLogo Changer” has worked without any problems for me, although it’s still in early beta state. With support for transparencies and options to edit the size and position of the logo will complete the great functionality of this application.

You can try to become a beta tester by joining here. The application will be released for public after the developer is satisfied with his work. It’s still not sure, whether the application will be freeware. The signing procces costs of course also money for the developer.

Normally only freewares are part of “Application of the Week”, but in this case I thought I should mention “OpLogo Changer” here anway. Current beta version will expire at the end of April.

Developer page: http://blog.mobilethemes.com/