Can you change the icons without rooting/loading a ROM?

[Shockwave78]

Preordered the pebble blue...


Now... For one I can't believe all these other ics phones dumped the stock ics look that the gnex has. It seems all the other phones out there with ics have the same look as the the previous android versions. Are they not allowed to use the stock icons google used in the ncus or something? I think most would agree that they do look better/cleaner.

So, am I able to load this look onto the s3 without loading a new rom? I have no issues with rooting and all that stuff, but would rather do it on stock.

 

[Covart]

Preordered the pebble blue...


Now... For one I can't believe all these other ics phones dumped the stock ics look that the gnex has. It seems all the other phones out there with ics have the same look as the the previous android versions. Are they not allowed to use the stock icons google used in the ncus or something? I think most would agree that they do look better/cleaner.

So, am I able to load this look onto the s3 without loading a new rom? I have no issues with rooting and all that stuff, but would rather do it on stock.

Download the icons you like and save them in a folder named what ever you want. Size of the image doesnt matter as long as it is bigger than 64x64 pixels.
Download Nova Launcher or Go Launcher EX and set this as your main launcher. Click and hold any icon until the box popsup to edit, rename or delete. Click edit, choose custom icon, find icon you want from your downloaded bunch, click no borders, now enjoy your custom icons. I have over 250 custom icons I made for my own theme.

 

[Covart]

Here is an example of what you can do with your own icons

 

[matttye]

If you don't want to replace the entire launcher, there's an app called "Desktop Visualizer" that can change icons.

 

[Shockwave78]

Thanks for the tips!

What really kinda pissed me off was when I had th nexus and showed other android users they were all like what's the it deal, it looks the same as our phones(older android) I guess as a non android user the gnex just looked much different than others IMO.

...hmm I wonder If there are any iPhone icon sets

 

[Covart]

Thanks for the tips!

What really kinda pissed me off was when I had th nexus and showed other android users they were all like what's the it deal, it looks the same as our phones(older android) I guess as a non android user the gnex just looked much different than others IMO.

...hmm I wonder If there are any iPhone icon sets

If you notice, those above are iPhone icons, using the iCloud silver background. If you want access to all of them, send me a pm with your email address and I will give you access to my dropbox folder. Just an option for ya.

 

[FARCrow]

Is there a place to download the stock ICS icons?

 

[matttye]

Is there a place to download the stock ICS icons?

Download any custom ICS ROM from xda-developers.com, but instead of installing it on your phone, unzip it on your computer and have a nosy around the folder to see if you can find the icons. They might be embedded in files which makes it more difficult.

 

[FARCrow]

Download any custom ICS ROM from xda-developers.com, but instead of installing it on your phone, unzip it on your computer and have a nosy around the folder to see if you can find the icons. They might be embedded in files which makes it more difficult.

Much appreciated

EDIT: Found them in this APK, thanks again for pointing me to XDA-Developers:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1636393

 

[FARCrow]

Just an update since I finally managed to buy myself a blue S3 a few days ago (woohoo I'm a full fledged Android user now!): I've settled on the Apex Launcher and found this free Ice Cream Sandwich theme which works for most of the popular launcher's out there which includes all the ICS icons and works great for me (I didn't apply the whole theme just replaced a few of the icons I wanted):

 

[Shockwave78]

Alright, sorry about the other thread I made today regarding this same thing. I forgot i had created this one a month or so ago.

Anyway..Can i just drag and drop these icons replacing the existing ones on the phone when connected via usb???

I'd rather not use a launcher and all that stuff

 

[burtonvdp]

Take a look at the droidicon pack on the play store... I used to use that with adw launcher but Im sure itwiltwork with nova or any other launcher that let's you edit icons on the acreen.

 

[Shockwave78]

Alright so i downloaded apex launcher and then the jelly bean pack. Looks great, but a question for you..

This runs on top of the original UI correct? So i imagine i should go through and delete all the widgets/icons on the stock home screens?

How much of an effect on battery life do these "launchers" have?

Thanks!

 

[CrimsonPride]

Alright so i downloaded apex launcher and then the jelly bean pack. Looks great, but a question for you..

This runs on top of the original UI correct? So i imagine i should go through and delete all the widgets/icons on the stock home screens?

How much of an effect on battery life do these "launchers" have?

Thanks!

launchers have no noticeable draining on the battery. and you dont have to delete the widgets you are using in touchwiz. this is because touchwiz is the entire UI, the menus, notification bar, everything on the phone. launchers just go over the touchwiz launcher, its not always running in the background

 

[Shockwave78]

launchers have no noticeable draining on the battery. and you dont have to delete the widgets you are using in touchwiz. this is because touchwiz is the entire UI, the menus, notification bar, everything on the phone. launchers just go over the touchwiz launcher, its not always running in the background

Ok thanks

One sucky thing is i cant drop any widgets onto the apex screens. Need to root i guess

 

[SUroot]

launchers have no noticeable draining on the battery

100% agree

and you dont have to delete the widgets you are using in touchwiz. this is because touchwiz is the entire UI, the menus, notification bar, everything on the phone. launchers just go over the touchwiz launcher, its not always running in the background

100% disagree. Although I agree touchwiz is much more than a launcher, it is a framework, but the main bulk of touchwiz is the launcher aspect.

The menus are actually a modified Settings.apk. The Status bar is a Modified SystemUI.apk. Much of the look and feel beyond the launcher (homescreens and app drawer) that add to the "touchwiz experience" are not really there and are there throughout any launcher.

Infact you can delete touchwiz on the phone (if rooted) and the rest will still remain.

Now in regards to the Touchwiz launcher aspect, the new launcher is running simultaneously. The touhcwiz process is still running and widgets that are on the touchwiz screens (weather etc) Could definitely still be updating so I would highly recommend removing those widgets from the homescreen