Android: Theme Holo previous version

Question

I really like the 4.0 ICS Holo Light theme and would like to have it in my app to support <4.0 smartphones.

I found Android layoutlib.jar in platform folder but its 8mb!!! and I really don't have afford to increase my app with 8mb. Any tip?

//Pew Labs PS ive tried https://github.com/ChristopheVersieux/HoloEverywhere but it doesnt support TabVIew which I use

Thanks!

Answer 1

It would be better not to use the Holo theme on unsupported devices. You can do a simple trick to make your app run the Holo theme on 3.x and up, and one of the built in themes on 2.3 and below, like so:

1. In your manifest, use this line for your activity's theme

   android:theme="@style/Theme.MyTheme"

2. In your res/values folder put a styles.xml file, containing

   <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
   <resources>
     <style name="Theme.MyTheme" parent="@android:style/Theme.Black" />
   </resources>
   

3. Create a res/values-v11 folder, and a styles.xml file in that, containing:

   <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
   <resources>
     <style name="Theme.MyTheme" parent="@android:style/Theme.Holo" />
   </resources>
   

This will make Android use the Holo theme if the app is running on a device that supports it (3.x and up, which is API level 11 and up, hence the "values-v11"). This is the best solution to make your app match the phone's user interface, and use the Holo theme only wherever it's supported.

Answer 2

Check ActionbarSherlock. It also provides a styled TabView. The samples directory provides a real good example for a TabView which works like a charm on Android 2.2.

Answer 3

You can use Holo in Android 2.3< with this simple library : http://www.holoeverywhere.com/ Its called Holo everywhere and works fine in previous versions of android. The Library is hosted on Github.