The blog & portfolio of Matthew J. Rogers

FAQ & Help

Need help or have questions about the design, installation, use, or features of the bPhone for BlackBerry theme? You’ve come to the right place. Please read through everything carefully, and if you still don’t see what you’re looking for then feel free to post a comment down at the bottom of the page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is bPhone compatible with my BlackBerry?
Take a look at the compatibility list on the download page. All 8100 series (Pearls), 8300 series (Curves), and 8800 series are supported. By “series” I mean any BlackBerry that starts with the first two digits, so yes, the 8130 is part of the 8100 series. The older 8700 series will work if you have the most up-to-date operating system — if you don’t, there’s a bug in the OS that allows the theme to be loaded even though it’s not compatible and it completely corrupts your 8700.

I didn’t see your warning about the old OS on the 8700 series, and now my BlackBerry is endlessly rebooting. What do I do?
Don’t worry, it’s fixable. One possible solution is detailed here.

When will bPhone be available for the Storm or Bold?
I’m currently working on bPhone for Bold and hope to have it out as soon as possible. At some point I will also investigate producing a version for the Storm.

Why aren’t my fonts reflecting my own settings?
This is a limitation (or bug) in the way RIM implements third-party themes. Certain aspects of the theme get locked to the original theme font and cannot be changed by you, the user.

What’s the difference between the three versions (Zen, Icon, and Today)?
These are three variations in how the icons lay out. I don’t have any screenshots (yet), but most BlackBerries come preloaded with the same variants for one of their default themes, so you can see the different behaviors on those.

Some icons don’t match. Can you make bPhone-style icons for [insert application here]?
No. I have customized just about every single thing that the theme software will allow me to change. I can’t apply any more icons.

Can you make a version with a black background, instead of the fish?
You can change your own background anytime you want. An easy way to get an all-black background is to take a picture with your BlackBerry’s camera while holding your finger over the lens. Save that image and set it as your wallpaper.


Can you make the L-style theme, or the Zen style with the icons at the bottom instead of on the side?
No. The theme software only allows for Icon, Today, and left-side Zen templates.

When’s the next version coming out? Can you make a version for the new BlackBerry model?
I’ll only be able to make significant changes to the theme once an overhauled version of the theme creation software comes out. That tends to lag a bit behind new hardware releases, but I’ll do my best to stay current.

If you have any other questions, feel free to comment here or contact me.

Updated on January 4, 2012

1,320 comments

  • Matthew September 22nd, 2007 at 3:07 pm

    Unfortunately you cannot change the font. This is a limitation of the Plazmic software that has been present from the beginning — it only allows the font that the theme creator sets.

  • Yasmin September 22nd, 2007 at 3:14 pm

    wow, you answered fast!

    ok thank you!

    still, it looks adorable I just don’t like the messenger font…

  • Yasmin September 23rd, 2007 at 7:50 am

    Another question…
    I downloaded both the Zen and the Today version to see which one I like better… Now I’d like to delelte one version but it’s not possible..?
    Why?
    Can you help me?

  • Beth September 23rd, 2007 at 6:22 pm

    I SO suck! I thought my blackberry was an 8800, but it’s an 8700c. I downloaded the theme for 8800 like a dummy and now my BB won’t show anything but an hour glass. I see above where you mentioned a perpetual reboot and I am wondering (before I screw up again), will those instructions also work for a BB that is power by a MAC instead of PC software? Also, when I take those steps and reinstall the OS, am I going to have an empty phone or will my contacts still be there?

  • Endo September 24th, 2007 at 12:36 am

    Hey Matthew,

    What are the limitations of this theme being run on an 8700 running OS 4.2.xxx? Does the Plazmic software allow for such an export or are the 8700 users SOL and left to drool instead?

    Thanks,

    Endo

  • Seb Payne September 24th, 2007 at 5:50 am

    I can’t find SMS on either theme. I love the Icon scheme – very iPhone but I’d really like to have an icon for SMS since it is the top-used function of my phone. Any chance of this being added?

    Thanks

  • Matthew September 24th, 2007 at 7:45 am

    Yasmin: You can delete anything through the Applications screen in Options.

    Beth: If you’re using a Mac (not MAC, that’s something else entirely), you have to get access to a PC to perform OS upgrade/restore operations. I use Macs, but I have VMWare Fusion for the times I need Windows.

    Endo (and anyone else who asks, because I’m not answering it again): I haven’t gotten to the 8700 version yet.

    Seb: The icon for SMS is already part of the theme. I don’t know why it’s not showing up for you; I don’t have the power to add or remove things via the theme.

  • happy happy joy joy September 24th, 2007 at 1:49 pm

    thanks for the reply and i am using the smaller icon version for pearl then as it seems i won’t be able to use the large one at present. thanks for this AWESOME gift to the e-Universe!

    will check out your today theme too as i see you’re crankin away!

  • happy happy joy joy September 24th, 2007 at 1:54 pm

    oh yeah. i wanted to ask you if big deal to swag out the zen theme to match the “t-mobile zen” theme which is exactly the same but the icon bar is along the bottom not the left. but as i say that i really like the way your theme has the words magically appear across the screen & also how you have the app button appear in the listing too so you can still use the ball to select all apps.

    dude, you rock!

  • MRP September 24th, 2007 at 5:05 pm

    I downloaded the bphone for my pearl. Look’s very cool. I noticed that the second digit of the date gets clipped off! Thought you would like to know.

    Cheers

  • k3088487 September 24th, 2007 at 5:05 pm

    This theme is great! It looks much better than the other ithemes out these. Would you be able to make one with a different background, like some of the others with a black only or black Blackberry faded image? I am new to BB, so maybe background image changes are easy?

  • Phil September 24th, 2007 at 7:22 pm

    Well, I am back to tell you that I finally got these to work in my phone. Just to update you, because you asked me to, I have a T Mobile, BB 8800, with an OS of 4.2.1.74.

    All I had to do, it appears, was to download it through my phone, as the desktop install wouldn’t put it in my themes, even after several tries.

    Good News for me and and a great big thank you to you.

  • socaloha September 24th, 2007 at 7:29 pm

    Hello Matthew,

    I know that you have not produced a version for the 8700. Based upon all comments here, you obviously have put in a huge amount of time to produce something that is greatly appreciated and wanted.

    Do you have an ETA as to when you may be able to produce a version for the 8700?

    Thanks in advance.

  • scott September 24th, 2007 at 9:30 pm

    GREAT THEME….best iphone theme out there. Any way that you have other “iphone” wall papers that we can use?

  • Lars September 24th, 2007 at 11:43 pm

    Thanks a bunch for the great themes…. I just installed the bphone today theme it is by far the most stylish and efficient one I have come across to date.

    I have one suggestion for future releases: The “messages” “calendar” “phone” and “application” titles on the home screen tend to get lost when using a predominantly white background colour. If the letters of each of these titles were shadowed with black similar to the way in which the subheadings for each of these are, it would look slick!

    Thanks again, and keep up the great work.

  • JESS September 25th, 2007 at 7:16 am

    Is there a way to get the classic black background instead of the fish? It’s a little distracting. I downloaded all three. I like the icon the best. But if there is a way to change the background that you created, please let me know! Thanks!

  • Matthew September 25th, 2007 at 8:23 am

    happy happy joy joy: I cannot make bottom-style (T-Mobile Zen-style) themes. The software doesn’t allow it.

    MRP: Which version clips off the date? I can’t replicate the problem.

    k3088487, scott, and JESS: You can always change your wallpaper…nothing’s stopping you from doing that. I’m leaving the fish in there as the default because I think it makes it a little more interesting, but the theme doesn’t prevent you from changing the background like you normally can.

    Lars: I assume you’re talking about the Today version…I couldn’t give the letters a shadow. The only way the software would let them have a shadow is if I left the text yellow (yuck) like it is for the defaut Today theme. The theme creator software is very limited.

    No ETA on the 8700 or remaining versions. I’m really busy this week but I’ll post them as soon as I can.

  • MRP September 25th, 2007 at 10:50 am

    I downloaded the icon version 4.2 for the BB Pearl. Version number 2007.09.18.2301.

    The date on my screen shows up as TUE, SEP 2 when in should be TUE, SEP 25.

    Hope this helps!

    Cheers

  • chris September 25th, 2007 at 11:25 am

    love the theme, but where on my device is the background located? i’d like to change the image, but if i want to change it back to the bphone default, i don’t know where to find it.

    also, any chance on creating a custom image for things like opera and google maps?

  • fabio September 26th, 2007 at 12:07 am

    You’re one bad mother…..shut your mouth…. Awesome work! Keep it up.

  • Matthew September 26th, 2007 at 6:45 am

    chris: See the previous 10 times I was asked about custom icons for third-party apps: it cannot be done ;)

    MRP: Thanks, although that’s the same version I have on my Pearl and it’s not cutting off the date at all. I’ll see what I can do though.

  • Dixie September 26th, 2007 at 12:24 pm

    Matthew

    Just saw your theme on my colleague’s phone and was completely bowled over. Its a fantastic theme!

    Unfortunately, I have an 8707v so I have to wait till you develop one for this version.

    PLEASE develop one for this phone as soon as you can!

    Thanx a ton, Dixie

  • Matthew September 26th, 2007 at 8:26 pm

    All 8700 versions and Curve/8800 versions released!

  • Charles September 26th, 2007 at 9:42 pm

    I dont know if this has been addressed yet but i am using the Today theme and the large fonts for “Messages, Calendar, etc” is really funky and not very clear.. nice theme other than that

  • Ray September 26th, 2007 at 10:02 pm

    Matthew,

    Fantastic work! Looks stunning on my Curve. Just one question – is it possible to eliminate the square around the lollipop?

    Thanks!

  • deejay September 26th, 2007 at 10:41 pm

    Home screen text on the 8300 Today version is not very clear.
    Messages, Calendar, Call Log, Applications. All other text is ok.

  • Matthew September 27th, 2007 at 12:02 am

    Charles and deejay:
    I have just uploaded a new version to address that issue. I had attempted to add an outline to the text because a couple people had said it was hard to read against light-colored backgrounds when it was plain white; however, the outline does appear to make it rather ugly looking. I went ahead and removed it.

    Ray:
    It took me a second, but by “lollipop” I think you mean the “OS X beachball”, the spinning wait cursor? If so, then no I don’t want to remove the gray box. The spinning cursor is a GIF, and GIF images can’t do partial transparency — either a pixel is transparent, or it’s not. This causes a problem with the beachball because it has a drop shadow, and without the box it looks horribly block against whatever windows or menus you have open.

  • Dixie September 27th, 2007 at 8:40 am

    Matthew

    Will the 8700 version work on 8707v as well?

    Please let me know sooooon! Can’t wait to install!!!

    Thanx, Dixie

  • Matthew September 27th, 2007 at 8:59 am

    Dixie:

    I’m fairly certain the 8700 series version will work on all 8700 series, including the 8707. Let me know.

  • Endo September 27th, 2007 at 10:16 am

    Hey Matthew,

    Just wanted to toss my love out there. It’s working perfectly on my 8700r (using the icon theme). I’m gonna toss you 5 bucks for this as well. Great work!

  • Tigger September 27th, 2007 at 11:27 am

    Does this work on a 8310? I can’t get this loaded on my 8310.

  • Tom September 27th, 2007 at 4:03 pm

    Mathew haveing trouble downloading to my 8300, when i download and run and go to desktop and then i sync , take battery out then look in thems nothing is there, any advice. Thanks

  • Matthew September 27th, 2007 at 4:07 pm

    Tom:

    No one else running the 8300 has had that problem, I don’t think, because as far as I know only one OS version for the 8300 is currently available. Can you give me your exact OS version anyway, just to see if we can narrow it down? Which variant did you install? Try using OTA installation if you could, and let me know. And thank you kindly for your donation :)

  • Jeff September 28th, 2007 at 1:46 am

    I have an 8703e and 4.1xxx OS. Any chance there is a bphone that will work with that? Looks really great.

  • Tom September 28th, 2007 at 9:06 am

    Mathew……Tried over the air and received no message in box., any help…..Thanks…Tom

  • Tim September 28th, 2007 at 9:15 am

    This is great. Are you going to do a Today Plus version? Thant would be really great.

    8700c on 4.2

  • Eirik September 28th, 2007 at 9:37 am

    Hey Mathew I see you briefly addressed this question before but I had to ask anyway cause its driving me crazy… I love the themes, Icons,& so on. But if I leave the messanger font this small I will def be blind in a day or so, as I am using the Pearl. Is there really no way to change even the size? Thank you.

  • Tom September 28th, 2007 at 10:22 am

    received download message BB won’t let me download it. Thanks any suggestions

  • Tom September 28th, 2007 at 11:03 am

    got it, terrific looks great on Curve. Thanks….Mathew

  • Andrei September 28th, 2007 at 12:09 pm

    Matthew, great theme. I’m using the Today theme for the 8300.

    I have one problem though, not major. When the 8300 locks, the background image remains the original one from the theme (the fishes). When I unlock it goes back to the image I had changed to.

  • Matthew September 28th, 2007 at 2:20 pm

    Tim: I can’t make a Today Plus version, that option doesn’t exist in the theme software.

    Eirik: No way to change the font without RIM/Plazmic fixing their software.

    Andrei: You can’t customize the lock screen on third-party themes, although it shouldn’t be showing the fish, it should be showing a metal grill pattern. Sounds like I left the wrong image in there.

  • Tim K September 28th, 2007 at 4:04 pm

    Hello,

    I just installed verion 4.2.1 then ran the App Loader to install your theme. Now my Blackberry 8700c keeps going to ‘hour glass’ screen. I’ve tried pulling out the battery but nothing is working. Do you have any fixes?

  • Matthew September 28th, 2007 at 4:18 pm

    Tim K:

    I’m wondering if there’s even a more specific version of 4.2.1 required, because the 8700 4.2.1.91 simulator I have runs the theme fine. As for fixing your phone, look at comment #51 on this page.

    What exact version of the OS did you install? OS 4.2.1.xxxx? Also, which variant did you try to install? Icon, Zen or Today?

  • F lee September 29th, 2007 at 5:10 am

    Excellent Theme, looks great on the pearl! Is there a way to change which 6 icons are displayed on the Zen theme main page?

  • Matthew September 29th, 2007 at 11:32 am

    F lee: The Zen theme home screen should display whichever five application icons you have ordered first on your application screen. So if you go to the screen where you can see *all* your icons, and then reorder them so that the first five are the ones you want on your home screen, that should do the trick.

  • Bryan September 29th, 2007 at 1:03 pm

    AWESOME – Thanks for the great theme!

  • Nessa September 30th, 2007 at 3:11 pm

    How to I install the theme to my blackberry curve? I have it on my MacBook, but I want to try and sent it to my blackberry curve.

    I guess what I am trying to say is I need step by step directions. Thank you.

  • Tom September 30th, 2007 at 10:09 pm

    any plans for the 7100i?

  • Damien October 1st, 2007 at 2:43 am

    Can you make it so that we can change the font in the menus, sms, email, etc. The font is small, unbolded, and non-antialiased. I was hoping I can change it.