The next generation of smartphones is slowly approaching the processing capability of legacy computer desktops. This means that it is just a matter of time before we can effectively compose documents, open spreadsheets, and create presentations from our phones. The increasing connectivity of phones to broadband connection will revolutionize how people access the Internet. These platforms also give ample space for users to personalize their handsets. Let us look at the top websites that offer downloadable mobile themes.
Websites with Downloadable Mobile Themes
Mobile 9 Gallery (http://www.mobile9.com/) - Mobile9 operates under the slogan: "Oomph Your Phone.” This website for downloadable mobile themes provides more than 500 popular mobile themes for different phone brands such as Nokia®, Sony Ericsson, Motorola®, Samsung™, and HTC™. Users can easily find compatible mobile themes by using the quick drop-down buttons for the model and brand. Mobile9's most popular content includes 3gp videos, mp3 ringtones, and iPhone® ringtones, Nokia® N97 games, Blackberry wallpapers and Omnia wallpapers. Mobile9 is also optimized for mandarin speaking audiences.
Zedge (http://www.zedge.net/) - Zedge has one of the largest communities for downloadable mobile themes, featuring close to 15 million users and close to 4 million downloadable content options. Unlike other websites that only offer plain downloads, Zedge invites community interaction through social networking tools that allows users to be the main creator of content.
Zedge has numerous user tools that will allow users to create their own themes such as wallpaper maker, voice maker, screensaver, theme maker, ringtone maker, and “personalizer.” Although these tools are easily available from other sources, Zedge tools are much easier to use and integrate into a website. Users can also upload and rate uploaded materials. The best rated themes will be featured on the home page for everyone to see.
OwnSkin (http://www.ownskin.com/) - Own Skin is an online storage for downloadable mobile themes that support a wide range of smartphone brands such as Acer®, Asus®, Blackberry®, HTC™, Nokia®, and T-Mobile®. Like Zedge, OwnSkin has a tool to create, download, and share your mobile theme for free. OwnSkin's bare interface does not take away the fact that it offers a large collection of flash content and games. OwnSkin also has a mobile version found at http://m.ownskin.com. OwnSkin is also a top portal for designers to sell their themes and make money online.
More Downloadable Mobile Themes
MyFoneThemes (http://www.myfonethemes.com/) - MyFoneThemes aims to deliver quality and personalized downloadable mobile themes to reflect the user's preference. The mobile themes are divided into many categories, the most popular of which include Sci-Fi, Sexy, Funky, and Religious. Several themes are also available for specific occasions such as Chinese New Year, Christmas, Earth Day, Mother's Day, and Valentine’s Day.
MyFoneThemes offer premium themes priced just below $3. Surprisingly, these reasonably priced themes do well in the midst of the free themes and ring tone available in the site. The paid themes usually have animated icons to greatly improve your mobile phone experience.
Mobile Heart (http://www.mobileheart.com/) - Mobile Heart offers updated themes with a variety of categories. Mobile Heart provides more than the usual themes as users can find various games and software for smartphones. One feature that most mobile theme sites do not have is comprehensive reviews of different phone models and brands. If you are in the market for a new phone, you can view the different features of these phones including a link to the media content in their site. The handset reviews is a great way to learn different trends in mobile phones.
MB Theme (http://www.mbtheme.com/) - The iPhone® is one of the most popular smartphones in the market today. Since it runs an exclusive OS compared to other smartphones, you can find several websites that are dedicated solely on iPhone® customization and themes.
One of the most popular iPhone® customization websites is MB Theme. This website is available in 8 languages including Japanese, Chinese Mandarin, Dutch, French, and Spanish. MB Theme offers the latest and the most popular downloadable mobile themes for the iPhone®. The wallpapers are resized to fit iPhone® resolutions. In the name of simplicity, the wallpaper images in this website are very sharp and colorful.
The website's mobile themes do not offer much variety and some themes might drive away iPhone® purists. But those who love customizing can find wallpapers, icons, and ringing tones. The site's application section also gives you the best iPhone® applications without going to Apple's App Store.
iPhone® Themeworld (http://www.iPhone®themeworld.com/) - This website has only iPhone® themes and nothing else. If you want to sift through different iPhone® downloadable mobile themes quickly, then this is the place. Popular theme categories in this site include Comic iPhone® themes, Movie iPhone® themes, and Sport iPhone® themes. The most popular themes that are ready for download are eGlass 3, Gibson theme, Chinese Green, Sepia, and Star Wars 2.
Android™ Evolve (http://www.androidevolve.com/) - This website is one of the few dedicated to Android™ downloadable mobile themes. All themes in the website are free of charge with the permission from the respective designers. Android™ users can find platform-specific wallpapers and icons. The download section has a ratings system so that users can find the top Android™ downloads. Android™ Evolve also offers boot screens, roms, and applications as well as a short tutorial on how to install themes on your Android™ phone.
Android Forums (http://androidforums.com/) - Although Google Android™ is a relatively new platform for smartphones, this does not stop the Android™ community to hack and develop their own themes for the Android™. The most active forum for Android™ themes is found in Android™ Forums. You can find a large thread filled with wallpapers and Android™ desktop screenshots. The thread also has a how-to tutorial to teach you how to create and install your own theme. As Android™ is released to more handsets in late 2009 and early 2010, expect more websites hosting Android™ downloadable mobile themes.
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