EDIT: REFLEX has just been released! Go here to snag a copy. And use our code till tomorrow and save 20% BBEmpireOpen
Russ of Gray Matter Themes is releasing his newest theme REFLEX this week. I have been using it for a couple days now and I must say that I love this theme! The first striking feature you see is the icon dock up top of the screen that shows a reflection. And the notification bar, date/time and signal meters are on a smaller banner below. Here’s a shot of the default home screen.
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EDIT: Since writing this review, RIM has asked that OS6.1 icons not be used in themes at this time. Therefore, the screen shots you see are from a pre-release copy of REFLEX and the theme itself will contain OS6 icons only.
I love the 6 full size icons at the top since I don’t like squinting to see what I’m clicking on. The surprise with this dock is two-fold: scroll up with your track pad and the dock disappears into the top of the screen, leaving your home screen spotless. The action is smooth and quick. Then, when the dock is visible, you may scroll either left or right and show all the icons on your apps screen. Ha! No need to push the menu button to get to that icon for which you are searching. Scroll through all of your icons from the home screen, effortlessly!
Let’s look at the information at the bottom of the screen. Russ has used a platform looking graphic to accentuate your date, profile icon, time (in larger type size), battery and signal meters and notification bar. I like the graphic behind the banner because no matter what type of wallpaper I use, I will always be able to see the important data. And here’s the surprise with the lower banner; it can be made smaller and thinner! Using the keystrokes Alt- and Alt + you may higher and lower the information. When I use the Alt – I am taking away some of the info from view: the battery indicator, the signal meters, the name of my wireless, and the 3G symbol. Who needs that showing all the time? Once I am at work or home and my phone is connecting properly, I never look at that information. So why not remove it from view? If you need to show it again, use Alt +. Ingenious!
Other important shortcuts available on the home screen are: the date leads to the Calendar, the profiles icon to Profiles, the tine to the Clock, and the weather (OCD) slot to your app placed there. That OCD slot can be turned on and off using Alt B and Alt N. It’s a Peek-a-boo weather slot! The battery icon below leads to app #20 in your app list. The signal icon in the bottom right-hand corner leads to Manage Connections. The @ key will launch the 21st app on your app screen as all the others appear on the scrolling dock. Can’t remember all these helpful shortcuts? Use Alt # to show a single screen of help and ESC to dismiss it. Russ has gone the way of several savvy theme creators who incorporate a number of shortcuts on their home screens! I say thank you from the masses. We want functionality as well as beauty. And this theme has both!!!
If you do happen to wander to your app screen, you will find plain black wallpaper which makes this theme even more vision-friendly and wallpaper friendly. The icons pop on the black background and are easy to see.
In the screen shot above, you can see the icons are squared off with a highlight in the bottom corner of each slot. Different and makes the process of choosing an icon easy. Menus are solid black with a gray gradient highlight. The theme is very neutral past your home screen and that is a blessing to the user, who may use it without reservation or aggravation. The theme flows smoothly with no lags. I did nothing but smile while using it, as I could see my self keeping this one for my everyday use, no matter what wallpaper I want to use.
Bottom line: BUY THIS THEME! You will not be left wanting for anything if you do. It’s a keeper on my phone! Reflex (from Gray Matter Themes) will be available soon. I will add purchase info here as soon as it becomes available!
Thanks to Richard for introducing me to Russ and thanks to Russ for entrusting me with his new baby..REFLEX.