Well after I go through training (soccer) and hang out with my wife, I will embark on trying it out. Definately will backup the device before I try though. One question...In step 2 it directs you to a link to download something for an 8700. If I am already running OS 4.1 do I need to go that page and look for a 7100 series phone or does the 4.1 version I got from Hong Kong CSL work and I can start at step 4?

Sorry, double post.

I just put it on and its beautiful.....directions were very precise......now that Zen theme is now my favorite also....

Why do the icons for third party apps look like DOS windows? I thought I saw this in the thread and now it appears gone, but that is what is happening on mine, now that I finally go it loaded.

There is also a link on that page for the 7100g. If I were you, I would download both (they're kind of big files = 50 MB if I remember) and compare them. As you noted, the install routine will create a set of folders and the one for the 8700g creates an 8700 set of files (even though the 7100 data is in there) but the Desktop Manager/App Loader is probably not going to use it when a 71XX connects.

By comparing the files you can see if the same data is actually contained in the "blackberry.alx" file.

Don't try to force an 8700 install onto a 7100...

They look okay in some menus, like the list one that pops up for the Zen theme. But, if you move them up so they appear on the homescreen, they become that dos-like icon. Not sure why because they appear to be the same size so its not like it cannot scale them on-the-fly.

I've also found that if you mess around with different themes and then go back to the Zen theme, the list menu will have an icon overlay in the list menu and that truncates some icons. The only way to get it back to a no-icon overlay is to pull the battery and cold start.

Followed the instructions, things worked perfectly.

I do have a slight bit of lag, I think I need to delete a few things on my bb.

I didn't have browsers after a few restarts, but I pushed them over through the interface.

All in all the ZEN is WORTH IT!!

Awesome Job Seattle you ROCK!!!!

Regards,
dolo

Well after struggling to get Zen on my BB I must say I have no Zen. Thanks to JIBI who tried to help me get it with the original Cingular OS. Finally took a risk since I am traveling and did the OS upgrade. First time through it worked for the OS upgrade but did not have the Zen theme. I assume an error in my alx edit. Fixed that, but since I have at least 5 third party apps that I want on the home screen, the DOS icon is a deal killer. The regular apps have shortcuts so I don't need them on the home screen. I need to be able to distinguish them.

Pluses from the OS upgrade though are that IM+ now works, and the dialing seems crisper. I assume the ringtone volume issue is fixed too, so not all is lost.

I will also report that I have been testing Shark Modem and finally got it to work through my corporate VPN and Lotus Notes configuration. Very happy because it allows me to tether without data charges. In fact that is how I posted this.

Well I tried this upgrade yesterday about 20 minutes before I left for home. Everything work as described in the post. I have all of the new themes. I haven't fully tested the BB but will do so today. I will post if I have any problems.

Put the key things that aren't third party apps on the home page, and now it cooks.

Messages -need this to show number of unread.
Bluetooth
Power
Wireless - to turn off on a plane
Pictures- to change the background and enjoy the theme.

I had followed exactly or so I think the instructions. Not the cut and paste but the actual edit method.
I did every step as described and just re inserted the battery. There are no new themes there.
It is just exactly as it was before all of the work.
What could I have done wrong to not even get a part of just 1 theme?

I would love to use the Orange Zen but it has me lost.
Please help a noob to BB. I just got my 8700 yesterday from Cingular,

I just got a pop up that said unable to write or update application data. It was an Intelllisync error pop up.
What does this mean?

The Zen theme is not from Orange, but first need to know if you got the new OS on the device? The Cingular OS must be updated for the Zen theme.

Well here is some new info.
I DID find some new themes that had been saved to a folder.
It was themes.alx. When I opened this in the desktop manager it added them to my list of apps. I checked each of them to send to the device.
Only a few of them would load and then they loaded at 7100 reso.
I went back to see if I had edited the Zen right and I had not. I had left a space there. Now it is correct.
Do I have to run the set up program over again?
Why do they appear in 7100 resolution?
Is the Intellisync error an issue that will affect my synching?
I loaded the program from BB liek it said to do, I do not know if that updates Cingulars program or not. The Cingular program did not even have the file for Shared under RIM.
Help.
I just wanted the really cool Zen theme. Now I am in over my head.
Thanks

It seems as if I have the Zen theme now.
It shows up as BB Dimension Zen. Ok now how do I get the Orange background and the icons and BB tiles like in post 39 in this same thread?
I am still getting the Intellisync error that says
" Unable to write or update application data"
Why is this still there?
If anyone knows how to go back to the factory settings it would be appreciated.

Go into the Pictures folder and there should be some new default pictures, one of which is the orange one you want. Scroll to it, then click the wheel and choose Set as Home Screen Image - that's it!

Seattle, Thank you.
I got what I started out after.
Now if I could just correct the error when syncing...
Sorry to be a noob, have to learn form the best and they seem to be here.

Seattle,
Browser is gone and will not appear after reset as described.
Any suggestions?

Try going to options/advanced options/host routing table/
then click trackwheel and choose register now. I did that and my browsers showed up.

i love most things about the theme.... but here are a couple things that you guys might be able to clear up.

1. i like having my sms/email noficiation/count at the top where the banner and time are (like it does when you go into any application).. not mixed in with the icons on the home screen.
2. when i hit M from the home screen it takes me to my email... i like being able to see SMS and email from the same screen.

My only problem thus far is the KEYTONE wouldnt disable no matter how many times i disabled it in the SCREEN options....i hit NO...save, and then put it in the holster and once i remove it from the holster the keytones are back on again....

quite possibly its something i did....who knows....its still working fine other than that lilttle very minor problem....

I think you just have to readjust, this theme is designed that way.

This theme has them separated, which I like much better actually.

did they at least add a shortcut key for SMS while on the home screen or do I have to hit M, then ALT+S? i guess i don't mind them being seperated so much as I do that I have to waste two of my icons on Mail and SMS when I'll never actually use the wheel to click on them... I've always used M to access messages. Any tips?

Another vote of thanks. I am as uneducated as they come when it comes to code level computer operations and I did this in one shot. The application loader section took quite a long time and worried me but all is well.

I was not sure what all of the different items were but took them all and loaded them all and now have some nice new toys to play with on my 8700.

Thanks again for laying it out so clearly.

Glad it went so smoothly for you. Now go to this thread to check for kewl backgrounds to use with the theme!

http://www.blackberryforums.com/showthread.php?t=27410

You could set the front convenience key to open SMS/MMS if you want.

Is anyone going to host this? There are alot of computer people here make it easy for us noobs and make it a one click application....LOL.

I did this and it didn't work so I reloaded my old one. Well I go to my pictures and it has all the diffrent backgrounds but no themes....anybody know why?

So I went through my full day with the new setup (installed it around this time last night) - had some serious issues with battery life.

By 2pm EST I was in the red and battery life was zapping quickly.

Typically I get 2-3 days of use, after one day at the lowest its ~60% battery life. I go through about 100 emails a day, about a 45-60min of talk and basic browsing.

Anyone else having this issue?

Seattle and company, any insight or fixes you may know of in regards to this - please share.

Regards,
dolo

I haven't noticed any change with my battery life. If anything the Bharti handheld code was like steroids for my BlackBerry. It's overall performance has gotten better and I still have great battery life.

Your themes aren't stored where your pictures are.
You have to go to: options/themes to select a different theme to use.

Seattle 18 Unusual problem.
I have the themes working fine but...
I still get the message "unable to write or update application data", Is this a problem? This happens every time I sync.
I got the browser back just fine but if I go to themes, download themes, and the browser says that I must have 4.1 software to get themes.
If I check the ABOUT screen it does say 4.1.0.8 for the software. Why does it say that I have the correct software but in the browser not let me get more Cingular themes?
Is my browser corrupted?
Should I wipe and re install everything?
I really like the Zen theme but the other issues trouble me.

since upgrading to this firmware... i can't get my internet browser to open wap.blackberryforums.com.... ? I get "a problem occured while trying to render the page". anyone else? all other sites i've tried work fine.

EDIT: the bookmark that i was using was the problem. deleted and manually typed the addresss and it worked.

It should be 4.1.0.284for the Bharti version. Also the Zen must be installed and not downloaded. Where are in the process outlined in Post #1.

Just to test if the browser or the site. I have not had that problem.

both the cingular and internet browser give the same error for me.

FYI... it worked before the upgrade. also, www.blackberryforums.com loads fine on the BB so its not a connection issue.

Do you have a firewall on? You could clear your browser cache or firewall settings and try that. Seems strange.

yeah.. firewall is on... but it was on before the upgrade and it was working. cleared content cache and cookies as well as reset the firewall settings and still can't get to the site. wap.howardforums.com works.. so its not a compatibility issue with WAP/WML sites in general.

I have the new software package...284 but no new themes, and I did go through the ALX file and remove all of the _vendorID listings, so that the TAG closes after the " for whatever came before _vendorID. I see all of the theme COD files in the Java folder on my computer, but they do not show up on the device, and I even saw the copy progress of the themes to the device during the OS upgrade. I have already reset the device two times. Any quick ideas?

thank you seattle18 and to those that put the work into figuring this out. I dig the zen theme, worked perfect on my 8700...