From: robin_listas@es.invalid   
      
   On 2026-02-17 21:30, Alan wrote:   
   > On 2026-02-17 00:47, Arno Welzel wrote:   
   >> Alan, 2026-02-16 21:43:   
   >>   
   >>> On 2026-02-16 05:09, Chris Green wrote:   
   >>>> I thought this was going to be easy! I want a plain (as in no pattern   
   >>>> at all) wallpaper and it's proving very difficult to find how to do it.   
   >>>>   
   >>>> I can probably create an image file using drawing programs on my   
   >>>> desktop computer, that's easy. I can see that Android can accept a   
   >>>> number of image types, do I just create a file of the same size as the   
   >>>> screen resolution of my phone and use that?   
   >>>>   
   >>>   
   >>> You mean you can't just select a solid colour from Android's settings?   
   >>>   
   >>> Seriously?   
   >>   
   >> Yes. There is no option to choose a color *instead* of a wallpaper.   
   >>   
   >>   
   >>   
   >   
   > Wow. How stupid is that?!?   
      
   We don't know what is the reasoning for this decision.   
      
   I asked ChatGPT. Here goes the blurb:   
      
   You’re right: **stock Android doesn’t offer a built-in “pick any RGB   
   color” wallpaper option**. You can set photos, live wallpapers, or   
   curated color/material themes — but not just open a color picker and say   
   “make it #1A73E8”.   
      
   There isn’t a single official statement from Google explaining this, but   
   there are some likely design and product reasons.   
      
   ---   
      
   ## 1️⃣ Android’s design philosophy (Material You)   
      
   Since Android 12, Android uses **Material You (Monet)**. The idea is:   
      
   * The **wallpaper drives the color palette**   
   * The system extracts dominant colors   
   * UI elements adapt automatically   
      
   So Google’s model is:   
      
    > “Pick a wallpaper → system derives harmonious colors”   
      
   If you could directly choose any arbitrary RGB color as wallpaper, it   
   would partly bypass that curated color-extraction model. They prefer a   
   **visually guided experience** rather than a technical color picker.   
      
   ---   
      
   ## 2️⃣ UX simplicity (avoid overwhelming most users)   
      
   A full RGB/HEX color picker:   
      
   * Adds UI complexity   
   * Serves a niche audience   
   * Can easily produce poor contrast combinations (accessibility issues)   
      
   Most users:   
      
   * Use photos   
   * Use pre-made solid wallpapers   
   * Use theme packs   
      
   So from a UX perspective, it’s likely considered unnecessary complexity   
   for mainstream users.   
      
   ---   
      
   ## 3️⃣ Accessibility & contrast concerns   
      
   Android enforces contrast rules for:   
      
   * Lock screen clock   
   * Notifications   
   * Quick settings   
   * Icons   
      
   If a user picks, say:   
      
   * Pure white background + white clock   
   * Neon green + low-contrast text   
      
   It could create unreadable UI combinations. When Android controls the   
   color pipeline (via wallpaper extraction), it can ensure contrast ratios   
   remain compliant.   
      
   ---   
      
   ## 4️⃣ Technical reason (minor but real)   
      
   A “solid color wallpaper” is technically trivial — it’s just a bitmap.   
   But Android’s wallpaper system is image-based. Adding a color picker means:   
      
   * New UI   
   * Color management logic   
   * Theme interaction rules   
   * Accessibility handling   
   * Testing across OEM skins   
      
   For something users can already achieve in 5 seconds by generating a   
   solid image, Google may consider it redundant.   
      
   ---   
      
   ## 5️⃣ OEM skins sometimes allow it   
      
   Some manufacturers do allow it through themes or UI layers:   
      
   * Samsung (One UI theme store / Good Lock modules)   
   * Xiaomi (MIUI themes)   
   * Huawei (EMUI themes)   
      
   They integrate color selection more deeply into their theming engines.   
      
   ---   
      
   ## 6️⃣ The “hidden compromise” in modern Android   
      
   In newer versions (Android 13+), you *can*:   
      
   * Choose from several suggested color palettes   
   * Pick basic tone variations   
      
   But:   
      
   * It’s still derived from a wallpaper   
   * You don’t get arbitrary RGB freedom   
      
   ---   
      
   ## 🧠 Most likely real reason?   
      
   It’s probably not technical limitation.   
      
   It’s a **design choice aligned with Google’s philosophy**:   
      
   * Curated personalization   
   * Reduced complexity   
   * Controlled contrast & accessibility   
   * Minimal UI clutter   
      
   ---   
      
   If you’d like, I can also explain why iOS behaves similarly (it also   
   doesn’t expose a raw RGB wallpaper picker in the main UI), and how both   
   ecosystems think about “controlled personalization” vs “full   
   customization.”   
      
      
   --   
   Cheers,   
           Carlos E.R.   
           ES🇪🇸, EU🇪🇺;   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)