From: nuh-uh@nope.com   
      
   On 2026-02-17 12:46, Carlos E. R. wrote:   
   > 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.   
      
   All the following is interesting, but for the whole "we have lots of   
   choice that Apple doesn't allow you, neener-neener!" crowd, it seems a   
   little ironic, don't you think?   
      
   :-)   
      
   >   
   > 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.”   
   >   
   >   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)