Series 40 Theme Studio

Series 40 Theme Studio is free computer software designed for customization and creation of personalized themes for use with Series 40 Nokia phones.

Pros of Series 40 Theme Studio

• Multiple options for customization - Users of Series 40 Theme Studio can customize nearly any aspect of their Series 40 Nokia phones, from the icons on the home screens to the fonts, colors and backgrounds.
• Split-screen interface with preview - The software presents a split screen interface, with one side devoted to the theme in progress and the other side showing a preview of how the final result will look. Themes can be fully tested in the preview screen before packaging, and multiple themes can be opened at one time and compared to one another side-by-side.
• Options to develop and edit themes - Existing phone themes can be downloaded, then developed and edited, by the user, allowing for nearly endless combinations of effects. Themes can be re-opened, re-saved, given new names and even assigned specific ringtones.
• Allows for upload and use of personal photos - Create personalized backgrounds, images, and even icons using a personal digital photo collection; the software allows users to upload their own photo files and transform them into aspects of their customized themes.
• Easy installation to compatible handsets -Once themes are completed on the computer and are ready for use, they can be easily downloaded to any Series 40 Nokia phone via a choice of methods, including PC/ cable hook-ups, Bluetooth, or over-the-air connections.

Cons of Series 40 Theme Studio

• Lack of user-friendly interface design - Most complaints against Series 40 Theme Studio involve the cumbersome nature of the way the program is laid out. Until users learn the intricacies of the menu options and screen layout, the program can be confusing to operate, as labels are not always clear and there is a lack of helpful documentation (although a PDF help file is supposed to be included with the software download).
• Lack of drag-and-drop functionality - Many comparable software programs with similar design interfaces allow users to drag-and-drop images, files, and icons into place. Series 40 Theme Studio would function much more smoothly with such capability, but it does not offer it, leaving the user feeling as though the designing process is slower than it should be.
• Limited free trial use - Users are given a 14-day trial period during which they can use the software for free; after 14 days, purchase of a product key is required for continued full use.
• Compatibility issues - Because Series 40 Theme Studio is meant specifically for use with Series 40 Nokia handsets, users must be careful to ensure the compatibility of their phones before investing time or money into the software. Multiple versions of Series 40 Theme Studio exist, many of them updated to allow for use with newer phone models, and the issue of which software goes with which type and model of handset can be misleading.
• No available version for Mac users - This software is specifically meant only to work with PC computers and laptops. Mac users must look elsewhere for Nokia theme development tools.