Plug in your USB cord from your Sidekick to your Computer

Go to the drive where your Sidekick folders are

Make a new folder called "Themes" (without the quoutes)

Then inside that folder make a new folder with the theme name you want to appear on the sidekick

Add the picture you want. make sure its a .pgn or .jpg file. also size 240X138

Add the 2nd pic you want for the sub catagory

Open Windows "Notepad" or any other Text Editing Program and create a new file to include the following:

# ThemeName #
string Name(en_US) ThemeName
bitmap ring-background FileNumberOne.png
bitmap ring-folder-background FileNumberTwo.png

Save the file as "theme.txt" into the folder you created above inside the theme folder

Example file:

Code:
# CrazyPic #
string Name(en_US) CrazyPic
bitmap ring-background CrazyPic1.png
bitmap ring-folder-background AnotherPic.png
 

Save the file as "theme.txt" in folder Themes/CrazyPic

Unplug the usb cable from the sk3 after you upload them so the changes take effect

Sidekick Emulating a Hard Reset

The Sidekick LX now will commit memory-resident DataStores to flash memory when the device is powered down or rebooted normally. This greatly reduces the incidence of "hard reset" resyncing of the device which enhances user experience, however it makes it more difficult for developers to test this functionality on the device.

You can simulate a hard reset on the device two ways:

1) Yank the battery out of the device without shutting it down. This will force a hard reset of the device, but it's not recommended as this can also potentially corrupt files on the miniSD card if they're being written when this happens.

2) (recommended) Follow the steps below to clear the datastores off and simulate a hard reset:
- Reboot the device by pressing @+1+0
- IMMEDIATELY press and hold the 'R' key on the keyboard. Continue to hold the 'R' key down
- The device will reboot, and when the initial boot screen (the 4 face buttons animation shows) displays, the screen will clear and the device will reboot again.
- Let go of the 'R' key at this point, and the device will reboot with no datastores, and force a resync.

When you leave the Device Sleep setting on the default, the screen will turn off completely while the device is asleep (this can be disabled and the pill clock reactivated by going to “Settings > Battery & Display”). To replace some of the functionality of the pill clock without having the screen on the Trackball throbs in the following colors:

-Blue = Pending messages.
-Green = Device is sleeping normally.
-Red = Battery is getting low.

1. Perform a soft reset (1 + @ + 0)
2. Immediately press and hold down W, do not let go.
3. Let the device power down and reboot
(make sure you are not pressing any other keys)
4. The Recovery ROM screen will display, showing a Hiptop with Xs for eyes and a "Sorry please reboot" menu in 4 languages. THIS IS NORMAL. This is the recovery ROM.
5. Connect your device to your Windows (2000 or XP) system with a USB cable.
6. Windows will identify a new device, and prompt you to locate drivers for it.

Turns wheel/D-pad into a flashlight Menu + F
Black Screen (press Back to restore) Menu + Shift + M 
System Info Sidekick Trick Menu > "Settings" > "System Info"
Diagnostics Menu + D 
Network username/password Menu + U 

Clears browser info Menu + W

Erases sign-in info Menu + R 

Erase flash settings Menu + X 

About Sidekick (Menu > "Settings" > "About Sidekick") 
Snowbored game + Menu + Shift + 8

Pauses scrolling credits + Menu + Shift + Spacebar =

AIM SIDEKICK TRICKS
(While online) sets idle timeout Menu + Shift + I
(While online) joins chat room Menu + J

EMAIL SIDEKICK TRICKS 
Fetches pop email Menu + U 
Marks read/unread Menu + K 

BROWSER SIDEKICK TRICKS 
Browser toggles full-screen mode Menu + Shift + T
Gallery - (while in full-screen) Menu + W = 100% zoom (press Menu for other options)

MORE SIDEKICK TRICKS 
Voice Minute Balance
 #646#
Account Bal. #225#
Your Phone # #686#
Messages Used #674#
Resets voicemail password to last 4 digits of phone # #793# 
Blocks your call info #31# plus any phone number 

Diagnostic Mode = Menu/Settings Info than press Menu, Shift & D
Your IP address = Menu/Network Status than press Menu & M

#646# Voice Minute Balance
#225# Account Bal.
#686# Your Phone #
#674# Messages Used
#793# Resets voicemail password to last 4 digits of phone #
#31# plus any phone number = Blocks your call info.

 If your Sidekick LX is acting weird or has poor signal, or if it is responding slowly, restart the Sidekick by pressing @, 1, and 0 all at once. Your
Sidekick LX should restart.
Sidekick Mirror Press And Hold The Menu Button+Shift+M ( The Screen Should Turn Off) 
Sidekick chat Room On Aim Press And Hold The Menu Button+Shift+J 
Sidekick Trackball Light Press and Hold the Menu Button+F. The trackball should be light blue for a couple of minutes. 
Emulating a Hard Reset 
The Sidekick LX now will commit memory-resident DataStores to flash memory when the device is powered down or rebooted normally. This greatly reduces the incidence of "hard reset" re-syncing of the device which enhances user experience. However, this Sidekick Trick makes it more difficult for developers to test this functionality on the device. You can simulate a hard reset on the device two ways: 1) Yank the battery out of the device without shutting it down. This will force a hard reset of the device, but it's not recommended as this can also potentially corrupt files on the miniSD card if they're being written when this happens. 2) (recommended) Follow the steps below to clear the datastores off and simulate a hard reset: 
- Reboot the device by pressing @+1+0 
- IMMEDIATELY press and hold the 'R' key on the keyboard. Continue to hold the 'R' key down
- The device will reboot, and when the initial boot screen (the 4 face buttons animation shows) displays, the screen will clear and the device will reboot again. 
- Let go of the 'R' key at this point, and the device will reboot with no datastores, and force a resync. 

Jump (Main)
Menu + F = turns wheel/D-pad into a flashlight
Menu + Shift + M = black screen (press Back to restore) 
System Info (Menu > "Settings" > "System Info")
Menu + D = diagnostics 
Menu + U = network username/password ?? 
Menu + W = clears browser info 
Menu + R = erases sign-in info
Menu + X = erase flash settings
About Sidekick (Menu > "Settings" > "About Sidekick")
Menu + Shift + 8 = Snowbored game 
Menu + Shift + Spacebar = pauses scrolling credits 
AIM
(while online)
Menu + Shift + I = sets idle timeout 
(while online)
Menu + J = joins chat room 
Email
Menu + U = fetches pop email 
Menu + K = marks read/unread 
Browser
Menu + Shift + T = toggles full-screen mode
Gallery
(while in full-screen)
Menu + W = 100% zoom (press Menu for other options)

Step 1. First you will need to highlight the symbols...press and hold down SHIFT and then press an arrow on the DPAD....

(what ever arrow you press is the direction it will highlight in....Everything thats highlighted will have a black background and the text will turn white)

Step 2. Now you need to COPY what you've highlighted...press and hold down MENU and then press C

Step 3. Now you need to find a place to paste and save them! The best palce to save them is in your auto text...From the jump screen press MENU/SETTINGS/AUTOTEXT

Step 4.Once inside your auto text press MENU then select NEW RULE

Step 5.Now in the second box closest to your right hand PASTE by holding down MENU and then pressin V

...The symbols or what ever you copied should appear in the box!

Step 6. Now in the first box type something like sb...and press done

HipTop.com

SIDEKICK 3/SIDEKICK iD TRICKS 
System Tests Open the Menu and select System Info
Press Menu, Shift, and D all at the same time to launch the system tests 
Secret Game:(Snowbored) Open the Menu and select Settings. This is a great Sidekick trick. *Scroll down to "About Sidekick 3" and when the credits start, hold Menu and Alt and press 8 (on the top row of numbers) and then let go.

System Restart
If your Sidekick 3 is acting weird or has poor signal, or if it is responding slowly, restart the Sidekick by pressing @, 1, and 0 all at once. Your 
Sidekick 3 should restart. 
Sidekick Mirror Press And Hold The Menu Button+Shift+M ( The Screen Should Turn Off) 
Sidekick chat Room On Aim Press And Hold The Menu Button+Shift+J 
Sidekick Trackball Light Press and Hold the Menu Button+F. The trackball should be light blue for a couple of minutes. 
Emulating a Hard Reset 
The Sidekick 3 now will commit memory-resident DataStores to flash memory when the device is powered down or rebooted normally. This greatly reduces the incidence of "hard reset" re-syncing of the device which enhances user experience. However, this Sidekick Trick makes it more difficult for developers to test this functionality on the device. You can simulate a hard reset on the device two ways: 1) Yank the battery out of the device without shutting it down. This will force a hard reset of the device, but it's not recommended as this can also potentially corrupt files on the miniSD card if they're being written when this happens. 2) (recommended) Follow the steps below to clear the datastores off and simulate a hard reset: 
- Reboot the device by pressing @+1+0 
- IMMEDIATELY press and hold the 'R' key on the keyboard. Continue to hold the 'R' key down 
- The device will reboot, and when the initial boot screen (the 4 face buttons animation shows) displays, the screen will clear and the device will reboot again. 
- Let go of the 'R' key at this point, and the device will reboot with no datastores, and force a resync. 
*Click EasyEdit to add more! 
 

MISC. SIDEKICK TRICKS - FROM JUMP SCREEN

Turns wheel/D-pad into a flashlight Menu + F 
Black Screen (press Back to restore) Menu + Shift + M 
System Info Sidekick Trick Menu > "Settings" > "System Info" 
Diagnostics Menu + D 
Network username/password Menu + U 

Clears browser info Menu + W 

Erases sign-in info Menu + R 

Erase flash settings Menu + X

About Sidekick (Menu > "Settings" > "About Sidekick") 
Snowbored game + Menu + Shift + 8 

Pauses scrolling credits + Menu + Shift + Spacebar = 
AIM SIDEKICK TRICKS 
(While online) sets idle timeout Menu + Shift + I 
(While online) joins chat room Menu + J 

EMAIL SIDEKICK TRICKS 
Fetches pop email Menu + U 
Marks read/unread Menu + K 

BROWSER SIDEKICK TRICKS 
Browser toggles full-screen mode Menu + Shift + T 
Gallery - (while in full-screen) Menu + W = 100% zoom (press Menu for other options) 
MORE SIDEKICK TRICKS 
Voice Minute Balance
 #646# 
Account Bal. #225# 
Your Phone # #686# 
Messages Used #674# 
Resets voicemail password to last 4 digits of phone # #793# 
Blocks your call info #31# plus any phone number 
*SECRET GAME* 

Secret Game:(Snowbored) 
Open the Menu and select Settings. This is a great Sidekick trick. *Scroll down to "About Sidekick 3" and when the credits start, hold Menu and shift and press 8 (on the top row of numbers) and then let go. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

SIDEKICK II TRICKS 
*Click EasyEdit to add! 
 

 .For Windows XP Users: 
Delete the Themes folder you may have created on your Sidekick. We're starting from scratch here.
2. Create a new folder on your Sidekick named Themes. It should be in the same window with the DCIM and Music folders.
 

3. Download a theme from www.sk3themes.com and save it to your computer (NOT the Sidekick) 
4. Locate this file and right click on it and click extract all...
 

5. You should be looking at the Extraction Wizard. Click Next
6. Click Browse and select the Themes folder on your Sidekick.
 

7. Click next and watch the progress meter go as the theme is placed on your Sidekick.
 
 

8. When this is done, click Finish to exit the Extraction wizard.
9. Unplug your Sidekick and then select your new theme from the Backgrounds menu.
10. Repeat steps 3 through 8 for each theme.

SIDEKICK SLIDE TRICKS

Information collected from the hiptop site. Credit goes to ncmacasl for collecting this information. 
 

#646# - voice minutes balance
#225# - account balance (if supported)
#686# - What is my Phone Number?
#674# - messages used 
*#06#-IMEI number 
#793# - resets your voicemail password [to the last 4 digits of your phone number]
#31# (phone number) - block Caller ID info on call (this prefix can be savd in Address Book numbers) 

General Shortcut Keys(works in all or most programs) 
, - Shift Lock/Caps Lock ( to Cancel) 
, - Alt Lock ( to Cancel) 
+ X - Cut (to clipboard) 
+ C - Copy (to clipboard) 
+ V - Paste (from clipboard) 
+ A - Select all 
+ Z - Undo
+ + Z - Redo 
+ @ - Add to Address Book (when an e-mail address is highlighted - in most apps) 
+ - Edit Text (via menu) 
(Click & Hold) - Context-Sensitive Menu 
+ T - View Trash 
+ / + - Select Text 
+ - Delete 
- Delete/Delete Previous Character 
+ - Delete Next Character 
+ - Delete Entire Line 
Perform a Soft Reset - @ + 1 + 0 

Page Up - @ OR [.] (Period) OR OR + (kudos to "abc223_86" for info on [.] ; to "DYMEFEMMEFANATIC" for info on trackball) 
Page Down - OR OR + (kudos to "DYMEFEMMEFANATIC" for info on trackball) 

+ - Start of Line 
+ - End of Line 
+ OR + OR + - Top of Section/Page 
+ OR + OR + - Bottom of Section/Page (kudos to "Edgarj602" for "Menu +" tricks; "phaserx" for trackball tricks) 
+ - Start of Current/Previous Word 
+ - End of Current/Next Word 
/ - Move Forward/Back a Section 
/ - Controls volume of current active feature including: 
Sound Profile (incl. Silent & Buzz modes)

Speaker Phone Volume

Phone Volume

Headset Volume

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
Forward current content via e-mail - + M (anytime; e.g.: Camera, Browser, etc.) 

+ - Media Player ( to return)(kudos to "l0uisz" for this info) 

+ + - Takes a Screen Shot (kudos to "dasupaman" for this info) 

+ - Select Sound Profile 

Press & Hold key - Key Guard ON 
+ - Key Guard OFF 
While KeyGuard is ON, Press & Hold to turn on backlight (kudos to "Hazardous Child" for this info) 
KeyGuard BackLight - Keep it ON: While on screensaver mode, press until the screensaver lights up. Now press while still holding . Now, let go of first, then let go of . Try to do it fast to avoid the "Press + to unlock device" box from staying on top of your screensaver. (kudos to "§idekickweaponz" for this info) 
Change Key Guard Settings: (from Jump Screen) , "Settings", "Key Guard & Security". 

- Go To Jump Menu/Last Item Selected
- Go To Jump Menu/Default Item Selected 
+ - Background Light On/Off (kudos to "jay212" for this info) 
Jump Shortcuts (includes new suggestions) 
{to change these settings, from Jump 
Screen go to , "Settings", "Jump 
Shortcuts"} 

+ A - Address Book 
+ B - Browser/Internet 
+ C - Calendar 
+ D - TDD IP Relay 
+ - Camera/Photos 
+ E - E-mail 
+ F - Game: LED Football 
+ G - MSN Messenger 
+ G - Game: Rock & Rocket 
+ I - AIM 
+ J - Game: Gem Jam
+ K - Download Fun/Catalog 
+ L - 10 Pin (lower case "L" looks like a bowling pin) 
+ M - Music Player 
+ M - Money Clip 
+ N - Notes 
+ O (+) - Calculator 
+ P - Phone 
+ R - Sprint Relay 
+ R - Game: Rock & Rockets 
+ S - SMS/Text Messages 
+ T - Tasks/To Do 
+ U - Game: Sudoku 
+ W - Game: Arkanoid (last 2 letters of title screen always looked like a "w" instead of an "id") 
+ X - SideSheet (eXcel) 
+ Y - Yahoo! Messenger 
+ @ - Game: Bob 
+ @ - Game: Pac-Man 
+ @ - Game: Ms. Pac-Man 
+ - Mini Music Player 
(kudos to "regrethedays" for the updated sk3 shortcuts) 
Jump Screen Shortcut Keys 
Phone # Look Up (for dialing) - Press/Hold

Dial a Speed Dial # - + (1-9)

Jump to Top/Bottom Icon - + + / (kudos to "Prince_Jae" for this info)

Sidekick Mirror! - + + M ( or button to cancel)

Sidekick Flashlight ON/OFF - + F

Hidden Game (SnowBored) - , "Settings", "About Sidekick", + + 8 *OR* NEW! , "Settings", "About Sidekick", then watch the credits and wait for the "Jeff Bush" name to come up, , "WinterWonderland" (Hold down any key to move up {left}, release key to move down {right}) (kudos to "0verhead" for the "name trick" info; kudos to "sqela" for name update to "Bush"). NEW! TRICK: when you first start, press and hold a key to go up past screen and you will jump to a different screen with (supposedly) a different placement of trees (score re-sets to 0). (kudos to "BRA!N STEW")

Your IP Address/Cell Tower ID - , Network Status, + M

Phone Calling Menu - or Push & Hold 

Dress Barn field - , "Settings", "System Info", + N + M. Note that the field on the bottom of the screen has now changed to "Dress Barn:
 
 
 
 
 
 

Web Browser Tips & Tricks 

Shortcut Keys 
Recent Pages List - + + B or + B

Full-Screen Mode Toggle (No Title Bar) - + + T

Page Info - + Q

Refresh Page - + R

Go To (Enter URL) - + O

Go To Home Page - + H

Bookmarks - + K

Add New Bookmark - + N

E-Mail URL - + M

Stop Loading of Page/Stop Running of Javascript - 

Links Drop-Down Menu (use when cursor is on a specific link) - +

Copy URL of Current Link - + C

Select ALL Text of Current Page - + A

Select Specific Text of Current page - + 
(kudos to "jjj" for info)

"Find" dialog box (for searching for a specific text on the Current Page) - + F

Find the previous occurrance of the current search word (set in "Find") - + D

Find the next occurrance of the current search word (set in "Find") - + G

Remove/Restore Background/Text Colors - + + M

Go To Last Page - or 

Go To Previous Page - 
 

Camera Shortcut Keys 
Capture Photo - 

Capture Photo - Click

Capture Photo - 

Send Photo via E-Mail - + M

View" Menu - + D

Rotate Photo - + R

Edit Photo Info - + E

Discard Photo - OR + 

View Pics as Full Screen/Thumbnail (Toggle) - 

Zoom In (in Thumbnail View) - + K

Zoom Out (in Thumbnail View) - + L
 

E-mail Shortcut Keys

+ N - New Message 
+ R - Reply (to Sender) 
+ L - Reply to All 
+ J - Forward 
+ @ - Add Contact 
+ O - Move e-mail to different Folder 
OR + - Delete (E-mail or Folder) 
+ + S - re-load "stuck" e-mail 
+ K - flag e-mail as un-read 
+ U - retrieve e-mails from all POP3 Accounts, if any. (thanks to "Ncbuddrius") 
+ [.] - cancel New Message (during message edit) 
Scroll between E-mails - Right/Left or / 
+ + B (from "E-Mail List View") - Abbreviated Subject Lines (Toggle) ("Re:" will temporarily become ">"; parenteticals: {[xxx], (xxx), {xxx}, <xxx>} will be temporarily moved to the end of the Subject Line) (Example: "[SKFunGroup] Re: Re: Sidekick 5 rumors!!" will appear in the message list as "> Sidekick 5 rumors!! [SKFunGroup]". Of course, only the first 15-20 characters actually appear on the Message List view) 

Send E-Mail Directly to a Sidekick User's Folder: Under "To:" enter [FolderName] # [E-Mail Address] (no spaces) (Ex: ClubNews#myfriend@tmail.com will send the message to myfriend's e-mail folder labeled "ClubNews") 
(NOTE: if the folder doesn't exist in the users account, the e-mail will only create the folder, but the actual e-mail will NOT be sent. The E-mail will have to be sent a second time. ALSO, on some e-mail programs "#" will cause an error message or will simply be filtered out.) 
Calendar Shortcut Keys 

+ N - New Event 
+ H - Show Today 
+ O - (letter O) Go To a Specific Date 
+ D - Select View from a Menu 
+ 0 - (number 0) Upcoming Events 
+ 9 - Day at a Glance ( / to scroll forward / back a day at a time) 
+ 8 - Week at a Glance ( / to scroll forward / back a week at a time) 
+ 7 - Month at a Glance ( / to scroll forward / back a month at a time) 
+ 6 - Year View (only "Today" is highlighted; / to scroll forward / back a year at a time) 
+ T - View Trash (Use this to bring back events that were previously deleted) 
AIM Shortcut Keys 
OR :menu + - Delete Buddy or Group 
+ [.] - End Current Conversation 
+ M - Start a new Conversation (with an on-line buddy OR an unlisted ScreenName) 
+ + N or + N - New Buddy/Group 
+ D - Select Conversation 
+ O - Re-Order Buddy List 
+ E - Edit Buddy/Group 
+ + W or + W - Select Away Messages 
+ + P - {Seems to force a re-sync of your aim conversations} 
+ + J or + J - Join/Create Chat Room 
(go to http://www.aim.com/chats.adp?aolp= or http://www.20mbweb.com/World/skshyt/ from a web browser to locate chat rooms or just create one by entering a name) 

/ - Scroll Through All Open Chat Sessions 
+ (0-9) - Jump to Specific Open Chat Session 

Extra AIM Smilies (only convert to a graphic Smilie with other Sidekick users)
Yahoo IM Shortcut Keys 
+ + I - Set Idle Time Out 
+ + C - Mysterious Simpsons Reference/ Possible Easter Egg 
+ + P - {Sound effect shows something happens but nothing seems to happen} 
+ [.] - End Current Conversation 
+ M - Send Instant Message 
+ + N or + N - New Buddy 
+ D - Select Conversation 
+ O - Re-Order Buddy List 
+ E - Edit Buddy 
+ + W or + W - Select Away Messages 
+ + J or + J - Join Chat Room 
(go to http://chat.yahoo.com from a web browser to locate chat rooms; NOTE: Chat rooms currently do not work on the Sidekick''s YIM) 

/ - Scroll Through All Open Chat Sessions 
+ (0-9) - Jump to Specific Open Chat Session 
MSN Messenger Shortcut Keys 
OR :menu + - Delete Buddy or Group 
+ [.] - End Current Conversation 
+ M - Start a new Conversation (with an on-line buddy OR an unlisted ScreenName) 
+ + N or + N - New Buddy 
+ D - Select Conversation 
+ O - Re-Order Buddy List 
+ E - Edit Buddy/Group 
+ + W or + W - Select Away Messages 
+ + P - {Seems to force a re-sync of your aim conversations} 
+ + J or + J - Join/Create Chat Room 
(go to {web page unknown} from a web browser to locate chat rooms or just create one by entering a name) 

/ - Scroll Through All Open Chat Sessions 
+ (0-9) - Jump to Specific Open Chat Session 
Music Player Shortcut Keys 

/ - Volume Up/Down in 1% increments (for music player only) 
/ - (Push & Hold) Volume Up/Down (for music player only)
+ / + - Volume Up/Down in 10% increments (for music player only) 
+ / + - Jump Volume Up/Down to 100% (max) / 0% (mute) (for music player only) (kudos to "hillSIDER187st") 
/ - Move Back/Forward in Playlist (kudos to "Fanboy5000" for info on D-pad shortcuts; "cpl697" for info on trackball) 
 

SideKick 3 Tips and tricks 
 

Menu+M adds the link to email 
Menu+N adds the page u are on as a bookmark 
Menu+Q gives u the page info 
Menu+K brings u to ur bookmarks 
Menu+back button is sound control 
 
 
 

Here's a tip for AOL email users that will save some application blocks on the device, you don't have to download it to send/receive your AOL email to your sidekick3! 

In the email folder view: 
1. Press menu 
2. Select Settings 
3. Select Accounts 
4. In "Accounts", press menu again and select "new account" 
5. Change the protocol to IMAP
6. Mail server: imap.aol.com 
7. Port: 143 
8. Your user name 
9. Your password 
 

Clearing Sidekick User Data 
Remove your SIM card from your Sidekick

Turn on your Sidekick

Press menu, then select Settings, and then select System Info

Press Menu, Shift, and X at the same time

When prompted to confirm erasing, select Yes

Next, press Menu, Shift and R at the same time

Select Yes

Restart your sidekick by pressing the 1, 0 and @ (not the number 2; the @ at the bottom left of the keyboard) keys

As soon as the Sidekick starts to restart, push and hold the R button (you may need to restart more than once)

Turn the Sidekick off and insert the SIM card, and then turn the Sidekick back on

You will be prompted to enter the username and password for a Sidekick user