Personalizing your Android smartphone is a delightful endeavor, and a captivating wallpaper can significantly enhance that experience. However, many users often find themselves navigating through a sea of ad-ridden wallpaper applications from the Play Store, which can detract from the enjoyment of customizing their devices. Fortunately, there’s a refreshing alternative: an open-source wallpaper app that offers a stunning collection of Pixel wallpapers without the intrusive advertisements.
Doodle: A Collection of Pixel Wallpapers
Meet Doodle, a Java-based wallpaper application crafted by German developer Patrick Zedler. This innovative app features the original Doodle wallpaper collection from the Pixel 4, alongside the unreleased Material You static wallpapers from the Pixel 6. Users can explore the “Appearance” page, which showcases all available wallpapers organized into three distinct categories. Here, you can easily select a wallpaper variant, add an accent color to your smartphone’s interface, set a daily random wallpaper, and toggle night mode.
For those who enjoy a bit of dynamism, Doodle offers three live wallpapers that come alive with interactive features. Users can enable the “Swipe” and “Tilt” effects, allowing the wallpaper to respond to gestures. A simple swipe on the home screen will create movement in the wallpaper, while tilting the device will prompt a corresponding reaction.
Setting both live and static wallpapers is a breeze with Doodle. For users seeking more customization, the app provides access to the “Parallax“, “Shape size“, and “Other options” menus. These settings allow for fine-tuning of live wallpaper animations, adjustments to the app’s color theme, increased contrast levels, and the option to enable hardware acceleration.
During my testing on a Samsung smartphone running Android 14 and One UI 6.1, I encountered a few challenges. Notably, the “Swipe” effect and Accent Colors were non-functional. Doodle acknowledges compatibility issues with the default launcher, One UI Home, which clarified the situation. Additionally, I noticed that the live wallpaper occasionally malfunctioned during the lock/unlock process, and transitioning between light and dark modes required a relaunch of the app for the wallpaper to adjust accordingly.
While Doodle’s current wallpaper collection is visually appealing, expanding the selection to include more non-Pixel options could elevate the app’s appeal further. A diverse array of original or uniquely styled wallpapers would undoubtedly enhance the user experience.
Install Doodle
The source code for Doodle is available on GitHub under GPLv3 licensing, with the latest versions easily accessible through F-Droid and the Play Store. If you’re aware of any other open-source wallpaper applications that offer a broader selection, feel free to share your recommendations!
