try to set the objects as subviews to the navigationBar.
Set the tint color
UINavigationController *theNavigationController = [[UINavigationController alloc] initWithRootViewController: aFeedControler];
theNavigationController.navigationBar.tintColor = [UIColor blackColor];
Add the segmentedControl as a subview in the viewControllers like this:
UISegmentedControl *segmentedControl = [[UISegmentedControl alloc] initWithItems:
[NSArray arrayWithObjects:[UIImage imageNamed:@"segment_check.png"],
[UIImage imageNamed:@"segment_search.png"],
[UIImage imageNamed:@"segment_tools.png"], nil]];
CGRect frame = CGRectMake(0,0, 200,40);
segmentedControl.frame = frame;
[segmentedControl addTarget:self action:@selector(segmentAction:) forControlEvents:UIControlEventValueChanged];
segmentedControl.segmentedControlStyle = UISegmentedControlStylePlain;
segmentedControl.selectedSegmentIndex = 1;
self.navigationItem.titleView = segmentedControl;
For the buttons you should try creating UIButtons not UIBarButtonsItems and add them as subviews also. If you create UIBarButtonsItems and add them like this self.navigationItem.rightBarButtonItem = tempButton; you will get the effect that you saw.
if you add them as subviews you shouldn't have the problem you mentioned.. hope it helps.