Related
Hi everyone, I've been playing with new Nexus S (my first android phone) for a few days now, and I can't decide on which homescreen launcher to use because each has features I like and lacks some that the others have. Maybe someone can find a remedy for me. I've made some notes about what I like or dislike about the following three launchers I've used.
ADWLauncher EX:
Separate catalogs on drawer
Lacks scrolling dock (hidden dock is less intuitive to me)
Best homescreen transitions
Go Launcher:
Gesture response for icons on dock
Tab to see running apps from app drawer that lets you kill or switch between tasks easily. However, the tab takes away space from the icons. Maybe there's another way to access something like this, a gesture for example? (image here)
Best edit function for screens: provides convenient way to move icons from one screen to another, lets reposition screens, delete
2 touch access to phone settings from menu button
Share access from menu button
Launcher Pro:
Missed calls/sms/email notification in the doc
I personally like Zeam..
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
The main reason I use LPP is because of he cal widget and being able to use custom dock images. Over ADW EX that is.
Launcher Pro Plus, by far.
http://www.appbrain.com/app/homesmack/com.teslacoilsw.homesmack
I like Zeam. Light and fast!
Actually I'll further confuse you.
32 Home Replacements Reviewed
http://hubpages.com/hub/Droid-Home-Replacement-App-Comparison
There's a way to get the "counts" in ADW with paid app "ADWNotifier".
kschang said:
Actually I'll further confuse you.
32 Home Replacements Reviewed
http://hubpages.com/hub/Droid-Home-Replacement-App-Comparison
There's a way to get the "counts" in ADW with paid app "ADWNotifier".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're terrible.
That review is crap.
That review is crap. Launcher pro hard to configure my assss.
kevin2516 said:
That review is crap. Launcher pro hard to configure my assss.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am guessing you mean LauncherPro? Compared to drag-and-drop of HelixLauncher dock config, LauncherPro dock IS hard to config.
Why is LauncherPro so popular here? I feel like its the most limited. No long-hold uninstall or edit from the homescreen like the others. I liked it the least out ADW, Go Launcher, and LauncherPro.
glasslung said:
Why is LauncherPro so popular here? I feel like its the most limited. No long-hold uninstall or edit from the homescreen like the others. I liked it the least out ADW, Go Launcher, and LauncherPro.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it is.
glasslung said:
Why is LauncherPro so popular here? I feel like its the most limited. No long-hold uninstall or edit from the homescreen like the others. I liked it the least out ADW, Go Launcher, and LauncherPro.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think LPP was the first Launcher to have a drop-to-uninstall function.
Zeam. Minimalistic, light, fast, awesome.
Sent from a piece of ginger bread
I have tried them all and I always end up back with LauncherPro plus.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk
I would like to see what everyone is using for there home launcher. If you could put a screen shot of it up and tell me the launcher name so I can kind of see what is what without having to download all of them. I know of ADW, LauncherPro, and NetFront. Thanks
There's already one of these threads, but.
ADW Launcher EX (Paid one)
Launcher Pro. Icons are dreamlyfe.
Sent from a phone.
Right now I'm using Launcher Pro on my Droid 1 but its really laggy at times especially when I go back to the home screen. Any recommendations on an replacement launcher that has these features:
A - Customizable dock at the bottom which I can put shortcuts to my apps.
B - At least three screens so I can put my widgets.
C - Drawer that can let me move up and down not left and right while scrolling for my apps.
Also which widgets are recommended for the following since I highly suspect no other launcher has these - calendar and contacts?
Many thanks in advance.
DemoManMLS said:
Right now I'm using Launcher Pro on my Droid 1 but its really laggy at times especially when I go back to the home screen. Any recommendations on an replacement launcher that has these features:
A - Customizable dock at the bottom which I can put shortcuts to my apps.
B - At least three screens so I can put my widgets.
C - Drawer that can let me move up and down not left and right while scrolling for my apps.
Also which widgets are recommended for the following since I highly suspect no other launcher has these - calendar and contacts?
Many thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I choose adw launcher ex 1.3.3.. customizable dock, many screen and drawer up + down..
Thank you so much for the recommendation. I have ADW Launcher Ex running now. It feels so much smoother and faster then Launcher Pro was running. For my calendar and contacts widget I switched to Android Pro Widgets which gives the same Sense like experience that the ones Launcher Pro comes with.... if not better since APW comes with some nice skins and better options.
The only thing I don't care about APW at this point is not having the scrollable dock like Launcher Pro has. But I'm willing to give that up in exchange for better performance. The lag on Launcher Pro was starting to really annoy me.
Actually, if you swipe up on the dock, a hidden dock appears.
There is nothing there at first but you can drag unlimited apps to the bottom of the screen and it will fill up and will scroll across...
If you swipe down on it, the default dock appears.
if you don't need scrollable widgets give Zeam a try
I agree that ADW is much faster than current LauncherPro too ... much better
Just overclock the handset a little bit and launcherpro runs like a dream, IF you do a few minor tweaks:
DO NOT use the 3D app drawer. It's pretty laggy and slows down the rest of launcher pro, even if it's not actually on the screen right now.
DO NOT use more than 3 or 4 home screens
Don't use many widgets on your DEFAULT home screen.
Go Launcher is wonderful. Fast, feature filled.
I personally like Launcher ProPlus. I do believe it is faster and smoother than ADW. Also, if you're running CM7 you can lock the home screen in memory and that will help.
Or try V6 Supercharger script. With that script my Launcher Pro NEVER lags.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=991276
rcummings100 said:
Just overclock the handset a little bit and launcherpro runs like a dream, IF you do a few minor tweaks:
DO NOT use the 3D app drawer. It's pretty laggy and slows down the rest of launcher pro, even if it's not actually on the screen right now.
DO NOT use more than 3 or 4 home screens
Don't use many widgets on your DEFAULT home screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what are you on about?!
I have 7 filled homescreens with widgets:set cpu, calender, word of the day,news,movies, messages,people,gmail and i have fancy widget and batt statt on my default screen. LP is always fast
Demoman
ADW is better than Launcher pro.. check these settings.. if it's a little lag when waking.. check box on "keep home in memory "..
BRITT#OGDROID
The only reason why I like GO launcher better is because of the Recent, and the built in easy to access task manager.
Why do you guys use the launcher you use?
What has the least amount of ram?
Customizability?
I use go launcher personally because i like the feel and look of go compared to adw
Sent from my VS910 4G using XDA
I really like Go but I won't use it anymore because it is way too bloated for me.
Try 360 launcher. It is translated in the android apps section. Not quite as much theme ability as Go but it is pretty smooth. I use adw because it averages 13 mb of ram usage and has a ton of customization.
I loved GO purely for the locker options. Young straight to sms was sweet. But damn was it hard on my battery. I haven't tried it on Broken Out yet though
Sent from my BROKEN OUT Revolution.
I used to use GO (for about 6 months), but it's all bloated with eye-candy now. I tried ADW briefly, but it didn't really impress me.
I bought the paid version of Launcher 2 (which is basically the full version of the stock LG Home launcher) a while ago and went back to using it. However, I still run GO Contacts Ex and GO SMS Pro (on Launcher 2).
The only thing I miss is the ability to group my apps. Launcher 2 only sorts them alphabetically.
I have tried ADW, launcher pro, and shell 3D, but always find myself going back to GO launcher. I really enjoy the scrolling folder widgets you can use with folder organizer and the "eye candy" transitions are tbe best. Now that I'm on Broken Out 1.1 battery hasn't been an issue.
Sent from my GalaxyTask GT-P7510 using xda premium
I am an admitted Go Launcher EX fanboy. all other launchers are just missing one thing or another. These Go guys are voracious updaters. Some call feature rich software bloated but I can't think of anything in Go Launcher that cant be turned off.
You can rest assured if you leave me alone with your device for more than 10 minutes, when you get it back it will have go Launcher EX on it.
ADW EX
For my phone, I use ADW EX. I used to be a big fan of Go Launcher EX about a year ago, but I received a widget from them that absolutely raped my battery life. Ever since then I switched to ADW EX.
For one, I think I prefer the method of putting icons on the screen on ADW EX. The dragging to a screen from a multi-screen view is a little jarring. I used to favor GO simply for the multiple app bars, but now ADW has this as well.
I guess I switched to ADW EX when I started using a modified version of ADW (VTL) on my Nook Color for its best landscape layout.
Overall, most launchers are basically the same (in portrait mode), and the ones that deviate from the basic formula (e.g. Shell 3d) end up being resource pigs with wonky functionality.
Would like to try Go Launcher. Currently running ADW on Broken Out rom. Do I have to uninstall ADW for Go to work? Or can I just install over ADW?
EDIT: Not compatible with my device? VS910 zv8
n00bzilla said:
Would like to try Go Launcher. Currently running ADW on Broken Out rom. Do I have to uninstall ADW for Go to work? Or can I just install over ADW?
EDIT: Not compatible with my device? VS910 zv8
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is absolutely compatible. You also do not have to uninstall ADW. I was talking with GO's dev and he promised me he is expanding the functionality of the dock bar to allow 4 or less icons (like home which is my preference) and to have the dock icons expand to fill the dock like adwex does. Once that feature is available I will switch.
This app is compatible with your Verizon LGE VS910 4G.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used the touch wiz launcher originally, but want to try the google now launcher. But now none of my apps show up. Am I better off starting over from scratch with a factory reset?
Which launcher are you using?
I am using nova.
Assuming you did not disable the TW launcher, go to setting...scroll down to applications and select. When that menu pop up, look to your upper left corner you will see three dots going down...click it. Choose default applications, than you will see the option to choose your default home screen under "set as default".
ZiprLips said:
I used the touch wiz launcher originally, but want to try the google now launcher. But now none of my apps show up. Am I better off starting over from scratch with a factory reset?
Which launcher are you using?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I like Apex, but it was becoming difficult to tell what themes, icons, launcher would stick. I'd fix one thing and something else would vanish, got tired of that. So I found a theme from the Theme Store and now I can stand looking at Touchwiz!!
mgbotoe said:
I am using nova.
Assuming you did not disable the TW launcher, go to setting...scroll down to applications and select. When that menu pop up, look to your upper left corner you will see three dots going down...click it. Choose default applications, than you will see the option to choose your default home screen under "set as default".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the help.
ZiprLips said:
I used the touch wiz launcher originally, but want to try the google now launcher. But now none of my apps show up. Am I better off starting over from scratch with a factory reset?
Which launcher are you using?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Google launcher works fine as long as you don't set up the secure folder, after that is done all the apps disappear from the app drawer...
Sent from my SM-N930V using Tapatalk
I am currently using Nova Launcher Prime. Also have Apex Launcher Pro Installed and running in my Note 7 as just in case.
There are reasons that I am not using TouchWiz UX (Grace) Launcher nor Chrome Now Launcher as you will see below:
Here are a 4 Home Launchers that I didn’t choose to stay with after testing with the Note 7
Google Now Launcher – Way too limited. Didn’t transferred the app icons to the App Drawer. So I can’t even copy the Phone Dialer icon over to the Apps Dock. Disappointed since I was wishing to truly integrate Google vanilla experience to the Note 7.
Go Launcher Z – They only allow you to use their Widgets and no third party Widgets. WHAT!!! No Go! They also are getting into Ads and charging lots to get rid of ads (GO Launcher Super v i p price $19.99 (45% off the full price). Go Launcher Prime is $5.99 which I have.
ADW Launcher 1 (New) – Getting less customized and more Google material style. For an example I like transparent App Drawer. The new ADW Launcher only gives you colors like 90s websites for the background in the App Drawer. I used to love ADW, but they are now going backwards.
TouchWiz UX (Grace) - Very lagging, no default access to Live wallpapers, you can't see some of your icons in landscape mode, etc. I really tried to stay with TouhWiz UX. The one thing that turned me to another home launcher is that I am tired of having to go portrait mode to select apps when I am already in landscape mode.
There are serious enough problems with TouchWiz UX to give good reason for the power user to switch home launchers. TouchWiz UX is lagging, no default access to Live wallpapers, you can't see some of your icons in landscape mode, etc. We can get around that with a custom home launcher like Nova Launcher, Apex Launcher, etc. I found that both Nova Launcher and Apex Launcher doesn't get in the way of Samsung's features. Meaning both of these home launchers allow all Samsung features to work within these launchers on Note 7.
Personally I don’t like "3D" home launchers. Which is the reason I didn’t try them with Note 7.
Recommendation Note:
I recommend trying either Nova Launcher or Apex Launcher. Both worked wonderfully with Note 7 and provide much customization. Nova Launcher is the first one I would try out only because of the third party customization for the Nova Launcher.
I use HomeSmack to switch between home launchers. Works flawlessly with Note 7.
-
Nova Prime for me
Running stock launcher and like it...
Nova Prime
Nova prime
Sent from my Galaxy Note7 using XDA Labs
Nova launcher prime here
Smart launcher 3 here
Stock launcher
Sent from my SM-N930T using XDA-Developers mobile app
Nova prime
Sent from my A0001 using XDA-Developers mobile app
Nova prime
Sent from my SM-N930T using XDA-Developers mobile app
Nova prime for me as well
Sent from my SM-N930T using Tapatalk
JaguarXT said:
I am currently using Nova Launcher Prime. Also have Apex Launcher Pro Installed and running in my Note 7 as just in case.
There are reasons that I am not using TouchWiz UX (Grace) Launcher nor Chrome Now Launcher as you will see below:
Here are a 4 Home Launchers that I didn’t choose to stay with after testing with the Note 7
Google Now Launcher – Way too limited. Didn’t transferred the app icons to the App Drawer. So I can’t even copy the Phone Dialer icon over to the Apps Dock. Disappointed since I was wishing to truly integrate Google vanilla experience to the Note 7.
Go Launcher Z – They only allow you to use their Widgets and no third party Widgets. WHAT!!! No Go! They also are getting into Ads and charging lots to get rid of ads (GO Launcher Super v i p price $19.99 (45% off the full price). Go Launcher Prime is $5.99 which I have.
ADW Launcher 1 (New) – Getting less customized and more Google material style. For an example I like transparent App Drawer. The new ADW Launcher only gives you colors like 90s websites for the background in the App Drawer. I used to love ADW, but they are now going backwards.
TouchWiz UX (Grace) - Very lagging, no default access to Live wallpapers, you can't see some of your icons in landscape mode, etc. I really tried to stay with TouhWiz UX. The one thing that turned me to another home launcher is that I am tired of having to go portrait mode to select apps when I am already in landscape mode.
There are serious enough problems with TouchWiz UX to give good reason for the power user to switch home launchers. TouchWiz UX is lagging, no default access to Live wallpapers, you can't see some of your icons in landscape mode, etc. We can get around that with a custom home launcher like Nova Launcher, Apex Launcher, etc. I found that both Nova Launcher and Apex Launcher doesn't get in the way of Samsung's features. Meaning both of these home launchers allow all Samsung features to work within these launchers on Note 7.
Personally I don’t like "3D" home launchers. Which is the reason I didn’t try them with Note 7.
Recommendation Note:
I recommend trying either Nova Launcher or Apex Launcher. Both worked wonderfully with Note 7 and provide much customization. Nova Launcher is the first one I would try out only because of the third party customization for the Nova Launcher.
I use HomeSmack to switch between home launchers. Works flawlessly with Note 7.
-
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure what you mean by "...can't see all icons in landscape mode...." for Touchwiz. I don't remember Touchwiz rotating to landscape on the home screen. One reason I've not liked it since about donut or was it gingerbread?
Nova Prime here as well.
Nova Prime, but might try AL3 ( Action Launcher ) down the road...
Nova Prime here as well