Why is there so much wasted space between icons/widgets on homescreens? - Nexus One Themes and Apps

Is there anyway to make better use of the real estate available on the homescreens? The current setup with so much space between icons/widgest seems like a colossal waste of the real estate the higher res N1 screen offers.
IMO, it also detracts from the aesthetic appearance of the homescreens. Especially coming from an iPhone.
I'm hoping this is a legacy issue, due to previous phones having lower res screens and google wil fix this.

So you want them closer together so you can't see your desktop? It's not a "legacy problem", that's how it has always been. There may be a home replacement that will do what you want though.

I think a major effect that seperates the iPhone and android ui is android's spacious desktop. I may be misunderstanding you but it sounds like you're asking why the android desktop isn't more like iphone's cookie cutter application squares, which are somewhat claustrophobic in my humble and often stupid opinion. I personally like the desktop feel of android. Feels like I've got a computer in my pocket...

DMaverick50 said:
I think a major effect that seperates the iPhone and android ui is android's spacious desktop. I may be misunderstanding you but it sounds like you're asking why the android desktop isn't more like iphone's cookie cutter application squares, which are somewhat claustrophobic in my humble and often stupid opinion. I personally like the desktop feel of android. Feels like I've got a computer in my pocket...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 Agreed.

Never run out of screen icon space again. Place 3 icons in the place of 1. Pay version has up to 16 icons in the place of 4!
Now with MyBackup support!
v2.2: Fast AppList, Preview mode, Redone Backup/Restore, Config all from main app!
Update your ratings to 5!
Contains: 1x1 (2x1 & 4x1 in pay version)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.androlib.com/android.application.com-reeyees-moreiconsfreewidget-xjED.aspx

The space between icons is what expresses the live wallpaper & impresses me & others ...awesome looking!

DMaverick50 said:
I think a major effect that seperates the iPhone and android ui is android's spacious desktop. I may be misunderstanding you but it sounds like you're asking why the android desktop isn't more like iphone's cookie cutter application squares, which are somewhat claustrophobic in my humble and often stupid opinion. I personally like the desktop feel of android. Feels like I've got a computer in my pocket...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+2 Agreed.

I think they could have a fifth row

OrganizedFellow said:
http://www.androlib.com/android.application.com-reeyees-moreiconsfreewidget-xjED.aspx
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome widget. Paid for it the second I found out about it.

djnutz said:
Awesome widget. Paid for it the second I found out about it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Been using it a while on one screen you can potentially have 60 apps or so!!!
Mwhahahahahha.........

Because if you add more rows, and then rotate the phone, you will not have enough room without rearranging your home screens.
4 rows in landscape dictates the 4 rows in portrait mode.

muncheese said:
Because if you add more rows, and then rotate the phone, you will not have enough room without rearranging your home screens.
4 rows in landscape dictates the 4 rows in portrait mode.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But at the time of the phones launch and still, the home screens are portrait only unless you install the hacked mod.

Other android devices (droid/cliq/etc) support landscape views.
They're not doing seperate os's for seperate devices.

OrganizedFellow said:
moreiconsfreewwidget
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thankyou for that, solves my problem for now

DMaverick50 said:
I think a major effect that seperates the iPhone and android ui is android's spacious desktop. I may be misunderstanding you but it sounds like you're asking why the android desktop isn't more like iphone's cookie cutter application squares, which are somewhat claustrophobic in my humble and often stupid opinion. I personally like the desktop feel of android. Feels like I've got a computer in my pocket...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The aesthetic bit was just a secondary comment. I may well get used to liking the android layout as much, it may just be that i'm used to seeing the iPhone desgin/layout.
However, the bigger point for me was that I am unable to have anymore icons, despite the higher res screen. Which is particularly annoying when you can see all that space going to waste. It definately looks like another row would fit cofortably.
Only 5 home screens and limited folder functionality, make the problem worse for me.
Which brings me onto my second question, is there a simple app to skin folders and allow you arrange icons as you wish? If this were possible easily, I wouldn't need more homescreens. I don't want to use a new theme as I like the current one for now and would like to use it for a bit while I get used to the phone.

OrganizedFellow said:
http://www.androlib.com/android.application.com-reeyees-moreiconsfreewidget-xjED.aspx
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does the widget work with Bettercut? Am I able to customize the icons?

muncheese said:
Because if you add more rows, and then rotate the phone, you will not have enough room without rearranging your home screens.
4 rows in landscape dictates the 4 rows in portrait mode.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, so the height and number of rows is fixed so that they can be mapped without any manipulation to landscape mode. Which from rough measurement appears to be the case.
I guess the issue is not so much with icons/shortcuts which can be easily rearranged as they are 1 x 1 units. But moreso with widgets which may not be rearrangeable with a simple rotation. I.E. You couldn't fit five 4 x 4 widgets in landscape without altering the widgets dimensions.
Guess the simplest ways around it would be to prevent rotation if you select more then the standard 4 rows. Or enable scrolling of the home screen in Landscape.
Anyway, thanks for enlightening me.

5to1 said:
Which brings me onto my second question, is there a simple app to skin folders and allow you arrange icons as you wish? If this were possible easily, I wouldn't need more homescreens. I don't want to use a new theme as I like the current one for now and would like to use it for a bit while I get used to the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try Apps Organizer.

so in another thread (which was closed and pointed here) similar to this, there was the following instructions
Edit /system/build.prop and change this line:
ro.sf.lcd_density=240
Try using 160 instead of 240. I don't think it allows you to fit more on the screen, but definitely changes the effective resolution.
which I used to increase the resolution of the system, it is BEAUTIFUL...but it doesnt map to well with the nexus tray, wondering is someone could point in me the right direction to get the tray to look better, maybe another value in build.prob that needs changing or....?

I would like to see a 5th row, is there an app for that ?

Related

Is Touch Flo3D silly junk?

I disabled touch flo 3d right away because it seems like pointless eye candy. It seems like a sloppy rough integration that is a greater impedance than an assistant. Or is it just me
Have you modified it with the tweaks to enhance the performance? All it is is really just another shell, your preference there.
its the first thing i disabled. in my opinion its pretty darn ugly...except for the weather thing, its kind of cute. but i like having all my stuff on the home screen where i can see it all at once
As you can see, you are clearly outvoted. They had the same poll over at ppcgeeks (How many are still using TouchFlo3D) and of the 320 people who participated,80% were still using it.
http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread.php?p=482651
TF3D brings an essential level of style to Windows Mobile.
Surur
Style, schmile!
If I wanted style I'd have the Jesus phone that Apple makes - with one of the great cases from Vaja.
Instead, I want to look at my screen and gain information. On my day, on the stock market, on the weather and on the number of messages I am currently blowing off.
I too liked the weather bit. I also appreciated that TF3D goes a good job at memory management. Maybe when I get the time to learn how to customize it, I'll return to TF3D.
For now, though it is back to WinMob running Pocket Breeze in full screen mode with panels for pA and Pocket Weather.
I really like it. It gives me access to what I need to see when I glance at the screen (except tasks) and finger-touch access to programs.
It does screw up maybe once a day though requiring a soft reset. I applied the mods recommended and they made my TP freeze a lot so I changed them back to default.
It's actually a great enhancement to WM. almost everything that needs to be readily accessible is "touchable" no need to get irritated and use the tip of my nail to make sure I press it just right. Even the corner X close button works almost flawlessly because the screen touch area is now flush.
I know there has been some whining but this really is the best match, easy touch interface for the simple phone stuff, and the ability to use a keyboard and a stylus for things that just aren't feasable to use efficiently with a finger on a touch screen.
I'm a very happy camper with the Fuze... well except for that ****ing GPS crap.
I'd also like to add that I think most of us really created and adapted ways to be able to not use the touchscreen for a lot of things, and with good reason considering how much I hate using a stylus to navigate a UI. So I think a ton of us bring a certain baggage about using our fingers because it just really did always suck that bad. Which thanks to HTC it really doesn't now. Plus this screen may not be like the capacitive Iphone but man it's definitely a lot smoother, the word "silky" comes to mind with how it feels compared to my Tytn.
I'm not sure which one of the 2 voting options is meant to be good
Some people are just afraid of change. As there still millions of windows 98 users out there. LMAO, people need to move with the times
Touchflo3d is indeed the most beautiful interface I've ever seen. It remained for about one month on my mobile phone. After that I still installed pocket plus (the program who puts icons dirrectly on screen and used only one tab in which I put all my programs).
Reason 1: functionality. It takes several moves in TF3D to do simple tasks. For example if I am in the home screen I cannot start with a single click an app. I have to scroll (and be quite carrefull to go in the desired position) and after that start a program etc. Imagine if in Windows you would be forced to use start, programs every time if you wanted to use an program...it'll kill you. That's why we activate programs by clicking the icon on the screen after all...it's the fastest way. All in all, to be clear, if it would be a contest between a TF3D and a Pocket Plus-type of program, everytime the pocket plus device will "click" the application faster, while in TF3D depends on where TAB are you..
Reason 2: familiarity with Windows way of activating programs. As I said before it's more simple for me to simply activate the icon on screen and not bother with some paradigm of displaying emails or SMS (and related to that, do you want to be able that someone can take a look at your info by simply scrolling to that tab? I don't)
Reason 3 -not quite a reason, but a proof that this a better interface in my opinion: the simple-icon-on-display type of interface is actually validated by the Iphone which we all know as a beautiful device at least.
I like Touchflo3d, but I missed my usual today screen setup.
The easy answer is to use secondtoday, that way I get the best of both worlds, one tap on the screen switches between them.
Gigs said:
Touchflo3d is indeed the most beautiful interface I've ever seen. It remained for about one month on my mobile phone. After that I still installed pocket plus (the program who puts icons dirrectly on screen and used only one tab in which I put all my programs).
Reason 1: functionality. It takes several moves in TF3D to do simple tasks. For example if I am in the home screen I cannot start with a single click an app. I have to scroll (and be quite carrefull to go in the desired position) and after that start a program etc. Imagine if in Windows you would be forced to use start, programs every time if you wanted to use an program...it'll kill you. That's why we activate programs by clicking the icon on the screen after all...it's the fastest way. All in all, to be clear, if it would be a contest between a TF3D and a Pocket Plus-type of program, everytime the pocket plus device will "click" the application faster, while in TF3D depends on where TAB are you..
Reason 2: familiarity with Windows way of activating programs. As I said before it's more simple for me to simply activate the icon on screen and not bother with some paradigm of displaying emails or SMS (and related to that, do you want to be able that someone can take a look at your info by simply scrolling to that tab? I don't)
Reason 3 -not quite a reason, but a proof that this a better interface in my opinion: the simple-icon-on-display type of interface is actually validated by the Iphone which we all know as a beautiful device at least.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pocket Plus sound like exactly what I need!
nuke1 said:
I'm not sure which one of the 2 voting options is meant to be good
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bunk = bad and handy gooey is handy GUI or handy Graphical User Interface
migsims said:
It's actually a great enhancement to WM. almost everything that needs to be readily accessible is "touchable" no need to get irritated and use the tip of my nail to make sure I press it just right. Even the corner X close button works almost flawlessly because the screen touch area is now flush.
I know there has been some whining but this really is the best match, easy touch interface for the simple phone stuff, and the ability to use a keyboard and a stylus for things that just aren't feasable to use efficiently with a finger on a touch screen.
I'm a very happy camper with the Fuze... well except for that ****ing GPS crap.
I'd also like to add that I think most of us really created and adapted ways to be able to not use the touchscreen for a lot of things, and with good reason considering how much I hate using a stylus to navigate a UI. So I think a ton of us bring a certain baggage about using our fingers because it just really did always suck that bad. Which thanks to HTC it really doesn't now. Plus this screen may not be like the capacitive Iphone but man it's definitely a lot smoother, the word "silky" comes to mind with how it feels compared to my Tytn.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
maybe thats why I'm having so much trouble with the touch screen. I tap something,,,, wait 5 seconds,,, tap again,,,, wait 6 seconds then give up and get out the stylus. Maybe I should re-enable touchflo to stop this problem
surur said:
As you can see, you are clearly outvoted. They had the same poll over at ppcgeeks (How many are still using TouchFlo3D) and of the 320 people who participated,80% were still using it.
http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread.php?p=482651
TF3D brings an essential level of style to Windows Mobile.
Surur
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats interesting. Thanks for the link. Maybe I should give touchflo 3D a another shot.
chetmichaels said:
its the first thing i disabled. in my opinion its pretty darn ugly...except for the weather thing, its kind of cute. but i like having all my stuff on the home screen where i can see it all at once
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Me too. Thats why I copied and pasted the links that are in folders within the program folder back up to the program folder. I like having everything in 1 spot. I wish it was alphabetized though.
kareem9nba said:
Have you modified it with the tweaks to enhance the performance? All it is is really just another shell, your preference there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Performance wasn't really the issue for me. It just seemed like pointless eye candy.
James, you'll really find SPB Pocket Plus really nice. The thing with it is to remove all the tabs, as they really only generate useless clicks to navigate where your program is, and in final squeeze in one tab only the icons you need. I have 3x5 icons(with no text and large size enabled) and if I really think some of them I don't really need - like powerpoint and so on.To give an exameple this is what I consider usefull:Comunication Manager, Resco Explorer, HTC Album, Igo, Camera, Excel, Word, Coreplayer, sms, activesync,radio, opera, 1-calc (a very nice calculator) and notes. And supplimentary I have enabled the calendar and date plugins in today screen. This is a very nice setup - eficient - and if you set a non transparent background, very nice, kinda stylish look. Now, I have seen that you complained about precision of tapping - beware that in the margins and corners of display you'll have sometimes to get out the stylus. Give that pocket plus a try.It really made my days.
kareem9nba said:
Have you modified it with the tweaks to enhance the performance? All it is is really just another shell, your preference there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Care to share those kareem?
jamespaulritter said:
I disabled touch flo 3d right away because it seems like pointless eye candy. It seems like a sloppy rough integration that is a greater impedance than an assistant. Or is it just me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Definitely NOT at all. We must be on different spectrum of the universe. I like TF3D a great deal, make navigating the phone intuitive and seamless. It is just you.
Without TF3D, my Sprint TP would just be any other run of the mill Win Mobile big screen phone. My 39 cents.
TF3D is totally kickass! I love it for everything. Althought I do wish they had the map intergration that they have in TF2D. I also want the stocks tab and am waiting for the hd manilla to be perfected . Other than that, the original htc theme, with q-style font, my personalized background, tweaks from diamond config, and stock fuze rom, it runs pretty darm fast. Only did a soft reset once and that waas because I was attempting to run a qvga application and it crashed.
Gigs said:
James, you'll really find SPB Pocket Plus really nice. The thing with it is to remove all the tabs, as they really only generate useless clicks to navigate where your program is, and in final squeeze in one tab only the icons you need. I have 3x5 icons(with no text and large size enabled) and if I really think some of them I don't really need - like powerpoint and so on.To give an exameple this is what I consider usefull:Comunication Manager, Resco Explorer, HTC Album, Igo, Camera, Excel, Word, Coreplayer, sms, activesync,radio, opera, 1-calc (a very nice calculator) and notes. And supplimentary I have enabled the calendar and date plugins in today screen. This is a very nice setup - eficient - and if you set a non transparent background, very nice, kinda stylish look. Now, I have seen that you complained about precision of tapping - beware that in the margins and corners of display you'll have sometimes to get out the stylus. Give that pocket plus a try.It really made my days.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree. Let's not turn into a bunch of iPhone cattle. They stick to their phones like cult even when plagued with numerous problems.
Get SPB mobile. It blows TFTD out of the water.
dgduris said:
Style, schmile!
If I wanted style I'd have the Jesus phone that Apple makes - with one of the great cases from Vaja.
Instead, I want to look at my screen and gain information. On my day, on the stock market, on the weather and on the number of messages I am currently blowing off.
I too liked the weather bit. I also appreciated that TF3D goes a good job at memory management. Maybe when I get the time to learn how to customize it, I'll return to TF3D.
For now, though it is back to WinMob running Pocket Breeze in full screen mode with panels for pA and Pocket Weather.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't know the Lord makes phones
Back to the subject, it's all a personal preference. I think it's great, and makes the phone a lot more fun and a little easier to use, you don't, but nobody is right or wrong on this one.
ababrekar said:
Care to share those kareem?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They are stickied in the Raphael subforum
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=413562
BTW I have been using TFL3D since when I got my TP in August. SPB Shell seems outdated now but I have it installed anyway, accessible via Second Today

Is it possible to add more space to the desktop?

So as you all know, we have the center, left, right portions of our desktops. Is it possible to add additional space? I am sure this would require serious editing of the source code or whatever. Has anyone explored this idea?
I don't need anymore space, as I keep the apps that I use most of the time on the screen but the ones that I don't I just use the pull up menu.
left screen: work related stuff 4 things
center screen: standard phone stuff 7 things
right screen: fun and games 3 things
bodyman said:
I don't need anymore space, as I keep the apps that I use most of the time on the screen but the ones that I don't I just use the pull up menu.
left screen: work related stuff 4 things
center screen: standard phone stuff 7 things
right screen: fun and games 3 things
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i dont really need more space either, but my thought was that once the widgets idea is expanded upon, we will need as much space as we can get. nevertheless, i think some people could make do with more space.
If the right people hear this idea.....we might get something
unfortunately....i am not one of those people...
yea I always thoguht 5 screens would be hot...an up and a down from the center home screen.
More Space would be cool, I like thee ability to make Folders and put them on the desktop, or even just create folders in the the applications scroll up, So II can seperate games from Utilities, and etc..
More Space would be cool, I like thee ability to make Folders and put them on the desktop, or even just create folders in the the applications scroll up, So II can seperate games from Utilities, and etc..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is possible to create folders on the desktop... Just long press on the screen, choose shortcut and then folder...
Okay so we never accomplished an answer if the desktop can be extended? I know it can't be as simple as going in to change some numbers around, but is it possible for this to get done?
I'd prefer a winmo like 'cube'. Either the 4 sided style where you only have left/right and can spin a full 360, or the 6 sided dice style where you can spin a 360 in all directions(this could be a pain tho).
...But alas, I'm am also merely a dreamer with no dev skills wse :/
Yeah that would be pretty cool, but still have to figure out if its possible lol
i use folders to organize my apps works really well, what i would like is ability to put folders in folders, and to put folders in the application,
i think if we have more horizontal panels it would look more like the iphone, i like the top and bottom like the touch cube from WM
i'd just like to see a way to make the icons smaller so we can fit more on the screen. i think 4 on a row would be a good amount tbh.
probably wouldn't be that difficult to do either, once we get the xml files sorted out.
Meltus said:
i'd just like to see a way to make the icons smaller so we can fit more on the screen. i think 4 on a row would be a good amount tbh.
probably wouldn't be that difficult to do either, once we get the xml files sorted out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We already have 4 on a row, though?
rogro82 said:
It is possible to create folders on the desktop... Just long press on the screen, choose shortcut and then folder...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can I rename that folder? Like games, and another Apps.
Shaggy
P.S. Nevermind, open folder, long presson folder name lets you rename. This is awesome, exactly what I was looking for, makes 6 icons on my desktop into 1.

Launcher with Screen Indicator

Update:
I have put one for OS 2.1 version. this one is with scrollbar, no customized screens yet. 800k looks very small.
------------------
hi all friends,
I have mod the original launcher little bit, to add a screen indicator, the source code version is 1.6.
how to install :
Code:
adb remount
adb push Launcher.apk /system/app/Launcher.apk
Hope you like it.
updated, change the indicator picture little bit.
if you want to change it, the images are under res\drawable-port and res\drawable-land
I put a 2.1 version in the attachment. with scrollbar instead of image .
thanks.
Looks cool
This is pretty cool, I have often wished Android came with this functionality by default.
I made some screenshots in case people want to see without pushing the apk. They're JPG so obviously it looks a little better on the phone.
Keep in mind this Launcher has 3 screens, so if you're coming from a 5-screen Launcher you'll have to re-organise your icons beforehand.
Super Jamie said:
This is pretty cool, I have often wished Android came with this functionality by default.
I made some screenshots in case people want to see without pushing the apk. They're JPG so obviously it looks a little better on the phone.
Keep in mind this Launcher has 3 screens, so if you're coming from a 5-screen Launcher you'll have to re-organise your icons beforehand.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, reminds me the bottom lines on Home++, its great.
I wonder if it's possible to change either anderweb's or this one to be similar to the scroll bar on sense roms or espresso.
Ace42 said:
I wonder if it's possible to change either anderweb's or this one to be similar to the scroll bar on sense roms or espresso.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Scrolbars? never used a sense rom, any pic or vid?
AnderWeb said:
Scrolbars? never used a sense rom, any pic or vid?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
at the bottom of the phone screen theres a white scroll bar
http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=jsNvqArBe-A&feature=related
I make the mod by several line of code, if make the scrollbar, I think need more coding. let me think if it's possible.
qingcai said:
I make the mod by several line of code, if make the scrollbar, I think need more coding. let me think if it's possible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh it would be really cool if you could make something similar like the sense bar.
Haha this is clever, good job!
Ace42 said:
Oh it would be really cool if you could make something similar like the sense bar.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
when i first saw AnderWeb's launcher, that's the first thing that i tried to do, but really haven't figured out something yet. The closest I came was the sense ui in my adw themed launcher2 thread. i do agree. Getting this will be awesome! Seems like we are slowly but surely gettin' donut to run like sense/2.0 without having to ever switch roms. All thanks to the great devs we have here on xda. Keep up the good work!
looks lots of people like sense ui.
Afaik, the sense scrolling thing is pretty much the same as nexus scrolling dots with a minor annoyance:
-if you do it graphically identical (following the circular pattern on the drawer 5ab) you are condemned to a fixed number of screens by design.
-if you want customizable screen number, it can be done the same way as Home++ does, with a bottom stright line (same way as the mod on this thread)
so users need to make the choice
It shouldn't be too hard to implement the sense bar, the rogers magic on cupcake has it. i myself hate the sense iu
AnderWeb said:
Afaik, the sense scrolling thing is pretty much the same as nexus scrolling dots with a minor annoyance:
-if you do it graphically identical (following the circular pattern on the drawer 5ab) you are condemned to a fixed number of screens by design.
-if you want customizable screen number, it can be done the same way as Home++ does, with a bottom stright line (same way as the mod on this thread)
so users need to make the choice
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So it would be possible to have it look similar but the bar wouldn't move like in sense?
good idea..but don't work on my super d 1.10.2 :-(
Why?
tnx
AnderWeb said:
Afaik, the sense scrolling thing is pretty much the same as nexus scrolling dots with a minor annoyance:
-if you do it graphically identical (following the circular pattern on the drawer 5ab) you are condemned to a fixed number of screens by design.
-if you want customizable screen number, it can be done the same way as Home++ does, with a bottom stright line (same way as the mod on this thread)
so users need to make the choice
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't mind sticking with a set number of homescreens. I myself have become accustomed to using just five homescreens and that alone. I think 5 is plenty, but I'm just one guy and other people have different desires and needs. I wouldn't mind seeing it put into action. I am very much a big fan of sense ui, if you haven't already noticed. lol
borjus86 said:
good idea..but don't work on my super d 1.10.2 :-(
Why?
tnx
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would try it on super d, and post feed back.
Summarize all friends' comment,
1, scroll bar would be better.
2, customized number of screen would be better.

[APP][2.2+/3.0+][open source] Pixelesque - Pixel Art Creator

So I found out there's no pixel art creator/editor/drawer for android. Naturally I had to write one. 72 hours later: Pixelesque.
Backend is done with Processing, and all the android buttons were made with the app itself.
100% free
Market: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.rj.pixelesque
Source: https://github.com/rjmarsan/Pixelesque
You can edit, export, share, etc.
I'm super interested in feedback; ease of use, feature suggestions, etc.
Hey, thanks for working on this. It is a very good start and a good idea since it can be a quick few minute diversion while waiting in line, on the bus, etc.
Additions that would be cool to see-
ability to choose the size of the canvas and be able to add or remove rows/columns.
see a preview of the picture quickly while creating it
have an optional coordinate system (a la excel) to keep track of space, symmetry, etc
(far off thought) social aspect! Have browsable creations from other artists, ratings, tagging and sorting, etc
silentheero said:
Hey, thanks for working on this. It is a very good start and a good idea since it can be a quick few minute diversion while waiting in line, on the bus, etc.
Additions that would be cool to see-
ability to choose the size of the canvas and be able to add or remove rows/columns.
see a preview of the picture quickly while creating it
have an optional coordinate system (a la excel) to keep track of space, symmetry, etc
(far off thought) social aspect! Have browsable creations from other artists, ratings, tagging and sorting, etc
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good suggestions. The preview and coordinate system seem totally doable. As for the first one, do you mean resize things, or making new ones? I thought the 'new' dialog did a good job of choosing custom sizes.
The social part is certainly something I had thought a lot about, but don't have the time or skill to write the server/browser side (anyone want to help?)
awesome!! i am huge into low-res pixel art (weird, i know) so i am very excited about this. just got a warranty replacement on my phone so i have to upgrade to 2.2 again before i can install but i'm definitely going to try it out.
as for quickly resizing to look at the overall picture: in a pixel program i use (GraphicsGale) as well as photoshop and whatnot, you can set a little "preview" window of your image to see how it looks zoomed out. it really helps being able to glance over and see the image to make sure it's all coming together and the composition is right, and as it might be bulky doing something like that on a phone it would be equally useful to have a quick "zoom out/zoom in" button to look at the overall image. i'm guessing that's what the other guy was saying - but like i said, i haven't gotten to install it yet so i have no idea if this kind of thing exists yet!
lauu said:
awesome!! i am huge into low-res pixel art (weird, i know) so i am very excited about this. just got a warranty replacement on my phone so i have to upgrade to 2.2 again before i can install but i'm definitely going to try it out.
as for quickly resizing to look at the overall picture: in a pixel program i use (GraphicsGale) as well as photoshop and whatnot, you can set a little "preview" window of your image to see how it looks zoomed out. it really helps being able to glance over and see the image to make sure it's all coming together and the composition is right, and as it might be bulky doing something like that on a phone it would be equally useful to have a quick "zoom out/zoom in" button to look at the overall image. i'm guessing that's what the other guy was saying - but like i said, i haven't gotten to install it yet so i have no idea if this kind of thing exists yet!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The preview is an excellent idea.
I'm slowly starting to realize I have more ideas than space on the screen. Is there anything that's less necessary, or confusing about the UI? I'm debating having a quick popup on startup explaining how to use it, but i sort of hate those apps.
Someone mentioned to me having the bottom bar of tools swipe side to side like launcher pro. Don't know if that's 'intuitive' or most people wont notice it.
rjmarsan said:
The preview is an excellent idea.
I'm slowly starting to realize I have more ideas than space on the screen. Is there anything that's less necessary, or confusing about the UI? I'm debating having a quick popup on startup explaining how to use it, but i sort of hate those apps.
Someone mentioned to me having the bottom bar of tools swipe side to side like launcher pro. Don't know if that's 'intuitive' or most people wont notice it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I finally got around to updating my phone to get pixelesque, and I love it. The UI to me is simple and straight-forward; if you're looking to downsize, the pencil/hand tools could probably be combined. It helps having the single-pixel option but I don't think it's totally necessary. I'm impartial to the whole "side-swipe" thing; if you add more options/icons yeah it could come in handy but for now I personally like it as is. One thing that could attract a lot more pixel art enthusiasts could be the option to begin with a canvas of large pixels (like it has now) or smaller (maybe half-size?) pixels, for better detail. Again I don't know **** about app development so I have no idea how difficult changes like this are
But so far I love it! I'll update here with some pixel art if I ever get the time
lauu said:
One thing that could attract a lot more pixel art enthusiasts could be the option to begin with a canvas of large pixels (like it has now) or smaller (maybe half-size?) pixels, for better detail.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You and silentheero have mentioned the same point. Is this an extension to the "New" dialog, or something I'm missing?
Also, I'm almost done with making a 'fill' brush and some geometry brushes 'circle, rectangle, line'. I think I'll try to implement a live preview as well as a color picker for the next release (probably in a week or so), along with any more features you guys can think of.
Thanks so much for the ideas guys.
New update, added a preview on the bottom, brushes (fill, rect, circle, and line), and upped the single image size to 64x64. Performance also has increased quite a bit.
No color picker JUST yet, still working out exactly how I'd like to implement it. Ideas? Thoughts in general?
rjmarsan said:
Someone mentioned to me having the bottom bar of tools swipe side to side like launcher pro. Don't know if that's 'intuitive' or most people wont notice it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried if I could swipe the tools
rjmarsan said:
No color picker JUST yet, still working out exactly how I'd like to implement it. Ideas? Thoughts in general?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How about holding the finger down on a pixel picks its color?
FEATURES I WOULD LIKE:
1) A textured background, so it is possible to distingush between a black pixel and a transparent one.
2) The ability to swich to fullscreen mode in the settings.
3) I can't save the file. I simply cannot figure out how to get a .png file out of the program. Export seems just wierd, I don't want to save at some other resolution than the one I draw in.
4) How about a simple in-game help text? I uninstalled Pixelesque once because I didn't discover most of the features (multiple canvas sizes, drag, zoom, auto-saved colors)
5) It would be nice if it was possible to import a high-res bitmap in the background, which I could trace as pixel-art. Then I could sketch naturally, either using a physical pencil, or another drawing app.
... Besides that, the app is perfect! Good work.
kasper hviid said:
How about holding the finger down on a pixel picks its color?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I like that a lot. I'll just have to make sure to put a short help guide when the app starts.
kasper hviid said:
1) A textured background, so it is possible to distingush between a black pixel and a transparent one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup. Haven't done this one yet out of laziness, but I should.
kasper hviid said:
2) The ability to swich to fullscreen mode in the settings.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How exactly does this work? Would the bottom and top bars just go away, and you hit menu again for them to come back?
kasper hviid said:
3) I can't save the file. I simply cannot figure out how to get a .png file out of the program. Export seems just wierd, I don't want to save at some other resolution than the one I draw in.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah... for now you can dig out the actual .png from the program folder (that's all it uses to save the images itself), but I should add an 'original size' to the export menu, if that works?
kasper hviid said:
4) How about a simple in-game help text? I uninstalled Pixelesque once because I didn't discover most of the features (multiple canvas sizes, drag, zoom, auto-saved colors)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Definitely. coming soon.
kasper hviid said:
5) It would be nice if it was possible to import a high-res bitmap in the background, which I could trace as pixel-art. Then I could sketch naturally, either using a physical pencil, or another drawing app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was actually thinking of making this a 'paid' feature, as it's a pretty intense. Not sure if this app is at a point yet where anyone would buy a paid version.
kasper hviid said:
... Besides that, the app is perfect! Good work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a lot man. Thanks for the feedback too. I pretty much make this app based off what people here ask for. The only other feature I've been thinking that you didn't mention, is a way to shift and resize drawings.
rjmarsan said:
Yeah... for now you can dig out the actual .png from the program folder (that's all it uses to save the images itself), but I should add an 'original size' to the export menu, if that works?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That would be nice!
rjmarsan said:
How exactly does this work? Would the bottom and top bars just go away, and you hit menu again for them to come back?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would think of something like "stays fullscreen untill it's turned off again in the settings." I really like discrete minimalistic interfaces, so my ideal Pixelesque would probably be something like this:
img805.imageshack.us/img805/3075/pixelesque.jpg
I have removed everything, sized down the icons and removed the icons background, and added a bit of drop shadow.
After Chrome came out, Firefox copypasted its minimalistic GUI. So having less GUI must have some value. But I'm more fanatical about it than most.
rjmarsan said:
I was actually thinking of making this a 'paid' feature, as it's a pretty intense. Not sure if this app is at a point yet where anyone would buy a paid version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Making it a paid feature sounds reasonable, since it is more geared towards more ambitious users.
Another method would be to have a high-res sketching layer with a few basic sketching tools: Sketching pencil, larger pencil at the size of a "final pixel" and eraser. Colors won't be needed. That way, the sketch could be drawn to fit a certain pixel size, and the artist won't waste time with too small details.
A FEW SMALL IDEAS:
Ability to turn the grid off
Two-finger shortcuts like Menu+screentouch or Pencil+screentouch. Could be used to turn preview on/off or eyedropper.
Toggle small/large/both by clicking the preview
For some reason, the semi-opaque square at my finger "feels" sluggish, since it jumps to the current pixel.
Will definitely be trying this. Used to "draw" on my old ti-82 all the time.
Sent using Tapalk.
People invent fantastic and simply things sometimes...
maybe a dialog to save when exiting should be added ?
or some mechanism that saves the last made image automaticly when exiting ?
I love pixel art but never got into it but as a person who never done it... I think the ability to import a picture in the background and create pixel art over it is an awesome idea.
It shouldn't be only in the pro version since I think this single feature will let everyone try it out and create pixel art.
Perhaps free version is limited to 16 colors vs 256 of pro + more tools.
Just the ability to import a picture in the background and use 16 colors to recreate it (don't need tools really just a pencil tool) = free.
Pro should have more tools, ability to resize grid, upload options (Facebook?), and more.
G2x - 2.3.7 CM7
Transformer - 3.2 Revolver OC/UV
maepchik said:
People invent fantastic and simply things sometimes...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you very much. I really appreciate the comments people leave.
1immortal said:
maybe a dialog to save when exiting should be added ?
or some mechanism that saves the last made image automaticly when exiting ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I spent all lunch discussing your comment. I think what I'm going to do, is it will automatically save right before the app quits. That way you can open an existing image, edit it for a while, save it as something else, but don't lose your original. However if you edit it and quit, you don't lose your work. Is that a fair tradeoff?
player911 said:
I love pixel art but never got into it but as a person who never done it... I think the ability to import a picture in the background and create pixel art over it is an awesome idea.
It shouldn't be only in the pro version since I think this single feature will let everyone try it out and create pixel art.
Perhaps free version is limited to 16 colors vs 256 of pro + more tools.
Just the ability to import a picture in the background and use 16 colors to recreate it (don't need tools really just a pencil tool) = free.
Pro should have more tools, ability to resize grid, upload options (Facebook?), and more.
G2x - 2.3.7 CM7
Transformer - 3.2 Revolver OC/UV
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a really tough time with making a paid app. I've never done it before, as it feels really mean. On the one hand, I want the paid app to be for hardcore users who want the 'power tools' that are tough to implement and only benefit them. On the other hand, I don't want to purposefully lobotomize the free version to force people to upgrade... The image as a background is a handy feature, albeit a bit of an intense feature. I think I can work it in the free version, or alternately just may give away the pro version to you awesome xda guys.
rjmarsan said:
I spent all lunch discussing your comment. I think what I'm going to do, is it will automatically save right before the app quits. That way you can open an existing image, edit it for a while, save it as something else, but don't lose your original. However if you edit it and quit, you don't lose your work. Is that a fair tradeoff?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
fair enough
you're doing a great job, thanks for all your time and work !
rjmarsan said:
Yeah... for now you can dig out the actual .png from the program folder (that's all it uses to save the images itself), but I should add an 'original size' to the export menu, if that works?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where is the Program folder? I can't find it on my SD Card.
This App is FANTASTIC. It's perfect for making my Rockbox Artwork. My suggestions so far are:
1) An easy way to export my created art in one go, rather than one at a time. The current way isn't that good for me. I see no point in having the option to export in the current Low, Medium and High resolutions. Like, what's the point? I'd just like to see it export the image(s) I've created in their existing size and be able to chose from one/many or all to export at once. ie transfer them to my PC.
2) The ability to Play the created files as an Animation or Flip Art. ie Let me choose a list of files I've created (all the same grid size) and the order I wish to see them shown and the speed. Similar to this:
https://market.android.com/details?...51bGwsMSwxLDEwNCwiYWlyLkJyaWRnZUludmFkZXJzIl0.
Check out the Vimeo link there.
3) The option to save them as bitmaps,preferably with colour options ie 2 colour Black and White.
4) I'd like to see the "Save As" option in the same Menu as the "Save". If I'm creating multiple files in succession, it would be nice to only have to tap the menu once and not click "More".
5) The option to choose Preview Size. I'd like a larger preveiw that what's there now.
Thanks for the great free app. It's a lot of fun.
---------- Post added at 07:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:53 PM ----------
rjmarsan said:
I spent all lunch discussing your comment. I think what I'm going to do, is it will automatically save right before the app quits. That way you can open an existing image, edit it for a while, save it as something else, but don't lose your original. However if you edit it and quit, you don't lose your work. Is that a fair tradeoff?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd like this option.

Why I like Freenote+ over S Memo

Hi all,
a few people have asked me why I like Freenote+ and why I think it's better than S Memo, or other note taking apps.
I made a video to try and show the features that are the most useful for me.
I haven't shown all of the features of Freenote+, there are a lot of other useful features like the To Do list, shortcuts for commonly entered text (like your email address) and the paint function.
I've found similar features in other note taking apps, but Freenote seems to get in the way less for me and allow me to get notes down the quickest.
I hope you find it useful if you are looking for an alternative to S Memo.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdHh4gSZK6Y
Cheers,
Rich
That looks superb, exactly what I was looking for.
Silly question, but is Freenote+ the same as Freenote? (Thats the only one showing up on the Google Play store for me)
I think they've just added the + to the paid version.
This is the free version
This is the paid version
I don't think there is any difference in functionality, except for the nag screen on the free version. Once I had decided how much I liked it and how much I used it, it was worth paying the few bucks to get rid of the nag screen and to support the developer.
hi richlum,
thanks for the video.
to be honest, i didnt watched it till the end since i'm im quite aware of the functionalities.
but one thing i havent found so far, is how i increase the font size. i'm on ics stunner with 240. and i think the font is too small for me.
Do you have any solution?
Preferences> Editor> Handwritten
You can set the size of the handwriting there.
I have mine set at 50.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using XDA
it doesn't support pressure sensitivity. and it's slow as hell. no use for me.
In Paint mode it is pressure sensitive. Press hard to get a think line, lightly to get a thing line.
But if your note taking involves a lot of drawing and artistic sketching (as opposed to just drawing some shapes and diagrams) there are a lot better drawing/sketching apps like Sketch Book Mobile and Infinite Painter.
But I don't do much drawing for my note taking.
And I'm not worried about the handwriting mode not being pressure sensitive.
Different people are going have different work flows. For me, Freenote is the quickest way I've found to get notes down without the interface getting in my way.
That's why we're lucky to have so much choice to be able to find what suits us best.
When i add it to my home screen as a widget, the words look blurry, what size did u set ur widget as and font scale? Thx!
My handwritten font size is 50.
I just inserted the largest widget and then resized it in ADW (I have mys screen setup to be a 10x10 grid).
Typed text looks clear than handwritten text on the widget for me, but it's still easily readable.
Arthur Hucksake said:
That looks superb, exactly what I was looking for.
Silly question, but is Freenote+ the same as Freenote? (Thats the only one showing up on the Google Play store for me)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi ... I noticed a difference that adds to the beauty of this application :
If you use the big widget of it on the home screen , In freenote+ , you can toggle between pages right from the home screen .. while in the free version you can't ...
But in both versions , you can perform all other functions shown on the home screen "Except for editing" .

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