Questions about Launcher Apps - Help Please - Android Apps and Games

Hi
Just moved from WM to Android and it's a bit of a learning curve
i am using Launcher Pro at the moment
I wanted to use a launcher that ran alongside the standard HTC Launcher so i could use it for apps only
So i have all of the widgets on the HTC Desire launcher and all of my Apps on Launcher Pro.
So i have a couple of questions if you dont mind
I have tried Helix Launcher and a couple of others and i cant seem to run them seperate to the standard launcher i can only select them from the homescreen Selector App.
But Launcher Pro runs as a separate app which is what i want
So my questions are
1.should all launchers run as standalone am i doing something wrong ?
if not which ones do ?
2. Are there any launchers that provide shortcuts to pages that i could put on the first page ? (EG so tap a shortcut to go to page 7 and call the shortcut Games)
Also on a slightly different topic is it just me or do most widgets seem to waste a lot of space ?
on my Touch HD the homescreen was full but on the Desire when adding widgets there seems to be a lot of space unused between them which is a shame as i would love my tasks on there too but cant use the space.
Same with the HTC notes widget, It's a 4x4 widget but only looks 4x3 in terms of space they could have made it bigger and so more could be fitted in - end of Rant
Thanks in advance

machmandp said:
Hi
Just moved from WM to Android and it's a bit of a learning curve
i am using Launcher Pro at the moment
I wanted to use a launcher that ran alongside the standard HTC Launcher so i could use it for apps only
So i have all of the widgets on the HTC Desire launcher and all of my Apps on Launcher Pro.
So i have a couple of questions if you dont mind
I have tried Helix Launcher and a couple of others and i cant seem to run them seperate to the standard launcher i can only select them from the homescreen Selector App.
But Launcher Pro runs as a separate app which is what i want
So my questions are
1.should all launchers run as standalone am i doing something wrong ?
if not which ones do ?
2. Are there any launchers that provide shortcuts to pages that i could put on the first page ? (EG so tap a shortcut to go to page 7 and call the shortcut Games)
Also on a slightly different topic is it just me or do most widgets seem to waste a lot of space ?
on my Touch HD the homescreen was full but on the Desire when adding widgets there seems to be a lot of space unused between them which is a shame as i would love my tasks on there too but cant use the space.
Same with the HTC notes widget, It's a 4x4 widget but only looks 4x3 in terms of space they could have made it bigger and so more could be fitted in - end of Rant
Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes they should run stand alone, all are different apps.
you should be able to make a folder for "Games" instead of having a shortcut just have the folder. I use Launcher Pro Beta. I like it. Its smooth and has a lot of little cool features.

Related

ADW.Launcher Android App VS laucher Pro

ADW.Launcher. Open source home replacement app. Features: Customizable desktop previews, Customizable application drawer (old one or iphone/galaxy one), Customizable drag drop action buttons, Unveil the Dockbar flicking-up the app-drawer button and drop another 6 shortcuts/folders/apps! Check the site for more information or meet me on xda! (For Android version 2.0 and higher)
Laucher pro Features:
LauncherPro Android App in a home screen replacement app that is a fork from the stock launcher from Android 2.1 (Eclair). By default you have 3 home screens which is configurable to up to 7 in the Settings menu. Along the lower section are convenient icons with quick links to Phone, Contacts, Android Apps Launcher Drawer, Messaging, and Browser apps. The latest release added numbered notification icons for new text messages, missed calls and new emails. When you open the Android Apps launcher drawer, apps are presented similar to Android 2.1 launcher only difference is the cool 3D roll effect is missing however LauncherPro features a faster and much smoother scroll… convenient when you have a lot of apps like myself!
Which one do you like?
ADW for me, works flawlessly.
i just used the ADW and so far so good
LauncherPro Plus. Resizable widgets and all the settings that really matter, including the scrollable dock bar...pure smooth awesomeness.
LauncherPro. I love the customizable dock with built-in notification counters.
ADW.. open source. customizable look, customizable dock, hidden dock, customizable widget sizes, it's fast and it's free :]
This is the 4th or 5th thread asking the same question. Use the search function. Launcher Pro....
Zandog said:
This is the 4th or 5th thread asking the same question. Use the search function. Launcher Pro....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To any user who likes a phone to be used as intended:
-zero redraws
-zero memory hogging widgets/usage...
-fluid/fast responsiveness
ADW is the only choice period.
I've used Launcher Pro Plus (bought and paid)
and love the widgets he has created...
However when using the:
-people
-twitter
-sms
-calendar widgets
(in addition to)
weather widget donate
music widget
pandora widget
google search widget
power setting widget
Launcher Pro Plus will inevitably bring my phone's memory to
35MB, and well, you know the rest.
ADW is the best, most stable launcher.
Launcher Pro Plus... for me.. takes all the good widgets out of Sense..
By far the best IMHO
ADW for me too.
Love ADW...looks great and works like a charm for me.
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App
LauncherPro is the clear winner, at least on older devices such as my HTC Hero.
ADW's performance is remarkably poor on my phone, while LauncherPro is completely smooth. Having said that, I don't use too many fancy widgets.
It is a shame LauncherPro isn't open source though. I wish it was.
FunkTrooper said:
It is a shame LauncherPro isn't open source though. I wish it was.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What's the big deal of open source? Why is it a shame? I seriously don't get it.
ADW is deffinently more stable on my HTC Incredible BUT I lopve the customization that i get with LP....When I want my phone to be fast I use ADW...When I want my phone to be sleek and nice looking to show off my phone to my friends I use LP.
mwxiao said:
What's the big deal of open source? Why is it a shame? I seriously don't get it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) Open Source means (if you've got the dev chops) you can easily get at the code and work it to how you like.
2) There's substantial savings with buying open source...
Previously, I am big supporter of ADW.Launcher.
Now I am big big supporter of LauncherPro Plus.
LauncherPro Plus is much much rock than ADW.Launcher especially on speed, user friendly, stability and customization.
LauncherPro Plus even though I don't use the widgets.
Launcher Pro Plus
I do use the People, Messaging, and Twitter widget. being able to resize any widget is a huge benefit.
The additional row on the home screens is a big plus to me too.
I found that most of my memory based issues were resolved by setting it to the low memory profile. No real loss of function and no more force closing.
I find ADW a lot limited compared to LP, ok its grand if you want a fast phone they say use ADW, but why not reduce the widgets/look of LP, it is the more customizable launcher, hence why I find it better
LP+... seems smoother and simpler

launcher

is the launcher the the same as the stock android launcher? if not could someone post it. thanks
Samsungs own I think, I use Launcher Pro though.
The stock launcher is TouchWiz. Its very good, smoother than launcherpro. And has a superior app drawer. I would use it if not for launcherpros customisation options.
Edit: i especially like the homescreen scrollong method in touchwiz, its much cooloer than lps elastic scrolling!
couldn't agree more!
For information: ADW.Launcher works well on the Tab too, no issues with the high resolution.
I'm using it rather than the stock TouchWiz one mostly so that I can customise the Browser and Email launch buttons. It has some extra nice touches, but can be configured to behave almost exactly like TouchWiz.
Launcher Pro is fast but its application drawer is very limited (it basically dumps a huge scrolling list of icons). Touchwiz is reasonably nice, but managing hundreds of application icons remains hard, despite the "move icon" feature in the application drawer. ADW.Launcher however, provides separate "groups" / "catalogs" panes to divide the application drawer into several distinct buckets of smaller size, which makes it a lot easier to find applications. I just hate browsing endless list of alphabetically-ordered icons
As for QuickDesk, it has some potential, but it is somewhat locked to portrait mode on my Galaxy Tab I am using it anyway as it plays nice with ADW.Launcher (the Home button gets hacked to support single/double tap and launch each of them individually).
Quickdesk pro has landscape support. It also acts as a completely different screen to portrait, so you can have FB/Twitter/music widgets in portrait and loads of icons in landscape
Sent from my HTC Desire
Hi, is it necessary to root the Tab before installing ADW.launcher?
Because I have tried installing it on my non-rooted Tab but the application doesn't want to install...
I'm using it rather than the stock TouchWiz one mostly so that I can customise the Browser and Email launch buttons.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can replace these in the stock launcher!
Regards,
Dave
It's funny. Even though TouchWiz 3.0 comes on the Vibrant, I couldn't stand it. So, I use Launcher Pro Plus. On the Tab, I actually like it. It must have been much improved since then?
After testing several launchers, I have now become a fan of ADW.Launcher (mostly due to its categorization feature in the apps drawer) and QuickDesk (due to its quick-access to recent apps, and the ability to long-click to get to the app details, clear data, uninstall, etc.) I like how configurable everything is as well.
Remove Notification Bar
Hi guys,
Got the Tab yesterday and like it a lot. I don't like Samsumg's Touchwiz etc. so straight away I installed Launcher Pro and changed my home-screen etc.
Anyhow, I want to remove or at least stop the ever present notification strip appearing at the top. I had a Nexus One and was able to do this but can't remember how, can it be done on the tab as its wasting space on my homescreen, in the browser etc.
Cheers,
M
One the home screen, click the Menu button, Settings, Appearance Settings, Hide notification bar.
I kinda like TouchWiz. Mainly for the widgets which come in handy, but i absolutely love ADW. It may not have the widgets that LPP has, but imho, its 100x better.
Then QuickDesk Pro for the long press on thevsearch button to top it off
Sent from my GT-P1000
GANJDROID said:
I kinda like TouchWiz. Mainly for the widgets which come in handy, but i absolutely love ADW. It may not have the widgets that LPP has, but imho, its 100x better.
Then QuickDesk Pro for the long press on thevsearch button to top it off
Sent from my GT-P1000
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ADW.Launcher + QuickDesk => great combo !
I use the home button for both of them (using the "hack" setting for double-click support). Long-press on the Search button indeed brings up a few options, including AudioVolumizer (very useful).
ftgg99 said:
The stock launcher is TouchWiz. Its very good,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
agree with that. & question - Tabs in Russian retail doesnt have Readers and Media Hub, or is it just mine? I have a wicked bookstore instead)

A Launcher Comparison

Have tried a few launchers over the past few weeks, and made a comparison spreadsheet, take a look-
https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc...4NmJ4X29sRk43dGc&authkey=CMfSjJgH&hl=en#gid=0
My thoughts
For a fast lightweight launcher, zeam (perfect apart from no notifications in the dock).EDIT - i have since found the appdrawer to be laggier in scrolling than go launcher / launcher pro, so cannot stand by my original near perfect opinion)
For a launcher with themes and lots of visual customisation - ADW EX
For an all round launcher - Go Launcher EX
For an all round launcher with its own widgets - Launcher Pro Plus
I use actualy crazy home pro and is very useful you have 3 desktop whit 5 pages each. Try and add to spreadsheet.
Sent from my X10minipro using XDA App
I use Arc Launcher. It isn't the most customised one but is indeed one of the most stable and refined. I just love the effects of one removing a widget on Arc Launcher!
thanks~~~~~~~~``
Nice, only thing I noticed was that ADW does have notifications with ADW Notifier, but very well done
You compltely missed on the most important thing, SPEED. For me launcher pro has absolutwly no lag at all on an htchero where as all other except zeam do. AdW has a clunky was to organize the homescreens in my opinion and although go launchwr was good, it was a bit laggy and the style didnt suit my taste
Sent from my EVO3D using XDA App
dre89 said:
Nice, only thing I noticed was that ADW does have notifications with ADW Notifier, but very well done
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
spreadsheet amended. thanks for the update
fowenati said:
You compltely missed on the most important thing, SPEED. For me launcher pro has absolutwly no lag at all on an htchero where as all other except zeam do. AdW has a clunky was to organize the homescreens in my opinion and although go launchwr was good, it was a bit laggy and the style didnt suit my taste
Sent from my EVO3D using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah, i have to agree with you that speed is important. i have only ever had lags with adw, but until i have the launchers set up with identical widgets i felt it was unfair to rank them on their perceived speed.
What you put in the "home screen notes" row is the reason I didn't use LP or Zeam.
I suggest you separate the "gestures" row into two, one for home screen, and one for dock bar.
Question for those with GO Launcher and Launcher Pro installed -
For the scrollable widgets, how do you find widget scrolling using Go Launcher compared to launcher pro? i find Go launcher very sensitive to left / right movement while trying to scroll the widget making it more difficult to vertically scroll the widgets than launcher pro. I tested this using pure messenger scroll with both.
fowenati said:
You compltely missed on the most important thing, SPEED. For me launcher pro has absolutwly no lag at all on an htchero where as all other except zeam do. AdW has a clunky was to organize the homescreens in my opinion and although go launchwr was good, it was a bit laggy and the style didnt suit my taste
Sent from my EVO3D using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah, i have to agree with you that speed is important. i have only ever had lags with adw, but until i have the launchers set up with identical widgets i felt it was unfair to rank them on their perceived speed.
EDIT
Had lags on LPP this weekend...half second delays or so when swiping between screens...
nxdu said:
What you put in the "home screen notes" row is the reason I didn't use LP or Zeam.
I suggest you separate the "gestures" row into two, one for home screen, and one for dock bar.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
done!
cheers
nepentanova said:
done!
cheers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
GO has a up swipe for dock gesture.
tanjinjack said:
I use Arc Launcher. It isn't the most customised one but is indeed one of the most stable and refined. I just love the effects of one removing a widget on Arc Launcher!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ARC Launcher added (though i don't share your love!!)
nxdu said:
GO has a up swipe for dock gesture.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i thought there were only 2 gestures in GO Launcher, swipe up / down on home page (not just dock). perhaps we have our terminology mixed up..
Maybe you should add SPB Shell 3D as well - the launcher for users with too much money
nepentanova said:
ARC Launcher added (though i don't share your love!!)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the addition of my favourite non-Sense launcher in it. Really like some of the effects that other launchers will probably never implement (like the effect of moving a widget, deleting a widget, going into app drawers etc.)
There are actually 7 screens version out there, and I got it here also from the link below. And there are some variants as well, including landscape mode (something I think is missing in other launchers.)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=11856283&postcount=43
I manage to put apps into the dock as well (Miren browser and Dialer One).
Also about GO Launcher, I believe it does support swipe gestures on dock as well - it pretty much does whatever the free Launcher Pro does, except for the all home-screen views.
Maybe you may want to take a look at the NetFront Screen as well. A launcher of different concept, which I still think more works need to be done and more performance upgrade (have lags on my AOSP-loaded Desire).
Other wise, really good jobs on the spreadsheet. Appreciate it.
Have you tried Sweeter Home?
this is great, but just to let you know LPP has "resizable home screen" of 10x10 also
nepentanova said:
i thought there were only 2 gestures in GO Launcher, swipe up / down on home page (not just dock). perhaps we have our terminology mixed up..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can set swipe up actions for dock icons. Just long=tap a dock icon and hit "change gesture."
This means that the dock of GO Launcher can do 10 things instead of 5, or 30 if you use the scrollable dock option.
When you update the dock notes you may want to update the app drawer notes too. You can change the default 4x4 view in the app drawer to 4x5 and 5x5, just like you can for the home screens.
Another GO Launcher note: when you use it it sends data home (probably usage stats). If you don't want GO to phone home you should block it with DroidWall. (Maybe the other launchers phone home too?)

[Q] Android: What's the most visually pleasing and productive launcher?

Hey guys,
I've tried ADW Launcher, Launcher Pro, Zeam Launcher, Launcher 7, Regina 3D, SPB Shell 3D, Android home and LG Home.
After trying all these, I still couldn't find a launcher that satisfies me. The biggest issue is that you can't fit a lot on the same home screen. Of course, you can add more home screens and change the 4x4 layout into more. But, with more home screens, it's hard to remember what is where and when you increase from 4x4 to 5x5 or more, the designs break.
Also, when you fill up the same screen with too many shortcuts(ie when all 16 slots are occupied), it becomes way too cluttered.
Visually pleasing doesn't really mean 3D. It's just the right kind of graphics.
Any solution to it?
i know - it's a really hard choice, as every launcher got it's problems...
i tried ADW Launcher, Launcher Pro and a few months ago i switched to Go Launcher, which - i must say - is my absolute favorite...
The best compromise for me is to sort the apps into categories. Go Launcher, for example, allows you to sort your app shortcuts into folders, then you can put shortcuts to these on your homescreen. I have 8 folders (Games, utilities, web, multimedia etc.) with icons sitting on my first home screen. Tapping one of those brings up a 'mini app drawer' containing a subset of your apps.
You can achieve the same thing with apps such as 'Folder Manager' and 'SIMI Folders' - these also have more customisation options for things like icons and backgrounds.

How to make widgets span 5 cells

Previously I've used the ADW launcher but have found every phone I've had become unmanageably slow over time. I've never been able to identify the problem but this time I'm trying to leave as many things stock as I can bear, starting with the launcher.
The default launches seems palatable enough but I can't workout how to resize widgets to fill the width of the screen.
Two of my favorite widgets to have on the home screen are "Fancy Widgets" (a clock/weather widget) and "Agenda Widget" (a calendar widget). Both these programs have several different sized widgets available but neither have widgets that are 5 cells wide. Is there a way to stretch the widget in the default launcher like one can in ADW?
Attached is an example of what my home screen currently looks like.
Thanks,
Slarti.
P.S.
I hope I'm asking this in the correct place.
(I wasn't able to find a Q&A section for G3 themes)
Uh, I've found that after releasing the agenda widget when dragging resize grippers become available on the corners.
This works perfectly to resize Agenda Widget to a 5x2 box.
Unfortunatly this doesn't work for Fancy Widgets.
It should be added as default feature
deadlyheart4u said:
It should be added as default feature
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think it only works for default apps in the phone.
Hmmmm

Categories

Resources