What is the best launcher? In terms of functionality, ease of use, features, design, speed?
Also is there anyway to customize the "Launcher2" on the Nexus S or is it just stuck that way?
- ADW Launcher
- ADW Launcher EX (If you like ADW Launcher, try this.. it's even better; paid app)
- LauncherPro
- Go Launcher EX(never used this but have heard good things about it)
.. this is going to stirr up a debate between ADW Launcher vs. LauncherPro.
My opinion? ADW Launcher, but try out both of them and see which one fits you.
And Launcher2 on NS stock.. nope.
Thanks, I think I'm going to use ADW EX, seems to have what I want and I've used ADW before so a better version of it should be better?
Yeah, EX was initially missing a few features from the free version, but I think those have all been added now, so it's pretty much a straight upgrade.
That said, a launcher is a UI element, so the best launcher is the one with the features you want and which you find most attractive and easiest to work with. There's a reason multiple launchers enjoy success in parallel; one size doesn't fit all.
Serious_Beans said:
Thanks, I think I'm going to use ADW EX, seems to have what I want and I've used ADW before so a better version of it should be better?
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Adw ex is way more fluid. Not sure what makes the difference, but it performs significantly better. Almost as buttery smooth as stock launcher.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
I've used all of the popular ones; Zeam, GO, LauncherPro Plus, ADW, and ADW Ex and personally, the one that does everything I need it to without much fussing about is definitely LauncherPro. Zeam is nice but I couldn't figure out how to customize icons and for me that is a necessary function. GO is basically a freeware version of LPP but when I set custom icons they all came out slightly pixellated. Not very noticable but considering I've never had such an issue with LPP I saw no reason to switch to one that seems less functional. ADW just isn't customizable enough. Period. ADW Ex has a lot of functionality but when I tried to set my custom icons they came out as black squares, again why use a launcher replacement that I can't seem to get to match my theme?
kenvan19 said:
I've used all of the popular ones; Zeam, GO, LauncherPro Plus, ADW, and ADW Ex and personally, the one that does everything I need it to without much fussing about is definitely LauncherPro. Zeam is nice but I couldn't figure out how to customize icons and for me that is a necessary function. GO is basically a freeware version of LPP but when I set custom icons they all came out slightly pixellated. Not very noticable but considering I've never had such an issue with LPP I saw no reason to switch to one that seems less functional. ADW just isn't customizable enough. Period. ADW Ex has a lot of functionality but when I tried to set my custom icons they came out as black squares, again why use a launcher replacement that I can't seem to get to match my theme?
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for zeam, just use desktop visualizer and then drag it into the icon bar.
FaithCry said:
for zeam, just use desktop visualizer and then drag it into the icon bar.
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Good to know but I'd rather not have to have another application installed just to change the icons in the already installed launcher.
there are more to Go Launcher EX, than Launcher Pro Plus + ADW EX combined
(IMO, i think that is actually why the DEV of GO launcher renamed it to GO launcher EX)
on top of all the LPP + ADW features, you can added any amount of screens, where most launcher usually maxes out at 7 screens,
re-size widgets,
add more columns & rows for the widget screens,
same can be done with the app drawer,
you can custom arrange the app drawer icons position, or default to some sorting of your choice,
you can change individual icons or you can change the entire skin,
very easy to apply any skin / theme with the skin chooser
you can make your own skin
it integrates itself with Go SMS, which also have matching skins, or you can customize your own
there is the build in Task Manager/Killer in Go Launcher EX
and so much more options under the hood.
it's build for customization, there are way too much options, so much that you don't know from where to start and all in a easy to use user interface
no need to edit anything manually on the file system, nor need to replace any files to change the theme/skin
just download the skin/theme that you like from the market and enable it.
Zeam all the way, baby!
Sent from my Nexus S
I prefer ADW as well.
Though I wish I could say stock. =T
Stock
Can I give ADW ex looks of stock launcher ?
Can I add more home screens to stock launcher ?
onthecouchagain said:
I prefer ADW as well.
Though I wish I could say stock. =T
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Why do you wish you could say stock? Don't get me wrong the stock launcher works great and I used it for months on my MT3G but it wasn't perfect. The only reason I prefer LauncherPro is that I absolutely can't stand it when icons don't match my theme so I use a custom launcher.
LP Plus just does what I want and its dead simple to set up too. ADW had few issues. Still, one mans Cameron Diaz is another mans Oprah Winfrey
Can LPP be configured to do swipe down on home screen to drop down the notification bar?
I´m using launcher pro and its more stable than the original launcher. But every time I have to reboot, the launcher pro come with black screen then force close and then restart normally... go figure.
alexcinci said:
I´m using launcher pro and its more stable than the original launcher. But every time I have to reboot, the launcher pro come with black screen then force close and then restart normally... go figure.
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that's a weird one, never seen that before, when i was using LPP
AllGamer said:
that's a weird one, never seen that before, when i was using LPP
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just adding: non rooted, stock kernell and rom
eventhough I´m having this issue, its way better than the original launcher
alexcinci said:
just adding: non rooted, stock kernell and rom
eventhough I´m having this issue, its way better than the original launcher
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I have a similar issue. Doesn't happen every time but it does happen. Really isn't that much of a bother.
kenvan19 said:
I have a similar issue. Doesn't happen every time but it does happen. Really isn't that much of a bother.
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agree
I have the Heinz 57 loaded that comes with the adw launcher, the app in the market is a newer version, will it hurt anything to dl and update the launcher?
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App
Heinz uses mr home. Its adw on crack. Got a few more features then straight adw. But you could use any launcher I would think
Tap-a-Talked
Actually Mr.home is adw launcher straight to the code. I noticed this while working on the apk for tfgas. I actually did not see on thing in it that was changed from adw launcher so in turn it is the the same.
All it has is from I remember in gas's vid is the screen animations for uot kitchen added. I could be work on that part but all mr. home is over regular adw is the animations.
2fast4u88 said:
Actually Mr.home is adw launcher straight to the code. I noticed this while working on the apk for tfgas. I actually did not see on thing in it that was changed from adw launcher so in turn it is the the same.
All it has is from I remember in gas's vid is the screen animations for uot kitchen added. I could be work on that part but all mr. home is over regular adw is the animations.
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It doesn't play well with live wallpapers where ADW works just fine - but otherwise I think you're right just different animations.
As far as updates, it shouldn't hurt to update it...it's just an app that dfgas has preloaded in the rom.
That is odd but it truely is adw launcher. Watch it when you install it or tfgas's rom you get a little pop up for the changelog As for messing with anything no matter of rom you can install a different launcher. Just install it and hit the home button then set which ever to default. If you want to switch back to the old launcher download home switcher from the market.
I believe that is the name any way
You can also just go to settings- apps- manage apps, and clear defaults for the launcher. Then when you hit the home key it'll ask you which one to use again.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App
I recently downloaded ADW launcher using the flux theme. Not bad but I'm thinking of going back to stock launcher but would like to keep the fluxed icons. Is this possible?
ATRIX 2 / Victory Rom
smgulsby said:
I recently downloaded ADW launcher using the flux theme. Not bad but I'm thinking of going back to stock launcher but would like to keep the fluxed icons. Is this possible?
ATRIX 2 / Victory Rom
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i am not sure if it is possible with the regular ADW but i know in ADW EX that you if you go into the theme setting of ADW that you can set the theme to stock, and then you can just change the icons. If you need me to screen shot what i am talking about i can do that for you.
I think the OP wants the icon pack separate from ADW so they can use them in the stock launcher. In that case, I'm not aware of the icon pack's location. I've often wondered this myself. There are apps that will change any icon for any app on screen. Just need access to the icons.
Sent via Tapatalk with VictoryRom_v1.1
Oh haha. I am sure that he could use an icon pack from the android section and use desktop visualizer to apply the icons. But that does take A LOT of time to do. But if you do use the icon packs from the android section, there are a lot of options too. Like a lot of options.
i think you can try to do it,maybe it sucess
I have adw ex but prefer go launcher. Can have certain themes with different icons, if that is what you are after.
Hello,
I just wanted to ask if someone ever tried to restore apex_data (renamed so it fits to nova) into nova launcher. the data file stores the homescreen layout and since this is the same in both launchers i was wondering if it could work?
Reason why im asking is that im using apex launcher right now and i want to try nova but i do not want to put all the apps back on their screen position...
Cheers
Matt
not possible.. However you can use an app called desk migrate.. it is used to migrate home screen settings from one launcher too other.. it works on go launcher.. don't know if it works with other launcher too.. you can give it a try..
Sent from my fingers to your face using xda premium.!
At least on my GB phone desk migrate worked perfectly to get the Homescreens of the other launchers.
But havent tested it on ICS so far.
I have yet to get DeskMigrate to do anything in ICS. I've like to copy LauncherPro's desktops to Apex or Nova, but it does nothing. Offers which launcher to copy from, and that's it.
i guess nova settings can be restored in apex
Using a Xoom and I'm redoing my hubs layout and the only one that it works fully with and that I want to use is ADW. Now that being said I also like the stock app drawer. Now I guess my question is, is there anyway to use the stock app drawer with ADW even if it's only a shortcut.
You can make it look like it, but you wont have the tabs.
Sent from my LG-VM670 using Tapatalk 2
daytonboi said:
Using a Xoom and I'm redoing my hubs layout and the only one that it works fully with and that I want to use is ADW. Now that being said I also like the stock app drawer. Now I guess my question is, is there anyway to use the stock app drawer with ADW even if it's only a shortcut.
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Haven't used ADW in absolutely ages (GO Launcher is by far the best IMO) but set the background to black and set the transition to 'stack' if it's available. GO Launcher has all of this and it has tabs which you can customise the look of. Just sayin'
Try Holo Luncher based on ADW sources