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Hello, all.
I've got a confession to make: I like apps. A lot. To an unhealthy degree. I've got a huge stash of apps on my phone, and an even larger collection of .apk backups waiting to be reloaded whenever I feel like it. I love finding new apps to try out, and deciding which ones are worthy to be added to my collection. A lot of the apps that I find and want to try out are paid apps; without finding many thorough reviews on them, I don't know whether they are worth my money - but I can't stand the thought of missing out on the Next Big Thing. And so I buy them, download them, install them, and test them out anyway. If it's an awesome app and well-worth the money, I tell my friends. If it is money that could be better spent on another app that I've tried before, I tell my friends that, too.
Unfortunately, not all of my friends are interested in my opinion on apps. They only listen to me because of my rugged good looks (my theory). This makes me sad, because I spend a lot of time (and money, in some cases) trying apps out - someone else needs to benefit from that time (and money) as well. Until someone decides to pay/reimburse me for all the apps that I evaluate, the next-best thing I can do is offer up reviews to the community of any apps that I have found particularly useful. This is the driving force behind my desire to make this thread.
I will be running down my list of currently-installed useful applications and entertaining games. I will include screen shots, AppBrain links, and as much detail as I can muster up. My hope is that the rest of the community may find some benefit from these reviews - and who knows, maybe you'll find a kick-ass app you'd never heard of.
I'm open to questions, ideas, requests, suggestions, and pretty much any other type of communication or input that could be provided. I only ask that you be respectful - both of me, and of the app developers. And if this list helps you find a neat paid app to try out, please do support the developer(s). Piracy is bad, mmmmkay?
Enjoy!
-codesplice
Credit where credit is due: All screenshots are made using the free ShootMe app.
NOTE: Now that the Android Market has a shnazzy new web interface, I'm going to change the primary links for apps to reflect this. I will add the AppBrain links as a secondary, and hope to add direct market links at some point once I find a site to reliably provide this information. Stay tuned!
Reviews:
Minimalistic Text (Widget)
Clutch Pad(Multitasking App) UPDATED 2/24/11
CircleLauncher (Widget)
Swipe Pad (Multitasking App)
Keyboard Manager (App) UPDATED 2/23/11
Shift Puzzle Game (Game)
ElecroDroid (App)
Hella Umbrella (Game)
Digital Wall (LWP)
Shortyz Crosswords (App)
Elixir (System Info App)
Google Authenticator (App)
Zeam (Launcher)
Lookout / WaveSecure (Mobile Security App double-feature)
If you don't want to subscribe to this thread, you can follow me on that twitting thing, as I will post updates about new reviews there.
Minimalistic Text (widget)
App Name: Minimalistic Text (v.2.1.3, @AppBrain)
Developer: Devmil
Price: FREE
There is quite a handful of text-based widgets available on the Market, and a lot of them are very nice. There are widgets for displaying the time as text, the weather as text, the battery level as text.... but this is one widget that does it all. Just about every aspect of the widget is configurable, from the text alignment and rotation to the font size and colors to even the format for different types of data. You've got several options for the display type, whether you want to use digits or words or even a bar (for days of the week or percentage of battery charge). There is also an optional "blur" text effect which works wonderfully for making accented text appear to be illuminated. To top things off, this widget also functions as a plugin for Locale or Tasker and can be used to display variables from either of those applications. For instance, if you want a small text-widget to display what Locale/Tasker profiles are currently active, this is your answer for a very configurable solution.
For each widget you are also able to define an action to perform when tapped - whether it is launching another activity (my clock widget launches my alarm clock), opening the widget preferences page, or even reading out the text currently displayed on the widget. You are also able to save and restore your widget settings, so don't be afraid to experiment.
Given the sheer amount of customizations available to you with this widget app, the configuration menu may be a little bit overwhelming and complex when you first get into it. Play around for a few minutes, and you're bound to get the hang of it.
This is a fabulous widget, and one that I highly recommend to anyone who will take the time to tinker with it.
Verdict: A highly-configurable text-based widget to display pretty much anything you want, especially with Tasker integration.
Screenshots:
1) Widget(s) in action. I should note there are three separate widgets displayed: Time / weather up top, day / date on the bottom, and a battery level bar on the right-hand side.
2) Preferences Manager for all widgets
3) Text Style menu
4-5) Custom Layout configurator
(tested on NexusOne / Kang-o-rama 1.2 T1 (CM7.n13 / GRH78C / Android 2.3.2))
Clutch Pad[APP]
App Name: Clutch Pad (v.1.3v.1.4.2, @AppBrain)
Developer: stevealbright
Price: $0.99 $1.99
Clutch is an application that seeks to optimize and streamline the way you multitask on Android. It is currently in beta status, but is very functional in its current state. It is a powerful supplement to the built-in Recent Apps feature.
Clutch manifests itself as a small semi-transparent "trigger" area, which functions similar to "hot corners" on a Mac (I think. I'm a Linux/PC guy). This small region rides at the very top layer of the Android interface (in a user-configurable position) and is accessible no matter what application you may be working in. You can tap this region to instantly bring up a small grid displaying your recently-accessed applications. You can customize how many apps you want to be visible, configure the application to ignore your Home (Launcher) app in its list, and to visually distinguish currently-running applications from terminated apps. This makes it very easy to quickly determine if that app you just exited is still running or if it has been shut down as it should, as well as providing a quick (and lightweight) task switcher.
Nice, but nothing terribly fantastic. Yet. Clutch also has configurable swipe gestures - the most useful (to me) of which is a Last Task functionality. For instance, if I Swipe Up from the Clutch region, I instantly switch to whatever my previous app was. If I swipe again, I am moved back to the app I just switched from. This functions similarly to just pressing ALT+TAB quickly, and is very useful for quickly jumping between two apps.
This little utility is quick and lightweight, and I have found it to be extremely useful. It is still in development, and has many more features planned (and a price increase to accompany them - so get it quickly!) including support for additional gestures (open/close notifications, for example), on-click task control (press-and-hold to kill, for example), and configurable transition animations.
If you've got a dollar to spend, you would do well to add this application to your device in its current state, and I can only imagine the app's versatility and usefulness will increase with the further planned updates.
Update (2/24/11): Clutch Pad has recently been updated to version 1.4. With this update, the application has dropped the "Beta" tag, gained an additional "Pad" in its name, and has added additional features and configurable options. At the same time, the price has also been increased to $1.99. New features include additional swipe gestures, configurable transition animations (that are quite pretty), the option to toggle the trigger button via a press-and-hold on the Search hardware key, and a Favorites option to quickly launch your favorite apps. Options have also been added for additional visual tweaks and adjustments of both the trigger icon and the popup lists, and all known bugs have been fixed. With each incremental update, this app gets more and more useful and I find myself relying upon it more all the time. Even at the increased price, this is still one of my must-have applications.
Verdict: An innovative way to access recent apps, and the Last App gesture functionality is every bit as useful as Alt-Tabbing between apps on your desktop.
Screenshots:
1) Trigger icon
2) Recent apps list
3-5) Settings pages
(tested on NexusOne / Kang-o-rama 1.2 T1 (CM7.n13 / GRH78C / Android 2.3.2))
CircleLauncher (widget)
App Name: CircleLauncher (v.1.5.2, @AppBrain)
Developer: db-ware
Price: ~$1.37 (free, limited version here or @AppBrain)
As mentioned previously, I have a lot of apps. One of the problem with having a lot of apps is running out of room on your homescreens for app shortcuts. There are various widgets out there that propose a variety of solutions to this problem, but they often leave you with tiny, almost unusable icons. This would have been fine in the days where the trackball reigned supreme, but this is the oh-tens. It has to be finger-friendly.
One true solution that I stumbled across the other day is called CircleLauncher. What it does is really very simple, but it does it very well. It allows you to create a single widget to group similar applications together (I've used location-themed apps and clock-based apps in my example). Tape the 1x1 widget, and a lightweight menu appears to launch your apps. Pretty standard, but this menu is laid out (by default - you can change this in the settings) in a ring around the icon. As you slide your finger or thumb around the ring, the currently selected application icon grows to make selection a bit easier.
Note that CircleLauncher includes other layout types (configurable from the widget's config menu, which you access by selecting the widget and then press-and-holding the center) including horizontal and vertical lines. I was also very pleased with the way that the widget's application menu adapts to its position on the screen - stick it in a corner, and your full selection of apps will be displayed within a 90-degree pie slice.
Obviously, a menu such as this is a bit limited to a relatively low number of apps (more than 9 or 10 and the ring will be just too cluttered to be functional), but if you need to have quick access to just a few more apps from your homescreen, this should do the trick. Since there is a free version available, why not give it a shot and see if this widget can help you to organize your home screen a bit?
Verdict: An easy way to combine several app shortcuts into one.
Screenshots:
1) Plain widgets (labeled GPS and Time) - you can dress them up a bit more if you are artistically inclined.
2) One widget opened showing the full selection ring.
3) The corner widget open showing the adaptation to the position.
4) One icon expanded while my finger hovers over it.
5) Settings menu
(tested on NexusOne / Kang-o-rama 1.2 T1 (CM7.n13 / GRH78C / Android 2.3.2))
Keep going mate
gruzman said:
Keep going mate
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I surely intend to! Just have to figure out which app to post next
Thanks for the encouragement though. It is appreciated to know at least someone is reading over all this mess!
SwipePad Beta [APP]
App Name: SwipePad Beta (v.0.7.5, @AppBrain)
Developer: Conduction.mobi
Price: FREE
Keeping on the theme of "apps to help you access your apps", we come to SwipePad Beta. Similar in some regard to Clutch, this app also gives you "hot corner" functionality. Use the settings menu to establish what corners (or regions) you want to be active, and then slide your finger from a specified region to the center of the screen. Hold it for just a moment, and a 3x4 grid of application shortcuts magically appears. You can, of course, fully customize what applications should appear on this grid by simply pressing your finger on an empty square or by holding your finger over an existing icon until it is highlighted. The hot corners/region and swipe gesture should work pretty much any time that the screen is unlocked, and is a great way of quickly launching a new app without returning to your home screen.
The application offers to integrate task managing application by the same developer (which is a paid app) that I haven't tried out yet. Personally, I've got plenty of other ways of killing apps at this point - particularly once the function gets built into Clutch.
SwipePad is very nicely polished and quite responsive. It does what it does quite well. My only issue with it is that I just don't use it very frequently. I almost forget that it is there; I must be thoroughly conditioned to launching apps from the home screen. It's free, though, so give it a whirl and see if it can further help to optimize the way you launch apps from within other apps
Verdict: Clever use of hot-corners to gain quick access to up to 12 user-defined apps; non-intrusive to the point that you might forget to use it.
Screenshots:
1) SwipePad in action. Note that putting a link to SwipePad on your SwipePad gives you a quick way to access the settings screens.
2) SwipePad settings, with the hot corners highlighted in red at the bottom.
(tested on NexusOne / Kang-o-rama 1.2 T1 (CM7.n13 / GRH78C / Android 2.3.2))
is there a video demonstrating the use of Clutch? I want to watch it before paying for it.
Deff fav'ing this. Am looking forward to all reviews
(*is thinking about getting clutch)
Epic is as Epic does
Nice! Thanks bro!
waichung said:
is there a video demonstrating the use of Clutch? I want to watch it before paying for it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I imagine there should be a video somewhere on the youtubes. Let me know if you find one and I will add it to the post. I'm about to go into work so it will be another 12 hours before I have access to the full internet, but I will look then if you haven't found anything.
Very good! Thanks
Keyboard Manager [APP]
App Name: Keyboard Manager (v.1.1) Keyboard Manager (v.1.4)
Developer: ne0fhyk
Price: FREE $1.99
NOTE: This app requires root!!
It took me quite a while, but I finally weened myself away from requiring a physical keyboard on a mobile device when I got my NexusOne. With the multitude and variety of available software keyboards available for Android, I haven't really missed the physical keys. The only annoyance at this point is that I find keyboards that work great for one-handed operation in portrait orientation, like Swype or 8pen (if you're in the mood for adventure and don't really care how long it takes to get a message completed ), but are next-to-worthless for dual-thumb landscape input. With a physical keyboard, you'd just slide that bad boy out and away you go. For those of us with only a touchscreen and maybe a few additional buttons, it can be a bit of a chore to manually change the selected input method each time we rotate the device. If only there was a way for the device to read my mind and select the appropriate keyboard.....
As luck would have it, XDA member ne0fhyk has provided us with a solution to this difficulty, in the form of his Keyboard Manager application. Simply select what keyboard you want to use in each orientation (I use Swype for portrait and SwiftKey for landscape), and the app will handle the tedious business of choosing the appropriate input method. It's that easy, and it works.
Mostly. The app is a bit of a hacked solution, and requires root permissions to be able to get around the Android security feature which prevents applications from changing the input method. Installation is not always straight-forward (instructions are available in the first post of the application thread, and it may cause a few software keyboards to force-close if you change orientation while the keyboard is displayed. The current version (1.1) has come a long way from the previous releases in terms of usability, stability, and reliability, and I haven't had any major issues with it. I highly recommend that you give this application a shot and see if it will help you out with your input needs.
Update (2/23/11): Keyboard Manager is no longer available for free, but is now installable from the Android Market. The now-current 1.4 version has fixed most of the install issues and should be a very easy set-up for you. If you run into any issues with the purchased version, please contact the developer - he helped me solve issues specific to my device, and the application works like a charm now.
Verdict: A functional hack to auto-select the appropriate software keyboard based on device orientation.
Screenshots:
1) The optional persistent notification icon. Activating the notification will give you quick access to the Keyboard Manager settings page, and I recommend you leave it enabled until you get things set up the way you want. After that, disable the persistent notification at your own risk (the persistent notification keeps the process in the foreground and prevents Android from terminating it).
2) Settings screen
3) Selecting which keyboard to use
4) Demonstrating that the app has automatically selected Swype for portrait...
5) .... and SwiftKey for landscape.
(tested on NexusOne / Kang-o-rama 1.2 T1 (CM7.n13 / GRH78C / Android 2.3.2))
Shift Puzzle Game [GAME]
App Name: Shift Puzzle Game (v.1.2, @AppBrain)
Developer: Handmark
Price: $1.99 (Free ad-supported version here or @AppBrain let's you try out 15 levels; full version features 40 additional levels and no ads)
The Shift Puzzle Game is a tasty Android port of the ever-popular SHIFT game by Armor Games, which you can play free in your Flash-enabled browser at the Armor Games website. If you're not familiar with the original (as I wasn't until I found this app just an hour ago), then let me fill you in on the skinny.
Shift is a new take on the classic adventure-puzzle platformer game. Your mission is to get from point A to point B, dodging whatever nasty traps and obstacles may be in your path. The twist is the ability for you to literally shift the game universe upside down. White becomes black, up becomes down, and you find yourself walking on the flip side of the surface you were just standing on. You can (and will) use this clever maneuver repeatedly in order to successfully navigate each challenging level. Not quite tracking? It can be rather tough to explain... Hopefully the screenshots below will help clear it up (or go play the flash version for free here).
This implementation for a touchscreen device is phenomenal. The controls are large and appear on either side of the landscape display - and you don't even need multitouch. Just tap the left arrow to move left, the left-up diagonal to jump left, and the SHIFT button at the top to do that groovy shift thing. The gameplay is engaging, and the levels can be quite challenging (and quite addictive). The game is worth trying out (the free version) solely for experiencing the joy that is puzzle-solving by twisting the fabric of the universe, and you might just get hooked enough to purchase the full version. It would be two bucks well spent.
Verdict: Quickly becoming my latest Android gaming addiction.
Screenshots:
1) Main menu
2) First level
3) First level - SHIFTED!
4) It gets twisted!
(tested on NexusOne / Kang-o-rama 1.2 T1 (CM7.n13 / GRH78C / Android 2.3.2))
This is a little off topic but is anyone attempting a Tor app?
Sent from my SGH-I897 using XDA App
jinsfch said:
This is a little off topic but is anyone attempting a Tor app?
Sent from my SGH-I897 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just slightly off topic, but no worries.
A quick search on AppBrain found Orbot: Tor On Android. Impressive, since Android still doesn't have proper proxy support on its own...
Can't find clutch video on youtube...
Btw,i think swipepad is better than it as swyping from the bottom is easier than from the right
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App
waichung said:
Can't find clutch video on youtube...
Btw,i think swipepad is better than it as swyping from the bottom is easier than from the right
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I looked for Clutch videos as well and was disappointed to see that there aren't any. I may try to shoot a video once I get home from the desert in a few weeks (hopefully).
You can change the position of the Clutch region to really any spot on the screen. And I don't really see the two as competing anyway as they have entirely different purposes: Clutch gives you quick access to your recently-executed apps, while SwipePad offers a fixed menu of apps for you to launch.
codesplice said:
I looked for Clutch videos as well and was disappointed to see that there aren't any. I may try to shoot a video once I get home from the desert in a few weeks (hopefully).
You can change the position of the Clutch region to really any spot on the screen. And I don't really see the two as competing anyway as they have entirely different purposes: Clutch gives you quick access to your recently-executed apps, while SwipePad offers a fixed menu of apps for you to launch.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The likely alt-tab function of clutch is really fantastic but does it show the recently-executed apps or the running apps? I use swipepad together with the virtual task switcher which allows switching among the running tasks. These 2 apps are completely free and no need to paid $1 for the "swipepad: tasks". But I prefer quick accessing recent tasks to showing those apps running at the background.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App
waichung said:
The likely alt-tab function of clutch is really fantastic but does it show the recently-executed apps or the running apps? I use swipepad together with the virtual task switcher which allows switching among the running tasks. These 2 apps are completely free and no need to paid $1 for the "swipepad: tasks". But I prefer quick accessing recent tasks to showing those apps running at the background.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The set {recently-executed} apps includes the subset {running apps}. The default behavior of Android is to show all recently-executed apps under the Recent Apps functionality, regardless of whether those apps are still running or have been terminated. I thought that Visual Task Switcher behaved the same way, but based on the application page it does appear to only display currently-running apps. Personally, I prefer to see recent apps (with a visual distinction between those that are still running and those that have been terminated), as I often end up re-launching the same app over and over; of course, you could also just pin a shortcut to those frequent apps to SwipePad. We all operate our devices in different ways, so either option is of course valid.
Visual Task Switcher (at least the last time that I used it) tended to make my phone lag significantly for whatever reason; I did use it for quite some time though, and was pleased with its functionality as a complete Recent Apps replacement (after configuring the long-press home trigger to launch it via CyanogenMod settings). Also note that the free version includes ads (which may contribute to the lag I was experiencing?) while the full version will set you back $1.99.
If you purchased your phone in the last three weeks and from this date onwards (Feb 8), you have the latest 6.39 US rom preinstalled. (Currently being rolled out for older devices through the OTA).
This means that you have a high likelihood of bricking your device if you attempt to flash a non US rom – or probably any rom.
This is my experience so I decided to post this thread in this section (despite grumblings) as a caution.
After a heroic 24 hour effort last week, I gave up on trying to unbrick my last device and this time (last night) decided to take the safer road and see if the updated rom could at least still be rooted….
As mentioned elsewhere, it still can be rooted using superoneclick (run from the pc – instructions in other threads)
I’ve attached the file that worked for me below, and will briefly describe the route I’ve followed this morning to get to a smoothly running, rooted Defy that still runs 2.1 but cleanly bypasses blur and looks and feels good:
• Root using the file below or find it in other threads – there are a few versions to choose from.
• Install Tenfar’s recovery (big thanks!), found elsewhere or attached below. (Again there are a few versions to choose from including a newer version from tenfar but the one attached below worked for me)
• Make a backup using recovery – remembering that it always has to be run from the recovery app and can’t be booted into from a switched off state or battery pull – (power on volume down) This is at the core of the locked boot loader issue - correct me someone if I’m wrong.
Once backed up you can set about downloading app remover/freezers, overclock apps (setcpu) and an alternate launcher – ADW. (Aside from a bunch of other apps that require root and are lotsa fun!)
My approach to the bloatware:
I first tried freezing apps one by one (deleting/removing them will affect your ability to get future OTAs smoothly without restoring the original backup so instead unfreeze them later)
…but froze one too many – bluraccount app and got froze out of the phone interface (Blank screen - not having any way to run the functions/apps or change settings, and a factory wipe/restore or using the stock recovery didn’t fix this by the way) and four hours later found a backdoor to reinstalling recovery and restoring the backup – sweaty work believe me.
(How to: By multi tapping the home button it opened up the internet app – then navigated to a link to the online “appbrain” app and clicked a link there to download directly from the market. This then automatically opened up the market app on the phone which was otherwise unavailable by any other means. Once the market app was opened, I downloaded, installed and immediately clicked to open linda file manager then used it to navigate to the SD card to find the recovery app mentioned above, clicked to reinstall which opened the install dialogue, I then chose to open it because it was already installed and chose to boot into recovery from where I restored the earlier backup - voila! All better)
I decided then to only remove non moto/blur related apps and install ADW free and basically take the blur interface out of the equation while getting a visual upgrade.
While this approach leaves the blur account sync and other blur related apps intact, if you have the updated rom, you’ll know that it’s fast and smooth anyway, making this a workable compromise because the blur interface/launcher is basically the other half of their annoying equation.
I chose not to permanently overclock to protect the phone long term and also preserve battery life, but it does give it an immediate kick!
Once ADW and some free themes are downloaded from the market, it’s accessed by going into any area or menu of the phone, say settings, then clicking the home soft key.
This opens a dialogue asking how you’d like to execute this command, ADW or Home (blur) - click the box saying remember choice (make default) – note the instructions on how to undo this choice later and say goodbye to blur baby!
To access ADW settings – because you’re now looking at a different desktop/home screen (for want of a better term) – click the menu soft key (bottom, far left) and choose ADW settings.
From here you can change all manner of launcher (phone interface) settings:
How many icons around the app drawer button, how fast it opens, making it 3D and transparent (sorry you’re going to have to figure this out for yourself – OK, ADW settings, drawer settings, zoom effect speed 100 – background color – move the alpha slider to the far left then click in the middle of the color wheel) themes, how many rows of apps, auto hiding the task bar, and on and on.
Basically a smooth running visual overhaul to add to the rooted, free to do whatever you want device.
And for those of you who are concerned about still running éclair (2.1) – I’d say that once you’ve basically achieved a 2.3 (gingerbread) visual experience with ADW, have disappeared blur for all intents and purposes, have a device that runs smoothly (and let’s face it it’s a defy) you basically won’t miss the little extra’s that come with froyo and if you really do – just hang in there for the upgrade.
It’s gotta come sometime.
Peace out
NOTE: THIS IS AN UNINTENTIONAL DUPLICATION OF THE EARLIER POST.
If you purchased your phone in the last three weeks and from this date onwards (Feb 8), you have the latest 6.39 US rom preinstalled. (Currently being rolled out for older devices through the OTA).
This means that you have a high likelihood of bricking your device if you attempt to flash a non US rom – or possibly any rom.
This is my experience so I decided to post this thread in this section, as a caution.
After a heroic 24 hour effort last week, I gave up on trying to unbrick my last device and this time (last night) decided to take the safer road and see if the updated rom could at least still be rooted….
As mentioned elsewhere, it still can be rooted using superoneclick (run from the pc – instructions in other threads)
I’ve attached the file that worked for me below, and will briefly describe the route I’ve followed this morning to get to a smoothly running, rooted Defy that still runs 2.1 but cleanly bypasses blur and looks and feels good:
• Root using the file below or find it in other threads – there are a few versions to choose from.
• Install Tenfar’s recovery (big thanks!), found elsewhere or attached below. (Again there are a few versions to choose from including a newer version from tenfar but the one attached below worked for me)
• Make a backup using recovery – remembering that it always has to be run from the recovery app and can’t be booted into from a switched off state or battery pull – (power on volume down) This is at the core of the locked boot loader issue - correct me someone if I’m wrong.
Once backed up you can set about downloading app remover/freezers, overclock apps (setcpu) and an alternate launcher – ADW. (Aside from a bunch of other apps that require root and are lotsa fun!)
My approach to the bloatware:
I first tried freezing apps one by one (deleting/removing them will affect your ability to get future OTAs smoothly without restoring the original backup so instead unfreeze them later)
…but froze one too many – bluraccount app and got froze out of the phone interface (Blank screen - not having any way to run the functions/apps or change settings, and a factory wipe/restore or using the stock recovery didn’t fix this by the way) and four hours later found a backdoor to reinstalling recovery and restoring the backup – sweaty work believe me.
(How to: By multi tapping the home button it opened up the internet app – then navigated to a link to the online “appbrain” app and clicked a link there to download directly from the market. This then automatically opened up the market app on the phone which was otherwise unavailable by any other means. Once the market app was opened, I downloaded, installed and immediately clicked to open linda file manager then used it to navigate to the SD card to find the recovery app mentioned above, clicked to reinstall which opened the install dialogue, I then chose to open it because it was already installed and chose to boot into recovery from where I restored the earlier backup - voila! All better)
I decided then to only remove non moto/blur related apps and install ADW free and basically take the blur interface out of the equation while getting a visual upgrade.
While this approach leaves the blur account sync and other blur related apps intact, if you have the updated rom, you’ll know that it’s fast and smooth anyway, making this a workable compromise because the blur interface/launcher is basically the other half of their annoying equation.
I chose not to permanently overclock to protect the phone long term and also preserve battery life, but it does give it an immediate kick!
Once ADW and some free themes are downloaded from the market, it’s accessed by going into any area or menu of the phone, say settings, then clicking the home soft key.
This opens a dialogue asking how you’d like to execute this command, ADW or Home (blur) - click the box saying remember choice (make default) – note the instructions on how to undo this choice later and say goodbye to blur baby!
To access ADW settings – because you’re now looking at a different desktop/home screen (for want of a better term) – click the menu soft key (bottom, far left) and choose ADW settings.
From here you can change all manner of launcher (phone interface) settings:
How many icons around the app drawer button, how fast it opens, making it 3D and transparent (sorry you’re going to have to figure this out for yourself – OK, ADW settings, drawer settings, zoom effect speed 100 – background color – move the alpha slider to the far left then click in the middle of the color wheel) themes, how many rows of apps, auto hiding the task bar, and on and on.
Basically a smooth running visual overhaul to add to the rooted, free to do whatever you want device.
And for those of you who are concerned about still running éclair (2.1) – I’d say that once you’ve basically achieved a 2.3 (gingerbread) visual experience with ADW, have disappeared blur for all intents and purposes, have a device that runs smoothly (and let’s face it it’s a defy) you basically won’t miss the little extra’s that come with froyo and if you really do – just hang in there for the upgrade.
It’s gotta come sometime.
Peace out
Claystone is a new 3D Android home screen replacement, media player, and launcher. We currently distributing developer preview betas to improve the product and get valuable feedback from the developer community. We are looking for feedback about the UI, stability, and overall functionality before we launch on Android Market.
What is unique about this home screen replacement is a 3D user interface with embedded viewers for video, photos, file browsing, web browser, YouTube, contacts, RSS news feeds, and more. The UI was designed for browsing content while you are viewing content.
Feature Summary
- Android 2.1 and higher home screen replacement
- Smart phone optimized
- 3D interface taking advantage of OpenGL
- Integrated media viewer apps for video, file browser, YouTube, web browser, photos, contacts, RSS reader, with more to come…
- Viewer apps bring functionality to the home screen and extending what you can do directly from your home screen in Android
- Claystone reduces the dependence on starting separate app for each media content type and our goal is to provide a more convenient and integrated experience
Widgets
- The Beta 3 widget experience will be replaced with a more standard widget implementation in Beta 4
Getting Started Tips
- Use the swipe left-right gesture to move through the stacked 3D panels
- The following items on the Home panel allow integrated viewing of content in the 3D interface: YouTube, Video, Photos, Contacts, File Browser, Web Browser, RSS Feeds
- Use the press-and-hold gesture throughout Claystone to access additional functions and options
Claystone is Now Available in Android Market
- Claystone is now available in Android Market
- Search for the keyword "Claystone"
Sounds sweet. I hope it won't force me to use popups for anything?
On my phone HTC HD2 (Android 2.3) will work?
Rosa Elefant said:
Sounds sweet. I hope it won't force me to use popups for anything?
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Claystone launches Android Apps full screen and the panels load in a 3D stack that you can scroll through using a left-right finger swipe.
Great, worth a try then thanks!
vespend said:
On my phone HTC HD2 (Android 2.3) will work?
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Android 2.1 and higher are supported so Android 2.3 should pose no issues.
We have tested on HTC devices and the screen resolution is also ideal for claystone.
Let us know if you have any issues.
Doesn't display well on HVGA screen...LG P500
> Doesn't display well on HVGA screen...LG P500
We've been working on getting a bunch more devices to test on. Stay tuned!
Hi. On my Original Droid when a screen is enlarged, it is off to my left and never 100% visible. Also, it was very slow. This may be due to my phone being rooted, but I had to uninstall.
cyanide911 said:
Doesn't display well on HVGA screen...LG P500
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+1 I can confirm that. The dock icons are huge and the widgets misaligned.
Anyone tried this on a Droid X?
I'm gonna give it a try this evening. I think I tried the earlier beta a few days ago and it had issues as if the screen was off to the left etc. I attributed it to possibly a bad install or something.. I'll give beta 3 a go and report. Screenshot anomolies, etc.
Always a fan of new UI development.
Seems smoother, apps scoll much better-still not fluid yet. Widget screen is bigger. Will give overall in a little while. Limited widgets. Missing recent box-I liked that
On the right track though...
Love the concept of this launcher, but I cannot for the life of me figure out how to get portrait mode working. Using HD2 on 2.3.3 and it is always in landscape, and has no bottom bar.
Try it on the hd2 with cm7 and it work good I would make the 3d windows or what they are called a little bigger and maybe customizable options but other then that good work
Sent from my HTC HD2 using XDA Premium App
Added Widgets gone after a reboot to be never seen again. <-beta 2 retained these
Still sluggish
Would be nice to be able to resize/move panels
No picture/video bar across top on tablet
SD card (sd2) still not being seen only main storage
You tube still unstable, but better than beta 2
cannot see/launch launchbar
Keep up the good work-it's getting there
unfortunately, I still cannot use this as my daily launcher.
I think you will have more customers if you made a fully customizable one of these...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=13070948
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=907551
On my phone, the window isn't centered, its too far right and down.
Also the dock is huge.
Nevertheless, this is a fresh idea and I see some potential.
Sent from my HTC Legend
It looks nice maybe i will try this on my sgs
Looks a bit like the palm os with the cards. Works fine at all, but it would be nice if the stacks were a little bigger. Maybe it would be possible that the cards go fullscreen when they get focus, and with the homebutton you can make them smaller to see them like its now in standard view.
But thats just a little idea.
Glad to see where this is going.
Sent from my HTC HD2 using XDA App
Beta 3
Still off to the left somewhat but better centered. Complicated to figure out. Videos are small and do not play in landscape and it's difficult to tell which windows are open esp difference between home, app..............Editing launcher bar is nice. Is there a settings (not the one for the phone or info for contact available via the app?
Hello,
What we have done here is to explain a little about the diff OS's (or known as Roms in the android world) currently available, and how they work on the sch-i815 Galaxy 7.7 tablet.
ICS 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich) - Released On March 29, 2012,
One of the biggest overhauls of the Android operating systems since the project unleashed three years ago. An entirely new typeface optimized for high-resolution screens improved readability and brought a polished, modern feel to the user interface. You could say Google finally got Android right with this one and that’s all we are going to say about ICS.
JB 4.2 (Jellybean)
Android 4.2 - This effort affected many aspects of the OS, such as improved vsync timing for faster frame rates on the display itself, triple graphics buffering for preventing dropped frames in video games, and improved overall touch-screen response. In practice, there's definitely a noticeable improvement over, say, Android 4.0 "Ice Cream Sandwich." You can easily resize and move around icons and widgets on each home screen panel or delete apps by swiping the icon up, which causes it to disappear. The system font ("Roboto") already looked sharp and smooth before, and still does. But menu animations, finger swipes, and scrolling feel at least as solid as they do on iOS, if not better.
But Android removed Flash support with Jellybean asking web developers to start using HTML5 – So all the websites that require flash support for video’s and graphics will not work like they did. There are hacks (included in our download) that work to fix this issue as well as web browsers that function differently than others and that will display any page as it should be. As of now many developers have switched to HTML5. Also, the Tablet turns itself on after a few minutes if plugged in to charge while the tablet was off. Just put it to sleep yourself or let it power down on its own.
KK 4.4.4 (KitKat)
Faster Multitasking --
Takes system performance to an all-time high by optimizing memory and improving your touchscreen so that it responds faster and more accurately than ever before. This means that you can listen to music while browsing the web, or race down the highway with the latest hit game, all without a hitch. With KitKat, Google shrank the operating system so that it can run on many more devices, thus helping close the gap between low-end and high-end devices.
I find, it feels significantly faster and extremely more responsive then the others.
BUT -THE WITH KITKAT – The JB hack for flash support no longer works. What does this effect – Well, You Tube video links still embedded in web pages now require you to open the You Tube app to view – MY CHOICE use the Puffin browser to view any pages that have flash requirements. ALWAYS WORKS !!! Also I use Google Chrome for my browser – because it links to my PC and auto syncs my bookmarks between the two.
There is also an unresolved issue where many apps that are designed with specific graphic coding will distort the screens image when the tablet is rotated. A tap tap on the recent apps icon fixes everything but you should not have to tap tap. This issue is under repair and I have a lot of faith in our developer’s that it will be resolved soon.
NOW, what I think is best, is for each individual to be allowed the different experiences of each rom for themselves. Since we installed TWRP on the Tablet you can easily switch back and forth between the different Rom's at will. TWRP also allows you to do complete backups of your tablet and its settings periodically. You will need to get a 32 or 64 GB microsd card for daily use as well as back-ups. Yes - an 8 GB card will work but why???
*****OPEN TWRP to install our Rom's*****
With the tablet in the off position press and hold the power and volume up buttons together. You will first see the Samsung label and then after about 10 - 15 seconds the window turns into a blue screen that says "Teamwin" and then passes you into recovery mode.
*****Installing Ice Cream Sandwich*****
Download the ICS file from here => http://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=23622183712459012
Place the downloaded file on to your microsd card and place into your tablet.
Open TWRP (as described above) - select "wipe" - "Format Data" - type "yes" and Press return - when completed press the Home icon at the top right of the screen.
Next - select "Install" - Navigate to where you have downloaded the "electron_TWRP_ICS-LP11_i815.zip" file on your microsd card and select it - SWIPE to install.
When complete - select reboot. It can take a couple of minutes, but you will get to the “choose your language” choice eventually and you can go from there. DONE
*****For Jelly Bean and KitKat the process will be different.*****
We will use a restore image instead of a .zip file.
First we set a point to restore to –
Place your microsd card into your tablet.
Open TWRP (as described above)
Select “Backup” and then On the left side of the screen deselect all boxes except “Boot”
On the right side of the screen you should see a button that reads internal storage or microsd. If it reads internal storage then press it and select micro SD card.
Now do the “Swipe to Back Up”.
When done tap the “Home” icon at the top right and then select “Reboot” and then “Power Off”.
Remove the microsd card and place it into your PC.
Download the JellyBean image from here => https://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=23622183712460084
After download completes you will need to unzip the file. This should give you a folder named Jellybean.
Using you PC's file manager navigate to the folder “TWRP” and open it. Now open “Backups” and then open the “long numbered folder” on the microsd card– place the Jellybean folder here. You now have two folders in the long numbered folder. Eject the microsd card from your PC and put it back in to the tablet.
Open TWRP (as described above)
Select “Restore” – you should now see the “Jellybean” restore file. Select it.
Use the “SWIPE to Restore”
When it is done select reboot and you are done.
Notes
All three OS's have different launchers, or you might know it as the standard desktop, this arranges the graphics, placement of things like clock, notifications, etc. - but we strongly suggest that you install the NOVA launcher, from play store, and use it vs the Samsung Touchwiz or Google Now or trebuchet Launchers that come with theses OS's. NOVA is Highly customizable, performance driven, by far the best home screen replacement for Android 4.0+, and it can be backed up to the external microsd card. So, when you switch from OS to OS you can easily restore the NOVA launcher settings and arrangements you prefer.
Also, the reason we are supplying you with restore files for the JB and KitKat roms is to get the rom to a place we feel is best – including the nova launcher – Adblock and adfree. Many custom add-ins for the experience we think you will like best.
If you care to go further and start from a more raw point then follow development for our tabs here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-tab-7-7/development
Enjoy – it’s a lot to learn!!
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Lt.col.johncross said:
for later
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ff
yah
yeah
Request for help installing new rom
Was hoping for a brief step by step how I can install one of these newer roms on my sch-i815. And advice would be great.
I currently refreshed/restarted it back to original 4.0.4 ice cream, rooted with the king root app
Not sure how to go about.. Seems like every tab is different... When I hold down my pwr and -vol I get Odin screen wanting to download ... Something ha--newb here
Where do I get twrp from. As stated above my says odin