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Im noticing that theres alot of launchers like ADW, LaunchPro, Open Home, etc...I would like to get some input of people who has some experience with each one. Which one has the most options? im looking for more transparent kinda stuff...so maybe which one has the ability to make specific windows transparent. Also ease of use, which one has more themes/icons avialable?
Thanks
I think you will find most people use either launcher pro or adw launcher.
From my experience i had MAJOR force crash issues with OpenHome. I wasnt a fan of pandaHome it was sluggish for me.
Between ADW and Launcher Pro, I think they have very similar features if you arent paying for launcher pro plus for the sense like widgets.
ADW has more themes on the market however you can download any icon you find on the web (usually .png files) i believe for both so you can customize your "theme" and layout very easily to what ever you want.
I personally have the paid version of launcher pro (only available ont he website) because it gives you a sense like people and book mark widget and i wanted to support the developer.
I dont think you can go wrong with either one.
personally, I'm a big fan of adw launcher. I like that I can modify how many rows and columns the home screens have, and also I can set the size of widgets on the screen. I don't know if launcherpro will do that as well, but even besides that, ADW is hugely customizeable, and I swear by it.
I tried Launcher Pro, but it wasn't (imo) a very good Launcher replacement. ADW.Launcher is much better, and with the Paper theme it is my favorite out of all. PHome was very slow, and I didnt really like it in general.
Sent from my Droid using XDA App
I use ADW because of how its integrated into Cyanogen.
However Launcher Pro seems to move quite a bit faster in terms of scrolling and app drawer opening/scrolling.
Just my $.02
~Jasecloud4
I think the two top ones are ADW Launcher and LauncherPro.
I find myself switching between the two.
Personally find myself favoring ADW Launcher recently because it is open-source, and you know how Android fanboys loooove open source.
Thanks for all the great replies guys, im currently using the built in adw that comes with CM6 it is highly customizable...but i did find launcher pro to have a lot more options tho...anyways im going to stick with adw for now its working out pretty good so far.
omegasun18 said:
I think you will find most people use either launcher pro or adw launcher.
From my experience i had MAJOR force crash issues with OpenHome. I wasnt a fan of pandaHome it was sluggish for me.
Between ADW and Launcher Pro, I think they have very similar features if you arent paying for launcher pro plus for the sense like widgets.
ADW has more themes on the market however you can download any icon you find on the web (usually .png files) i believe for both so you can customize your "theme" and layout very easily to what ever you want.
I personally have the paid version of launcher pro (only available ont he website) because it gives you a sense like people and book mark widget and i wanted to support the developer.
I dont think you can go wrong with either one.
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Click to collapse
How do I get the bookmark widget? I only see "people" in my launcher pro plus.
I had to update and they changed the process. Bookmark widget seems a little flakey with images.
If I could have the dockbar from adw put onto LauncherPro I'd have my dream launcher.
Yea seems most (like with roms) will swear by one launcher or another. IE the person saying launcher pro wasnt a good launcher replacement. I have use both and cant see how someone using ADW could say launcher pro wasnt a good launcher replacement since they are so similar in features and performance over all (in there current state, it is possible the person tested it a while back and maybe it had issues or something then).
I get slightly faster speeds on launcher pro as well. You can set the number of vertical icons on launcher pro same as you can on ADW for horizontal icons you can get more icons app to let you have 8 on any.
As for making the dock bar the same on ADW and launcher pro i may play with my launcher pro and see how similar i can get it. sice you can set each action and create different dock images/icons and can clear icons i can probably get it to be very similar at least in look i will let you know and if i can i will place a tut.
I use both since I play around with CM6 as my experimental rom. I just never worry about customizing deeply my non daily drivers.
LauncherPro Plus, for the win!
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Sent from my HTC EVO 4G using Tapatalk Pro.
Maybe I am the minority here, but i think Sense blows Launcher pro and ADW out of the water, both in smoothness and just plain usefulness. I have used both LP and ADW for extended amounts of time and have always returned to sense and was glad I did.
Launcher pro for its sheer beauty and fluidity. ADW just seems to stutter around like the waterboy.
I gotta say Launcher Pro. especially now that it is coming out with some very nice looking widgets for people who liked the Sense UI stuff.
I do really like the customizations of ADW though. I wish Launcher Pro would incorporate the widget size customizations you can do. That would rock.
if ADW had the 3D drawer and was as smooth and pretty as LauncherPro I may switch.
takmsdsm said:
Maybe I am the minority here, but i think Sense blows Launcher pro and ADW out of the water, both in smoothness and just plain usefulness. I have used both LP and ADW for extended amounts of time and have always returned to sense and was glad I did.
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Click to collapse
And what makes Rosie so superior? Its complete lack of customization and features?
TheBiles said:
And what makes Rosie so superior? Its complete lack of customization and features?
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Click to collapse
I wouldnt say that it cant be customized? There are a ton of themes out there for Rosie. What features are you exactly looking for?
Sorry, but a herky jerky "3D" app launcher isnt exactly mind blowing. Its a waste of screen real estate on the top and bottom. Launcher Pro STILL (as of last week I believe when i tried it again) will not allow you to change the message button to handcent instead of the default messaging app.
Its little things like that that are more annoyances. Sense, no matter what rom, or kernel, I am using, has always been smoother and done everything I asked. Plus some of the HTC widgets are downright useful and better looking then their vanilla counterparts.
This is all my experiences of course, and YMMV, but so far I just havent been impressed by other launchers.
takmsdsm said:
Launcher Pro STILL (as of last week I believe when i tried it again) will not allow you to change the message button to handcent instead of the default messaging app.
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Click to collapse
I'm using LauncherPro Plus v0.7.1.0 and it does allow you to change the message button to handcent. It also allows me to change it on the people widget.
Am I the only one that just likes plain old Launcher 2? I mean Android is so customizable already, I don't see why you would want so many different options.
I tried Launcher Pro and ADW and of the two I liked Launcher Pro better but the plain Google-made Launcher 2 is still the smoothest in my opinion.
takmsdsm said:
I wouldnt say that it cant be customized? There are a ton of themes out there for Rosie. What features are you exactly looking for?
Sorry, but a herky jerky "3D" app launcher isnt exactly mind blowing. Its a waste of screen real estate on the top and bottom. Launcher Pro STILL (as of last week I believe when i tried it again) will not allow you to change the message button to handcent instead of the default messaging app.
Its little things like that that are more annoyances. Sense, no matter what rom, or kernel, I am using, has always been smoother and done everything I asked. Plus some of the HTC widgets are downright useful and better looking then their vanilla counterparts.
This is all my experiences of course, and YMMV, but so far I just havent been impressed by other launchers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The "message button?" Do you mean the dock icon? If so, mine has been set as Handcent for quite some time.
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Sent from my HTC EVO 4G using Tapatalk Pro.
takmsdsm said:
Maybe I am the minority here, but i think Sense blows Launcher pro and ADW out of the water, both in smoothness and just plain usefulness. I have used both LP and ADW for extended amounts of time and have always returned to sense and was glad I did.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Total agree, Sense is just so much smoother and doesn't crashes/freezes like adw and launcher pro. Plus I've use both for a while and got really frustrated with the constant freezing and force close and alway end up switching back to sense. Until stock froyo comes out on my phone I'm sticking with sense.
I am currently running Launcher Pro Plus on my Aria and love it, but since I have tech ADD, I can't leave well enough alone. In comes ADW Launcher EX, I have tried ADW in the past and preferred LP over it. But with the new EX version, ADW looks tasty. The main reason I stick with LPP is the widgets, does the new ADW EX include widgets or is it just a bunch of fancy effects?
What are your thoughts? Are there any real reasons to migrate to ADW? Has any one else migrated? How do they stack up in your opinion? Just trying to see what others think.
No widgets added in EX, just fancy effects.
Also, keep in mind you'll need ADW Notify just to get notifications of missed calls, texts, emails, etc. While you get that included with LP.
The app draw is another thing that bugs me on EX, the launcher doesn't minimize when in there. It sort of obstructs your view while scrolling in 3d mode.
I wanted to keep EX as my primary but the lack of widgets, the fact that ADW Notify doesn't work with Chomp SMS and the bad implementation of the app draw make me stick with LP.
The effects in EX are very cool, but there's still room for many improvements.
No Widgets...just fancy effects. But they are nice...
I also have more than a bit of ADD (tech and otherwise). I actually purchased both and am also trying to decide which use.
I was kind of tempted to try out ADW EX, but I remembered that Fede is currently in the process of rewriting and updating LP. I have a lot of faith in Fede's abilities and expect new version to be awesome. Besides I love my widgets and popups in LPP.
I, too, have bought both. I only started using Android a few months ago, and I used ADW from the start. After a while I migrated to LPP and I absolutely love it! The widgets make the purchase more than worth it. But of course, with ADW EX being released, I took the plunge. Now I have both and find myself constantly switching back and forth. The effects in EX are just sweet, but the functionality/widgets and speed of LPP keep bringing me back.
What would be really awesome is if we could somehow use LPP's widgets as standalone widgets to use on any launcher. Only then, would I make ADW EX my primary launcher.
syrenz said:
I was kind of tempted to try out ADW EX, but I remembered that Fede is currently in the process of rewriting and updating LP. I have a lot of faith in Fede's abilities and expect new version to be awesome. Besides I love my widgets and popups in LPP.
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Click to collapse
I too have faith in Fede...I don't know how far he has gotten with the next LP release but he should definitely include some more effects or something fun in the next release. LP is really nice but I would like it to be more "fun" like ADW. I always liked the fact that ADW can use themes. If EX was free, I would try it out just to see the effects but oh well.
Is it just me or is Launcher Pro much smoother than the regular ADW Launcher when swiping from screen to screen? I'm running it on a Nexus One.
I preferred ADW before and LOVE EX. It may just be a taste thing. I know EX is lightyears faster than the original ADW was, the graphics are incredible, and I find I can make it look the way I want.
Zoide_ said:
Is it just me or is Launcher Pro much smoother than the regular ADW Launcher when swiping from screen to screen? I'm running it on a Nexus One.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep. LPP is leaps and bounds above ADW, and then wait for the re-write. It's gonna be epic, scratch that. It's gonna be EVO! Only because I have one...
-Z
I prefer LPP over ADW EX because ADW EX only has fancy effects and not as much functionality as LPP. I think ADW EX is very cool with the new home screen transitions that it brings, but LPP is currently being rewritten, Fede has promised alot of cool new features and I think when the rewrite is complete it will be leaps and bounds over any other launcher. So I know I won't be switching my launcher from LPP.
I love LPP and EX, paid for both, but am currently using Ex for my daily, I previously tried ADW and HATED it, but EX is so much smoother, and even though I paid for LPP, I pretty much never used any of the widgets, as I didn't like how the Calendar widget worked (you cant longpress on a date and automatically set up an event) so I just have beautiful widgets linked to my calendar, clock, and weather, it's way easier to just press on the date to automatically open the full calendar app.
Once the new Launcher Pro comes out i'll most liekly switch back, but right now i'm an ADW guy!
PS like a few others on here, I have Tech ADD...BAD, and I'm always flashing new roms and mods, so FOR NOW, this is my opinion, could change tomorrow
I prefer LPP because it's much faster and smoother than ADW. Can't wait for the new rewrite of LPP to be released.
i have both adw ex and launcher pro plus and i cant even decide which to use as default but now launcher pro is looking smoother than ever with its updates
I definitely prefer LPP. It's just much smoother and quicker.
I don't use many of the widgets for LPP, though, because most of mine are third-party.
I like lpp for its smoothness and widgets, but adw ex has some awesome effects.... its really a toss up for me ... i just switch back n forth every few days lol
I triel lp and didn't care for it. I just recently switched to Adw.ex from adw. It's great! I don't use many of the fancy flashy flash but it runs much faster and those little thing about adw that annoyed me (no overlapping widgets, weird icon tinting...) are gone. I do love the ability to have folder icons be individual (vs all folders = 1 theme). I want something that runs smooth, and adw.ex doesn't disappoint!
I haven't used the lpp but I have seen the widgets and they're nice... there are apps out there that do the same thing though....
Epic is as Epic does
EX is so much smoother than normal ADW. Its very good. Try it and you'll see.
Launcher Pro has fancy homescreen transition effects now too. I highly prefer it.
Launcher Pro also has the option to hide Apps in drawer. thats one of the reasons I'm sticking with it.
ADW Laucher EX - functional
Launcher Pro Plus - smooth scrolling
I chose ADW Laucher EX
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?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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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Click to collapse
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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
agree
Desktop vizualizer makes icfons at half size, with no way to fix as far as i can tell, i've told them but have gotten no reply.
folder organizer items work, but it places the shortcuts as a widget instead of a shortcut like it did in honeycomb.
so right now i have no way to add normal shortcuts to my homescreen with a custom icon.
does anyone have any apps that work properly?
I used adw for my custom shortcuts
Sent from my Cornerstone powered Team EOS TF101
not really a lot of help. i'm not asking for a custom launcher. ICS launcher is just fine. i just want to be able to actually make custom icons like i could in honeycomb.
i find it really hard to believe that no one running this tablet on ICS with a stock launcher is using custom icons. come on.
neok44 said:
not really a lot of help. i'm not asking for a custom launcher. ICS launcher is just fine. i just want to be able to actually make custom icons like i could in honeycomb.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried Nova Launcher? Its basically the Stock Launcher, but allows for editing/resizing Icons and Widgets. Plus, you can install Icon packs for ADW and manually assign Icons of your choice to whatever you want...then resize them if you want.
Nova has a free version, and a Prime version with a few extra fun features. Both are in the Market.
yeah i've tried nova and the others, and personally i don't like/want to use them. i find the stock launcher just fine.
i'm just annoyed because for the first time in android history, i can't make custom icons work right. and i'm just shocked that it seems that no one else here is using custom icons on a stock launcher.
there are some ics roms out there already? are you rooted?
mikeydubbs said:
there are some ics roms out there already? are you rooted?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no, i'm on the stock ICS update, with the stock ICS launcher.
neok44 said:
yeah i've tried nova and the others, and personally i don't like/want to use them. i find the stock launcher just fine.
i'm just annoyed because for the first time in android history, i can't make custom icons work right. and i'm just shocked that it seems that no one else here is using custom icons on a stock launcher.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So you seem to be stuck on using the Stock launcher.
Well if you had tried Nova as you said, then I got to know, what about Nova didn't you like? I mean, Nova is basically stock from the look, and it adds the ability to use custom icons or ones from an icon pack, and allows you to resize them...which is what you are complaining about.
So, what is it about needing/wanting to use stock launcher, when Nova is stock with a few added features, one of which is using custom icons.
i don't have my TF rooted, so i lose the widgets menu, it doesn't have the tablet transitions, app drawer is 5x5 instead of 8x5. and to be honest, it's not as smooth as the stock ics launcher for me.
and honestly, i'm just still in a shock that apparently everyone is just using nova or adw.
i refuse to believe that i am the only person on this forum with an ICS transformer that is using the stock launcher with custom icons. that cannot be possible.
So I'm fairly new to the android OS and recently got an HTC One X. I haven't really done enough research to actually get around to rooting it, but for now I've been having fun running different launchers since I have grown tired of the Sense UI. I have currently messed around with GO Launcher EX and Nova, but there are a few more I also want to experiment with (Apex, Launcher Pro, ADW etc.)
When I switch to a new launcher and save it as default does it erase the screen and widget set up of the previous launcher? If go back to Nova for instance will I have to set the screens up again? I noticed when I went back to Sense from Nova everything I had organized in Sense was gone. Is there an app of something that will save this?
It shouldn't unless you erase the data yourself, though I don't know about Sense itself.
I tried out multiple launchers on my phone and never had loss of configurations (except when intentional).
No, you can safely change and default between Launchers, so long as you don't 'clear data' for that Launcher. Rosie (Sense) included
I've encountered some stability issues with LauncherPro on Android versions greater than Gingerbread, and it hasn't been updated in a long time, but it's still my favourite Launcher for older phones
Have fun!
Try the holo launcher. I love it because it is clean and straightforward.
Thanks for the answers, Holo kind of reminds me of Nova which I liked so I'll try it also!
I liked Nova and Apex almost as much, but Apex won out for me since I really needed infinite scrolling in the app drawer.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app
try to backup every time you want to switch different launcher..
i think every launcher have backup-restore feature
sorry for my english.
If you change between launchers it can happen that widgets etc. you had on your screen can disappear due to different stuff the launchers put on your homescreen by default. Other than that all should be the same - if you didnt delete anything vital
From personal experience I favour apex launcher: it's clean, highly customizable, good looking and fast.