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[Q] Launchers

Hey,
I'm wondering if there is any point in using launchers anymore. I've been using ADW since I got the phone. But since we have 2.1 are there any benifits to using launchers ? It seems people are recommending launcher pro. What are the benifits to using this over adw or stock? Better battery or anything ? Faster response ?

Hey, I used dxtop pro for a while, on 1.6, transferred it to 2.1 and it killed my battery. Since then changed to launcher pro and it is immense. It saves on battery and its ability to be customized makes using the phone a whole heap easier.
If anything this enhances using the phone.
Excellent replacement give it, give the free one ago and then go from there

It's all about personal preference, I prefer ADW, some Launcher Pro, and some prefer the stock.

Yeah cause most it is based on what you want your homescreen to do
Sent from my X10i 2.1 rooted using XDA App

Personally I use ADW, never quite saw what was supposed to be so awesome with LauncherPro.
ADW does what I need it to, and for me it is easily as fast as LauncherPro.
All down to personal choice really.

I've used ADW launcher when i was on 1.6 but once I've tried LauncherPro on 2.1, i love it! i think both of them are great launchers but i just think that LauncherPro is easier to use. I'm on Plus which is a paid version and they give you exclusive widgets as well, they're pretty neat but to be honest i don't use them lol. You should try both of them so you know, i think it's more about personal preference cuz both of them are awesome launchers

I recently paid for launcher pro, never tried adw but it sounds the same, prefer the fact you csn zoom further out to see all the screens at once and the message, facebook and phone book widgets are awesome similar to the ones on my dads htc which is what I was looking for. Only prob is that I get a force close every now and then. Anyone got a possible solution for that?
Sent from my X10i using XDA App

i personally love Zeam....it was what i used on 1.6 and when i changed to 2.1 i tried it but at first didn't like it...but now i've fallen in love because of how simple, yet dynamic it is.

XperiaX10iUser said:
It's all about personal preference, I prefer ADW, some Launcher Pro, and some prefer the stock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
^ This.
I was using ADW under Android 1.6. With 2.1, I find LauncherPro to be smoother. I like features of both, and miss the features the other has.

tiwey said:
i personally love Zeam....it was what i used on 1.6 and when i changed to 2.1 i tried it but at first didn't like it...but now i've fallen in love because of how simple, yet dynamic it is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 for zeam, amazing app luv it, cant stand all these xtra thingies all the others have, i used adw on 1.6 and made it minimalistic tried it on 2.1 ****
zeam ftw, all my m8s use it,
THAT SED COULD THEY ALL USE DIFFERENT ICONS FFS! IM SICK OF SEEING THAT BLOODY BOX OF LITTLE SQUARES GRRRRR
rant over
zeam, try it, luv it, marry it, buy it a nice car

Wats special about zeam?
Sent from my X10i using XDA App

SPB Shell

Been playing around with different launchers, can't stand TouchWiz, and tried out SPB Shell... Works flawlessly on the Infuse, fast and smooth as butter - love it! Lots of eye candy and some pretty cool widgets too. Everything looks great on that big screen!
It's a little pricey, but IMO worth it!

ADW
Ive been using adw for the atrix and now for the infuse, dont know that it gets any better than that. The infuse runs the animations and transitions perfectly!

I'm using Launcher Pro.. Love it.. The latest version is pretty sweet..

im not a fan of spb. but the others are good. there is also go launcher and zeam launcher.
i personally dont mind cheaze wiz, and things like kies and a few widgets dont work without it running.. i prefer to use gtg465x's launchers, he made some for the captivate and i9000 with a 5-icon dock if you dont like the 4icon dock.

Running Sony arc from cont.5.5 on captivate ..speed the phone up more and more available ram..plus its cleaner looking.
sent from Infuse but miss my captivate on cont. 5.5.... One day this can be as good...

Can you share the sony arc launcher apk? I'm a huge fan of that launcher from continuum 5.5 also. Thanks
Found it. Thnx
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using XDA Premium App

bacuy82 said:
Can you share the sony arc launcher apk? I'm a huge fan of that launcher from continuum 5.5 also. Thanks
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hopefully this link works for u
http://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=589599&d=1304794751
If not click the paper clip on the cont. 5.5 post.

Spb is like a corvette, not very practical imo. Something You want to show off with.
ADW is my daily driver...

Are the others a lot better than Go Launcher EX?
No one uses Go Launcher EX? I'm fairly new to Android phones (had/have an Archos 5IT Android which is still running their version of donut, but with market and some other hacks), so I just picked the first free launcher I found. So far I really like it. The themes are OK and the customization seems as good as any and it's pretty full featured. Everything they release for it is free, though some 3rd party add-on are paid. I don't know anything about ADW or LPro, but I'm an app addict so I'm sure I'll tinker around with those sometime soon.
What are the best or your favorite features of ADW or Launcher Pro?
Thanks!

Go Launcher EX is very good, almost too good... with their many free widgets. I wonder if they are spying on me.

Trancerush said:
Spb is like a corvette, not very practical imo. Something You want to show off with.
ADW is my daily driver...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been using Spb as a daily driver for months and it's great for me. Yeah I do show off with it at times but it is a good launcher. Launcher pro was my daily driver for almost a year.

Just out of curiosity... How is SPB Shell and battery life? doesn't drain it more than it used to before spb shell, drains more, or drains less?

With Spb shell 3d I didn't notice much difference with battery life compared to others I've used but I would notice that under heavy loads of use that it would become laggy or restart itself. That gets annoying after a while because it takes a while like 2 minutes sometimes to start. Its a nice launcher but I've put it aside for now and I'm using the Sony Ericsson launcher now which is a lot quicker.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997

ADW is my favorite. Quick and customized to my liking.
Cranky...
MitRa

i bought spb but didn't like the fact i had to look at someone else's flicker photos so now i'm on laucher ex. it allows for 3d rotation and i've got a page with my photos on widget.

chvybeatsford said:
Hopefully this link works for u
http://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=589599&d=1304794751
If not click the paper clip on the cont. 5.5 post.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I downloaded this launcher just to check it out. I really like it. Very smooth and quick. Simple and I like it a lot.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk

Ddot196 said:
I downloaded this launcher just to check it out. I really like it. Very smooth and quick. Simple and I like it a lot.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Isn't this the launcher that has ads in the free version?

diablo009 said:
Isn't this the launcher that has ads in the free version?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't seen any ads. I got a merry Christmas banner that fell down the screen every so often but that was it. Pretty nice actually. And my dock icons had little Santa clause hats on during the holidays.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk

Launchers

I see a number of different launchers out on the market. Can anyone tell me which one works best on the skyrocket? Thanks
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using XDA App

Launcher pro or adw. But i stick with the touch wiz launcher it works best for me

silver03wrx said:
Launcher pro or adw. But i stick with the touch wiz launcher it works best for me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The stock touchwiz or the one from the market?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using XDA App

Touch wiz is ugly I use adw
Sent from my SGH-I777 using xda premium

medion. said:
Touch wiz is ugly I use adw
Sent from my SGH-I777 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea, looking at it, Adw does look a little better.
Thank you both.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using XDA App

Adw has a really nice icecream sandwich theme too

Which one are you referring to? I know there is one that is made by "kovdev" that's for ADW but also works with Go Launcher.
https://market.android.com/details?...ult#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDEsImtvdi50aGVtZS5pY3MiXQ..
silver03wrx said:
Adw has a really nice icecream sandwich theme too
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

I'm using Launcher Pro and i love it. Its clean and simple and the scrollable 5 icon dock is amazingly useful in eliminating screen clutter. I used launcher pro icons to download the ones i didnt have and now it looks slicker than ever. I'd used the free version on 2 older phones and now on the full version (only difference is being able to resize widgets and usse LP+ widgets, both which did not affect the user experience). Also great to be able to adjust animation performance and such.

I would say go launcher ex all the wayyyyyy

The touchwiz from the market is a really good imitation. Only stock touchwiz is supported by hardware acceleration, which makes it incredibly smooth.
I really like pure breeze. Having the kite anywhere on the phone is amazing. Somewhat simliar to wave launchers usefulness.
Sent from my páhhōniē

I use ADW EX, tried a bunch of others but I always come back to it.

Development on adw and Launcher pro been dead for months. I use Go launcher looks and feel more stable.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium

gr8hairy1 said:
The touchwiz from the market is a really good imitation. Only stock touchwiz is supported by hardware acceleration, which makes it incredibly smooth.
I really like pure breeze. Having the kite anywhere on the phone is amazing. Somewhat simliar to wave launchers usefulness.
Sent from my páhhōniē
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Touchwiz is NOT smooth....
Why do people keep saying that? it stutters. It Jumps. The only REALLY SMOOTH launcher is launcher pro.

Guess it depends on how many widget and background apps you have running. Mine has always been silky smooth. No jumps or skips ever.
Edit: I'm on a ogsgsii. No lag here
But I agree that launcher pro is amazing.
Sent from my páhhōniē

TSF shell (many screenshots)

I am using it now, although it may have a lot of UI effects, but amazingly all the effects are buttery smooth, no lags at all on my Note. It is easily the smoothest launcher I ever used (I have Go, ADW and the stock Touchwhiz).
However the price is high, and a few functions still not available now, but I'm sure they will be added in future updated (they need cash urgently to keep the project alive, I think)
When this is fully done, it will be the best launcher on the market ^^
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.tsf.shell#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDIxMiwiY29tLnRzZi5zaGVsbCJd

I was looking forward to it but the price tag put me off and if u take a screen shot and zoom in on the icons u will notice that the icons are lower resolution then for example stock launcher.
And if you for example take and place the Box widget on both TSF shell and on the TW home screen u will se that even the widget have some kind of lesser image quality on the TSF home screen. I have no idea why, But the white backgroud isnt as sharp and detailed on the TSF launcher compare to TW. And on the top blue color on the widget u can see stripes in the color and in TW there are no stripes. I dont know if it has something to do with color depth or something.
This occur on version 1.2

There is a thread about it already with plenty of feedback from all the peeps that have trying it
forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1388075&page=2

Complete waste of money
/close
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium

Strange, it says that my device is incompatible.

I installed it on mine yesterday. I must say this is the best launcher I have ever seen and just amazingly "smooth". I mean no lag at all. I tried tons of launchers on my note but nothing come close to these. So powerful! Rotate icons anywhere, the sticky note is also bad ass. Flexible! I captured a short clip last night while I was playing with it. Still trying to figure some other features.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SvAhWk_3yU

it proves Thanks

I download for free from google
Guys this launcher using 20 mb ram, its same like stock. After 20 min play I dont want to comeback to touch wiz Launcher at all.
Fast, smooth and so "smart"

I thought nothing could be pricier than spb shell 3d , lol, guess I was wrong
Sent from my GT-N7000 using XDA App

avetny said:
I download for free from google
Guys this launcher using 20 mb ram, its same like stock. After 20 min play I dont want to comeback to touch wiz Launcher at all.
Fast, smooth and so "smart"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In that case, don't be a thief any go buy it!

Not sure about the smoothness of the app tray graphics. Looks a bit blurry like its being scaled up.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk

the biggest problem for me is..after using all the launchers swiping left and right on homescreen to go to next screen, its so irritating in this launcher we cant swype like that instead its giving some multi selection option which annoys me the most!!!

foxmeister said:
In that case, don't be a thief any go buy it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In that case you can go and cry on moms shoulder.

avetny said:
In that case you can go and cry on moms shoulder.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mHauHauHauHauHau LOL
Anyway I must ask if is it REALLY (as someone said) the best one (instead of ADW EX and SBP) or NOT???? Please be honest
Sent from my Galaxy Note with DarkyROM 3.3

[David] said:
mHauHauHauHauHau LOL
Anyway I must ask if is it REALLY (as someone said) the best one (instead of ADW EX and SBP) or NOT???? Please be honest
Sent from my Galaxy Note with DarkyROM 3.3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Send me your email.
U will see ;-)

avetny said:
In that case you can go and cry on moms shoulder.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 and LOL for this xDDDDDD
love this new home launcher..thumb ups!!

there are no settings for the launcher?
i cant see any!

It totally sucks. Even though I got it free it was uninstalled in minutes. It is nothing more than a tech demo in current state. After some updates it might be worth to use
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk

smackdownn said:
there are no settings for the launcher?
i cant see any!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are no settings yet, not many features in this overpriced launcher
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk

Looks rubbish and costs too much.

Insane launcher

I've recently been having lag issues with nova, so I decided to hunt for a new launcher. After trying a few, I discovered next launcher 3d. My mind is blown. I've never ever seen a launcher with so much freedom and so many options. I.e. You could place your home screen icons ANYWHERE if you wish... No grid alignment.
Yeah that could look messy, but it reminds me of the freedom in Windows to put icons wherever you want. Of course there's an option to align to the grid also. Also widgets can be sized to literally any odd size, No adhering to grids. Then there's 3d mode - it transforms the phone into an entirely different monster. It's crazy. There are too many other options to list.
Icing on the cake? Zero lag no matter what transition I pick, even 3d transitions. I'm in love.

Icing is the price
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

I usually stay away from anything GO team makes.

baste07 said:
Icing is the price
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well yeah I agree, and while I don't condone piracy, there are always ways to "try" it out..

siciliano777 said:
Well yeah I agree, and while I don't condone piracy, there are always ways to "try" it out..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have no issues with nova, all animatios disabled , and it is still the fastest launcher for the note 3
I have tested the OP launcher extensively and its just a memory hog that uses huge animations sequences to mimick great responsiveness and lag free interface like an IPHONE does.
To me the time I spend watching icons dancing arround and homescreens panes traveling arround in a 3d universe , until they are of some use to me , that is lag.

What's wrong with go team?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app

Chinese company, many rumors
Sent from my SGH-M919 using xda app-developers app

hightoohigh said:
What's wrong with go team?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Their sms app used to constantly talk back to their servers and run literally hundreds of debug processes so they are both shady and terrible developers.

khaytsus said:
Their sms app used to constantly talk back to their servers and run literally hundreds of debug processes so they are both shady and terrible developers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just because one app is weird doesn't make them bad developers. Could be bad management etc.
Plus, if I recall correctly, the Go team acquired Next launcher, because it used to be SPS Shell or something like that. (Note, the price stayed the same, just a rebrand).
But I guess it comes to personal preference, if you want to see nice effects that don't even lag when they are 3D, vs an uber fast launcher like Nova/Apex
Sent from my SM-N9005 using xda app-developers app

I found Next to be far too messy when I tried it. (Yes, 'tried'. It's €13,00 and my prepaid credit card does not do refunds.)
Oh yes, the 3D is very flashy, and the nifty little tricks with wallpapers is fun, but it's rather sluggish as a result. Not as snappy as Apex/Nova.
I've been using Apex Launcher Pro since day one. Not a single problem. Nova is known to have issues on the Note 3.

ShadowLea said:
I found Next to be far too messy when I tried it. (Yes, 'tried'. It's €13,00 and my prepaid credit card does not do refunds.)
Oh yes, the 3D is very flashy, and the nifty little tricks with wallpapers is fun, but it's rather sluggish as a result. Not as snappy as Apex/Nova.
I've been using Apex Launcher Pro since day one. Not a single problem. Nova is known to have issues on the Note 3.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just curious, what issues does Nova have?
I bought Apex Launcher Pro and love it!
Sent from my SM-N9005 using xda app-developers app

danieljamie said:
Just curious, what issues does Nova have?
I bought Apex Launcher Pro and love it!
Sent from my SM-N9005 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only issue I had with nova is it would stutter slightly when swiping between home screens... maybe every 4 swipes I would notice it. I actually like to see the animations, so I prefer to keep the animations speed setting on "relaxed".
On the lightning fast animation speed of course there's no noticeable lag, but IMO on that setting it makes the ui feel older and too basic.

What functionality s-pen, air etc do you lose when you install a launcher?
Sent from my SM-N900T using xda app-developers app

snoopycr said:
What functionality s-pen, air etc do you lose when you install a launcher?
...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nothing in that respect, just some Touchwiz Widgets are no longer accessible, like the big calendar one. But that's typical with every manufacturer, some stock launcher widgets can't be used on other launchers.
S-pen works fine on Nova.
Edit: BTW, with Nova (Prime?), you can make the status bar transparent on the homescreen.

There is one Launcher that rules them all. Action Launcher Pro from Chris M Lacy.
Dude it is tottaly wicked. It makes interactiin with your phone so much easier!
Sent from my SM-N9005 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

I'm using nova prime on my note 3 and it's brilliant no lag at all used it n my note 2 aswell very stable no force closes over all highly recommend
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danieljamie said:
Just curious, what issues does Nova have?
I bought Apex Launcher Pro and love it!
Sent from my SM-N9005 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There were people who reported Nova kept crashing and lagging.

ShadowLea said:
I found Next to be far too messy when I tried it. (Yes, 'tried'. It's €13,00 and my prepaid credit card does not do refunds.)
Oh yes, the 3D is very flashy, and the nifty little tricks with wallpapers is fun, but it's rather sluggish as a result. Not as snappy as Apex/Nova.
I've been using Apex Launcher Pro since day one. Not a single problem. Nova is known to have issues on the Note 3.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+ 1

I "tried" next launcher but I found it too busy. The 3D was amazing but I simply just want to switch to another page I don't need some crazy fx. I also wanted to support the developer after I found a launcher I liked but I couldn't justify $17 for Next. I am happy with nova and haven't had any lag yet.
edit: can someone link me to the nova lag problems or explain what lags ?

I like aviate launcher.