I have no idea what people are complaining about. This UI is even better than HTC Sense, IMO, and manages to one up even the super simple to use iPhone UI.
- Slide the screen to unlock. Brilliant.
- Easily rearrange icons and programs.
- Music player has drop-down interface on locked home screen.
- Notifications drop down has WiFi/BT/Silent/Vibe settings built in.
- I can add/remove pages! I just want 3 pages? Done. Simple.
- Camera loads INSTANTLY. The Droid X (I returned) was so slow to load.
- Memo program! Thanks!
- My Files file manager, no need to download AndExplorer
and it's easily as snappy as the iPhone4. Every other Android phone (except the Aria for some reason) was obviously slower than the iPhone when it came to navigating the interface. This phone is smooth as silk at all times. BETTER than the iPhone.
Am I alone here or what?
I agree. It's actually usable once I removed the Samsung widgets from my homescreens to reduce the lag. I like the custom options available with LauncherPro and the additional dock icons, though. I'm doing battery testing with a few different launchers right now and I'll probably go back to trying Touchwiz again after today.
grinr said:
I have no idea what people are complaining about. This UI is even better than HTC Sense, IMO, and manages to one up even the super simple to use iPhone UI.
- Slide the screen to unlock. Brilliant.
- Easily rearrange icons and programs.
- Music player has drop-down interface on locked home screen.
- Notifications drop down has WiFi/BT/Silent/Vibe settings built in.
- I can add/remove pages! I just want 3 pages? Done. Simple.
- Camera loads INSTANTLY. The Droid X (I returned) was so slow to load.
- Memo program! Thanks!
- My Files file manager, no need to download AndExplorer
and it's easily as snappy as the iPhone4. Every other Android phone (except the Aria for some reason) was obviously slower than the iPhone when it came to navigating the interface. This phone is smooth as silk at all times. BETTER than the iPhone.
Am I alone here or what?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is MY first android device.. Coming from a old sidekick, then windows mobile, then iphone 3g, this is my first step towards android.
As far as the interface, I've used other Android devices before and the experience wasn't so hot. The Galaxy S is not only fast, but has tons of options. The UI is simple, fast, and easy to manage.
The only thing that I don't like is all the bloatware that ATT puts on the phone.
I agree.
Touch wiz adds so many nice little tweaks that add up to big improvements. I love everything in your list and would like to add the amazing brightness control by swyping the top bar.
I saw the screenshots for Touchwiz before I bought the phone was was convinced that it'd be the first thing to go. In fact, simply because of the dock at the bottom I was still convinced I was going to drop it when I picked up the phone. then I discovered that you can change which applications show up on the dock! It's so much more customizable than I had previously thought, and it's not as laggy as I imagined it would have been. And it really does have a lot of nice little tweaks. I'm quite happy with it.
You're definitely not alone. I too thought I was going to replace touchwiz, but I find it to be smooth and awesome! I was just about to make a duplicate thread of this one asking who kept touchwiz.
Add another these your list:
You can rearrange pages.
Swype to call/txt
Touch top dots to swap screens.
I like the status bar music player and wireless toggles. That is the perfect place to put them. I like the transparent sliding lockscreen, and the music player on the lock screen.
I thought the side scrolling of the applications would be annoying, but then I realized that it unifies the mechanism of icon pages. The home screen has pages for all homescreen apps. Why not simplify it and make pages for the applications too? You don't use the applications button often anyway as much as your homescreen. The only thing I don't like is the random color backgrounds. They could've left those out.
I don't use any samsung widgets and it's TW is faster than Launcherpro and on the same tier as ADW.
I do need to use a better file explorer though, myfiles is a bit too basic. You should try ES explorer since astro has ads now. File operations, views, and etc. are perfect.
This is also my first Android phone (had 3G and 3GS before), but as far as I can tell, almost none of the things you guys like are Touchwiz-specific. They are just Android features or apps.
Touchwiz is the homescreen manager. Replace it with Launcher Pro and you'll see what changes (and also see the 95% that stays the same).
I use Launcher Pro because it 1) is quick to swipe between screens, with no stutter; 2) has the ability to "pinch" the screen or hit the Home button to do a mac-like "expose" of all the home screens for fast switching to the exact page you want; 3) has the ability to have the 3D Apps drawer, which is much better than the dumb iPhone-like one (and don't even get me started on the "alphabetical list" that only shows one column of apps); and 4) the bottom icon bar can hold up to 15 launchers that you can swipe back and forth from any screen.
You can still swipe the notification bar for brightness, music player works the same, the lock screen is the same, all the apps that come on the phone are still there and accessible, you can customize it exactly the same as the Touchwiz homescreen...basically everything mentioned is the same. Except Launcher Pro is faster, easier to use, and prettier. Yes, you lose the Samsung widgets, but they all have replacements in the market.
only loss i see is the media from lock screen. I can live without it. Just try launcher pro a maybe u will feel the diff in speed or maybe u will sacrifice some speed for pretty widgets.
caelestis2 said:
You're definitely not alone. I too thought I was going to replace touchwiz, but I find it to be smooth and awesome! I was just about to make a duplicate thread of this one asking who kept touchwiz.
Add another these your list:
You can rearrange pages.
Swype to call/txt
Touch top dots to swap screens.
I like the status bar music player and wireless toggles. That is the perfect place to put them. I like the transparent sliding lockscreen, and the music player on the lock screen.
I thought the side scrolling of the applications would be annoying, but then I realized that it unifies the mechanism of icon pages. The home screen has pages for all homescreen apps. Why not simplify it and make pages for the applications too? You don't use the applications button often anyway as much as your homescreen. The only thing I don't like is the random color backgrounds. They could've left those out.
I don't use any samsung widgets and it's TW is faster than Launcherpro and on the same tier as ADW.
I do need to use a better file explorer though, myfiles is a bit too basic. You should try ES explorer since astro has ads now. File operations, views, and etc. are perfect.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also dislike the random colored backgrounds, in the app drawer. Does anyone know where those graphic files are? I want to replace the images with straight black images so they will blend into the app drawer background seemlessly.
They are the only reason I will not use TW. I hate those damn backgrounds.
chvybeatsford said:
only loss i see is the media from lock screen. I can live without it. Just try launcher pro a maybe u will feel the diff in speed or maybe u will sacrifice some speed for pretty widgets.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I still have the music player access from the lock screen, with Launcher Pro. Just use the music player, lock the phone, hit the power button, drag the little half-cd icon down, and good to go.
You lost that?
k2snowboards88 said:
Touch wiz adds so many nice little tweaks that add up to big improvements. I love everything in your list and would like to add the amazing brightness control by swyping the top bar.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OMG, can't believe I didn't notice that before. That's awesome.
I have to say I am also impressed with the Touch Wiz UI. I am coming from a sense device and was very unimpressed with HTC Sense. That UI kind of took over the phone. TouchWiz doesn't really take over much it just adds some kewl extra options.
asrrin29 said:
I saw the screenshots for Touchwiz before I bought the phone was was convinced that it'd be the first thing to go. In fact, simply because of the dock at the bottom I was still convinced I was going to drop it when I picked up the phone. then I discovered that you can change which applications show up on the dock! It's so much more customizable than I had previously thought, and it's not as laggy as I imagined it would have been. And it really does have a lot of nice little tweaks. I'm quite happy with it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do you change the applications on the dock. I can't find it.
KewlRobD said:
How do you change the applications on the dock. I can't find it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you must go into the applications menu, and press the menu button, and change the ViewType to "Customizable Grid" Then you can hit the menu button again, and press Edit, and it will allow you to delete icons, rearrange icons, and drag them to the app dock.
asrrin29 said:
you must go into the applications menu, and press the menu button, and change the ViewType to "Customizable Grid" Then you can hit the menu button again, and press Edit, and it will allow you to delete icons, rearrange icons, and drag them to the app dock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks my friend. I liked the applications layout so I had not bothered going into the edit menu.
autoxer said:
This is also my first Android phone (had 3G and 3GS before), but as far as I can tell, almost none of the things you guys like are Touchwiz-specific. They are just Android features or apps.
Touchwiz is the homescreen manager. Replace it with Launcher Pro and you'll see what changes (and also see the 95% that stays the same).
I use Launcher Pro because it 1) is quick to swipe between screens, with no stutter; 2) has the ability to "pinch" the screen or hit the Home button to do a mac-like "expose" of all the home screens for fast switching to the exact page you want; 3) has the ability to have the 3D Apps drawer, which is much better than the dumb iPhone-like one (and don't even get me started on the "alphabetical list" that only shows one column of apps); and 4) the bottom icon bar can hold up to 15 launchers that you can swipe back and forth from any screen.
You can still swipe the notification bar for brightness, music player works the same, the lock screen is the same, all the apps that come on the phone are still there and accessible, you can customize it exactly the same as the Touchwiz homescreen...basically everything mentioned is the same. Except Launcher Pro is faster, easier to use, and prettier. Yes, you lose the Samsung widgets, but they all have replacements in the market.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Touch wiz is not just a homescreen manager. Launcher pro is just a homescreen manager. When you load launcher pro you still get all of touch wiz's small and useful enhancements that wouldn't be available on vanilla android.
k2snowboards88 said:
Touch wiz is not just a homescreen manager. Launcher pro is just a homescreen manager. When you load launcher pro you still get all of touch wiz's small and useful enhancements that wouldn't be available on vanilla android.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, all our points are valid to touchwiz. If you say they stay with launcher pro, thats because touchwiz is still running.
If you don't like sidescrolling appplication then why do you sidescroll homescreens?
Edit: Oh one more thing to add to the list:
Music player has virtual surround sound that makes a noticeable difference!
I also much prefer the tw launcher over any of the others I have tried. I have tried pretty much all of them too. I like the way the app drawer works. I like that when you select an app, then return to the app drawer, it remembers where you were. I also like the sliding setup vs an app drawer that just scrolls up or down. The icon backgrounds make it easier for me to see the apps and find them.
There are a lot of other nice touches to the overall Android experience as well. The changes they made to the corporate mail client are great. I also like the changes to the notification bar and I really like the lock screen.
Not to mention how the Black/Blue theme looks over the standard, nasty looking Android theme. Everything from the dialer to the status bar is a major improvement(not a detraction) over stock Android. But it's still not as obtrusive as Sense.
I'm liking TW as well, however from a launcher perspective I much more prefer the Launcher Pro (Expose`, the 3D App Drawer, customizable icons, etc).
I agree, after i got rid of the samsung widgets and went to a normal wallpaper and it doesnt lag at all.
As ADW EX is available in the market if you search with the asus
Has anyone tried laucherpro plus?
I kow it's only $3 but i still dont wnat to try it and find it crashes.
I tried LauncherPro Plus. it doesn't take advantage of the large screen size enough for me... it does work though.
Putzy said:
it doesn't take advantage of the large screen size.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Neither does the standard launcher, i'm missing one column each side of the screen in landscape
Can i adjust numbers of columns and rows?
Can i adjust/change icons?
I'm asking these questions here as even on their own website doesn't tell you
You're not missing a column as such.... what you'll notice if you turn the launcher into portrait mode that there simply isn't enough space to show those extra 'columns.
Still... thinking about the lack of settings in normal Google launchers on previous versions of Android, I wouldn't get too excited that you'll be able to change the number of columns/rows.
I'm fairly optimistic that when the Honeycomb source is finally released someone will be able to mod the launcher code and get a few more settings in there.
Forgot, can i get rid of the dockbar?
On LauncherPro? I don't know if its possible.
Launcher Pro does take up the entire screen, you just need to modify the settings as it was made for phones. You need to change the columns and rows setting to 10. The application drawer icons may look a little spaced out though but not a big deal. You can use Circle Launcher widgets or something similar so you do not have to even use app drawer. Here is my Xoom using Launcher Pro:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiZ5EmP8h_o&feature=channel_video_title
I love launcherpro but you loose functionality on the desktop when going with it. You loose the trash can when wanting to delete desktop items and some of the honeycomb menu buttons.
Not quite there yet needs a rewrite for honeycomb to be a true contender.
logichoops said:
I love launcherpro but you loose functionality on the desktop when going with it. You loose the trash can when wanting to delete desktop items and some of the honeycomb menu buttons.
Not quite there yet needs a rewrite for honeycomb to be a true contender.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you drag an icon, a trash appears and if you hold the icon over the trash for a moment, an uninstall option appears. You can add the Application drawer icon to the top of the dock on the right side which is pretty close to Honeycomb launcher. You do lose the + option to add widgets, wallpaper etc. I do agree, I would like a more Honeycomb optimized version and have already commented to the developer requesting this but I find it works well for now.
Here's another alternative, its a ADW based launcher made for tablets. I use it on my Viewsonic G Tab, its pretty slick.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1017451
Please don't ruin your tablet with a launcher for a phone. Completely takes away the look of honyc which is beautiful. ... for that get a viewsonic gtab .. what's wrong with honeyc launcher. Its great. Widget are great well at least on my Acer ....that youtube video xoom looks sooooo overloaded with those phone widgets.
sent from my Acer iconia using TT
Hello fellow Android-ers......
Will a custom Launcher Homescreen Theme circumvent the Honeycomb System Bar ?
Recently I bought a Dell Streak 7. It had Honeycomb installed when I got it.
The screen is way too small for Honeycombs system bar, and its a less pleasant experience than it should be.
I don't want to root the tablet. I really haven't the Android knowledge to do that.
I wanted to ask if a custom Homescreen ( like SPB Shell , ADW Launcher or Go Launcher ) app would get rid of the system bar.
When I read the app descriptions on the Marketplace it would seem that it does replace the system bar with whatever navigation tools the custom home theme employs.......
.......however, several hours of searching on Google for ways to get rid of the system bar without rooting the phone would indicate that the Honeycomb system bar will be there no matter what as long as the phone is running Honeycomb.....
Might there be any other ways to get rid of the system bar without rooting ?
I appreciate any insight you may be able to offer. Thank You!
I'm not 100% about the Honeycomb part but I know on my Droid 2 I installed ADW launcher and the status bar was different. I'd say try it, it couldn't hurt. Worse comes to worst you uninstall it and end up back at square one lol.
The system bar is not part of the launcher, so you won't be able to hide it with a home replacement app.
ADW EX allows you to hide the Status Bar while you are on your Homescreens. It won't help when you are within an App though.
Well that's not really what I wanted to hear , but, its still good news
The resolution on the streak in Honeycomb is pretty small and the icons get pretty tiny.....
At least I will be able to navigate more easily with a Homescreen Launcher.
Thanks very much for the info !
I wish I had bought ADW EX when it was $0.10 now lol.
Thanks again
Is it possible to remove the Google Agenda from the top of your home screen.
I've got a wheather app with the same time and date right under it.
I think you can remove almost everything but the calendar.
Alternatively you can use pixel launcher mods (root) to change top widget
You can remove the calendar but not the day and date. It's really annoying as it takes up a large invisible box at the top that is out of bounds for widgets. (No, I don't want to use other launchers)
benzwirs said:
Is it possible to remove the Google Agenda from the top of your home screen.
I've got a wheather app with the same time and date right under it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately not. Lawnchair and Nova are two very popular third party launchers that let you pretty much customize every aspect of your home screen.
For me on almost every phone I have used in the last several years it's Nova Prime. I prefer to use native apps when I can. I only use 3rd party apps when the native system cannot do what I want. I would like to use the Google Launcher but for me it is bad! Far too restrictive. If I could remove that hideous search bar I would give it another try but until Google relents I will stick with Nova.
I'm in the same boat as you! Pretty much had Nova on all my Androids since it came out. I recently just returned to the Pixel lineup after trying to give Apple another chance and am happy with the stock launcher for now. I have no doubts that will change in a month but this phone is so big compared to my old iphone 13 pro that some space being taken up with the search bar and date/weather doesn't bother me yet haha. I do wish Google would at least let you move that unsightly bar. I want a real dock back
Nova launcher works nicely, you can do whatever you like, so I removed the Agenda + date and gave the Google search bar a different place.
But I miss the Google page when you swipe left. on the stock / Pixel launcher and I can not find it the widget.
What is it, the Google page ?
Given that you can make other third part options like Nova look literally identical to Google's launcher should you wish, I'm a bit baffled why anyone would insist on using the default launcher given its (apparently annoying) limitations.
benzwirs said:
Nova launcher works nicely, you can do whatever you like, so I removed the Agenda + date and gave the Google search bar a different place.
But I miss the Google page when you swipe left. on the stock / Pixel launcher and I can not find it the widget.
What is it, the Google page ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the same problem. Missing those daily News.
Edit
Figured it out.
Just install nova google companion
Works awesome.
benzwirs said:
Nova launcher works nicely, you can do whatever you like, so I removed the Agenda + date and gave the Google search bar a different place.
But I miss the Google page when you swipe left. on the stock / Pixel launcher and I can not find it the widget.
What is it, the Google page ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you have the Nova Google Companion app installed? I know it hasn't been updated in a while but as far as I know it still works.
Thanks guys, it still works.
Very happy.