Hi, Today I boought a Moto G, and immediately upgraded and rooted it to Android 4.4.3. (Previously I'd been using a Galaxy S2 and a Xperia S)
The first thing I noticed is the changes in the app drawer, which I hate. I do not like that widgets and apps are mixed, I mean I liked the cycling thru apps in Jelly Bean, and having to select the widgets tab to cycle thru widgets.
Another thing I noticed is that the Moto G doesn't have an options button. While in the App drawer, all 3 buttons are redundant:
Left side button (Where options usually is) is now back, which takes you to the homescreen...
Middle button (Home) Takes you home .... -In Jelly bean you could long press to open recent apps-
Right side button - Opens recent apps
With that in mind you can tell that you're losing a lot of customizing options, for example, I used to click options and hide apps in Galaxy S2, or sort apps alphabetically, by use, recent install, etc...
I guess my questions is: Is there any way to get those features back using the stock launcher?
To sort apps customly, to separate widgets and make the app drawer cycle thru apps like it's supposed to?
I appreciate the help
I assume the launcher you are using is the stock launcher provided in Android.
If you want more options in the app drawer then it would be better to install another launcher.
My prefered launcher is Apex but I know that a lot of people are using Nova as well.
Both very smooth launcher with lots of options.
Mickeyvdb said:
I assume the launcher you are using is the stock launcher provided in Android.
If you want more options in the app drawer then it would be better to install another launcher.
My prefered launcher is Apex but I know that a lot of people are using Nova as well.
Both very smooth launcher with lots of options.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Mickey, thanks for your reply.
Yes, I was using stock launcher at the moment of the question, the question basically was if it was possible with stock launcher... I assumed it was not so I downloaded Nova Launcher, but it also doesn't have the option to customly organize apps, like dragging and dropping one before the other in the drawer. If I hold on an app it takes it to the home screen which is not what I want
Also with Nova I could only separate widgets from apps if I made the drawer scroll vertically, I want horizontal with multiple pages, but widgets on a different tab.
What custom launcher has the option to do these things?
Thank you again for your time
I think Solo Launcher has the features you require.
Sent from my XT1033 using XDA Free mobile app
Solo and Nova
I've tried both solo and Nova launcher but neither has the features I'm looking for, solo offers the option to sort apps but from presets like 'alphabetically, most used, recently used " but I want to sort them manually, I don't understand why I'm having so much trouble finding this option when on previous Android devices was as simple as drag and drop
Riki_RM said:
The first thing I noticed is the changes in the app drawer, which I hate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are no changes in the app drawer. The stock Google launcher has always worked this way. If your previous devices worked differently, then you were not using the Jellybean launcher, which looked and worked exactly the same way as you are describing.
Middle button (Home) Takes you home .... -In Jelly bean you could long press to open recent apps-
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, that was never possible with stock Jellybean. If it worked that way on your S2, it's either because you had installed a third-party launcher or because that is how Samsung's own launcher (is it still called Touchwiz?) worked. I have never used anything other than Nexus or Google Play Edition devices (as well as played around a bit with Cyanogen), so I couldn't say for sure.
I used to click options and hide apps in Galaxy S2, or sort apps alphabetically, by use, recent install, etc...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Those all must be Samsung "innovations."
I guess my questions is: Is there any way to get those features back using the stock launcher?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, because they were never in the stock launcher. You will have to try various other third-party launchers until you find one you like. I'm generally happy with the stock one, so I'm afraid I would be useless at recommendations.
Good luck,
-- Nathan
Riki_RM said:
I've tried both solo and Nova launcher but neither has the features I'm looking for, solo offers the option to sort apps but from presets like 'alphabetically, most used, recently used " but I want to sort them manually, I don't understand why I'm having so much trouble finding this option when on previous Android devices was as simple as drag and drop
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are looking for Nemus Launcher
Sent from my XT1032 using Tapatalk
Related
Probably not the first thread on the subject but nevertheless: Which home screen replacement are you using and what do you like about it?
I developed a home screen replacement called "Simple Home" and it is all about simplicity. Feel free to try it out (search for "Simple Home" on Android market). I'm interested to hear what features people really want to have in their launcher!?
I use launcher pro. my favorite feature is having the scrollable dockbar.
Sent from my Droid using XDA App
At least you were somewhat up front about spam, if misleading in the title.
I am genuinely interested due to fact that I've developed an app in a certain way, not out of any commercial reasons! If it was an unsolicited post then I would a) not answer you b) not ask questions or c) not promote a free app. My post is meant as a basis for a discussions. Yours on the other hand is not!
regarding the scrollable dockbar in launcher pro: hmm yes, it is very nice feature to have some kind of menu bar with pinned apps. Strange though that it disappears when you go to the app drawer. On the other hand there needs to be some kind of icon for the return button some how.
something to try could be developing a way to organize the app drawer using sections, folders, etc. if I knew anything about app creation that's what I would be working on haha.
Sent from my Droid
You can enable/disable the return home button in preferences. I particularly like the extended froyo theme dock for pinned apps. Keeps my desktop clean. I don't care for multiple dock rows as I just use 4 icons, but I like the options. I recently paid for the paid program of launcher pro.
The best part is you can make it simple or complex in options. Theme support is also nice... and its speed is wonderful.
I think launched pro has it figured out. If you are building a launcher perhaps try to think out side the box instead of trying to compete with such an already complete launcher.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App
ADW all the way on my X10
infernox51 said:
something to try could be developing a way to organize the app drawer using sections, folders, etc. if I knew anything about app creation that's what I would be working on haha.
Sent from my Droid
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Funny thing you mentioned it, because this is exactly what I've done for my app and of course using frecency sorting (frequency + recency). This is exactly what I want to have for my app drawer plus filtering to narrow down the list (which is also in there).
player911 said:
You can enable/disable the return home button in preferences. I particularly like the extended froyo theme dock for pinned apps. Keeps my desktop clean. I don't care for multiple dock rows as I just use 4 icons, but I like the options. I recently paid for the paid program of launcher pro.
The best part is you can make it simple or complex in options. Theme support is also nice... and its speed is wonderful.
I think launched pro has it figured out. If you are building a launcher perhaps try to think out side the box instead of trying to compete with such an already complete launcher.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am, I think the ones that are out there really do the Android style launchers to perfection. My approach is simplicity and speed. I personally don't believe in arrangeable desktops. It works fine when you have a few apps but when you have a fair amount installed it becomes tedious to do rearrangements..
ADW. But I like eye candy. If your going for simple you could have a niche to yourself.
One feature I'd like, played with a few programs last night as was not happy with any, is a task SWITCHER.
Double tap home and bring up a nice screen, if it can use a wall then even better.
No killing just switching.
Yes, I agree! Ubuntu- or mac-style task switcher would be truly great. I don't think that exposé will work as good on a mobile phone as on a PC
My approach was to add an indicator on top of app icons in my app drawer for apps that are running (according to the ActivityManager) together with the ability to sort the list on running apps. I find that simple and very useful..
I tried ADW, Helix, LauncherPro, Simple Home, and PandaHome. I like Panda's side docks & app hiding, and ADW's hidden dockbar & screen swipes to launch apps (though it still FCs on my Droid 2.1R) . I'd prefer something simple. I don't need more than 3 screens and usually go to 2. I don't need a task switcher because long-pressing Home shows my last six apps. I don't need flash, I just want it to work. ADW works for me now because I have four quick action buttons (so it replaced Helix) and six more in the dockbar, though I can scroll for more. Just my .02
I have used Stock sense, ADW, and LuncherPro in the last 3 days and I like LuncherPro by far the best. I like having the 4 icons on the bottom to clear icon clutter on the screen and the menu system is nice.
Does anyone know if any of the Android launchers have an app drawer that can order apps by "most used"? The SE Xperia Ray (and presumably other SE Android phones) have this, which I got really used to, and now back on my Defy I miss it! Hoping to not have to install each launcher to find out, cheers!
try go launcher. one of the best out there. just hold the home button and it will appear for most recent.
Thanks volsdeep, but holding the Home button is just the standard task switcher, which shows the *last* used apps. I want the app drawer to be sortable by *most* used, like Sony Ericsson's launcher.
I've installed Go Launcher just in case, and it can only order the app drawer:
alphabetically, by latest install or by earliest install.
Found this thread via google.
I've found one app drawer that can sort this way, but it's for ICS only... (Apex Launcher)
I'd love to see one for devices < ICS... the search continues...
s0medude said:
Found this thread via google.
I've found one app drawer that can sort this way, but it's for ICS only... (Apex Launcher)
I'd love to see one for devices < ICS... the search continues...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried Go Launcher? I'm sure it can sort them in that order now.
Sent from my Sony Xperia S using XDA Premium
"Knowledge is power" = Read, Read, Read!
download Go Launcher buddy, it can sort them in that order
Yep, since Nov 8th 2011 when I last checked, Go Launcher seems to have added "sort by most used", happy days, thanks all!
jamoiholland said:
Yep, since Nov 8th 2011 when I last checked, Go Launcher seems to have added "sort by most used", happy days, thanks all!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For anyone else who finds this thread in future, Go Launcher's implementation of this feature (at time of writing) seemed poor, as you had to go to the options and select "sort my most used" to update the launcher's grid of icons, it did not happen on it's own, or dynamically. Also it seemed to miss one or two apps that I used heavily and left them at the end of the grid.
Apex Launcher on the other hands seems very accurate and updates the grid by most used on the fly, and seems much better all-round. It is only for ICS and above though.
I am very happy with the Launcher that comes with the Atrix 2. Why would I purchase or download a different one?
Ermmmm... Well first off, customisability and... nothing more?
If that launcher fits your needs then keep it
Just to have more options......
I'm switched but now am back to running stock.
Pilgrimtozion said:
I am very happy with the Launcher that comes with the Atrix 2. Why would I purchase or download a different one?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If ur happy with ur launcher then why are we having this conversation? So confused.
Sent from my MB865 using XDA App
Customizability and tons of more options. With an aftermarket launcher, you can pretty much tweak the look and feel of your device to suit your needs and desires. You can make it look like "your" device. It doesn't hurt anything to install one of the free launchers and try it out. I would actually recommend it. I personally use LauncherPro but ADW and GoLauncher are pretty good choices as well. If they don't suit your needs then there are many other options on the market. If none of them spark your interest then the stock launcher may be your launcher of choice. It's all about options and choices...Take that iPhone guys!!!
I was fine with the stock launcher with one exception...I cannot stand the horizontal page scrolling for the app drawer. If I wanted my phone to behave like an iPhone I would have kept my iPhone.
So I use ADW or Zeam and got the vertical scrolling back.
In case anyone cared, ADW EX is one of the 10 cent apps on the market today. I typically use Go Launcher, but I'll try out ADW again. Customization is always cool with a launcher.
Most helpful reply, lilhaiti. I am not familiar with Launchers, new to Android, but quick to learn. Thanks!
Sorry if I hijack the thread, but today I installed the ADW Ex and I don't know how to switch back to the original launcher.
Can anyone give me a hand?
I have not found a way to switch without uninstalling ADW. There used to be (still is?) a "home switcher" app in the market. I have used it in the past on other phones I've owned. I don't know if that would work on our phones or not.
The home switcher app should work. Otherwise, you can go to manage apps from settings, select the launcher and remove default. Once you hit your home button again, it will ask you to select your default again.
Sent from my MB865 using XDA App
CapnPez said:
The home switcher app should work. Otherwise, you can go to manage apps from settings, select the launcher and remove default. Once you hit your home button again, it will ask you to select your default again.
Sent from my MB865 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
D'oh! I totally forgot about the remove default option. Using an iPhone for 7 months made me dumb.
Thanks for the answers. I went to app manager and under ADW the option "clear defaults" is greyed (not available) and it says "No defaults set".
Edit: I just tried the home switcher app and it doesn't work either, I can "launch" the original launcher but when I put "set as default" the app crashes.
Do you think if I uninstall ADW I would go back to the original launcher?
nahuelarg86 said:
Thanks for the answers. I went to app manager and under ADW the option "clear defaults" is greyed (not available) and it says "No defaults set".
Edit: I just tried the home switcher app and it doesn't work either, I can "launch" the original launcher but when I put "set as default" the app crashes.
Do you think if I uninstall ADW I would go back to the original launcher?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would assume that uninstalling adw would let you choose the stock launcher the next time you hit your home button.
Sent from my MB865 using XDA App
CapnPez said:
I would assume that uninstalling adw would let you choose the stock launcher the next time you hit your home button.
Sent from my MB865 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This should be true. For some reason with this phone when you install a third party launcher it automatically sets that launcher to default. So by removing ADW you should get the stock launcher back.
I don't know much about this launcher, but ADWLauncher EX is on sale for $0.10 on the Android Market ONLY today. If you want to try it, tonight is the time to get it.
P.S- There's a useful free tool called "HomeSmack" that lets you toggle between multiple launchers at once.
=GO Launcher HD for Android 2.x=
Here is the beta version of GO Launcher HD for Android 2.x, which is the tablet version of GO Launcher.
We need you guys to help us use it and tell me what you feel about the new features.
Tips:
1. Available for tablet devices with Android 2.0 or up.
2. Same functions with GO Launcher HD v1.07.
3. Please use v1.07 version on your tablet with Android 3.0 or up.
This is only beta version, if there’s any problems or bugs please send feedback to us through “Menu->Feedback”.
Download: http://61.145.124.93/soft/3GHeart/golauncher/pad/GOLauncherHD_2.x_beta2.apk
--------------------------------------------------------------------
=About this post=
Hey xda guys, here is GO Launcher Dev Team and I'm the product manager who is in charge of GO Launcher EX.
We will bring out GO Launcher v3.0 in near future which includes a lot of new features.
I will release every beta version here and hope that you can tell me how you feel about our new features.[/FONT]
=Newest Version on Market=
Now the newest version is v3.01.
Market page: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gau.go.launcherex
--------------------------------------------------------------------
=Newest Beta Version=
Next version is v3.02 and there are some new features mentioned below:
1. (New) Combined interface of launcher and locker theme preview
Download: please click here
--------------------------------------------------------------------
=About GO Launcher=
GO Launcher is the most popular home app in Android Market. It allows users to customize home screen, change themes, use smooth transition animation as well as various widgets and screen locks. It brings you a fresh and extraordinary mobile operation experience.
=Features=
- Thousands of personalized themes
- Various widgets and screen locks (weather, switcher, calendar…)
- Extremely smooth transition animation
- Smooth flipping operation
- User-defined folder to easily categorize apps
Many options in preferences to help you customize you phone!
=Tips=
1. How to get themes, widgets and lockers?
a) Search ‘go launcher theme’, ‘go widget’ or ‘go locker’ in Android Market.
b) Use GO Store via menu button in GO Launcher.
2. How to set transition animation?
Use ‘Effects settings’ via button in GO Launcher.
3. Icons are too small?
Use ‘Icon Size’ option in ‘Preferences->Visual settings->Icons’ to make icons bigger.
3. Long press the app icon to enter editing mode on home screen and app drawer.
4. Glide up to open menu and glide down to pull down notification.
5. The widgets in the screenshots belong to GO Widget, attainable from Android Market or GO Store.
=Important=
1. GO Launcher is a totally free app without any charge.
2. If you cannot set ‘GO Launcher’ as the default home app, download ‘Home Manager’ to fix it.
3. ‘DIRECTLY CALL PHONE NUMBERS’ permission?
It's required by the feature to create shortcuts of ‘person’ and ‘direct dial’. GO Launcher won't make unattended phone call and cost your money.
5. ‘READ CONTACT DATA’ permission?
It's required by the feature to create 'person' shortcut as well as to add contact folder.
Our commitments are respecting user privacy and delivering cool experience. Please help us by rating this app and recommending to the others.
Want an extreme makeover to your phone? Try it out!
Owned by and Visit 3G.cn Through Your Mobile.
Copyright 2004-2011 All Rights Reserved.
wow this launcher is getting better and better.
download it now.
This has always been bugging me, but how does GoTeam actually make a living out of giving the app for free? Personal data sale?
Nice to see dev team developing
Go laucher is best for me, if scrolling would be a bit more smooth would be awesome.
I've said this elsewhere, but I'll take the opportunity to say it again here
I am still using v2.60 for one simple reason. Up to v2.60, when you exit an app you go straight back to the home screen. After 2.60 you go back to the app drawer. I prefer the old behaviour (and I'm not the only one who does) - why not make it an option in the settings, so the user can decide what they prefer?
I have a request, could you please make it an option to remove the home button on the app drawer?
DnaPolymerase said:
This has always been bugging me, but how does GoTeam actually make a living out of giving the app for free? Personal data sale?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL that made me laugh irl... I sure hope not
Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk
Downloaded and I installed. Everything looks good so far. I def notice a difference with the transitions; feels much smoother. Keep up the good work.
Sent from my Galaxy Note (SGH-i717) using XDA Premium.
Is this version or future versions going to be based on Android 4.0 source code? Because currently it lags a lot on leaked ICS roms. Not trying to be selfish, of course.
sent from Epic 4G Touch w/ICS
Whoa...someone that can actually hear my voice. Don't know how many times I have tried to reach out to Go to have this changed.
Moving apps from the app drawer to the home screen is horrible!!!
Change it so if you are in the app drawer and your tap and hold on a app you have two options when you slide it to the left or to the right. One being the home screen, the other being the all screens mode. Takes way too long to customize my home screens the way its set up right now.
DnaPolymerase said:
This has always been bugging me, but how does GoTeam actually make a living out of giving the app for free? Personal data sale?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, no personal data sale!
We sell themes to get money and GO Launcher is totally free.
Magic Stick said:
Nice to see dev team developing
Go laucher is best for me, if scrolling would be a bit more smooth would be awesome.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try to uninstall the previous version and try the beta2 please.
We do something to improve the scroll performance.
emd2009 said:
I have a request, could you please make it an option to remove the home button on the app drawer?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's hard to do this.
No plan to do this in near future. But we will bring you a new design app drawer.
interpole00 said:
Is this version or future versions going to be based on Android 4.0 source code? Because currently it lags a lot on leaked ICS roms. Not trying to be selfish, of course.
sent from Epic 4G Touch w/ICS
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey, use the feedback button in menu to tell us where you feel lag in GO Launcher.
synergeticink said:
Whoa...someone that can actually hear my voice. Don't know how many times I have tried to reach out to Go to have this changed.
Moving apps from the app drawer to the home screen is horrible!!!
Change it so if you are in the app drawer and your tap and hold on a app you have two options when you slide it to the left or to the right. One being the home screen, the other being the all screens mode. Takes way too long to customize my home screens the way its set up right now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey, we will bring out a new-designed app drawer in near future.
Change the method of moving apps to homescreen.
bugujun said:
Change the method of moving apps to homescreen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats the only method I use. Others are too long and time consuming.
Can you please add an option to disable and hide the dock?
Also when you guys remake the app drawer, can you make it so we can drag an app from the drawer into a special area that will hide the app?
Absolutely love Go Launcher. It is the best out there.
However I would appreciate it if I were able to use my phone's built-in app transitions (opening an app from the homescreen and back) instead of the "zoom" ones Go Launcher forces on me. I hope you guys are considering adding this to a future version. Go and LauncherPro are the only launchers I know of that have this behavior and LauncherPro hasn't been updated in about a year.
Please consider letting us have this choice. You guys do great work and I'm thrilled to hear about 3.0!
Sent from my Droid Incredible using the XDA app.
Is transparent status bar working?
DEFYing the Android planet with ICS
It's cool but not going to do it in near future.
Haii there
How can install different launchers from other phones, like the xperia launcher, or HTC sense, and could you link them for me?
Thanks for your time <3
Sent from my skittles
timmy-kidd said:
Haii there
How can install different launchers from other phones, like the xperia launcher, or HTC sense, and could you link them for me?
Thanks for your time <3
Sent from my skittles
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Download the .apk, when it says 'Download complete' in the notification tray click on it and it should install (or browse to it manually in a file explorer). Use the search tool and find the launchers yourself, I CBA but AFAIK only the Xperia and possibly TouchWiz launchers are available for download on other phones. Sense doesn't work.
Ahh, okay -.- , thanks for your time pal
Sent from my GT-I9000 using xda premium
Current favorites are:
1) GO Launcher
Tried it once a long time ago, I forget specifically what I didn't like about it.
2) Zeam
Haven't tried it. It is the newest popular one. Supposed to be super lean and fast.
3) LauncherPro
I like 5-columns of icons on my desktop. LP does this, but it won't stretch the widgets to match (in the free version), so that's a deal breaker for me.
4) ADW
Still my favorite (once properly configured). I like the "Black Glass" theme (with custom icons turned off). I also like a scrolling App Drawer (with scroll position memory) vs paging.
I have heard many people say they prefer something over ADW for this feature or that feature, but other then custom widgets that I don't use, those features are always in ADW, they just never played with the settings.
My widgets are: Google Search, Power Control, News&Weather, and FaceBook. The first 3 are safe (low memory, no lag), and the last one I just have to have or I'll never look at FaceBook at all. I don't trust any other widgets as they always seem to slow down my phone.