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[Q] Which launcher you use for Lollipop?

I just installed Lollipop on my Nexus 5 and I really like the new & fresh look. After using Apex/Nova all the time on KK I now think about using the stock launcher (I guess it's still called GEL?) on Lollipop. Which one is your choice for our brand new Android?

I've tried the Google launcher but I just don't like it.
I'm sticking with Apex. Does everything I need it to do.

[Q] Lollipop's launcher on Kitkat???

Hey guys, so I have Kitkat 4.4.4 installed on my Nexus 5 (for a lot of reasons, battery is much better, faster, and I love the Kitkat material design better than Lollipop).. But today, Play Store showed me an update for Google's application, so I updated it, and ever since I did that, I have Lollipop's launcher even though I'm using Kitkat o__o, so weird, do you have any information about this guys? (see screenshots).
Thanks

Silvers91 said:
Hey guys, so I have Kitkat 4.4.4 installed on my Nexus 5 (for a lot of reasons, battery is much better, faster, and I love the Kitkat material design better than Lollipop).. But today, Play Store showed me an update for Google's application, so I updated it, and ever since I did that, I have Lollipop's launcher even though I'm using Kitkat o__o, so weird, do you have any information about this guys? (see screenshots).
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is it Google Now Launcher? If so the app isn't linked to your Android version.

Silvers91 said:
Hey guys, so I have Kitkat 4.4.4 installed on my Nexus 5 (for a lot of reasons, battery is much better, faster, and I love the Kitkat material design better than Lollipop).. But today, Play Store showed me an update for Google's application, so I updated it, and ever since I did that, I have Lollipop's launcher even though I'm using Kitkat o__o, so weird, do you have any information about this guys? (see screenshots).
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's not a Lollipop feature. The Google Now Launcher was available for KitKat devices as well. It might have debuted with the Nexus 5.

Silvers91 said:
Hey guys, so I have Kitkat 4.4.4 installed on my Nexus 5 (for a lot of reasons, battery is much better, faster, and I love the Kitkat material design better than Lollipop).. But today, Play Store showed me an update for Google's application, so I updated it, and ever since I did that, I have Lollipop's launcher even though I'm using Kitkat o__o, so weird, do you have any information about this guys? (see screenshots).
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's because Google Now Launcher and Google Now are linked somehow. At first I was also stay on Kitkat and my appdrawer background was transparent. When I install Google Now from 5.0 system dump appdrawer became white.
Regards, Zagor
P.S. There is no Kitkat material design.

Okay guys thanks
I'm a noob when it comes to these stuff so pardon me xD
Is there no way I can get my usual transparent app drawer? I hate the white one.

Silvers91 said:
Okay guys thanks
I'm a noob when it comes to these stuff so pardon me xD
Is there no way I can get my usual transparent app drawer? I hate the white one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can flash 4.4.4 and do not install updates for google apps (launcher, velvet and prebuiltgsmcore for sure) - others maybe (also hangouts no, because it will ask for prebuiltgsmcore to update and than Google+ will fc.. Eh - better no to update any of google apps in that case.

[Q] Why is this happening? Help this is very confusing

Recently, I downgraded back to Android KitKat because I hate the look of Lollipop and the memory leak is very aggravating. Everything went well and the downgrade was fine. This is what's confusing me the most. If you look closely, the notification is KitKat style with the all black but the app drawer has the look of lollipop which I hate so very much because it looks ugly. How can I revert this and stop it in the future? Any help would be good. I have attached a preview of the image below

That's the interface of Google Now launcher You can download an older version of it on the internet or use a third-party app like Nova Launcher

experience7 said:
That's the interface of Google Now launcher You can download an older version of it on the internet or use a third-party app like Nova Launcher
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks I just realized that after running some tests. To counter this crappy look I stopped the update of Google Now Launcher. So no more ugly app drawer
Update: After experimenting for a while I have found that the UI becomes more like Lollipop after updating Google and not Google Now Launcher

TheJCR said:
Thanks I just realized that after running some tests. To counter this crappy look I stopped the update of Google Now Launcher. So no more ugly app drawer
Update: After experimenting for a while I have found that the UI becomes more like Lollipop after updating Google and not Google Now Launcher
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. Actually, GNL is just an interface of GoogleNow.

[Completed] Settle a debate for me..

We all know Android devices run some version of an Android OS (Insert version number here), regardless what proprietary version it happens to be from whatever manufacturer made said device. But people on Google+ were arguing with me that TouchWiz isn't the launcher on Samsung devices, because when you switch launchers it still displays TouchWiz menus in settings & via the notification pull down window.. like TouchWiz is also the OS, when it's just Samsung's launcher running on their OEM version of the Android OS not getting that the ROM used on any Samsung device is just Samsung's proprietary version of whichever Android OS version it happens to be. Am I wrong in my deduction & logic? Thanks in advance for your replies, regardless if I'm right or not.

Hi,
TouchWiz is a launcher, but it's also the framework. No matter what launcher you install, it's still running in the TouchWiz framework... Hence the settings and what not looking the same.
The only way to change that is installing an AOSP or Cm based rom. Then TouchWiz framework and launcher are gone.
That make sense?

The firmware is Samsung's proprietary version of the Android OS. TouchWiz is not an OS & is often mistakenly thought to be so, per the TouchWiz wiki.. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TouchWiz Already answered my own question days ago. Thanks tho!

Yet your thread is less than 24 hours old here...
But glad you got it sorted. :good:
Thread closed.

Live Wallpapers on Nougat

Hey - just got my Nougat update yesterday. I am locked stock US Verizon. Had to do a hard reset to fix the Wifi issue. No I cant seem to find how to use live wallpapers. I am using the stock touchwiz launcher, so I only get the crappy Samsung store. Can you help me find Live Wallpapers to be able to apply them to my homescreen?
Thanks!

kstar54 said:
Hey - just got my Nougat update yesterday. I am locked stock US Verizon. Had to do a hard reset to fix the Wifi issue. No I cant seem to find how to use live wallpapers. I am using the stock touchwiz launcher, so I only get the crappy Samsung store. Can you help me find Live Wallpapers to be able to apply them to my homescreen?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would recommend switching over to the Pixel Launcher (found here: http://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google-inc/pixel-launcher/pixel-launcher-7-1-1-3368800-release/pixel-launcher-7-1-1-3368800-android-apk-download/)
That way you can use the Google Wallpaper app which works pretty well.
A.

Thanks - I ended up using Google Wallpapers on the stock TouchWiz. Still seems odd that Samsung does not provide a way to apply live wallpapers.