Hi guys!
As the thread title says, what do you use as your Launcher on YB Android?
Stock one works, but I am curious to see if anyone here used a different launcher. I am tempted to try out Leena or Sentio to replicate that netbook/PC look.
Installed the Arrow launcher a couple of days ago and am in the process of getting used to it. So far so good especially for the just released tablet version. A decent review (of the phone version) that was done before the last update can be found here:
http://www.androidcentral.com/microsofts-arrow-launcher-astonishingly-good
Cool! Will have a look!
Tried Squarehome 2 for that Surface look..and I think I'll stick with it for a while as its the closest to a usable notebook environment..
Sentio is good, just doesn't load automatically while Leena needs a lot of improvement (like desktop icon sizes can't be resized independently of the font)..
I use Apex Launcher on all my android stuff.
It's hard to find launcher that properly support landscape tablet layouts.
The best I've found were ADW launcher 2 and Arrow launcher (it has a new tablet option).
In the end I went back to the stock Lenovo launcher.
Apex does work good on tablet landscape mode, plus we can change icons and layout plus gestures as well..
boofman said:
Apex does work good on tablet landscape mode, plus we can change icons and layout plus gestures as well..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What permissions does this Apex has? Has any one thought about what kind of data these launchers steal?
I use Nova Launcher across all my Android devices (phones & tablets). Zero problems.
Does any launcher has the 'back, home, apps' icons grouped towards the left corner of the task bar, like the stock launcher? Its convenient.
2 Similar to the stock launcher, do they show the running apps icon in the task bar?
I try leena desktop UI from play store ( https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.m_lang.leena) it's fine but not perfect.
I tried Microsoft Launcher, and it seems to work for me. The new tablet implementation got better, and also looks nice without having to spend a lot of time customizing it.
I use LaunchTime an open launcher from fdroid open android apps. works well for 6" and larger screens
https://f-droid.org/packages/com.quaap.launchtime/
Squarehome 2
YB with other android launchers.
boofman said:
Hi guys!
As the thread title says, what do you use as your Launcher on YB Android?
Stock one works, but I am curious to see if anyone here used a different launcher. I am tempted to try out Leena or Sentio to replicate that netbook/PC look.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I currently have multiple launchers installed on my YB, including Sentio Launcher. I am using Go Launcher HD as my primary, but Microsoft Launcher and Square Home.Tablet also work fine.
I am using Nova Launcher as I do on the majority of my devices. It is clean and gives mena nice dock for the media consumption apps I use most frequently.
Shawnki91 said:
I am using Nova Launcher as I do on the majority of my devices. It is clean and gives mena nice dock for the media consumption apps I use most frequently.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice looking setup you got there!
I also use Nova for most of my devices (if not for the Yoga book, it should have been All devices)..Nova can achieve any look you'd want to have easily, too!
Shawnki91 said:
I am using Nova Launcher as I do on the majority of my devices. It is clean and gives mena nice dock for the media consumption apps I use most frequently.View attachment 4544786
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Question - how did you get rid of the Lenovo app drawer icon in the bottom left next to the recent app icon? I've been dying to try and figure that out.
markculton said:
Question - how did you get rid of the Lenovo app drawer icon in the bottom left next to the recent app icon? I've been dying to try and figure that out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mark, had to think about this one for a minute and then realized the answer was in the screen shot itself.
Short answer: Can't be doe
Rationale: In the top right hand corner of the display, you can see the icon indicating that the screen shot was taken while having the tablet in "laptop mode". While in laptop mode, the app launcher icon disappears because you have the dedicated key on the keyboard to get to the app launcher. It would be a redundancy to have both. I tried it out and as soon as the tablet is in either tent mode or display/tablet mode, the app launcher shortcut re-appears.
Its also a custom version of Android MM, and most of the system UI tweaks don;t work.
I actually did find a way - I installed this app - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=xyz.paphonb.systemuituner
It did the trick! I am very happy that it did.
Related
I pushed it to the NC and while it worked, I found that it became downright amazing once I used the unlock code I had purchased for my EVO.
*Widget resizing was always weird and stupid on my Evo. I set my NC to do 10x10 rows on the homescreen and when adding widgets they looked odd...finally I see a reason for the widget resizing. It fixed the widgets very well.
*Dock shortcuts crash LP, but when you unlock LP you can add swipe gestures and those work fine. So basically, it seems at this point you need to swipe to launch apps/etc because tapping the dock won't work.
*With all the screen real estate, I think 3 home screens is going to be more than enough for me (though I have yet to fill up 1). You can fit so much into it that the 7 I use on my Evo seems quite excessive.
I'd love to know if anyone can figure out how to use the dock icons as usable shortcuts.
What version you running?
I am using the latest launcher pro version and launcher pro resets when I try to add shortcuts to the homescreen.
Any ideas?
I got the same problem.. The only icon that works on the dock is the web one.
It successfully launches dolphin HD.
If I try to modify the other default icons, I can change their icon, but it will not launch any app that way. It gives the "Cannot complete requested activity."
I love this compared to the default, its so smooth! but I need to know that I can fix the problems before I'll shell out the money, haha.
Has anyone gotten this stuff to work?
Perhaps using a different version?
But you can add your own shortcuts.
Those icons refer to functions that the Nook doesn't natively support. SMS, contacts and phone. To me that's a small nuisance, hardly noticeable anymore. I'm sure these will get ironed out.
skyhawk21 said:
What version you running?
I am using the latest launcher pro version and launcher pro resets when I try to add shortcuts to the homescreen.
Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Go to the app dock, where you can see all of your apps. Simply tap n hold the app icon you want on your Launcher Pro homescreen, and you'll automatically be taken to the homescreen with the app still "captured", awaiting you to place it anywhere.
Hello everybody,
Since the stock launcher can't hide app's, i have to look for another launcher.
I tried Laucher Pro, but that doesn't look like the stock launcher.
Next i tried Nova launcher, it was almost perfect, only the app and settings icon are next to each other, which is a bummer
There are others i didn't try yet.
So what launcher is everybody using.
And more important why that launcher, and not an other one?
I use ADW ex
None of the others seem to work right with tablets (unless I am missing one).
phree1 said:
I use ADW ex
None of the others seem to work right with tablets (unless I am missing one).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
stock launcher
What is Stock launcher? I searched the market but can't find it!
It it possible to modify the stock launcher so that apps can be hidden?
I use Go Launcher on my Phone, amazing launcher, sadly the HD (tablet) version is nowhere near as good as the Phone version yet. It is in Beta version tho, and they are working fast on it, but for the time being is meh.
Tried almost all other Launchers that you posted there, and there was always something that I really hated from them, and most of them lagged badly when the Prime was in Eco Mode (Stock one does not lag at all, even with Live Wallpapers)
I found out that the one with best Performance in Eco Mode, and allowed to have better transition effects and such was ADW Launcher EX, Stock is still faster, and Im not 100% happy with the App drawer from ADW (Stock one rocks) but since I organized everything using the "HUBS philosophy" I rarely access the App drawer anymore
Some Widgets do not scroll correctly in ADW, if this happens to you, be sure to scroll using 2 fingers and not one (Not sure if it is a bug or feature). This does not happen with all scrollable widgets tho.
Nova launcher
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using XDA Premium HD app
phree1 said:
What is Stock launcher? I searched the market but can't find it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Default launcher on your prime
Go Launcher HD w/ cornerstone.
4x5 icon layout.
Sent from my tf9001 with XDA XD.
phree1 said:
I use ADW ex
None of the others seem to work right with tablets (unless I am missing one).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I love SPB Shell 3D and it works perfectly on both the TF101 and TF201.
Why I use it,
up to 16 home screens,
drag and drop to rearrange the home screens,
I like and use the specialized widgets ship with the launcher (wish they'd open up the API for those)
Carousel to move quickly from one home screen to a "far away" screen
It's not quite as customizable as ADW but I very much like the look and feel. The only real downside is the $15 price tag, and no free/trial version.
Col.Kernel said:
I love SPB Shell 3D and it works perfectly on both the TF101 and TF201.
Why I use it,
up to 16 home screens,
drag and drop to rearrange the home screens,
I like and use the specialized widgets ship with the launcher (wish they'd open up the API for those)
Carousel to move quickly from one home screen to a "far away" screen
It's not quite as customizable as ADW but I very much like the look and feel. The only real downside is the $15 price tag, and no free/trial version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've used sob mobile shell 3d on prime. I tested it out it is a really good launcher. I love the carousel and the customized widget pages they have that comes with the launcher. then add in the fact you can easily swap or move the different screens around is an added bonus. its a launcher like no other. I may eventually buy it down the road.
has it had any recent updates or does it get updated alot?
demandarin said:
I've used sob mobile shell 3d on prime. I tested it out it is a really good launcher. I love the carousel and the customized widget pages they have that comes with the launcher. then add in the fact you can easily swap or move the different screens around is an added bonus. its a launcher like no other. I may eventually buy it down the road.
has it had any recent updates or does it get updated alot?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
UPDATED:
January 24, 2012
CURRENT VERSION:
1.5.3
REQUIRES ANDROID:
2.1 and up
To bad they don't support folders...
For custom launcher users;
What grid size do you use?
demandarin said:
I've used sob mobile shell 3d on prime. I tested it out it is a really good launcher. I love the carousel and the customized widget pages they have that comes with the launcher. then add in the fact you can easily swap or move the different screens around is an added bonus. its a launcher like no other. I may eventually buy it down the road.
has it had any recent updates or does it get updated alot?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"SOB"
I chuckled.
Sent from my tf9001 with XDA XD.
I have recently moved to Nova as the stock kept crashing on me and so far I have no complaints about it. Have had no problems with the stock launcher before all the crashing started.
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk 2
Guy's check this out
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1452663
Its the stock launcher but much much more improved
Like the ICS stock browser? Then you shall use "ICS Browser+"
If you like the original ICS stock browser is ICS Browser+ proberly the best browser out the there. Its look like and work like the original browser but adds many handy extra functions. Notice that you can make panel quick controllers with up to three rings and edit them all, as you like !
If you haved use Dolphin Browser you proberly used some plug-ins . I was only missing Dolphin Google Translate plug-in. but with ICS Browser + I instead use Web Translator Pro. Just mark text and touch "share". Then you share with Web Translator and immediately you have the site in a new language.
By PC Magazine selected as one of "The 10 Tastiest Apps for Ice Cream Sandwich" Based on the stock ICS browser, this browser adds many handy extra functions:
* Auto text reflow after pinch to zoom * Option to create extra quick controls (with easy to use quick controls editor. Add up to 3 rings, with extra controls like bookmark page, close other tabs, share etc etc) * Possibility to set the User Agent string * Fine tune quick controls behavior * Option to use volume keys for scrolling * Home button on action bar for tablets * Gesture support. More and more functions will be added along the way.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/...sMSwxLDEsImNvbS5iZWFuc29mdC5icm93c2VycGx1cyJd
Bulgarien said:
Is "Android Browser +" the same as "ICS Browser+" ?
If you like the ICS stock browser is ICS Browser+ proberly the best browser out the there. Notice that you can make quick controllers with three rings and edit them exact as you like
If you normaly use Dolphin Browser you proberly use some plug-ins . I was missing Google Translate as a Dolphin plug-in. but with ICS Browser + I instead use Web Translator Pro. Just mark text and touch "share". Then you share with Web Translator and immediately you have the site in a new language.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A launcher is not a browser .
There completely different
Still playing with Apex Launcher
brantje said:
A launcher is not a browser .
There completely different
Still playing with Apex Launcher
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I lol'd. You just lost an opportunity to troll the newbies.
"a launcher is not a browser"
priceless.
Sent from my EPAD using xda premium
jdeoxys said:
I lol'd. You just lost an opportunity to troll the newbies.
"a launcher is not a browser"
priceless.
Sent from my EPAD using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I rather stay nice to them
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk
Hi,
I wanted to get a sense of what others are using for their launcher interface for their TS.
I have tried a handful but nothing really seems to fit the bill all that well.
I have tried
Google Now Launcher
Launcher 8
Smart Launcher
Various "Big" and "Senior Phone" launchers
Nova Launcher
among others....
I seem to be constantly going back to the stock launcher (not OUI 2.0 as that is just crap)
What are you guys using or recommend trying?
One thing I seem to really hate about going to alternative launchers is the loss of the "real" status bar..... I have tried Swipe Status Bar, but that just introduces issues with having to swipe down when you need to access touch points that are near the top of the screen. (Plus the last version that was released completely made icons no longer clickable)
D.
Stock launcher for me seems fine.
I switch between stock Android launcher and GEL. I never use OUI2.
"OK Google ! Find me a smart watch like the TrueSmart was promoted to be during Kickstarter..."
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
trent999 said:
I switch between stock Android launcher and GEL. I never use OUI2.
"OK Google ! Find me a smart watch like the TrueSmart was promoted to be during Kickstarter..."
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Smart Launcher for me, Operative style.
I'm pretty happy with lucid launcher across all my devices.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
I have used ADW EX on my other devices for a few years, so I installed it. After tweaking the icon/text sizes and a few Gravity box tweaks, seems to work quite ok.
I think pretty much any launcher will do, as long as you can customize it around the limited screen space.
Lightening launcher with x3 UI layout.
Just tried smart launcher 2 as mentioned on here. It's really good! all the elements fit perfectly on the screen almost like it's made for the TS.
I really use the OUI... But I only tried stock and OUI, didn't try any others yet, so this might change
nova for me just with the icons set very big like my status bar to much and not a fan of the status bar app that will give you access to it never worked quite like the stock status bar should.
I've been using Mini Launcher... although only for a few days and haven't tried many other options yet, so i might change if there's anything better
+Lokifish Marz. Can you please elaborate a little on your set up.
Thanks in advance.
Right now it based on Lightning but really needs to be a standalone.
Thank You Sir?
---------- Post added at 01:30 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:28 PM ----------
Would love to have this for my Watch!
Personally, I really liked the WP8 launcher. Could fit lots of useful info and apps on the watch screen.
jd
I keep falling back to the stock launcher. I've tried a few (nova, apex, and similar), but the status bar is the biggest issue. I'm really fond of the bar for easy overview of new notifications, and can't really live without one. Swipestatusbar solution works ok:ish, but not having the bar there after exiting apps and having the bar interfere with touch event at the top makes it a dealbreaker.
OUI is almost there - it has widgets, app drawer and screen sorting, and the status bar. It does however lack in other ways, like missing an indicator for which screen you are on, and everything looks very blurred, together with almost no customization. Some widgets looks as if they are rendered at like 50x50 pixels and zoomed to fit the screen. Also seems unstable, it has crashed a ton of times.
If the stock launcher could just get widget support, an app drawer and preferably a way to add/remove/sort your screens, I'd be happy with it. For now it works though, and seems fast and stable with status bar working..
EDIT: After playing around a few hours with different launchers today, I finally went back to Nova. It takes some getting used to, but the status bar issue now feels like an acceptable loss compared to all the gains. It works very well, and renders on small screens better than most other launchers (some have too much paddin in the grid, some render icons very pixelated or blurry, and so on). Nova does a good job, my only peeve is that icons are aligned to the top of their grid position, and widgets are aligned to the center. This means that if you place an icon next to a widget, they will not align, and also the icons come a bit too close to the top. However, it's still better than the alternatives I've tried, so sticking with Nova for now.
When?
Lokifish Marz said:
Lightening launcher with x3 UI layout.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When will you be releasing it??? :highfive:
I am using launcher 8.
The tiles uses most of the screen at any given time, as opposed to a more regular android launcher.
Android launchers in general wastes a lot of screen real estate. This is because of the way the icons are organized, with lots of empty space between them.
The tiles you get in launcher 8 is quite tight, like in a proper windows phone.
I like this.
The tiles are also customizable in size, so stuff that is often used will have big tiles, while the lesser used programs get smaller tiles.
Launcher 8 also runs smoothly.
jdommer said:
Personally, I really liked the WP8 launcher. Could fit lots of useful info and apps on the watch screen.
jd
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
am using this too
Sent from my C6903 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
i use tsf shell for many years on all my phones and tablets.
now i use it on the truesmart and it really works great.
its smooth, it looks cool, you reach everything you want in short time.
shure i have to use swype status bar, but that is not really a problem.
ok it is not really cheap, but you only pay one time and can use it on all devices, so i think the price is fair if you have more devices
Hey guys. Just wondering what launchers you have rocking on your Tab S.
I currently have Nova Launcher and Smart Launcher Pro. Both are very light on memory and I can zip through everything without a lag on my Tab S.
Any others?
domo325 said:
Hey guys. Just wondering what launchers you have rocking on your Tab S.
I currently have Nova Launcher and Smart Launcher Pro. Both are very light on memory and I can zip through everything without a lag on my Tab S.
Any others?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Going to try my apex shortly!
Using TSF Shell, works great without any lag.
Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk
I've been running Nova. It's pretty much my go to and I like it, but I'm looking for other options as well.
Works well and nice and smooth.
Nova is always my goto as well.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using XDA Free mobile app
What grid size do you all use on Nova? I always have it looking weird where I have too many icons or they are too far apart.
Go Launcher Ex is far more feature packed than Nova and has cooler animations and themes. Additionally it seems to make whites whiter which means your browser will have more contrast and you can turn brightness down. It also has an extensive list of custom widgets. In addition when holding the tablet in landscape mode the icon dock goes vertical on the right side which is very handy because you can scroll through icons with your thumb.
Go Launcher bothers me. I've tried it on other tablets. It looks nice and does lots of things but there are so many addons that I feel I'm being sucked into something (not quite sure what). I like Nova or for simplicity CM's Trebuchet.
TonyBigs said:
Go Launcher bothers me. I've tried it on other tablets. It looks nice and does lots of things but there are so many addons that I feel I'm being sucked into something (not quite sure what). I like Nova or for simplicity CM's Trebuchet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Chinese mind control ☺
I use NEXT launcher which is made by the go launcher team. I'm sure it's a system hog but I like the themes from Magic4works. I also like 3d mode on my phone. I do use Xprivacy to block personal information though.
Nova is my go too also very smooth experience and no lag on my note 3 and my g pad 8.3
Sent from my SM-N9005 using XDA Free mobile app
mitchellvii said:
Chinese mind control ☺
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
(In robotic voice) Must download another addon...
I'm loving Lightning Launcher Extreme. It takes a bit to learn and get used to, but it's the *most* flexible and customizable launcher I've seen, and I went through about a dozen in the last year or so.
The trick to LL is to remember that it's a tree, and that all the branches are containers and all the leaves are single objects, and that all properties are inherited from the parent.
Each container is essentially a separate desktop that can have it's own size and grid, so my desktop can be a 10x16 grid, and my launcher bar can take up a 10x1 space, but internally be a 9x1 space.
Each container is individually zoomable and scrollable, unless you tell it not to be.
Containers and objects both can be unpinned from the grid and moved, rotated, skewed, and scaled with subpixel precision. This includes widget!
LL can also designate a desktop as the lock screen... so you can customize that as well.
As a topper, the Extreme edition allows scripting in JS with a few launcher specific extensions.
As mentioned, it took a bit to figure out, but my home screen is *exactly* how I want it.
Go Launcher is horrible. Are you being serious? I'm running Nova currently, but I've used, and purchased, the premium version of every launcher that's been out for longer than a year. I just get tires of the layout, or the interface, or something, so I go through all of them, shortly after I remember why I didn't like it, and I always end up back using Nova. It seems like the market has been flooded with new launchers over the last 6-12 months, too many to give them all a try so I'm trying to figure out which one to use next. On my Galaxy S5, I'm using Buzz Launcher, which is pretty cool because you can download entire homepacks, or screens, that other people have designed and all the widgets, icons, layouts, backgrounds, etc install automatically and since it supports 9 screens, I could n have a new look on my phone everyday. Unfortunately, it doesn't support landscape very well. I might go with Next Launcher next. I kind of miss the 3D effects it has. I always like to show it to friends who have an iPhone.
Any of you tried TSF launcher?
---------- Post added at 10:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:41 PM ----------
Rolldog said:
Go Launcher is horrible. Are you being serious? I'm running Nova currently, but I've used, and purchased, the premium version of every launcher that's been out for longer than a year. I just get tires of the layout, or the interface, or something, so I go through all of them, shortly after I remember why I didn't like it, and I always end up back using Nova. It seems like the market has been flooded with new launchers over the last 6-12 months, too many to give them all a try so I'm trying to figure out which one to use next. On my Galaxy S5, I'm using Buzz Launcher, which is pretty cool because you can download entire homepacks, or screens, that other people have designed and all the widgets, icons, layouts, backgrounds, etc install automatically and since it supports 9 screens, I could n have a new look on my phone everyday. Unfortunately, it doesn't support landscape very well. I might go with Next Launcher next. I kind of miss the 3D effects it has. I always like to show it to friends who have an iPhone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have tried all of the launchers and you have not like any of them then maybe it isn't go launcher that is horrible but rather your expectations of a launcher. It sounds like you have like a relatively simple and straightforward launcher with a clean interface. With that in mind I'm not sure why you keep looking.
HughesNet said:
maybe it isn't go launcher that is horrible but rather your expectations of a launcher.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, Go launcher just sucks...
Freakstyler said:
Nope, Go launcher just sucks...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Really? I've used Nova and Go and prefer Go quite clearly. Better screen contrast, better widgets, better animations, better themes, vertical dock in landscape. Go is constantly updated and improved whereas Nova doesn't seem to have significantly improved in years.
Please list for us the ways that Go Launcher sucks, what you prefer and specifically why it is superior.
Buzz is cool but almost too much for my tastes.
HughesNet said:
Any of you tried TSF launcher?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I love TSF Shell on my S5, but for tablets, I prefer more simplicity for some reason. Therefore Apex is my daily launcher since it's customizations seem to meet my needs best. For some reason I've always had trouble with slight lag with Nova, especially with the dock.
Nova Launcher is by far the best launcher to use. So plain but customizable. You can do pretty much what you want with it. Not a fan of go launcher its bulky, and tries to force there cheesy widgets on me. Just my 2 cents.
On my S5, I use Go Launcher (for now) because I like to always change. For this tablet I still don't know what I want to use, I tried go launcher, nova, TSF but I haven't found the one yet. For now, I'm using the stock launcher for lack of a better choice .
Sent from my SM-T700 using Tapatalk
Nova launcher used to be (arguably) the best free Android launcher - until now - so what's better?
Unfortunately, the day after Branch Analytics acquired Nova launcher, it grew in size by 150% (8MB to 12MB) without anyone noticing that "something" huge (but as yet unknown) is going on inside of the previously venerable Nova launcher.
So now, I, like anyone else who is logical, is in the market for a new "best Android launcher" app APK.
But which Android app launcher replaces the venerable Nova free APK?
Mostly what I loved about Nova was that the homescreen could be organized by any grid - or no grid (see screenshot example below).
What best launcher do you recommend to replace Nova [now that Nova was sold out and as such, it has (apparently) gone over to the dark side]?
I take you're on a Samsung device?
One UI shreds Nova on my N10+; faster and uses less battery even has some features Nova lacks. It's missing a trick or two that Nova can do. One UI is rock solid stable on my device, no issues.
After a 3rd party launcher boot looped me twice, back to back over 2 years ago I stopped sampling them One UI won.
blackhawk said:
I take you're on a Samsung device?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. But I've been using Nova free launchers since the dawn of time on Motorola, LG, and other phones - simply because Nova did what nobody else could do - which was allow me to place any icon on any grid or no grid at all.
But now that Nova went over to the dark side - it's time for a new "best launcher" that works for more than just one brand of phones.
blackhawk said:
One UI shreds Nova on my N10+; faster and uses less battery even has some features Nova lacks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With batteries being five amps and more nowadays, I don't have any problem going days without a charge, but it's interesting you say that you found that one launcher uses more battery than another.
I've never tested how much battery power two different launchers use. But I've done a lot of battery power testing over the years.
The fact is that you can only use one launcher at a time - so it would be hard to test two of them side by side given only one can work at any given time frame on any one phone.
Sure you can test two launchers with two exact same phones side by side, but did you really run a test that detailed to conclude what you did?
Given that practical problem set, how could I tell if one launcher used more battery than another?
blackhawk said:
It's missing a trick or two that Nova can do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Besides putting icons on any grid (or no grid at all), what I next like best about Nova is I set up EVERY phone in the house, for years, with the same well-managed set of apps and icons.
Motorola
LG
Nexus
Samsung
They ALL have the same homescreen.
For years and years and years.
Note that what you do on a computer never changes so the organization of the homescreen never changes.
Does the Samsung OneUI launcher save a backup file to be used on any brand of phone?
Nova launcher easily saves a backup file which is imported into the new phone. It's TRIVIAL to re-install all the apps in the EXACT same place from the old phone to the new phone, even when you move from an LG phone to a Samsung phone.
There's no way any Samsung launcher could possibly do that, right?
blackhawk said:
One UI is rock solid stable on my device, no issues.
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My only experience with One UI is that I originally saw it when I got a handful of Samsung Galaxy A32-5G phones from T-Mobile for free.
I didn't like it at all but maybe it does the two most important things that Nova free does?
1. Put any icon on any grid (or no grid at all), and,
2. Save a backup file of the homescreen to load onto any other device
Note that this backup file includes all installed apps in the location that they are installed in - which - for me - is important since EVERY app icon is placed in an EXACT location for a reason.
There's a third thing I love about Nova free launcher but I don't know if it's part of the launcher or part of Android 12, which is:
3. Place a widget INSIDE any folder on the homescreen
Is THAT last feature of being able to resize a widget and then place it INSIDE a folder on the homescreen part of Android 12 or Nova launcher? (If it's part of Nova, then can One UI do that too?)
blackhawk said:
After a 3rd party launcher boot looped me twice, back to back over 2 years ago I stopped sampling them. One UI won.
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I have nothing against One UI because my only experience with it was that it was the first launcher I saw when I received my free Samsung phones from T-Mobile and the last Samsung I had was about ten years or so ago (the S3) but what I asked on the Samsung groups what apps from Samsung were worth getting just about a month ago.
Is there any app in the Samsung Galaxy Store worth the login requirements?Note the screenshots show you can resize widgets and then place those resized widgets INSIDE folders on the homescreen.
That homepage is way too busy and not AMOLED friendly at all.
In 24 hours this is what One UI used...
One UI supports folders which are a lot better than burning up pixels. Over time this will happen. I rotate my icons, folders and widgets to spread out the wear. The icon packs are red for a reason, red pixels have the longest lifespan, blue the shortest. No wear if a pixel isn't light and it's easier on your eyes.
I'm not too concerned with backup. I want a clean load if I have to factory reset to avoid doing another one. The current load on this phone is over 2yo and running strong. I keep a screenshot to help with setup. SmartSwitch will preserve some homepage settings but it can also cause issues.
Apex Launcher Classic, get the PRO and Apex Notifier.
You can use ancient Launcher and Icon packs, I've kept many old Apex Themes from 2013 and on, and they all still work with the latest Apex Classic.
Offers the same features as Nova.
Its clean.
I understand you are looking for a FREE launcher, but with the launcher being so integral to your device experience, maybe thats the one app you should be prepared to pay for.
I have been using what I think is the most powerful and customizable launcher. Not only does it do the few things you mentioned:
Put any icon on any grid (or no grid at all), and,
Save a backup file of the homescreen to load onto any other device
Note that this backup file includes all installed apps in the location that they are installed in - which - for me - is important since EVERY app icon is placed in an EXACT location for a reason.
Place a widget INSIDE any folder on the homescreen (yes thats launcher specific)
So it does ALL what you listed (i know its a quick list), but also (among many MANY other things..)
Folders inside folders, inside folders.... and widgets n deep in the folder structure
Any widget can be Resized, Scaled (Different to resize which I think is more on the widget to resize itself), Rotated, transparency, Skewed (think parallelogram), positioned to a decimal pixel position
All visible (or even hidden transparent hot-spots) have complete control of the event (eg start ab app, start a script etc) or I *thinik* even multiple actions (I dont use that feature)
All items covered by 3 above also have short AND long press events (Tap, Long Tap, Swipe Left, Swipe Right, Swipe up, Swipe down) I personally have transparent hot-spots (on top of other widgets that respond to their default tap), that I swipe uy[p on to turn on AUID and down to turn off AOD. I also have a long press on my navigation, which turns on GPS, Bluetooth (to connect and call handsfree), starts my music player, starts playing the music and finally starts the Navigation app ready to navigate.
Lots of visual effects such as shadow of the text
Control of the Font, Size, position/offset
"Reflections" on the icons, as if they are hovering above a crystal clear pool/puddle of water
You can have/add code to make your own things. There is an example out there how to add a analogue clock simply with code. Well beyond any of my needs.
and on and on and on...
My personal experience is, if you can imagine it, then there is a way to do it. I have been using it since gingerbread, and as I upgrade device and/or ROMs, I use the backup / restore to get the launcher config started. NB: The private widget data/config doesn't come across in the launcher backup, but a "fallback" image/placeholder is show, reminding you of how you previously had it set up. So although there is a steep learning curve, and with ALL the different options/function can take some time to set up how you want, a lot will transfer onto your next device or ROM. But since its a paid app, you can only run it on one device at a time.
Now, the thing to REALLY take note of, the default set-up on first install is utter TOTAL rubbish ,and so are the preview/demo images on the PlayStore. It really is a case of "if you can imagine it, you can do it"
Oh, and the launcher is called "Lightening Launcher Extreme"
The following are some screen shots I qui8ckly snapped, but the actual config is of course very personal. And because its so customizable, I can do things others will hate I just quickly flashed through the screens I personally use the most in set-up, but didn't scroll through anything or ensured I got everything that is beyond the screen and there are many more options/features I dont use; or even know about.
Part of the problems Nova is having maybe the same that ones Samsung is having dealing with scoped storage and other changes starting with Android 10. I have 2 N10+'s, one still running on Pie, the newer one on 10. The look and behave almost identically except the Android 10 has a 100 or more small Samsung system apks.
I prefer Pie because it's easier to troubleshoot and provides better functionality for trusted apps. I don't even want to see what 11, and especially 12/beta 13 look like. Maybe it's not so much Nova but rather Android that has turned to the dark Apple side...
imonxda said:
Apex Launcher Classic...
Offers the same features as Nova.
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Thanks for that suggestion of the Apex Launcher to replace the functionality of the Nova free launcher, specifically:
a. Place homescreen folders on any grid, or no grid at allb. Export homescreen and import into ANY brand of phonec. Resize widgets and place widgets INSIDE folders
Assuming the free version of the Apex Launcher is this one...
Apex Launcher by Android DOES teamFree, contains ads, contains in-app purchases, requires GSF,rated 4.2 out of 354K reviews with 10M+ Downloads
That sucks in terms of requiring GSF (Nova free doesn't spy on us with GSF, and no app should ever need to use GSF calls) and requiring ads (again, Nova free doesn't have any ads and no launcher should, IMHO); but unfortunately, the description on the Google Play Store doesn't say whether Apex Launcher can do the three most important things that I feel ANY "best" launcher should do (see above).
Bear in mind there are a billion app launchers, where there's a good REASON Nova free was almost universally hailed as the best out there.
If Branch Analytics didn't take over TeslaCoil software, I wouldn't even be LOOKING for a better app launcher... (sigh)... but no free app launcher with ads and lack of privacy can possibly be on the list of the "best" there is.
That's just impossible (IMHO of course).
No app can be the "best" if it has ads and if it sucks out your privacy.
BTW, I know full well what I'm asking is NOT an easy question to answer... otherwise I'd have found the answer already, but I do appreciate the suggestions.
In order to be "better" than Nova free, it can't be worse.
GalaxyA325G said:
Thanks for that suggestion of the Apex Launcher to replace the functionality of the Nova free launcher, specifically:
a. Place homescreen folders on any grid, or no grid at allb. Export homescreen and import into ANY brand of phonec. Resize widgets and place widgets INSIDE folders
Assuming the free version of the Apex Launcher is this one...
Apex Launcher by Android DOES teamFree, contains ads, contains in-app purchases, requires GSF,rated 4.2 out of 354K reviews with 10M+ Downloads
That sucks in terms of requiring GSF (Nova free doesn't spy on us with GSF, and no app should ever need to use GSF calls) and requiring ads (again, Nova free doesn't have any ads and no launcher should, IMHO); but unfortunately, the description on the Google Play Store doesn't say whether Apex Launcher can do the three most important things that I feel ANY "best" launcher should do (see above).
Bear in mind there are a billion app launchers, where there's a good REASON Nova free was almost universally hailed as the best out there.
If Branch Analytics didn't take over TeslaCoil software, I wouldn't even be LOOKING for a better app launcher... (sigh)... but no free app launcher with ads and lack of privacy can possibly be on the list of the "best" there is.
That's just impossible (IMHO of course).
No app can be the "best" if it has ads and if it sucks out your privacy.
BTW, I know full well what I'm asking is NOT an easy question to answer... otherwise I'd have found the answer already, but I do appreciate the suggestions.
In order to be "better" than Nova free, it can't be worse.
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Yes, absolutely correct, Apex Launcher DOES NOT have all the features your looking for, but AndroidDOES has brought back the Classic launcher (I'm assuming because of popular demand) it is called Apex Launcher Classic - this is FAR superior to the new-ish Apex Launcher. BTW, some of the best features of Apex Classic are unavailable without the paid Pro but most features work with free version.
As for privacy concerns, you can use something like My Android Tools Pro, it will tell you exactly what an app like Apex is doing behind the scenes and it gives you control over all hidden activities. https://www.myandroidtools.com/ it has been kicked out of Google play store, I don't know the reason, but I've been using this app for years, I have never seen any evidence of malware in it, and it has revealed the spying, reporting activities, and ad activities of all other apps I use and I can actually STOP these activities, I trust it.
It takes a bit of getting-used-to, but it works great once you do (get used to it). Some advice, check the About in settings for automatic detection of newly installed or updated apps feature, and check the Apps tab at the bottom, then select any app and then tap "see all component info", this is really helpful and easily overlooked feature.
@DiamondJohn That's a cool Launcher I've never heard of, I will certainly check it out
GalaxyA325G said:
Nova launcher used to be (arguably) the best free Android launcher - until now - so what's better?
Unfortunately, the day after Branch Analytics acquired Nova launcher, it grew in size by 150% (8MB to 12MB) without anyone noticing that "something" huge (but as yet unknown) is going on inside of the previously venerable Nova launcher.
So now, I, like anyone else who is logical, is in the market for a new "best Android launcher" app APK.
But which Android app launcher replaces the venerable Nova free APK?
Mostly what I loved about Nova was that the homescreen could be organized by any grid - or no grid (see screenshot example below).
What best launcher do you recommend to replace Nova [now that Nova was sold out and as such, it has (apparently) gone over to the dark side]?
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Love Niagara launcher
Pear Launcher - Apps on Google Play
Download Pear launcher — a launcher designed for performance and customization.
play.google.com
Just started using this app and it's pretty good so far