Since we all love our giant devices, I figured I would bring a bit of a recommendation to those who may not already know.
For a couple years now, I have been using an app called SwipePad on all of my android devices. This app allows you to launch apps with a quick swipe from the edge of the screen. You choose a swiping "Hot spot" (location for the gesture to begin), determine which apps should appear there, and viola! You can either set specific apps to appear, or you can have it set to recently opened apps. The app is free, but there are a couple of bonus add-ons for $1 each. I personally only purchased the dynamic pad add-on, which lets you change the amount of apps that appear when you swipe.
Now, I know that this is a really popular app already, and im sure most of you have heard about it before. There are 2 reasons i bring it up though. For those who dont know about it, this app is INCREDIBLY handy, especially on a bigger device like the Z Ultra.
The second, and in my opinion more important reason, is that swipepad has introduced a theming engine for this already awesome app. I just so happened to stumble upon some themes made by dev FlyingRhinoCMG. I also happened upon his Google+ community for swipepad themes. He does AMAZING work. Not only that, but he takes requests. I asked him for a Super Mario theme as perhaps an idea, and he had one made by the time i got home from work the same day. He only charges a buck for the themes, and they are well worth it. If you havent used swipepad, or you have but wanna spice it up, please take a moment to check both out. Links Below.
SwipePad - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=mobi.conduction.swipepad.android
SwipePad Themes - https://play.google.com/store/apps/developer?id=FlyingRhinoCMG
Theme Community on Google+ - https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/101937177419262658145
TL;DR? Click these links, try these apps. Cheers!
Xblast Tools also not has an "AppBar" option where you can put shortcuts to the bar, and can be launched from just about within any app too
I've been trying out every launcher under the sun and decided to settle on the Google Now launcher, which is totally sweet as you can just say Ok Google soon as you unlock your watch which is very cool.... However, how on earth do you get to see the notification bar??? Every launcher except stock and OUI2 hide it for some reason... anyone have any ideas??
I use both the Google Now launcher and stock (I don't like OUI at all). I switch between OK Google and stock for the notification bar. Some use an app to display notifications, but there are reportedly issues with swiping down with it installed, etc. SwipeStatusBar or something like that.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
I find there are some issues with the Now Launcher and compared it with Nova Prime...
Now Launcher
Pros:
OK Google hot word works soon as you unlock your phone (Best feature ever!)
Now Cards when you swipe left....
Cons:
Can't seem to easily add another page
Scrolling is a bit laggy and not quite as sensitive, seems to try and open an app quite a bit, you have to be quite deliberate with your page scrolls.
Nova Launcher Prime:
Pros:
You can resize icons & remove app names to save space.
Very fast page scrolling
Seems to be easier to add widgets I like "One More Clock" widget...
Cons:
Can't say "OK Google, order me pizza!" ;(
Is there a Google Now widget or something???
death_entry said:
I find there are some issues with the Now Launcher and compared it with Nova Prime...
Now Launcher
Pros:
OK Google hot word works soon as you unlock your phone (Best feature ever!)
Now Cards when you swipe left....
Cons:
Can't seem to easily add another page
Scrolling is a bit laggy and not quite as sensitive, seems to try and open an app quite a bit, you have to be quite deliberate with your page scrolls.
Nova Launcher Prime:
Pros:
You can resize icons & remove app names to save space.
Very fast page scrolling
Seems to be easier to add widgets I like "One More Clock" widget...
Cons:
Can't say "OK Google, order me pizza!" ;(
Is there a Google Now widget or something???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you can set nova with ok google commands or in that case whatever you want to say like "ok phone listen to me..." by using an app called tasker and an app called autovoice. Look on youtube and you can find some great tutorials.
I did a bit of digging around and found SwipeStatusBar to be a good app for Apex - I made the adjustment so it fits on the top right of my screen.
I got the name from someone on here, but I've forgotten who - sorry!
The Planner Pro app https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.appxy.planner looks like a good substitute but the layout rendering seems buggy on the landscape layout of the Gemini.
I've yet to try it but for a long time on Android devices I have used Tiny Calendar
I've not had an major problems with it and my father gets on with it as well on his android mobile so I shall try it when I get mine. Hopefully it will work well enough
Elwyn M3100 said:
I've yet to try it but for a long time on Android devices I have used Tiny Calendar
I've not had an major problems with it and my father gets on with it as well on his android mobile so I shall try it when I get mine. Hopefully it will work well enough
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice layout for calendar views. But Psion Agenda also allowed incorporation of To Do items.
For ToDo things I tend to use Google Keep now. With the benefit of it synchronising across all my devices with that account connected.
Thanks for the recommendation of Tiny Calendar. This is the best app I've seen for replicating the two-week custom view I use for Google Calendar on the web, and the widgets aren't bad either. It took me a while to find the customisation options (you have to force rotate to portrait using the Gemini App Bar) but now it's set up to my liking it's great.
I stopped using to-do lists years ago when I switched from EPOC to iOS and couldn't find a way to integrate them into calendar apps in the way Psion Agenda did. I generally use all-day calendar entries instead, so Tiny Calendar fits my use pattern perfectly. Anyone with similar needs might like to check out Calendar Widget which among other options gives a very nice semi-transparent agenda list on the home screen that makes very efficient use of screen real estate.
I have high hopes for the official Gemini Agenda clone when it finally sees the light of day. One of the joys of Psion Agenda, aside from its fantastic integration of calendar and to-do functionality, was that absolutely everything could be done without using the touchscreen. Android on the Gemini makes touch functions much more responsive than the old resistive hardware and stylus, but I'd sooner have the keyboard shortcuts back.
If Gemini Agenda can replicate that behaviour I'll be overjoyed. Those early screenshots certainly looked promising.
I can also recommend Jorte. It has a great Daily and Weekly layout including To Dos. Works well in the landscape layout.
This is probably the best Agenda substitute. It's the aCalender+ and even has an annual calendar view:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.withouthat.acalendarplus
The official Agenga app is now available.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pripla.gemagenda
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.Pripla.PlanetSyncAdapter
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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]?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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