4.3 update black notification bar

[Denise51]

I just upgrade to 4.3 I know I'm late in doing it.

but the notification bar on home screen has gone it is not black anymore. Notifications are there but no black strip. Was this normal for the upgrade.

 

[Rukbat]

There's nothing normal for the S3 4.3 update. At least yours works. Some stopped working, some had major bugs, some had minor bugs, some had little things like yours. There are apps that can modify the status bar color or, if you plan on rooting, there are Xposed modules that can make the phone look totally different.

You might also try a different launcher. (It's just an app, so it doesn't void the warranty, and if you don't like it, you can go back to the stock launcher.)

 

[philayl]

Hi, I'm afraid that's normal on 4.3, notification bar is transparent. Phil

 

[joehornback]

Hi, I'm afraid that's normal on 4.3, notification bar is transparent. Phil

Yes this is a MAJOR complaint of mine since Kit Kat upgrade on my S3. It doesn't matter what wallpaper you have, the transparent status bar makes it almost impossible for my 48 year old eyes to read the text like time/temp/battery etc. I wish there was a way to enlarge and/or bold the font, or change the font color. This is the only thing I don't like about Kit Kat upgrade. I'm about to upgrade my phone to a s5, I'm hopeing there are more options with it and a work around...

 

[mydian]

You could install Nova Launcher (free version from the playstore) and enable the shadow at top and bottom of the desktop. It will make the top and bottom of your wall paper darker so you can see your notifications/icons better. It will also make your phone feel faster and look better than the stock touchwiz launcher garbage .

 

[Rukbat]

This is the only thing I don't like about Kit Kat upgrade. I'm about to upgrade my phone to a s5, I'm hopeing there are more options with it and a work around...

Since it's also running Kit Kat, there's pretty much no difference in options.

 

[Denise51]

How does this Nova Launcher work? Not even sure what a Launcher is tbh.

 

[mlblack16]

Typically, once you install a home replacement, the first time you click your home button, a box will pop up asking which one you want to use (touchwiz - Samsung's launcher, or Nova).

Touch Nova and then always as how often. This will set Nova as the default launcher. Once set, you can hit the menu key to the left of the home button on the S3 and select Nova settings. There you will find tons of options.

Nova is a nice home replacement/launcher.

 

[prj]

Any reason the stock weather widget disappears when using Nova Launcher?

It's not even available as an option anywhere.

 

[Denise51]

I have the weather widget which I believe is the accuweather one on my S3

 

[mydian]

Any reason the stock weather widget disappears when using Nova Launcher?

It's not even available as an option anywhere.

The Samsung widgets can typically only be used with the default launcher. You'll have to download a new one from the playstore. I use Fancy Widgets.

 

[prj]

Well that's dumb

 

[mlblack16]

There are tons of weather/clock widget options out there which are much nicer than the stock Samsung.

HD widgets is what I use to recreate the flip clock weather widget that I loved on the older HTC phones as part of Sense. Zooper makes really cool looking widgets.