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Launcher why?

trophynuts

trophynuts

Extreme Android User
Can someone tell me the need or the benefits you get from using one of the other launcher apps? For example such as launcher pro or ADW.? Thanks in advance.
 
trophynuts said:
Can someone tell me the need or the benefits you get from using one of the other launcher apps? For example such as launcher pro or ADW.? Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

I use LauncherPro so I can only describe what I prefer about it.

The main things I like about LauncherPro is the "Dock" at the bottom of the screen, the ability to have more "home" screens, the 3d App-drawer, and the appearance of the layout.

The dock (if you are not familiar) is like a conveyor belt at the bottom of the screen that holds 4 fixed icons and 8 custom icons. It spins so you can access 4 icons at a time.

Since I am a big fan of a really "clean" look on my home screens I am able to park 12 App shortcuts (well, I use 4 speed dial pre-sets and 8 App shortcuts) on the dock and keep my home screens really clean and spartan looking.

I would say 90% of the people who use custom launchers will say they use them for their increased customizing abilities.

Hope that helps

(Oh, I use the free version of LauncherPro)



Cheers


:)
 
I use LauncherPro too and do so for the dock - again for that clean look. The few of other things it does (3d app drawer etc) are just nice to haves - I used to use Sense on my Desire but this just allows a bit more. Am just waiting for a couple more widgets to replicate the Sense ones I used to use then I'll upgrade to the paid version.
 
My name is Szadzik and I use Launcher Pro :)

I use it because it is much faster than any of the stock launchers.
 
I used to be an ADW girl but now I'm in the LauncherPro camp. As with the other posters I enjoy having more flexibility thus leaving my default home screen emptier of Icons than otherwise might be. In addition I love the scrollable widgets that you can use with either (read in my case the Pure Widgets from Koxx) and, finally, I just started utilizing LP's widget resizing capabilities - thus allowing me to drop a 2x2 analog clock into a 1x1 slot :cool: (I'm using the Paid version to get that functionality).

Other features on offer that I don't use are having a 5x4 widget layout, variable # of homescreens (1-7) and setting the default homescreen amongst other features.

R
 
this is great feedback. Thanks to all. I will give it a shot tonight. I too would rather have a clean look. Just one more question.

I've read that when using Lpro or ADW , your stock launcher is basically still running in the background. Has there been any issues with this? Has this caused any performance issues?
 
no. there is no performance issues taht i have seen. i ALSO use LPro. i can keep my screen bare and still have access to apps (i use the scrolling dock feature) also what i like is the swype action vs press action. for instance... i have a browser icon. the press option opens the stock browser where as a swype up on the icon opens SkyFire (my alternate browser) same for the phone icon. press opens phone and swype gesture opens contacts (yes i know they are on the same screen anyway)

so this is why i like it, just like another post said, customizable options. plus you can make any icon and action look like whatever you want. my app drawer is the little android dude :)
 
trophynuts said:
this is great feedback. Thanks to all. I will give it a shot tonight. I too would rather have a clean look. Just one more question.

I've read that when using Lpro or ADW , your stock launcher is basically still running in the background. Has there been any issues with this? Has this caused any performance issues?
Click to expand...

Default launcher is not running if you are using a 3rd party one as default.
 
trophynuts said:
this is great feedback. Thanks to all. I will give it a shot tonight. I too would rather have a clean look. Just one more question.

I've read that when using Lpro or ADW , your stock launcher is basically still running in the background. Has there been any issues with this? Has this caused any performance issues?
Click to expand...

I think some people fail to get LauncherPro set as their permanent default so sometimes when they press the home button it takes them back to the default launcher. That may be what they are referring to. If you set things up right there is no sight of the default launcher and it isn't burning any system resources.

One of the beautiful things about the Android OS is that unless a program is made very stupidly the OS can shuffle things off "into a corner" as it were and it doesn't burn any resources (unlike Windows and some others).

If you have some issues with setting up LP and I am sure half the people on this board can give you tips for getting it just how you want it.


Cheers

:)
 
tag home gives you only up to 5 homescreens.... I'd prefer 7, but honestly, I only use 6, so squashing down to 5 is ok. What I liked beest about it was it gave you the option of jumping from one home screen to any other (ie - screen 2 jump to screen 5, or screen 3 to 1, etc)

I use Launcherpro however.
 
What do i need to do specifically to ensure Launcher Pro is my default launcher? ..on the Droid X. Thanks
 
trophynuts said:
What do i need to do specifically to ensure Launcher Pro is my default launcher? ..on the Droid X. Thanks
Click to expand...

When you press the Home button does it take you to your LauncherPro setup? Or does it take you to your original setup? When you press it twice what does it do?

If you go into settings> applications > launcherPro does it say that you have it set as default?

I can't remember what else I did to set as default aside from pushing my Home button and having it pop up and ask me if I wanted launcherPro to be my default and I checked the box to remember that decision.
 
pressing home button once pulls up all of my home screens at once and i tap on the one i want to go to. So far i like it ok i guess. The more i play with it i'm sure i'll like it more. The Dock is really a good feature so even if that is all i use alone it is worth it.
 
I tried LP and ADW and I just didn't get used to it. If I remember correctly, there was some Sense UI widgets that weren't on the aftermarket launchers which turned me off. I may try the aftermarket launchers when I'm bored but at the moment the stock HTC home screen is fine.
 
mauiblue said:
I tried LP and ADW and I just didn't get used to it. If I remember correctly, there was some Sense UI widgets that weren't on the aftermarket launchers which turned me off. I may try the aftermarket launchers when I'm bored but at the moment the stock HTC home screen is fine.
Click to expand...

Launcher PRo PLus has FB, Twitter, Calendar, People and Bookmark widgets like those from Sense.
 
Thanks Szadzik for reminding me of those widgets that I would want on LP but gosh darn it you have to pay for the Pro version to get those widgets which I already have on the stock Sense UI. That is just not enough to push me over the edge and be a complete convert.
 
mauiblue said:
Thanks Szadzik for reminding me of those widgets that I would want on LP but gosh darn it you have to pay for the Pro version to get those widgets which I already have on the stock Sense UI. That is just not enough to push me over the edge and be a complete convert.
Click to expand...

The LP dock should though...given how much time it saves it's totally worth it ;)
 
mauiblue said:
Thanks Szadzik for reminding me of those widgets that I would want on LP but gosh darn it you have to pay for the Pro version to get those widgets which I already have on the stock Sense UI. That is just not enough to push me over the edge and be a complete convert.
Click to expand...

Never tried to convince you to pay. Just saying that LP+ is more functional than Sense. More customization, the dock, resizing widgets etc.
 
Also if you miss the Clock Widget from Sense UI then you can install fancy widget.

The app is no longer on the Market but you can download the apk file.

If you want I can send you a link to my site which has it available for download.
 
paraffin01 said:
Also if you miss the Clock Widget from Sense UI then you can install fancy widget.

The app is no longer on the Market but you can download the apk file.

If you want I can send you a link to my site which has it available for download.
Click to expand...

If no weather is needed there also is the Analog Sense Clock in many flavours :)
 
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