Aversion to LauncherPro? - Droid Incredible Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I ran a few searches and while there are some topics on other sub-forums just thought I'd ask here. Is there a general aversion to using this app?
I've used it on all the ROM's I've flashed and have found that it is more efficient than a stock launcher. It most often runs smoother as well especially the app drawer.
I know there are many who use it here, but overall rosie's get the win on XDA hance all the rosie/Sense mods.
Is it because it is not an open source launcher? Is it the aesthetics? Is there such a thing as "Android Purists"?
What say you!

I love it but won't use it because i love my sense widgets too much and it acts funny.with widget locker
Sent from my Incredible using XDA App

Been using it since almost Day 1. I change backgrounds and clocks fairly often. Wouldn't use anything else.

You lose all the sense widgets. And in the new sense roms which have been ported to the inc, there are great new ones - so on the new sense roms I can't afford to use launcher unless they have equivalent widgets.
I use launcher pro on cm6.1 which is an aosp rom. There it is the better option because I don't have any possibility of getting the sense widgets anyways...
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App

Thanks for the replies so far! I use one widget (smooth calender) and forgot about all the sense widgets folks like to use.

I use launcher pro as well. I think its a great home replacement. Gives great options in settings to change almost everything. I currently just have it set to give me 3 home screens and that is it. I don't need any more than that currently.
I replaced the Sense widgets with beautiful widgets and extended controls. I also love launcher pro's ability to make custom shortcuts that can take you directly a page in the setting menus that may be 2 to 3 pages in. Saves a lot of time as I currently have one set directly to the development page. Have to turn that thing on to use PDAnet.(The 3g hotspot just doesn't work for me very well as it drops my laptop every 10 minutes and then it cannot join it again till I restart the hotspot on the phone.)
Additional Info:
I never really liked senses giant phone button at the bottom of the screen all the time. With launcher Pro I can make the dock look like stock android. Once I made the switch I never went back

boomertwo said:
I use launcher pro as well. I think its a great home replacement. Gives great options in settings to change almost everything. I currently just have it set to give me 3 home screens and that is it. I don't need any more than that currently.
I replaced the Sense widgets with beautiful widgets and extended controls. I also love launcher pro's ability to make custom shortcuts that can take you directly a page in the setting menus that may be 2 to 3 pages in. Saves a lot of time as I currently have one set directly to the development page. Have to turn that thing on to use PDAnet.(The 3g hotspot just doesn't work for me very well as it drops my laptop every 10 minutes and then it cannot join it again till I restart the hotspot on the phone.)
Additional Info:
I never really liked senses giant phone button at the bottom of the screen all the time. With launcher Pro I can make the dock look like stock android. Once I made the switch I never went back
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Launcher Pro is great, and Launcher Pro Plus is worth every bit of $2.99. It's one of the only apps I've paid for and it has all of the sense widgets; including multiple bookmark and calendar widgets for example. In addition, having the ability to resize any widget to your liking I find makes it that much more attractive. Like you also said the shortcut option basically eliminates the need for apps like Bettercut. And of course the obvious options to change docks and icons make it a fun alternative for people.

Good stuff I've always like LP as well and got the + version as soon as it went live. A lot of proponents so far!

I think i remember seeing something that the dev of Launcher Pro asked that it not be cooked into custom roms

Therev29 said:
I think i remember seeing something that the dev of Launcher Pro asked that it not be cooked into custom roms
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If the stock launcher isn't used, they cook ADW or launcher 2 into ROMs. But you always have the option of installing LP and even removing the launcher you had previously

Related

Can you add panels to the default MT3G

I would really like one or two more sliding panels. is there a way to add another panel?
Also are themes just background/icon packages or do they change more?
Excellent question, i myself would like a couple extra slides. Although, i believe there is already a thread created for that.
From the aHome themes I've downloaded, its the icons, background and skin of the bottom tab when you slide up that are changed.
The only way I know of adding more panels is to download either Fresh Fase or Panda.
Try the following thread it will give you options to have 2-10 slide panels.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=538871
Ive been thinking about the same thing. But that thread says the app is unstable.
MurderDeathKill said:
Ive been thinking about the same thing. But that thread says the app is unstable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i think the advanced launcher works ok. used it before, no issue then..
str4vag said:
i think the advanced launcher works ok. used it before, no issue then..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I currently use it on a stock, unrooted MT3G. No problems.
You need to load an alternative launcher. The stock one only supports 3 home screens.
Advanced Launcher is now stable though it is a bit slower than the stock one if you make heavy use of submenus. It scrolls the screens as quickly as the stock launcher... it is just the submenus that are slower. I have 62 apps in 5 submenus.
I use it with 6 screens and have no issues.
if you use cyanogenmod's rom you can apply this updated advancedlauncher.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=577651
It worked great for me, although now I use my own modified launcher with less tweaks to make it slightly faster. And installing aHome, PandaHome or OpenHome will make your OS slower.
Home problems are solved
Search the market for Home++. I've tried them all and this works the best. You get up to 7 screens. Have the option of allowing the wallpaper to scroll with the screens or sit still, choose which screen is the home screen, use the apps clock and calendar or the stock one, power strip at bottom with quick launchers, and theres almost no lag.
Best i've used yet. Can't hurt to try it.

Any way to have 5 homescreen rather than 7 in Sense?!

I know... I know... but why?!
Why not?! For the time being, I'm barely using 4, so why the extra 3?! Any way to get it down to 5 for now?! Until more is needed?!
Try LauncherPro
Umm just curious but just don't go to the last left or right screen. The home button can take you back to the middle and you are good to go?
Launcher Pro is an alternative but perhaps you like Sense...well..Refer to first suggestion.
mrmomoman said:
Umm just curious but just don't go to the last left or right screen. The home button can take you back to the middle and you are good to go?
Launcher Pro is an alternative but perhaps you like Sense...well..Refer to first suggestion.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Obviously I know I can avoid the last 2 screens, but I was wondering if it was possible in order to avoid going to that screen by accident. It would also make it easier to select the proper screen when pinched out.
How different is Launcher Pro?! The only reason I like Sense is due to the widgets they have. Will the same ones work with Launcher Pro?!
Just switch to LauncherPro.
akarol said:
I know... I know... but why?!
Why not?! For the time being, I'm barely using 4, so why the extra 3?! Any way to get it down to 5 for now?! Until more is needed?!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I totally hear you. If widgets weren't starting to get so big I think I would be pretty happy with 3.
No, Sense widgets will not work with LauncherPro (or any other launcher) but there are some good market replacements. Also LauncherPro is moving towards having it's own set of widgets that replace most of the functionality of sense, which I think is a great idea.
It is probably possible that someone could open up the Rosie (Sense Launcher) apk and edit a line somewhere to tell it to only have 5 screens, but I haven't ever seen anyone do it. It would only be usable on a rooted phone too, since Rosie is in the Nand, and you can't change it out without root.
ADW.Launcher. how many desktops would you like today? 1 or 7? with adw it's your easy to make choice. along with many many other swell customizations.
i have reduced my total number of desktops as well. i use SmartShortcuts to condense my more commonly used apps and place those icons on the adw bars.
it will have the same issue with widgets. if a widget has been written specifically for Sense it won't work. however, there are many nifty cool things in the marketplace.
for example you you can use:
SmoothCalendar - a calandar widget (there are many on the marketplace depending on style preference)
Beautiful Widgets - many folks love this product. (not a free product)
DigitalClock Widget - what i use to get time/date on my screen.
SmartShortcuts - allows me to keep a very clean main desktop...the 4 visible icons pull up custom application groups. (see chess screenshot)
i would also suggest trying out:
QuickDeskBETA - see screenshot with all the icons? that is QD, it will popup over top of any existing window simply w/ a long press of the search button. so i can turn on my screenshot tool without going all the way back to main screens or turn on 4G without having to exit the browser.
one last thing, i would suggest that you install either launcherpro or adw and play with em. what will happen the first time is this. when you click on the home button it will ask you which launcher you wish to use (Sense, adw or launcherpro). there is a check box that says 'make this choice default' ... check that button when you feel semi confident as to which launcher you wish to use. 2 days later when you decide that you want to try using Helix2 (or whatever) simply go to Settings -> Applications -> Manage applications -> go to the current default laucher and "clear defaults" (see the adw screenshot)

Calendar APP and Power Control

Anyone have any suggestions for replacement apps for Calendar that is grid like the HTC Sense one color scheme and all that is FREE >.< as well as an app that gives power control like widgets. I tried Widgetsoid but the data and GPS are buggy and don't work correctly with Virtuous Unity apparently. Any fixes or suggestions would be helpful.
I plan to use it with GO Launcher and Fancy Widgets.
And yes I have used the search button.
Switch Pro and Pure Grid Calendar. I don't think they are free, though. Why do they have to be free?
Sent from my finally rooted Dinc 2
Take a look at colorize widgets. It gives you all the same widgets as lpp and do scrolling if your launcher supports it. If you are using go launcher ex take a look at their list of widget add ons. They're pretty powerful too.
As far as a power widget goes I use extended controls. I've been pretty happy with it. Easy to setup and works. Only problem is the gps button won't work if you add it. I think it's something something specific to the inc2. First time I've had trouble with it.
Yada yada tapped
I just found these widgets
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.rdr.widgets.core&pli=1
Very Sense like
Mysticdroid said:
As far as a power widget goes I use extended controls. I've been pretty happy with it. Easy to setup and works. Only problem is the gps button won't work if you add it. I think it's something something specific to the inc2. First time I've had trouble with it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think Switch Pro is better than extended controls plus the GPS button works.

How do you feel about Sense 4.0

Seriously, I did not like it on my WinMo5 phone. I still don't like it on my 1X.
cons found so far:
- Launcher crashes when you add a widget too wide for the current screen
- Launcher eats so much memory it crashes randomly (or at least, pressing home gives you a loading spinner for a short while)
- Contacts app looks ancient, froyo style.
- CLOOOOCKS ! Why do they need a dozen clocks, each eating storage for nothing.
- IME is weird. Used smartkeyboard pro before finding the basic ICS one perfect.
- No power toggles in the drawer
- No widgets in the drawer.
- Lock screen seems twitchy, phone tried to call from my pocket this morning.
- Most of the app skins are really ugly compared to ICS' ones (settings, contacts..)
Don't get me wrong, the phone is a real beast. Even with sense obviously cluttering the performance, it's a real breeze, it's really fast as hell. Once we get a clean ICS build, I can only imagine how faster it'll get.
First real user review of Sense 4.0, thanks. I'd have to agree with you on some of these, esp the Contacts/Dialer looks like it hasn't changed at all.
only thing I like about sense is the lockscreen (weather skin is amazing!) and answerscreen
settings menu is also nice now
I hate the launcher.. always changed it, I mean it only looks good with the htc clock but then you only get 2 rows for apps on the homescreen..meh
so yea I wonder why so many people praize sense and it feels odd that htc was the only one who could make a animated lockscreen..
Please tell me what is the point of an animated lockscreen? I really don't like knowing my phone is using juice to show me some nice floating clouds.
Is it even possible for a capacitive touch screen phone to pocket dial unless you've got your hand in there with it?
Sent from my HTC Desire S using XDA
eyecandy mostly I always like seeing that animation, it also gives it a high tech feeling like it's suposed to be
a wow factor for people who grab your phone as well
some care about it.. some don't , I do.
I cannot imagine what you are doing with your phone thats causing so much crashes ... i would suggest looking at your apps and stuff first ...
Of course, most apps are not yet ICS optimized and causes memory issues and what not ... so not necessary that its HTC Sense's fault !!
Crashes are frequent and Sense starts pretty fast, but it's definitely not my apps. Crashed a few time without installing a single thing. Anyway, stable or not, ICS base launcher is way better, IMHO.
I like the new lock screen showing your unread messages but I dont like the email app. The font size is too big even when set to small.
I have a Sensation and there was a smallest setting that worked really well. Its like they made the fonts too large over compensating for the higher resolution of the screen.
I had my One X for 4 days now and I have to say I can't wait to get a rom without Sense. I hope for CM9 since I am coming from a Galaxy S with CM9.
The Lockscreen that launches 4 Apps is the only good thing about sense.
I actually love the look and feel of Sense 4.0, can't agree with you.
ICS builds I tested had ring lockscreen with up to 8 shortcuts.
EDIT: ok, now everytime I hit the "home" button, sense reloads -_-'
I might be wrong but didn't Google say that every phone using ICS should provide an option to the user to use stock launcher..am sure read on some tech blog....I dont have the phone, but if thats the case then in theory u should be able to clear the default setting for sense launcher in settings/apps menu and hopefully then get a prompt to select launcher
either way...do let me know , if this works
Edit :- or else there's always Go Launcher (with ICS theme done by the GOLauncher Team)
Cheers,
M
meletios said:
I might be wrong but didn't Google say that every phone using ICS should provide an option to the user to use stock launcher..am sure read on some tech blog....I dont have the phone, but if thats the case then in theory u should be able to clear the default setting for sense launcher in settings/apps menu and hopefully then get a prompt to select launcher
either way...do let me know , if this works
Cheers,
M
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You wish... You have to use sense AND sense keyboard.
I restored from titanium a MeDroidMod Launcher (looks very ICS-ish to me, don't know what has been modded here) backup from my old N1 sd, and it works. Status bar still sensucks, but at least I have a stable and simple ICS launcher without all the candies. According to the app/running/cached memory usage value, the launcher eats 22Mo where Sense ate 55...
meletios said:
I might be wrong but didn't Google say that every phone using ICS should provide an option to the user to use stock launcher..am sure read on some tech blog....I dont have the phone, but if thats the case then in theory u should be able to clear the default setting for sense launcher in settings/apps menu and hopefully then get a prompt to select launcher
either way...do let me know , if this works
Edit :- or else there's always Go Launcher (with ICS theme done by the GOLauncher Team)
Cheers,
M
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I remember the statement but if it's only to include the launcher then it's pointless
even on stock ics everyone gets nova or apex launcher lol, think they'll have to use the default android skin as well
btw. it only has sense launcher now
As useless Rosie was, it was at least pretty.. sense 4.0 looks like pre ICS stock android, and doesnt seem to be much less bloated.
Thankz god we have XDA, just a pity ure buying a phone knowing you wont be able to fully enjoy as stock.
You are using apex or nova, maybe. But surely not everybody. All the people around me like the stock ics. Why bloat the OS ? For a colored battery bar ?
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium
ok Sense 4.0 looks great, BUT what happened to the wonderful rotating carousel? Now Sense rotates three screens to the right, then you have to come all the way back to get to screens to the left of the home screen. Surely it would have been easier to let Sense rotate through all the screens, making selection far faster?
I'd like it (the widgets are AWESOME) IF it
- didn't crash all the time
- had 5 rows as an option!!!!!!!
running nova now due to the crashing. Unbelievable how unoptimised it is
If I could have 6 rows instead of 4 I'd use sense launcher instead of nova, i mean we have a 4,7" 720 screen and it's just a big waste of space to have 4x4 grid, and I really don't like the cube style flipping, I feel a bit old for that. I even disable wallpaper scroll. I want it clean and smooth.

Icon Grid To 5x5

For the last two years I have been using ADW Launcher. When it came out at the end of 2010 I paid for ADW_EX. It has been great for me. I have tried to use the TouchWiz on the S3 but there have been two main things that kept me from using it regularly. One was fixed (by an answer in another forum).
The one that was fixed was the ability to have shortcuts to individual files on my home screen. In ADW I was able to create a shortcut with Astro File Manager. For some reason Astro does not have a way to do this with TouchWiz. Then someone pointed out that a long press on a file in ES File Manager would create a shortcut. I use a lot of individual files and that feature was great.
Now the last deal breaker for me is the lack of a 5x5 icon grid. Again, in ADW you can have a choice of icon numbers both horizontally and vertically. While 6 or 7 is too much, I like the choice. 4x4 with that gigantic screen indicator is useless. I use a couple of big widgets on my main screen and there is no room left for the important icons.
Now for the question. Is there any way to create a 5x5 icon grid on stock unrooted touchwiz?
From my point of view, Samsung is copying Apple by limiting the choices and configurability. If we could choose our icons and how they act, it would be a lot less like Apple. Personally, when I try an Apple device, I get frustrated because of the lack of control I have. I don't like someone else making my choices. One last part of my rant: I recently tried Windows 8 on a laptop. It looks like everyone is trying to copy Apple.
All this is because the motion scrolling features and eyeball sensor are TouchWiz only. I would like to move my phone to move icons around. I would like to keep the screen on time short to save battery but still be able to have it stay on when I am reading a long web page.
I'm pretty sure all the TW features stick around even if you use a different launcher. I know smart stay and tap to top work on Nova and those are the only ones I use.
Edit: all the motion features still work on other launchers. I just went through them all. Liberate yourself. I use Nova.
Alternatively, if you are rooted you can find a modded stock launcher. Or even flash a more heavily modded rom. This is where Android shines anyway. Not because of what the manufacturers allow, but what open source allows!
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app
dkmdlb said:
I'm pretty sure all the TW features stick around even if you use a different launcher. I know smart stay and tap to top work on Nova and those are the only ones I use.
Edit: all the motion features still work on other launchers. I just went through them all. Liberate yourself. I use Nova.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use nova also with the motion featres
Sent from my SGH-T999 or GT-P3113 using xda premium

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