Pixel Launcher - Google Pixel XL Questions & Answers

I've tried the new pixel launcher and I like it. I'm sure once my new pixel xl arrives the launcher will even get better. I've since gotten rid of the pixel launcher and have setup my Nova launcher to imitate the pixel close enough and still keep the ability to modify it. This is my point. Why hasn't Google of all companies made a launcher that unless I've missed something lacks the ability for even minor modifications. I'm not asking for Nova types of mods, maybe little basic like being able to change icons or adding dock pages. I hate having my pages littered with icons or even folders. I usually add dock pages and keep my folders in there leaving a clean looking phone. So for me anyway if whatever launcher won't allow me to do those couple things I won't use it. I'd anyone else out there that would love just the ability to do little modifications?
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Xparent BlueTapatalk 2

jarnoldsr said:
I've tried the new pixel launcher and I like it. I'm sure once my new pixel xl arrives the launcher will even get better. I've since gotten rid of the pixel launcher and have setup my Nova launcher to imitate the pixel close enough and still keep the ability to modify it. This is my point. Why hasn't Google of all companies made a launcher that unless I've missed something lacks the ability for even minor modifications. I'm not asking for Nova types of mods, maybe little basic like being able to change icons or adding dock pages. I hate having my pages littered with icons or even folders. I usually add dock pages and keep my folders in there leaving a clean looking phone. So for me anyway if whatever launcher won't allow me to do those couple things I won't use it. I'd anyone else out there that would love just the ability to do little modifications?
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Exactly my concern as well. I'm a long time Nova Launcher user like you are, but you'll probably get a truer Pixel Launcher experience with Action Launcher. Pixel widgets, app drawer, folders and quick pop up menus that you see in Pixel Launcher also work in the latest version of Action Launcher.
Not only that, but Action Launcher sizes the Pixel Launcher wallpapers correctly, which is a big reason I'm using it right now.
Back to your point... I'm hoping that Google will finally allow the same customization with Pixel Launcher as they do with the Google keyboard nowadays (changing themes, etc...). I don't want to lose any of the features that are exclusive to Pixel Launcher by using something else, but I also need that customization.

Related

Favorite Launcher?

Nothing came up in the seach so thought I'd get some input on launchers. It would be nice to hear why you prefer certain launchers over others.
Feel free to add my rom and kernel are great, I dont bother with any extra launcher.
Ive been using Go Launcher for a while now, I really like it.
A quick thing I noticed was that they put a settings button back on the bottom with back and home where it belongs. Not sure why google took this out, theres room for it.
The abundance of customization is nice.
Lots of homescreen transitions (I love the cylinder one)
Lots of dock control, really like how clicking and swiping a dock icon can launch separate apps.
App drawer settings are good, I really dislike the iphone horizontal page turn set up of the standard app drawer so having a vertical scroll is a great option. Changing the grid size, easily hiding apps, having the all/recent/running tabs.
Gesture settings, already so many ways and apps to get to things quicker, having this built in is a bonus. I got used to it in dolphin browser so it was a welcomed addon. Also simple things like swiping down anywhere on the screen to pull down the notifications bar is something Im not sure I could go without now.
Nice theme selection, Although I dont bother with any.
Lots of other great GO apps and go widgets.
I used to really like the whole menu system they have when you long press on a homescreen to pull up widgets, wallpapers, themes etc until ICS added the widget previews right in the app drawer. Thats missing in Go Launcher and is one of the few things I wish it had.
I have liked Apex a lot. Seemed like I could setup a single 6x6 screen with smoothness better then I could with Nova. In both cases I used the betas with Jelly Bean patches in them.
Also, there is a whole thread here about launchers:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1771170
whitedragonz83 said:
Also, there is a whole thread here about launchers:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1771170
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice, I guess since I put favorite in the seach it didn't come up.
My favorite is whatever comes stock on my current ROM. To me, the advantages of different launchers aren't that great to have to mess with one more thing.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
Nova Prime
i have nova prime but since jellybean i've taken a liking to the stock launcher.
nova prime
I use Apex. I would use stock but I need a scrolling dock

[Q] launchers

I'm not going to ask which launcher or anything like that. I already have one in mind if I do decide to go that route.
What I want to know is if they are worth it or not? Do they slow the phone down at all? As it seems as an overlay to an overlay.
I see some, like nova, have a add-on for unread counts for messages and calls and things. Is this saying that without this add-on I won't have a count for missed messages or a notification at all?
Thanks you for the input
launchers
In comparison to the stock LG launcher you'll find you'll actually have a smother experience. Launchers like holo or nova are really light weight and have a smaller footprint in memory than the stock launcher. When you choose a new launcher as default the lg launcher is closed. Or at least resources are being prioritized to the default launcher. I'm a beginner when it comes to how android handles processes so maybe someone else can offer a better explanation. The addons for nova add unread counts to icons on homescreens, app drawer and folders. You'll still get all notifications through the status bar. Its just eye candy and extras you get for the paid version of the launcher.
BadFish79 said:
I'm not going to ask which launcher or anything like that. I already have one in mind if I do decide to go that route.
What I want to know is if they are worth it or not? Do they slow the phone down at all? As it seems as an overlay to an overlay.
I see some, like nova, have a add-on for unread counts for messages and calls and things. Is this saying that without this add-on I won't have a count for missed messages or a notification at all?
Thanks you for the input
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Won't hurt to check out other launchers. If you dont like them simply uninstall and your back to where you were
ADW is old school and basic, I prefer that. Holo is decent so is Apex, but my go to is always Nova. They're all fun to play with.
It's worth it. I use Nova and it's faster and has more organization and customization options than stock LG or AOSP. Just the speed and being able to hide apps from the app drawer is worth it for me. For reference, Nova runs way faster on my Nexus 7 than the JB launcher.
lots of good options. Nova is a great one, but I like Apex and Holo.
To answer your question, if you don't install extensions, then you won't have the message count on the app icon, but that's all it does. I personally don't like it, so I have never installed it.
Honestly though, if you aren't a "power user" who likes to tinker with all of the options in the launcher, Apex, Holo and Nova are all very similar.
Can someone explain the dock as overlay option? Isn't the dock always visible on the home screen?
Sent from my LG-LS970
BadFish79 said:
Can someone explain the dock as overlay option? Isn't the dock always visible on the home screen?
Sent from my LG-LS970
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Click to collapse
Default, the dock is basically an extra row of icons ON the desktop, that carries over from screen to screen.
Dock as overlay changes your dock to being a row of icons that is on a layer separate from your desktop. As an example, you can turn this on and turn on a slide up gesture to toggle dock, which would give you a kind of mini app drawer on top of the desktop. If you did not turn this on, toggling dock would bump your desktop icons up and down, as it would then be a part of the desktop and not be a layer on top of it.

Nova Launcher on OP3 ?

I have nova Prime, have used Nova for years of phones. The one issue I have with it is no shadow feature on the stock icon them.. You simply can't have a colorful or brighter style wallpaper if you don't have shadows !
Does anyone else use nova launcher and agree/disagree and if not nova, what do you use instead of nova for shadow enabled icons ?
I use Nova..
And honestly I stopped using it as the oneplus home is sufficient for me.
I also have Nova Prime. I mostly use it because I paid for it but I do prefer the look of Nova compared to the OOS Launcher and I like being able to remove the google search bar from the desktop. Also the App Drawer is not to my liking in OOS. I have never worried about shadows for Icons but maybe you could message the Nova Developer and make a request for that feature. Peace
I use Nova Prime for one simple reason. I like the OP3 launcher fine myself, and actually like the shelf widget.. however, if you remove the google search bar, the space can't be used and causes the widgets to sit lower on the screen. No bueno.
Installed Nova and setup and after a couple of performance adjustments, am finding its every bit as speed as OP3 launcher with widgets able to be adjusted as I'd like.
I use Nova Prime but the main reason is the ability to change grid the way i want it and have lots of costumisation. I use Cobalt icons and look great. Have used LG G3, Zenfone 2 and now OP3, and even tried the stock launcher but Nova win all the time... For me is the best launcher in market (there are lots of other lauchers that are also great)
I use nova and use custom icon sets so I don't run into this issue

Can I please know some great lag free launchers/ui paid or free for Moto Z Play ?

Hello all,
I am about to get the new moto z play as the seller has not shipped it yet, and in moto z play after coming from htc one m8 with its good sense ui and classic/freestlye layout themes, i will not want to use/keep the stock feel. So I want experts kind help, to tell me some great and importantly lag free launchers/ui paid or free for Moto Z Play ?
Just want to also tell that I will never root it. So no answers on custom roms, etc needed.
Will highly appreciate the answers. It may help many more too!
I love you XDA !!
Hi,
Take a look at Nova Launcher.
Sent from my XT1635-02 using Tapatalk
Sony Xperia launcher 206b is Fab...
My link.
No folder bug pertained to KitKat on Moto phones.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=51598290&postcount=1
Dev's thread
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2103403
Some say it is not as good (as it was,) on Marshmallow.
Edit, sadly I just realized wallpapers do not work.
No so, on our phone, albeit has one minor issue not showing all of the bottom row of app drawer icons. So the labels get chopped. For this I have a work around. Folders work, backup and restore and everything else.
Screenshot minus wallpaper
http://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=3975999&stc=1&d=1482369835
Action Launcher 3 Pro is love <3
Stock launcher is actually fairly nice with little to no bloat. That being said I loaded Nova Prime since I had it already and love the tweaks it allows.
I personally use T-UI (called Shell launcher on the Play Store). It is completely different from the stock launcher and is lag free, but unless you like using a linux terminal you will not like it.
Action Launcher 3 Pro, Nova Launcher.
I have paid Nova with a live wallpaper and a white line icon pack to go with my black theme, and even with animations at stock speed and using the transition animations in Nova, it's super smooth.
I've been using Smart Launcher for awhile now.. find it to be really smooth and unbloated
Sent from my XT1635-02 using Tapatalk
Nova. I believe they have an offer/discount for the premium version on the playstore
xxsilentazasinxx said:
Action Launcher 3 Pro is love <3
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I chose this, its very good!
i prefer stock launcher, on my previous phone i used pixel launcher
aviwdoowks said:
My link.
No folder bug pertained to KitKat on Moto phones.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=51598290&postcount=1
Dev's thread
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2103403
Some say it is not as good (as it was,) on Marshmallow.
Edit, sadly I just realized wallpapers do not work.
No so, on our phone, albeit has one minor issue not showing all of the bottom row of app drawer icons. So the labels get chopped. For this I have a work around. Folders work, backup and restore and everything else.
Screenshot minus wallpaper
http://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=3975999&stc=1&d=1482369835
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please forgive me for quoting myself.
I do not think most of you realize what a great launcher this is.
Let me count the ways...
Instantly sort apps by date, most used or name
Migrate browser favs which I have saved to many home pages, in various folders, after a FDR or to others phones. This is part of it's backup feature.
It is fast.
You do have to put up with a black only wallpaper and an app drawer that hides some of is bottom row. Which you can work around by touching the icon to see the whole row.
See pics.
Snip rant...
Action Launcher 3 Pro. Without a doubt one of the best launchers I've used and loaded with features. It makes it easy to replicate a Nougat look too.
Commented about lag in another thread on stock rom. Glad I'm not the only one.
If there is any way to make software fast instead of smooth please lmk. Every animation is off and it still chokes on a single factory widget.
Go to this forum:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-z-play/themes/root-pixel-look-moto-z-play-t3580446
Evie Launcher is the best. I think
Evie Launcher is free and adfree.
No lags... light weight with lot of features. better than default Oreo UI
Nova launcher here for the past 5 years fast smooth and very customisable.

Best launcher option for clean/simple use?

So now that Google deprecated the Google Launcher, what is my best bet to make my Tab S4 look and behave more like my Pixel 3? I've frozen the Samsung apps by and large and replaced them with the Google ones on the home screen. What is my option for overall behavior? I'm a fan of Samsung hardware, but not any of their interfaces that I've ever used. I may still be bitter from TouchWiz UI.
personally I m using Nova or Shade Launcher (there are other options)
https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/apps-games/source-shade-launcher-make-phone-feel-t3931886
I use Action Launcher - have used it for years on my tablets and my cell phone.
Lighting launcher
I use Nova Launcher Prime cause I need all the fancy stuff, but for cleaness I would use Lawnchair Launcher. Simple launcher, with yet, a few good features under the hood, including the usefull Sidepanel with Google News Feed.
How did you freeze apps?

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