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Hi all,
I have jumped on the Amazon Fire Phone. I'm already a prime member, using an old LG P930 with Cyanogenmod, but as you can imagine the hardware is a bit old. For $100.00 (since I'm already a prime member the extra year of Prime would have been purchased anyways) this phone was a no brainier for me. My question is, what launcher are you guys running? The Nova launcher works well, but gives an error when installing widgets. Trebuchet fails to launch unfortunately. So far my favorite launcher is Cheetah Launcher by CC Launcher. Everything works, it's clean, and allows the use of my widgets. (Pandora and 1 weather is a must for me). Swiping up to go back works just fine. The only thing I don't like is you don't get notifications of emails or messages in the dock. Also, the default AOS status bar seems a bit weak. It notifies you and the notification goes away. I have been seeing something, wanting to grab it later, and then forget. :|
Anyone else got any launcher or good apps that go well with them to make it more user friendly? I'm very impressed what a simple launcher and side loading apps will give you with this device with out downgrading it or rooting it.
- Jeremy
I've tried nova launcher and Doodol launcher. They both seem to work with the exception of wallpapers
Anyone have any idea of what needs done to get wallpapers working?
On 3.5.0 wallpapers only work with root (xposed tweak)
Yahoo Aviate works well with sll of their built in wallpapers (no widgets work, and you can't select a picture from your gallery though)
Buzz Launcher works with wallpaper support (including your own images). No widgets work though.
I tried a bunch of launchers today and those two are the best so far
So annoying that widgets didn't work on Nova, which has always been our preference, so I set up GEL on wife's new phone. So far she's ok with it, except for being confused how to get out of the Google Now panel (she thought it was an app and was trying to swipe up to get "back" not realizing it was just the left most panel of the launcher).
One thing I did try to set up also that isn't working is Pie Control. It worked for a little bit when first loaded, but subsequent attempts to activate it haven't been successful. I suspect the swipe-in capabilities are hi-jacked by the Fire OS.
Another annoyance is the inability to make direct-dial shortcuts.
I installed, or attempted to install the GNL and wasn't successful. I'll give it a go again. I think I remember the install took, but it wouldn't open the launcher. Still, if looking around, check out that Cheetah Launcher. It just doesn't give notifications in the dock.
Speaking of notifications, does anyone know of a good notification bar? The stock bar on this phone doesn't show an icon that there is a pending kik message, voicemail, text, etc.
rEVOLVE said:
So annoying that widgets didn't work on Nova, which has always been our preference, so I set up GEL on wife's new phone. So far she's ok with it, except for being confused how to get out of the Google Now panel (she thought it was an app and was trying to swipe up to get "back" not realizing it was just the left most panel of the launcher).
One thing I did try to set up also that isn't working is Pie Control. It worked for a little bit when first loaded, but subsequent attempts to activate it haven't been successful. I suspect the swipe-in capabilities are hi-jacked by the Fire OS.
Another annoyance is the inability to make direct-dial shortcuts.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So I installed the Google Now Launcher .apk again. It then stated I needed google search. Downloaded that .apk. It told me to clear my launcher defaults, I did, but Google Now Launcher isn't an option in the launcher selection. Any idea?
Never mind. I restarted the phone and is good to go. I seem to like the Cheetah Launcher much better so far!
I use Vire Launcher. Its built in wallpapers work perfectly and all widgets work and can be resized. It also has some cool effects.
tried vire launcher and dodol launcher. neither launcher seems to update my missed call count or text messages count properly. ie always showing missed calls.
anybody having this issue as well, or know of a fix?
alrgeez said:
tried vire launcher and dodol launcher. neither launcher seems to update my missed call count or text messages count properly. ie always showing missed calls.
anybody having this issue as well, or know of a fix?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've installed a few launchers, okay - a lot of launchers. Below are the ones that I found that give the count of SMS, missed calls, etc.
- Nine Launcher (not a huge fan)
- C Launcher Lite (not bad - not very customizable)
- Solo Launcher (pretty slick - but outside widget support doesn't work)
I'm currently on the hunt for a good status bar or notifier.
The Google Now Launcher seems to work very well without any lag. Its very light weight although not very customizable. So far it seems to be a good place to start until other launchers become more compatible. I added the dashclock widget to the homescreen, with better weather addon, plus the other alerts I need and this seems a complete setup right now that matches my Nexus 4 setup.
Xyth said:
The Google Now Launcher seems to work very well without any lag. Its very light weight although not very customizable. So far it seems to be a good place to start until other launchers become more compatible. I added the dashclock widget to the homescreen, with better weather addon, plus the other alerts I need and this seems a complete setup right now that matches my Nexus 4 setup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does anybody know, how can i create folders in goole now launcher. I tried holding 1 app icon and pasting it over another, but straight away it takes to the main screen.
Thanks
ankitaroramba said:
Does anybody know, how can i create folders in goole now launcher. I tried holding 1 app icon and pasting it over another, but straight away it takes to the main screen.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Drag one icon and drop onto another icon. This creates a folder that you can then name.
GoLauncher Ex
GoLauncher Ex seems to work well, all widgets worked for me
Xyth said:
Drag one icon and drop onto another icon. This creates a folder that you can then name.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, but this is only working at the home screen, not in the apps menu.
Is it working for you in Apps menu as well? Let me know i have tried 100 times, and soon as i try to drag 1 icon it takes me to the home screen,.
ankitaroramba said:
Thanks, but this is only working at the home screen, not in the apps menu.
Is it working for you in Apps menu as well? Let me know i have tried 100 times, and soon as i try to drag 1 icon it takes me to the home screen,.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think you can make folders on the apps menu. I don't seem to be able to on my Nexus 4 with its stock launcher, so its no surprise you cant do it in the Google launcher we are loading.
Thanks for this question though. I thought the launcher was limited to 3 pages but I found that you can create more empty pages by long pressing the home screen and moving the existing side pages to one side of the home page, then dragging icons to the side that now has no page to create a new page. I tried simply dragging icons earlier but it would not form a new page until I moved the old page first. Strange process but it works.
Fire Phone Lauchers - Wallpaper and Widgets
Hi All -
I've gone through just about every launcher I can find to find one that both wallpaper and Widgets work on... With no luck.
Buzz Launcher has wallpaper working, a number of launchers have widgets working, but none with both...
Has anyone else had any luck with both? Do we know what makes one or the other not work? Would rolling back to older versions of some of these launchers (pre-lollipop and kitkat) work?
Thoughts? Help? Suggestions?
Thanks!!!
Has anyone tried Action Launcher Pro? I wonder if it gets along with Fire Phone (no root).
I've tried at least 20 different launchers today. The only one that has wallpaper and widgets working is still Vire Launcher.
Folks when using nova launcher there's a clear noticeable lag when launching apps from home screens.
I've tested this versus stock oneplus launcher. On stock oneplus launcher apps launch instantly after you tap on an icon, whilst on nova the app icon lights up & then the app is launched afterwards. My best mate who also uses a oneplus 3 has been experiencing the same issue.
To test this for yourself, use oneplus launcher for a minute, opening various apps - then do the same on nova and you'll immediately notice the micro lag.
This also occurs when launching apps from the app drawer.
Anyone else noticed this?
I also experience the exact same issue. Noticed it couple of days ago but haven't had time to post about it here.
I have reported the issue to the Nova Launcher Dev via email and also in the Beta Google+ page. This is definitely a Nova Launcher bug as I have tested Google Now Launcher, the new Pixel Launcher and the official One plus launcher.
On all three apps open the instant an icon is touched while on nova an icon is touched, the icon briefly lights up and only then opens. It is something you might not notice initially but once someone tells you or shows you, you can't miss it and it gets more and more iritating with time.
Have tried moving to other launchers but the uncustomisable grid size on Google Now, Pixel and Oneplus launcher keep me from doing so as most of them have massive vertical gaps inbetween apps on the homescreen.
It happens on both Latest Beta and Latest Stable version of Nova Launcher Prime. Have tried to remove all widgets off homescreen, turning off animations system wide, but it did not make a difference.
Running Official Rooted Stock with Viper4Android Oxygen 3.2.6. Do not use xposed so a module can't be the culprit.
Try changing scroll speed and animation speed to Fast under nova setting look and feel. Also in developer settings change transition animation scale, animator transition scale and windows animation scale all to .5
stevessvt said:
Try changing scroll speed and animation speed to Fast under nova setting look and feel. Also in developer settings change transition animation scale, animator transition scale and windows animation scale all to .5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The problem isn't an animation problem. It is a delay that happens before the animation even takes plays. It doesn't matter even if you switch the animations off system wide under eveloper options the delay between when you tap on an app and it opening is still noticeable
Oh, ok. Mine is bone stock unrooted and don't have any stutters that I can see. Wish I could help.
stevessvt said:
Oh, ok. Mine is bone stock unrooted and don't have any stutters that I can see. Wish I could help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No worries bro, thanks for chiming in :beer:
Can't say I notice anything more than the animation.
My nova beta with prime on stock oxygen 3.2.6 is as smooth as one plus launcher.
I don't notice it myself; that said, I'm using FreedomOS (slightly modified OOS) and blu_spark kernel, which might help improve performance a bit.
Most apps open up before I even manage to lift the finger off the screen, those that take longer are equally slow on both launchers. (Talking about cold starts here, once they're in RAM everything's pretty much instant).
Sent from my OnePlus 3 using Tapatalk
It probably comes from the fact you can assign 2 different apps for the same icon.
One for "click" and one for "slide up".
If you slide up the app drawer icon you'll enter in Nove Settings for example.
"Not a bug, just a feature" ^^
Same thing with SmartLauncher.
krohme said:
Folks when using nova launcher there's a clear noticeable lag when launching apps from home screens.
I've tested this versus stock oneplus launcher. On stock oneplus launcher apps launch instantly after you tap on an icon, whilst on nova the app icon lights up & then the app is launched afterwards. My best mate who also uses a oneplus 3 has been experiencing the same issue.
To test this for yourself, use oneplus launcher for a minute, opening various apps - then do the same on nova and you'll immediately notice the micro lag.
This also occurs when launching apps from the app drawer.
Anyone else noticed this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm using Nova since two weeks with RR and Boeffla's Kernel, and I have no lags at all. I've set the animation of Nova to "Fast". When I open the drawer, or the widget menu, I can't notice any micro lag. I think this problem is not Nova-related
Dushaine said:
It probably comes from the fact you can assign 2 different apps for the same icon.
One for "click" and one for "slide up".
If you slide up the app drawer icon you'll enter in Nove Settings for example.
"Not a bug, just a feature" ^^
Same thing with SmartLauncher.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That shouldn't cause any lags, sliding and tapping are completely different actions.
Lags or rather delays happen when you have double tap functions, because in that case the system has to wait after first tap to see if you'll tap again. But sliding has no influence here.
I'm using swipe-up functions on multiple icons and still see no lag whatsoever.
Sent from my OnePlus 3 using Tapatalk
Explorer23 said:
That shouldn't cause any lags, sliding and tapping are completely different actions.
Lags or rather delays happen when you have double tap functions, because in that case the system has to wait after first tap to see if you'll tap again. But sliding has no influence here.
I'm using swipe-up functions on multiple icons and still see no lag whatsoever.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He said "micro-lag" not huge lag. But you're right, those are two different things
I just checked on my device and I have a little latency due to the animation (just tried to change the speed animation and it fixed it).
I can confirm this lags on RR with Nova launcher, Trebuchet open the aps faster!
Doesn't happen to me on Sultan's ROM.
Micro Lag
Paraless said:
Doesn't happen to me on Sultan's ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The lag is a MICRO lag not a very noticeable lag. Any other launcher including, google now, pixel, one plus and action launcher 3 don't have it but nova does. doesnt matter if your using stable or beta builds. Makes no difference what home screen set up you got. There is slight delay between when you touch the screen and the app icon you pressed starts playing animation. The app lights up first which it shouldn't do. it should just start animation the minute the app icon touchscreen input is detected. It is alot less likely to happen if the app is not in memory. Once the app is in memory it does it every single time you press home, whatsapp for example. Moved to Action Launcher 3 after using Nova Prime for past 3 years. Reported to developer via email and google+ beta page but no reply in 3 days.
noticed this since i got the phone a couple of weeks ago, but only if keeping app in memory (i.e. hitting home instead of back). if i hit back to exit app, this delay doesn't occur (except maybe w/ facebook)
only happens w/ nova launcher and definitely specific to OP3. i would use stock launcher, but i prefer to turn all animations off, and nova seems to be the only launcher that keeps the light up on button/app press with animations off.
in general, OP3 seems to lag a bit compared to my OPX in regards to navigating menus (i.e. settings)
I can also confirm microlag when launching apps, really annoyed with it.
As much as I want to use Nova Launcher, it's just not as smooth and quick as the stock Pixel Launcher. Anyone else feel this way? At the same time, I have a love/hate relationship with Pixel Launcher because I love having the icon unread notification numbers on Nova as well as being able to change the home screen grid size. In the end, though, Nova is just not as quick loading apps and the app drawer.
I agree Google isn't making it easy to use another launcher on Pixel phones. It's a shame.
Nova is definitely not as smooth as the Pixel launcher. But Nova has so many advantages for me that I'll take its options over overall smoothness any day.
Ghisy said:
I agree Google isn't making it easy to use another launcher on Pixel phones. It's a shame.
Nova is definitely not as smooth as the Pixel launcher. But Nova has so many advantages for me that I'll take its options over overall smoothness any day.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here.
U guys can use one plus launcher, one UI launcher and a custom pixel launcher as well with More customizations. There's a thread on telegram.
Action Launcher does pretty much everything Nova can do and it does everything stock pixel launcher does too. Including copying from recents screen and using Android 10 gestures.
Launchers can add the ability to work correctly on Pixels, Google opened up the ability for 3rd party launchers in December, Action Launcher is only one I know of that can do it without using quickstep or magisk.
smartymcfly said:
Action Launcher does pretty much everything Nova can do and it does everything stock pixel launcher does too. Including copying from recents screen and using Android 10 gestures.
Launchers can add the ability to work correctly on Pixels, Google opened up the ability for 3rd party launchers in December, Action Launcher is only one I know of that can do it without using quickstep.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The ones I'm referring to don't require quickstep either, just flash in magisk
shooterlgk said:
The ones I'm referring to don't require quickstep either, just flash in magisk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Action Launcher doesn't require magisk.
smartymcfly said:
Action Launcher doesn't require magisk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fully aware, just providing more options
I keep seeing these threads where at least one person claims Nova doesn't work correctly. Last year, I would have agreed... but I've been using Nova for months and I have forgotten about any drawbacks if there are any. The only differences I remember are a couple animations and the recents menu doesn't have suggestion icons? (which never suggested apps I wanted to use, so I don't miss it)
What's the smoothness that people are complaining about? The animations run as fast as my finger pushes things around... Is it just the quality and type of animations? If so, I want functionality far over such things. Having to use substratum/magisk to customize the Pixel Launcher was way worse than recreating my layout in Nova. If only things like TeslaUnread were still officially supported... but Google likes killing off useful things.
Feel free to help me understand what I'm missing.
jljtgr said:
I keep seeing these threads where at least one person claims Nova doesn't work correctly. Last year, I would have agreed... but I've been using Nova for months and I have forgotten about any drawbacks if there are any. The only differences I remember are a couple animations and the recents menu doesn't have suggestion icons? (which never suggested apps I wanted to use, so I don't miss it)
What's the smoothness that people are complaining about? The animations run as fast as my finger pushes things around... Is it just the quality and type of animations? If so, I want functionality far over such things. Having to use substratum/magisk to customize the Pixel Launcher was way worse than recreating my layout in Nova. If only things like TeslaUnread were still officially supported... but Google likes killing off useful things.
Feel free to help me understand what I'm missing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nova says in the settings that Google has not made it possible for Nova to use Android 10 gestures correctly. Google has made it work, but Nova hasn't been updated to allow it yet.
smartymcfly said:
Nova says in the settings that Google has not made it possible for Nova to use Android 10 gestures correctly. Google has made it work, but Nova hasn't been updated to allow it yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In my opinion, the warning is wrong. Back when I first got my phone, like half of the gestures didn't quite work. Now everything works for me.
At Nova's homescreen...
Swipe from side: Isn't triggered because you can't go back from home. Just flips pages.
Swipe from bottom: Opens app search. I'm not sure if the gesture is doing this or Nova is.
Swipe from bottom & hold: Opens recents.
Swipe from corner: Shows assistant overlay.
Everything basic works. I don't have palm swipe screenshots enabled.
My issue with Nova is the delay going back to the home screen. I can't immediately open another app. I always have to wait an extra second or click on app twice before it opens. I want the full pixel experience and it seems that Nova doesn't always deliver on it. I do occasionally go back to it until I get annoyed with my first statement.
Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk
Honestly, I've never noticed this. I guess I go home before I know what I want to click on and so I'm never quick enough to see it.
The way it's acting, it reminds me of a paused activity that needs to refresh when the app gets restored. I tried to disable battery optimization for Nova, but it didn't help. I'm not sure how to solve that.
I tried the same test on my old phone and pressing the home button actually does nothing for a split second, then Nova shows and responds immediately. But when you gesture, you want it to happen immediately... not a split second later. So in that way, Android 10 and Nova do the sensible thing and shows the paused activity.
shooterlgk said:
U guys can use one plus launcher, one UI launcher and a custom pixel launcher as well with More customizations. There's a thread on telegram.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you provide a link please?
I was using Nova Launche a lot of time ago! let's going to check how does it works now!
I have no reason to use any other launcher than pixel launcher. It works just as I need.
not sure what the hoo-blah is. I have been using Nova prime beta with no issues. No problems returning home... No speed issues. The warning that is in there is talking about the gesture navigation system wide not inside the launcher. So this means you have to use the classic 3 button method to navigate (back, home, recent). IMHO this does not affect the experience at all. Definitely prefer Nova and the customization over the stock launcher. :good:
Edit:Actually just changed the nav settings and Nova is working with new gestures.
ksmullins88 said:
not sure what the hoo-blah is. I have been using Nova prime beta with no issues. No problems returning home... No speed issues. The warning that is in there is talking about the gesture navigation system wide not inside the launcher. So this means you have to use the classic 3 button method to navigate (back, home, recent). IMHO this does not affect the experience at all. Definitely prefer Nova and the customization over the stock launcher. :good:
Edit:Actually just changed the nav settings and Nova is working with new gestures.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just switched back to Nova from Lawnchair on both my S20+ and Pixel 4XL. Nova works beautiful now and Nova Google Companion works with dark mode.
I'm on Android 11 Beta and am running Nova with no problems with gestures at all. For some reason on 10 they were not working as smooth and I would get some lag going back to the home screen. On 11, those problems have seemed to disappear.
While that's true, the closing app animation is not there and feels weird. ( Using gesture navigation )
I just noticed there's some lag in Mi 10T when using Nova Launcher as the default launcher. For example, when changing apps in multitasking or going back to homescreen.
Also, when Nova Launcher is set as default, you lose the gesture to go to the previous app swiping up from the bottom and then right.
Any solutions?
sergio_sant said:
I just noticed there's some lag in Mi 10T when using Nova Launcher as the default launcher. For example, when changing apps in multitasking or going back to homescreen.
Also, when Nova Launcher is set as default, you lose the gesture to go to the previous app swiping up from the bottom and then right.
Any solutions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Gestures don't work at all in custom launchers, that's a limitation of android 10, and 11, and without rooting there is no solution for now. As for lagginess that's again using other launchers. Try and find one that doesn't lag (nova doesn't lag for me, but I'm using classic 3 buttons navigation because gesture nav doesn't work...)
calinorg said:
Gestures don't work at all in custom launchers, that's a limitation of android 10, and 11, and without rooting there is no solution for now. As for lagginess that's again using other launchers. Try and find one that doesn't lag (nova doesn't lag for me, but I'm using classic 3 buttons navigation because gesture nav doesn't work...)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am rooted. I have all navigation gestures working with Nova except the one I mentioned...
sergio_sant said:
I am rooted. I have all navigation gestures working with Nova except the one I mentioned...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have to find the way to get nova launcher to behave like system launcher (delete miui launcher and put nova in its place) to get gestures working. Check on internet, there's tons of guides on how to make system launcher, or maybe there is some magisk module that does that...
calinorg said:
You have to find the way to get nova launcher to behave like system launcher (delete miui launcher and put nova in its place) to get gestures working. Check on internet, there's tons of guides on how to make system launcher, or maybe there is some magisk module that does that...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just tried that and made Nova a system app, then I deleted MIUI Launcher. It behaves the same. Switch between apps from the bottom (Android 10 native gesture) is not working. I'll just have to stick with the MIUI Launcher then, though I hate to see icon labels in home screen...
sergio_sant said:
I just tried that and made Nova a system app, then I deleted MIUI Launcher. It behaves the same. Switch between apps from the bottom (Android 10 native gesture) is not working. I'll just have to stick with the MIUI Launcher then, though I hate to see icon labels in home screen...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I feel your pain.
Same deal on my Note 10+... those damn white labels. That's all I wanted to change.
Nova Launcher does slow it down as do many others if it already has a good stock launcher as the 10+ actually does.
Nova used a lot more resources/battery than stock too.
Take any launcher instability seriously.
After hyperion boot looped me twice, yes two full reloads worth of fun, I decided I could live with the white labels.
My need for speed and system stability is much greater...
So after some time I decided to go with the 12.5 GLOBAL update which then gave me immediate problems like apps not rendering at all, general UI hanging, lagging or not responding, black wallpaper and lock screen and change of launcher.
So I re-enabled and re-installed most apps from Xiaomi adb/fastboot tool and most problems are now gone away.
But Nova Launcher which is the launcher I used mainly before update is nowhere to be seen. It was not to be seen in the home screen selection screen when hitting the home button, or via settings (while other launchers I installed were to be shown) and not even on the apps list. Trying to reinstall from Google Play show a message which says google play cannot install Nova Launcher. Trying to sideload APKs of several versions did not work either.
Anyone else experience this problem ? is it Xiaomi that decided to block this specific launcher ?