Hi there, here is a few launchers and some of the extra features.
These launchers are tested in HTC Wildfire, CM7 Nightly Android 2.3.3, build 31 with 250apps (750mb Data & cache of apps are moved to SD Ext.)
These few launchers are available in Android Market.
These launchers are tested in time required to fully load the apps and widget after reboot (minutes), smoothness of scrolling apps drawer (1 poor -10 best ), smoothness of scrolling 7 home screen filled with 1/2 page of widgets and shortcut (1 poor -10 best ), landscape mode (yes/no).
1. Launcher Pro Plus
Time required to fully load the launcher after reboot: < 45 seconds
Smoothness of scrolling apps drawer: 6
Smoothness of scrolling 7 home screen: 5
Landscape mode: Yes
Extra features: scrollable dock bar (3 page), very smooth open apps drawer animation, no lag at all then open the app drawer.
2. ADW EX
Time required to fully load the launcher after reboot: >3 minutes
Smoothness of scrolling apps drawer: 8
Smoothness of scrolling 7 home screen: 7
Landscape mode: Yes
Extra features: you can scroll your homepage with a few different animation, apps drawer will lag sometimes, force close sometimes, has full screen mode in app drawer (with notification bar but without dock bar).
3. Launcher 7
Time required to fully load the launcher after reboot: < 30 seconds
Smoothness of scrolling apps drawer: 9
Smoothness of scrolling home screen (up and down): 7
Landscape mode: Yes
Extra features: looks like windows mobile phone's launcher, can switch between WP7/android launcher application drawer style, simple, fast.
4. Go Launcher EX
Time required to fully load the launcher after reboot: > 1 minutes
Smoothness of scrolling apps drawer: 5
Smoothness of scrolling 7 home screen: 9
Landscape mode: Yes
Extra features: looks like launcher pro, scrollable dock (3 pages), takes about 2 seconds to open app drawer, you can view recent apps and running service in apps drawer.
Please let me know if I left out some launchers and please correct my error or mistakes.
Thanks,
From Melvinchng
Currently using CM7 Nightly
HTC Wildfire @ 710mhz/768mhz
16GB Class 4 Kingston SD card [1.1GB EXT Partition]
with 160/175mb phone momory available.
Special Thanks to Sick6Sicks for great bootanimation, falkenbein for his feedback, and bluedragon1982 for sharing!
Please check the thread before asking questions.
Please press THANKS button if you feel it is useful and it can make me happy!
seriously why are you creating all these random threads? LOL, i'm pretty sure we know about these main launchers that have been out for a while already.
kevin2516 said:
seriously why are you creating all these random threads? LOL, i'm pretty sure we know about these main launchers that have been out for a while already.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cause many people were asking which is the best. So I started this. Do you have other launcher?
Sent from my HTC Wildfire using XDA Premium App
thx melv...
Add launcher 7 and the arc launcher as well.
And there is no best one lols
Sent from my HTC Wildfire using XDA App
kevin2516 said:
Add launcher 7 and the arc launcher as well.
And there is no best one lols
Sent from my HTC Wildfire using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
WIll be added tomorrow. I agree with you. Doesn't have best. Only good, better, but no best.
Sent from my HTC Wildfire using XDA Premium App
and Zeam launcher?
kevin2516 said:
seriously why are you creating all these random threads? LOL, i'm pretty sure we know about these main launchers that have been out for a while already.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just sayin but i find it helpfull. Ty melv
Sent from my HTC Wildfire using XDA Premium App
Related
Has anyone else here tried Go Launcher? I think it's my new favourite. It locks my Streak's screen in portrait by default and is very smooth. You can also organise you home screens better than other launchers too, similar to that of the Galaxy S where you can add, remove and re-arrange your home screens.
Krisbo said:
Has anyone else here tried Go Launcher? I think it's my new favourite. It locks my Streak's screen in portrait by default and is very smooth. You can also organise you home screens better than other launchers too, similar to that of the Galaxy S where you can add, remove and re-arrange your home screens.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Going to try it out now.
U have any screen shots, to check it out? Sounds good.
I am actually trying it out. Its nice the only thing is the grid size of 5x5 is to small.
Sent from my Dell Streak using XDA App
how would you guys compare it to adw.launcher?
fone_fanatic said:
how would you guys compare it to adw.launcher?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I prefer it. I'm using a pixel density of 200 though so 5x5 is a good for me. It seems to run smoother for me than ADW and I really prefer the way it does the previews as opposed to the sense leap style. You can have up to 9 homescreens which is a bonus.
The only thing I'm not 100% on is the app drawer.
Krisbo said:
I prefer it. I'm using a pixel density of 200 though so 5x5 is a good for me. It seems to run smoother for me than ADW and I really prefer the way it does the previews as opposed to the sense leap style. You can have up to 9 homescreens which is a bonus.
The only thing I'm not 100% on is the app drawer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I like the app drawer. The options for running apps is good and you can uninstall from that screen.
Sent from my Dell Streak using XDA App
borijess said:
I like the app drawer. The options for running apps is good and you can uninstall from that screen.
Sent from my Dell Streak using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 on uninstall from drawer. I just wish the top row was smaller, or there was an option to turn it off. To be honest, I generally don't use the drawer very much anyway so it's not a big deal for me.
There are only two things keeping me from using LauncherPro. It can't be locked in portrait. I use a lot of widgets, so if it switches from portrait to landscape then it takes a long time to switch back. The other is that if I want to change the number of home screens, I need to move all of my widgets if I want the default screen to be in the centre.
Tell you what, if Go Launcher can put together a swish Facebook widget like the one in LauncherPro Plus, I'll be sold!
Krisbo said:
+1 on uninstall from drawer. I just wish the top row was smaller, or there was an option to turn it off. To be honest, I generally don't use the drawer very much anyway so it's not a big deal for me.
There are only two things keeping me from using LauncherPro. It can't be locked in portrait. I use a lot of widgets, so if it switches from portrait to landscape then it takes a long time to switch back. The other is that if I want to change the number of home screens, I need to move all of my widgets if I want the default screen to be in the centre.
Tell you what, if Go Launcher can put together a swish Facebook widget like the one in LauncherPro Plus, I'll be sold!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LauncherPro not being able to lock in portrait is only a problem on the Dell Streak because the default orientation of the device is Landscape :/ LauncherPro DOES take SOOO long to switch from portrait to landscape and it annoys the heck out of me if I'm holding my Streak in Portrait and unlock it... feels so sluggish.
The app drawer in GO Launcher is nice, but I wish we could squish more apps side-by-side. That and the text seems like it doesn't fit and shows like Ca...ra (Camera) but for almost all the apps.
I stop using go launcher and went back to launcher pro. Could not get used to the small grid size. If they update the grid I will download it again.
Sent from my Dell Streak using XDA App
+1
It also made the wallpaper issue worse by showing less of it than even stock. Also couldn't use custom icons for buttons as some didn't work.
Went back to launcher pro.
Sent from my Dell Streak using XDA App
Biggzz said:
Going to try it out now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do guide us too as to how to use the Go launcher. Would would good to arrange the widgets on the dell streak
Actually you're bit wrong. Here's why: I have launcher pro plus along with simple lock lockscreen application. Not only unlocks the screen in portrait mode, but also, incoming calls are in portrait mode
Cheers,
Chris
Testing the last few days, using adw ex as default. Like I can have 9 screens very smooth. Prefer the drawer ui 4D also golauncher didn't show full app name in the drawer menu
I'm going to continue using atm
Sent from my Dell Streak using XDA App
I like this Go Launcher, very stable and smooth. This can really lock the screen in protrait mode. Much better than Launcher Pro.
The dock on go launcher is turned left about some pixels..(on potrate)
Question for those using Go Laucher - is there a fix for the issue of the Dock background graphic not scaling correctly on the streak (for example the "ruler" from the sketch theme only covers about 2/3rds of the background of the dock)?
I'm running 2.2 (build 315)...
thanks
I guess it is because of the different DPI Dell Streak have (other WVGA devices have 200 dpi, Streak have 160 dpi). Maybe try to ask authors?
But good news, Go Launcher Ex can have now custom rows and columns on desktop now!
Using latest version of go launcher. Much smoother than adw and pro. It is now my favorite one. Zeam follows as close second because its latest release freezes alot.
I am not seeing any of the issues reported about wallpaper.
Sent from my Dell Streak using Tapatalk
Does no-one else use VTL Launcher then? I've had it a few months now and love it, mainly for the docks that stay there no matter which screen you move to.
Anyone compared it to Go / ADW etc?
I would like to try another launcher but I'm worried about memory usage and consumption.
Installing a launcher deactivate motoblur? How does it work? Will I have motoblur running (but invisible) and the launcher at the same time?
Thanks for all your answers.
Sent from my MB525 using XDA App
Even if you install another launcher motoblur is still there but you won't see the moto UI. Anyway, installing a good launcher (ADW launcher or LauncherPro are the best in my opinion) you'll get several improvements, more customization and less lag when you navigate through home screens and apps menu.
xdaid said it as best as you can get it mate! A different launcher won't remove blur, but will ad more functionality and better performance to your Defy! LauncherPro is my definite choice as ADW was a little sluggish for me!
Might want to take a look at Go Launcher EX it is somewhat like Launcher Pro in looks and function but seems a little easier to configure to me.
There is some personal preference when it come to a launcher also so the best thing to do is take the recommendations that install some and try them for yourself. If you don't like it them just un-install it. No harm no foul.
You can delete the BlurHome.apk from the /system/app/ folder but just make sure you have another launcher installed first as during your next boot android will ask you what launcher to use, and use by default if you so choose.
esp. on the Defy I would recommend Launcher Pro because of one very nice feature:
On Stock Homescreen you have 4 rows and 4 columns. But with launcherpro you can use 6 rows! So no more useless space between the icons and widgets!
After install Launcher Pro and not using Motorola widget my battery life noticeable improve but Motoblur still running in background and suck battery
i will try fritolays method thanks man
*Launcher Pro use memory less than ADW
LauncherPro is great!
He launcher is my favorite. Give it a try. Nothing to loose.
Sent from my MB525 using XDA App
gramps50 said:
Might want to take a look at Go Launcher EX it is somewhat like Launcher Pro in looks and function but seems a little easier to configure to me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I personally found it to be like a poor copy of LauncherPro, lacking some of the features that make LauncherPro so good.
But you're right, it's all a matter of personal preference.
Personally, I'd say LauncherPro is the best out there.
I've also tried ADW, Zeam and Go Launcher and none of them came close IMO.
The only thing that could be improved about Launcher Pro is if it added the LG 'categories' system for sorting the app drawer.
Using go launcher ex. Better than stock. Will try launcher pro to compare. Anyone using the paid version of that?
Sent from my MB525 using XDA App
I like the Agenda wgt on Launcherpro Plus. The SNS wgts would be good if you could change the font size - it's too small for my liking at the moment.
ADW is much better for theming - a lot more themes and easier to apply.
Didn't notice any performance difference between the two.
Am I the only one that thinks LauncherPro is clunkier than Motoblur's launcher (Froyo version) during scrolling?
It's particularly noticeable in the App drawer. In the motoblur drawer the applications scroll silky like on my mate's iphone4, but in LauncherPro it's obvious that the app drawer is stuttering.
I've gone back to blur for now. The main thing I miss customisation abilities on the home screen.
I´m using Zeam Laucher. It´s very small and fast. You can create up to 8 rows and columns. Unfortunatley, they stop developing.
I like LauncherPro and use it with just 3 desktops. There's no more lag switching between them. I think that I'll try the ADW Launcher too, since everyone says it's decent too.
Motorola's default launchs is so sluggish that I thought the mobile was a bad one. I changed my opinion after trying LauncherPro. The Sony-E's X10-Mini default launcher are lightning fast too, but I don't think they're available for non-Sony devices...
I use launcher pro too. So much faster than blur on my Defy and my Galaxy Tab.
Sent from my GT-P1000 using XDA App
Recently I moved to adw launcher ex because on launcher pro I couldn't change shortcut icons after being added to desktop (and I found it quite annoying cause I change them quite often ).
Same speed and memory usage, more or less.
Sent from my MB525
I go between Launcherpro and Go Launcher EX depending on my mood. LP has a smoother app drawer, but Go let's me assign functionality to swipe gestures on the home screen.
It's very easy to get used to hiding the status bar and assigning a downward swipe to slide open the notification drawer anyway.
josidhe said:
I go between Launcherpro and Go Launcher EX depending on my mood. LP has a smoother app drawer, but Go let's me assign functionality to swipe gestures on the home screen.
It's very easy to get used to hiding the status bar and assigning a downward swipe to slide open the notification drawer anyway.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's so true!
Sent from my MB525
Hmm...when i use Launcher Pro - Quadrant Score is 1635.
When i use Go Launcher EX - Quadrant Score is 1532.
Go figure....
GO Launcher EX v2.20 (Complete Collection)
Requirements: All Android versions.
Overview: GO Launcher EX is the extra version of GO Launcher , one of the most popular launcher app in android market. All themes and notifications are included.
What's in this version (v2.20):
!!!Fix the force-close issue, freeze and reload problems
GO Launcher EX is the extra version of GO Launcher, one of the most popular launcher app in android market, provides beautiful themes, fast flip speed and useful functions.
Collection includes:
+ GO Launcher EX v2.20
16 Official Themes (Updated):
+ All Official GO Launcher Themes: Backyard, Wood, Sketch, Ink, Festival, Cartoon, Classic, Valentine, Love
+ All secondary ZT Art Themes: Cracked!, Gre, Angrybirds, BluX, UR (Symbian), BluX AS, Pray for Japan, Metal, Colors
Plug-ins:
+ Dock bar notification plug-in.
Features:
-Fancy home screen transition (MENU-preferences-display settings-screen transition)
-Themes supported (search “go launcher ex theme” to download)
-Smooth scrolling experience (set the flip speed in display settings)
-Icon popup menu (long press icon on the screen)
-Folder and task manager in app drawer (long press icon to enter edit mode)
-Gesture supported (both screen and dock icon)
-Scrollable & resizable widgets supported (free)
Tips:
-If you have lag issue on home screen, try to change the value of flip speed in display settings. (Menu-Preferences-Display settings-Flip speed)
- Long press icons in app drawer to edit location, uninstall apps and create folders.
- Pinch fingers together to enter preview screen and edit home screen pages.
What's in this version (2.20):
1. Support to replace the fonts (preferences- advanced settings)
2. New batch adding function of “Add to screen” list
3. Improve performance of Windmill transition of app drawer
4. Repair lag problems of drawer folders
5. Optimization of dock bar
Download link attached
GO launcher is super SLOW. Slows phone down.
I have lag when opening app drawer, I have lags ON app drawer, I have lags on HC's, change fling speed is helping only a little bit.
Uses too much RAM.
For example: I have beetween 60-90MB free when using ADW Ex, even after extended use.
When using go, I have beetwen 40-60MB of RAM free. After extended amount of free RAM is around 50MB. Task killers don't help.
This is launcher is very future rich, but it's so laggy.
I've been running GO EX for about a month now on my Incredible without any performance issues. I personally think it's the best out there. I previously used ADW EX and love it as well, but always find myself going back to GO EX.
it's true it's too slow, but apart from that I think has no problem and is better than the ADW.. Whith the Honeycomb theme looks great
go launcher?>
i wonder whether it is come from my country ,china . try it later.
Personally I have had no problems using this launcher, combined with the go contacts and dialer, along with some widgets it is very feature rich. Now my phone is rooted and I have freezed a lot of bloatware (blockbuster wtf?). Considering this is a blur replacement, just how much blur services can be frozen if I were to run all the necessary GO apps?
Using a Motorola Droid 2 Global, Rooted.
I think Ex version isn't so laggy. using auto memory manager with go launcher ex in agressive mode, i'm getting around 85mb of free ram.
I tried some early versions of go launcher and it was VERY laggy! But 2 months now i use it and it is very fast! Also it is updated every week. Not like launcher pro that has to be updated 2 months now!!!! The same with ADW. I think GO is the best launcher out there
The way my phone is set up I manually clean the ram but even after a while of leaving the phone on i might barely just slide under 100mb(assuming i am opening up browsers and uploading stuff). Now when i clean up the ram i always end up in the 230 to 270mb free area right after cleanup.
Gemini App manager and Gemini widget. Plus a lot of frozen(blocked) unused apps along with auto-runs tweaked to my preferences.
Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using XDA Premium App
For me, the best out there is Launcher Pro + ... I've NEVER had lag issues and it run's super smooth, and with all that widgets and new theme updates it's great. Yes, it looks a bit stock, but for performance is the best thing.
Go Launcher... The Best
Go Launcher is the most complete and customizable launcher I know.
Today I installed and uninstalled GDE... .
I tried adw-launcher or launcher Pro, but nothing, everyone is missing something with the other.
Go Launcher has it all ...
and it is free (the others are not).
I have in my X8 Go Launcher and runs great. is not slow.
Thread Closed, warez inside.
Didn't think the day would be here but with ADW EX Launcher I am not looking back. Every once in a while i will load a new launcher to see what is out there and I have always gone back to LPP.... This time it is different.
ADW Ex features the following...
-faster
-less buggy - whenever loading a new app i would have to restart lpp to see it in app draw. LPP would also get stuck in a funny view when going from landscape to portrait.
-the ability to have my livewallpaper as the drawer background with options to change font color of icons.
-multiple draw options
- swipe gestures, especially to bring up hidden dock bar that holds 7 icons.
-super large icons for the main dock bar
-just runs better and I believe takes up less memory then LPP.
Found an app, which i think is a rip off of LPP, it is called Colorize widgets, and it basically has all the LPP widgets, for all other launchers. With this I have all but one function missing from LPP...
Only thing missing is scrolling main dock to add more icons, and swipe gestures on dock icons to open up other applications.
I had a separate scroll dock in LPP for important direct dial icons... Instead I loaded folder organizer and made a special label with those contacts. Then I just put the label icon in my main dock and set it to LIST view with ICON and TEXT. So now when I click on the icon i get a nice big list to click on to call my important contacts.
There are still a few bugs with ADW especially with the Streak, but they will probably be ironed out in the next few days because it effects other larger devices...
not sure what is taking Fredrico C to come out with better features or that new re-written Launcherpro.. but this is now my primary option.
Its a cat and mouse game between the two giant launchers
Same thing happened with me after discovering ADW Ex!! Installed it, loved it and it was bye bye Launcher Pro Plus!! The only thing I really miss about LPP are the LP Widgets and the scrolling dock. Colorize is nice, but I still prefer the LP widgets over it.
Scrolling main dock and gesture shortcut dock icons for the win....
I wont be going back. I have found some alternatives that work for me to compensate.
Sent from my Dell Streak
Krad said:
Scrolling main dock and gesture shortcut dock icons for the win....
I wont be going back. I have found some alternatives that work for me to compensate.
Sent from my Dell Streak
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LP should dominate when/if he ever comes out with a re-write...
Sent from my MyFrankenstein EC05OCE using XDAPA...
ecooce said:
LP should dominate when/if he ever comes out with a re-write...
Sent from my MyFrankenstein EC05OCE using XDAPA...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
How come u in streak forum...
? THinking of geting a streak and developing for it ?
Nope, I got lost LoL...
Sent from my MyFrankenstein EC05OCE using XDAPA...
I had tried the ADW free before, and I still went back to LPP. In fact, I have tried many of the free launchers out there, and LPP is the only one I found that I wanted to pay for. I still go back to it.
I haven't tried the pay version of ADW yet. How big are the differences between ADW free and pay?
My favorite thing in LP is being able to hide things from the drawer, such as things i have on my home screens. I tried adw and didnt see anywhere to do the same.
carhigh said:
My favorite thing in LP is being able to hide things from the drawer, such as things i have on my home screens. I tried adw and didnt see anywhere to do the same.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, so there is a way to hide apps in the drawer. Maybe this weekend I will go thru and set it all up and give it some fair time in trial.
Sent from my Dell Streak using XDA Premium App
If you still didn't try Go Launcher, Do it!
It has most of the ADW and LPP features and then some, for free.
Love the ability to organize app drawer in folders and the built-in task killer and history.
I am skeptical about the go team. Who are they and how do they make money? Are they chinese spies stealing data from our phones?
Sent from my Dell Streak
Are there a sticky thread or any thread that give the most useful apps for the Dell Streak? Have looked but didn't find any - maybe I missed?
Or you could try VLTlauncher... it's still in beta, but that doesn't matter cuz it's free and downloadable if you search for it within XDA. VLTlauncher is a launcher based on ADWlauncher Ex optimised for the Streak.
Sent from my Dell Streak 1.9.1 -4 using XDA Premium App
G1an said:
Or you could try VLTlauncher... it's still in beta, but that doesn't matter cuz it's free and downloadable if you search for it within XDA. VLTlauncher is a launcher based on ADWlauncher Ex optimised for the Streak.
Sent from my Dell Streak 1.9.1 -4 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not for streak... for tablets.
It has been over a week on adw and I fully uninstalled launcherpro.. totally stoked.
Sent from my Dell Streak
So these launchers seem to be more for editable drawer, correct? Ive got go, pro launcher, and adw and to me they feel less snappy than zeam. Most of the themes also seem to be icon packs more than anything. None of the themes I tried really feel to be extensively customized to feel different than stock launcher theme. Any suggestions for custom themes?
Posted with StreakZilla, using XDA App.
Hi.
I've been playing with lots of different launchers and widgets to try and achieve a hub style layout using Windows metro themed boxes.
With varying degrees of success.
The closest I've come to having what I want was using adw launcher ex, some custom graphics and metro ui widgets. The problem was that adw became very unstable as the amount of widgets increased, to the point where it was FC'ing every few minutes. To clear the cache and data then rebuild the screens was extremely time consuming but seemed like the only option open to me. The Next closest was holo launcher, which could handle the amount of widgets but doesn't support page shortcuts so I couldn't have the 'menu' buttons that I wanted.
I've now upgraded to androwook's jellybean rom v1.2. and wish to crack this metro/hub theme once and for all!
So.... your comments and suggestions are invited.
Is there a stable launcher that can handle 8 pages with 15-20 widgets per page on a grid of 9x6 with page shortcuts and borderless pages? If there is...i want to know!
Thank you.
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using XDA Premium HD app
thintin said:
Hi.
I've been playing with lots of different launchers and widgets to try and achieve a hub style layout using Windows metro themed boxes.
With varying degrees of success.
The closest I've come to having what I want was using adw launcher ex, some custom graphics and metro ui widgets. The problem was that adw became very unstable as the amount of widgets increased, to the point where it was FC'ing every few minutes. To clear the cache and data then rebuild the screens was extremely time consuming but seemed like the only option open to me. The Next closest was holo launcher, which could handle the amount of widgets but doesn't support page shortcuts so I couldn't have the 'menu' buttons that I wanted.
I've now upgraded to androwook's jellybean rom v1.2. and wish to crack this metro/hub theme once and for all!
So.... your comments and suggestions are invited.
Is there a stable launcher that can handle 8 pages with 15-20 widgets per page on a grid of 9x6 with page shortcuts and borderless pages? If there is...i want to know!
Thank you.
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using XDA Premium HD app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interested in this too. I'll give adwlex a go first (already purchased it in the past for my phone) so I'll see if I have a bit more luck than you did.
http://www.androidguys.com/2012/10/10/13apps-to-mimic-the-windows-phone-metro-ui-on-your-android/