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I had ordered this without ever even giving touchwiz a thought. Figured the phone would show up, I would play with it about 5 minutes, install new launcher, never look at touch wiz again. After I ordered it I downloaded the user manual and did some reading and it appears that there is some interesting and useful work here that without having the phone I think I like. Watching videos to see if I could see some of the stuff in action seemed to me to confirm that there is some good stuff there.
My question is how are you liking touchwiz? Not the phone, the phone with touchwiz. I Have encountered an older version and was left heavily underwhelmed. Please be specific, I like this, I hate that, and give a reason. If its just because that works fine but have a reason.
Remember guys this is mostly about opinion and little about fact. Leave folks be with theirs and vice versa.
edit.... Also please add in your predilections toward flashing roms, or not, as it were. An opinion from a daily flasher is much different than one from someone who never flashes and runs the stock rom.
I thought I'd hate it but I'm actually really liking it! Some features I love:
- The lockscreen is great and you get little tabs you can slide when you get a text or missed call.
- You can reject a call with a text message (So handy)
- Resizable widgets
- Customiseable dock
- Hold down 'Menu' for search in apps
- Quick settings in the notification tray
- Movable homescreens
- Customisable app tray
and more Besides you could always replace it with another launcher and I'm sure custom ROMs are on the way.
I changed it within seconds to launcher pro. However the drawer in launcher pro isnt smooth at all, im actually thinking of changing back.
rocketpaul said:
I changed it within seconds to launcher pro. However the drawer in launcher pro isnt smooth at all, im actually thinking of changing back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try Go Launcher EX
It is faster than Launcher Pro
I have a lot of time flashing roms and all that fun stuff so I have an idea about the possibilities going that route. Going to edit the op in regards to people adding their experience and preferences as far as flashing roms and such go. Thanks for your input. As a question Im on a custom rom now and the widets are all resizable. Are you talking about the touchwiz widgets then?
Another question would be can you access some or all of the touchwiz widgets from another launcher or do you give them up?
krabman said:
Another question would be can you access some or all of the touchwiz widgets from another launcher or do you give them up?
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Click to collapse
If you go use a third party launcher, you usually lose access to manufacturer widgets, since they work in a slightly different way from plain stock ones...
But if you go Launcher Pro Plus (it's a couple of dollars for the plus version) you get more "custom" widgets like that in return I guess it just depends what look you are going for.
So you have the handset and can confirm they are toast? Figured they would be but I haven't done touchwiz yet.
krabman said:
So you have the handset and can confirm they are toast? Figured they would be but I haven't done touchwiz yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, hence why I say "usually". I've been in this business for a while, but not got the SGS II yet.
I have to admit that I like Touchwiz. On SGS, I dont have a SGS2 yet. In my opinion, Samsung Glass lockscreen is a way better than the Android stock lockscreen.
At the moment I'm in love with Zeam laucher but I always come back to Touchwiz from time to time. Launcher Pro and ADW have always left me cold.
Did more reading, I see that you can change the fonts system wide. Does this carry over to a new launcher or do you lose that? Pretty nifty feature.
In my personal opinion, touchwiz 3 was dire. But after using my Galaxy S II for a few days touchwiz 4 has come a long way. I'm sticking with Touchwiz for now
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App
I've been playing with the demo models at the office solidly for the past 2 days, and as a Sense users for the past 2 years, I really don't like Touchwiz even in it's newest incarnation.
Probably more down to being used to how everything works in Sense though, I don't like change
Touchwiz 4 is a huge improvement over 3 in my opinion. Using it on both my SGS and SGS2 now. The new calendar widgets on the SGS2 are awesome as well Touchwiz 4 can also put folders in the applications menu now
Semi-regular flasher (ooer) - would generally flash a new rom every couple of months. Been with Android since the G1 so have a pretty good idea of what's possible.
Things you KEEP going to another launcher:
Lockscreen
Dialler (reject call with text etc)
Holding down Menu to search
Settings toggles in the notification bar
You can resize widgets with LauncherPro Plus
Things you might LOSE
Movable homescreens (most launchers do this, but not with the motion sensing twist action like touchwiz)
Customisable app tray (again, most launchers do this)
Resizable widgets (possible with LauncherPro Plus)
Customisable dock (most launchers do this)
Overall, I don't miss the touchwiz launcher, but I like some of the other features. Looks like the Samsung widgets are standard and work in other launchers too - just added Mini Paper, Ap Mobile, and Yahoo! Finance, and they seem fine.
krabman - I've changed my system font to Helvetica S (Settings -> Display -> Screen Display -> Font) and in general it looks great! Carries over to most apps too. The only downside is that it's slightly wider, so you get some buttons wrapping For example, the password "Remember / Not Now" dialog has one, I forget which . . .
Overall, ditch the launcher (I like LauncherPro, smooth for me) but enjoy the other aspects
TW4 is not as bad as many are saying. its still not nearly as good as SENSE 2.x. and I wont even attempt to compare it to the new 3.0 version. I sure hope someone port it.
darkalchemist said:
Touchwiz 4 is a huge improvement over 3 in my opinion. Using it on both my SGS and SGS2 now. The new calendar widgets on the SGS2 are awesome as well Touchwiz 4 can also put folders in the applications menu now
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here, playing with both the SGS and SGS2 and yes it is an improvement for sure, but I am still not liking the iphonish looks.
DJGibbon said:
Things you KEEP going to another launcher:
Lockscreen
Dialler (reject call with text etc)
Holding down Menu to search
Settings toggles in the notification bar
You can resize widgets with LauncherPro Plus
Things you might LOSE
Movable homescreens (most launchers do this, but not with the motion sensing twist action like touchwiz)
Customisable app tray (again, most launchers do this)
Resizable widgets (possible with LauncherPro Plus)
Customisable dock (most launchers do this)
Overall, I don't miss the touchwiz launcher, but I like some of the other features. Looks like the Samsung widgets are standard and work in other launchers too - just added Mini Paper, Ap Mobile, and Yahoo! Finance, and they seem fine.
Overall, ditch the launcher (I like LauncherPro, smooth for me) but enjoy the other aspects
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You pretty much mentioned what I was about to! Using launcherpro plus with widgetsoid and pure calendar widget. I have to say that launcherpro work a bit smoother on the original SGS for be, but with the upcomming update that should be fixed.
Overall, combining the best of what I had on my SGS before, with the new functions from touchwiz 4!
I personally like launcher pro but since development has slowed to just about a stop i am using adw. How is go launcher and windows 7 launcher?
Launcher Pro and Beautiful Widgets is my fave combination.
I still prefer this to Sense.
I use Go and Beautiful WIdgets. GO seems to be developing pretty strongly, and it does just about anything I want it to. And it works well in conjunction with the other GO apps like dialer and sms.
ADW here... I've used it on my Dinc and now on my TB... Rock solid.
I've been using ADW lately and I'm very pleased with it.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App
ADW EX here. I've been glad I switched since the day it came out. Just seems smoother overall than stock ADW. I was an LP user for a while but seemed like it started getting bloated with things I'd never use. It may have gotten better recently as I haven't tried it since EX came out but for me, after using LP, ADW, and ADW EX, my personal choice has been EX and I haven't found a reason to move on.
I prefer LP. It keeps things simple and I can back it up which is convenient when flashing.
lol...I remember when adw and LP first came on the scene - a lot of people loved them for their simplicity - then the feature wars began...
ADW EX for me.
GOLauncher ftw. Hands down the best launcher from not only a visually impressive setup but a functionalvone as well. Im taking gulps of the go dev teams koolaid. I use launcher gowns contacts and dialer. Need more themes but other than that best imo.
Sent from my rooted, Dark Horse INFECTED Synergy bolt running Ziggys kernel.
What functions or features are you guys using to justify using a launcher?
I hate that the HTC mail and HTC messaging icons don't show the counts, at least I couldn't figure out how to do it on launcher pro.
i'm using launcher pro now but I'm probably going back to the windows 7 launcher. It's simplicity is refreshing, the only downside is I don't get to see my p retty wallpapers as much, but I find it more useful
McLabia said:
GOLauncher ftw. Hands down the best launcher from not only a visually impressive setup but a functionalvone as well. Im taking gulps of the go dev teams koolaid. I use launcher gowns contacts and dialer. Need more themes but other than that best imo.
Sent from my rooted, Dark Horse INFECTED Synergy bolt running Ziggys kernel.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They just released some sort of themeing API so we should see a lot more a lot faster.
I hate they got rid of the dark icons in the default set, they had both white and black and a few weeks back an update removed all the black versions.
doibugu2 said:
What functions or features are you guys using to justify using a launcher?
I hate that the HTC mail and HTC messaging icons don't show the counts, at least I couldn't figure out how to do it on launcher pro.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think smoothness, options of dock/screens and app drawer customization are the most important for me. So is displaying counts and hiding the notifications bar.
andydumi said:
They just released some sort of themeing API so we should see a lot more a lot faster.
I hate they got rid of the dark icons in the default set, they had both white and black and a few weeks back an update removed all the black versions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No ****? I know the had one before that I tried playing with but it was terrible. lol. It just straight up didnt work. Imma check into that. Good lookin out dude.
Anyone running CM7 having issues with ADW Ex going to landscape and then back to portrait? I get a black screen and then FC about 30 seconds later. I'd be using ADW Ex full time if this wasn't an issue. As it is now I'm using LP :-/
BoulderGeek said:
Laucnher Pro and Beautiful Widgets is my fave combination.
I still prefer this to Sense.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same for me except I prefer Sense over it. If I'm on a vanilla ROM, you can bet I'd be using Launcher Pro and Beautiful Widgets.
I'm using GO Launcher EX (just discovered it this week), I think I'm in love, runs awesome on my CM7 1.2 TBolt, totally customizable, just switched to GO SMS as well from Handcent and am loving it too.
I had been using LPro forever and am glad I decided to try GO.
This doesn't even belong in this forum.
loonatik78 said:
This doesn't even belong in this forum.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
huh? A question posted doesn't belong in the q&a section?
Just trying out adw ex launcher now y'all got me going over to the market to check out this go launcher...
Probably stick with adw since I just bought 3 themes.
Go Launcher EX and FancyWidgets Pro.
i prefer Launcher Pro because of the menu system at the bottom of the screen. i hate putting shortcuts/widgets on the screen(like to keep it clutter free) so it's nice to that menu at the bottom.
i know that go launcher ex is similiar, but i don't like the 5 screen thing and i don't like those dots it puts in the upper center of the screen indicating which screen you're on.
adw i have never cared for because of it's menu system setup at the bottom.
as for Windows 7 launcher... if that intrigues you why do you have a Thunderbolt?
I have been playing around with my tab 10.1 for a while now, and considering to change the launcher for another one.
Is they're anyone around with a experience using adw ex?
Looks nice but would love to hear some users ...
I have tried to instal go launder ex, but Al lot plugins in the market show not compatible with your device....
Suggestions?
Sent from my GT-P7500 using Tapatalk
I am using adw ex pro and it works like a charm. So far no problem. The only thing is, when you try to move your apps from one place to another place on the screen, you might get confused
But it works so smooth and fast
gokhansancar said:
I am using adw ex pro and it works like a charm. So far no problem. The only thing is, when you try to move your apps from one place to another place on the screen, you might get confused
But it works so smooth and fast
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yup
I'm using ADW Ex and I wouldn't go back to something else.
So fast and smooth that it makes you wondering why google can't get a better launcher. Maybe ICS will be the answer...
ADW EX is the best for our tab. Day and night difference when compared to stock launcher
I am in the same boat as everybody else and I agree with everything everybody has already said.
Think i Will buy this one then ... Thanks
Sent from my GT-P7500 using Tapatalk
Related question, does anyone have insight on free version of ADW? It seems to do most of the same stuff, just curious if there are features on the paid version that would be must-haves.
Differences between ADW.Launcher and ADWLauncher EX
ADWLauncher EX is based on the ADW.Launcher opensource core with a lot of new additions and improvements, like for example:
-5 different app drawer styles/behaviors
---3D Nexus One like application drawer
---2 different plain vertical drawer styles, the "old one" and a new fast and smooth one
---2 different Iphone-like horizontal application drawers, a traditional paginated one and a new one with continuous fling
-Different desktop transitions: new animations while navigating through your desktop screens. Try them all, they're crazy!!!
-New Icons configurations/look and feel: Tweak your desktop icons, change its sizes, add coloured backgrounds, change font size, color, etc!
-New fast presets mode: Quickly change the whole desktop configuration by 1 click!
-Editable desktop icons for applications, shortcuts and folders!
-Lots of code improvements
-More, more more to come!!
thats straight from the market hope this helps
Thanks, I did read that on the market. I guess my question was more related to actual use and experience, but I guess I will just go ahead and try the free version, and if it doesn't do enough of what I want I will buy the pro version. I just didn't want to spend a lot of time working on it just to have to do it all over again if I upgrade.
I totally agree.. ADW EX is definitely the way to go here. I haven't found anything that even compares. It's good on my Droid X but when they ported it to the tablet they added so many nice touches!
Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk
Funny, the free version was available two days ago, but now says it is not compatible with my device...
Guess I'll cough up the $3.32 to check this out.
Bought this launcher and happy with it!
Thanks, have to put in some more time add there are a lot of options here!
Thanks!
Sent from my GT-P7500 using Tapatalk
I'm using ADWLauncher Ex, and i'm very happy with it.
Sent from my GT-P7500 using Tapatalk
I guess I'm alone in thinking that adw is trash but oh well. Prior to using trebuchet on the ics kang I used SPB shell 3d. Its 15$ but its completely worth it, imo. Go launcher isn't tablet ready yet and probably won't be for awhile. Or you just flash the ics kang and be done with it (and save the money)
I have both AdwEx and SPB Shell on my tab. I like adw way better. SPB shell looks good but I think it compromises productivity for the look.
Just purchased ADW EX after reading through this thread, liking it so far , very quick and responsive. I'll be sticking with it for a little while.
i use go launcher just because i can make folders in app drawer. i find i gets super cluttered when you have 20+ games all the **** Samsung apps and Google apps you suddenly start to see three pages of apps. i never find what i just downloaded if i want to try some new app/game, so its nice to putt all games in one folder all productivity apps in one etc.
so far non of the other launcher have this feautere. oh and iphone like uninstall, just hold down on an app and click red x to uninstall. brilliant.
larsenfaen said:
i use go launcher just because i can make folders in app drawer. i find i gets super cluttered when you have 20+ games all the **** Samsung apps and Google apps you suddenly start to see three pages of apps. i never find what i just downloaded if i want to try some new app/game, so its nice to putt all games in one folder all productivity apps in one etc.
so far non of the other launcher have this feautere. oh and iphone like uninstall, just hold down on an app and click red x to uninstall. brilliant.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here, bought adw but the ability to create folders in app drawer is a plus. If adw had this feature it would be amazing. That and the option to
to use the home soft button to open app drawer.
Sent from my GT-P7500 using Tapatalk
So umm, I see a lot of people talking about "changing the launcher". But I do not know what a launcher is. I see it in my settings (running MIUI on my Infuse 4G).
So my question, and yes I know I probably sound like a knowledgeless-fool. But, what is a launcher?
A launcher is an interface replacement that gives u a new home screen and app drawer. U can customize it a lot according to ur choice
Best are go launcher, adw and launcher pro
I think this will help you. if it does please THANK me.
Sent from my Blade
Like ICS said, a launcher changes your homescreen and appdrawer, making it prettier and sometimes even more useful. I haven't used MIUI personally. Maybe it comes with a launcher, and maybe it has some features that a new launcher would duplicate. I know CM7 comes with ADW Launcher.
My favourite things about LauncherPro: First, you can change the homescreen grid size. Second, you can swipe between multiple docks. You can make dock icons link to activities, not just applications. And you can assign different shortcuts for swiping a dock icon. So if I press the phone icon, it goes to the dialer; if I swipe it, it goes to the call log. Plus any launcher is going to be prettier than stock, but MIUI is beautiful itself.
There's no harm in trying out a couple of different launchers. I prefer LP, others prefer Go or ADW. I know Go and ADW are much more theme-able. The only thing is that with a rom like MIUI that already looks good, a new launcher might look out of place.
Launcher is the bit you see and use when your not running an app or making a phone call.
You can change it easily by going to the android market and downloading a new one like nemus launcher or go launcher ex.
Once downloaded they will auto install. You can try the new launcher without changing your current one by pressing phones home button.
Menu pops up asking which launcher to use, choose the name of the new one and try it out.
If you want to keep it press home again but before choosing new launcher this time tick the box it shows saying "use as default launcher".
If you don't like it just do the same with the tick but choose your original launcher instead.
Dave
Sent from my LG P920 using Tapatalk
I.. do not understand.. So it is like a theme?
Not exactly. It's a replacement.
For example, suppose ur running the stock eclair with the slide up vertical app drawer
Now, u want a button to launch the drawer., and u want it to be horizontal. How will u do it?
Enter Launchers
It replaces the drawer with its own, and its own dock bar
In short, it is not a theme, but a replacement that CAN BE THEMED
Sent from my Blade using xda premium
You know Sense, AOSP and Touchwhiz? Well they are default "Launchers"
Launchers can be downloaded from the market w/o root.
They are like a different style of homescreen...
The launcher is the programm you use to launch or start an app on your phone. The launchers UI (User Interface) is what you see as your home screen. Changing the launchers behaviour means changing the way icons are displayed or the pages flip. It lets you customize the way your phones OS feels and looks.
Does this answer your initial question?
Andy
Sent from my DesireS using XDA
Exactly on my mind
Well.put
Sent from my Blade using xda premium
If you are running ICS, Nova Launcher is a good one to check out too. It can be found in the Google Play Store. There is a pay version, but the normal one is fully featured IMO. Of course, try out a few and see what you prefer for your setup. When I hit the home button on my phone, it lets me select which launcher it uses by default so you can swap them out.
While fooling around trying out different launchers, i have found a real gem.
GT Launcher Prime
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.launcher.GTlauncher2&hl=en
XDA Thread
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2238353
Incredibly you can use Sense widgets and Lockscreen with it !!! Iam currently using it with Sense5 port
All credit goes to creator of the app. Iam just posting it.
Hit THANKS button if i helped
Thanks for sharing but I am unable to see sense widgets through this launcher
kancherlapraneeth said:
Thanks for sharing but I am unable to see sense widgets through this launcher
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From your sign. it seems that u r stuck on 2.04 firmware
I havent tried it on Sense4+ rom. So cant really comment.
Iam s-off, bootloader unlocked . I used it on sense5 port of letschy with latest m7 firmware 1.29.**.13
btw, nice to see another indian with DNA :highfive:
Yes :'( . Nice to see you too
sent from Droid DNA dipped in red
It's a cool launcher but if you disable the persistent search bar, you can't drag anything to the top of the screen.
That blows.
It's alright, but missing a lot of features that Nova and Apex have so I won't be able to use it. I can't get the Sense widgets sized appropriately to where they are not stretched or having elements overlapping despite messing with the row/column settings. Other things like not being able to change the app drawer icon, and so forth are a bother.
Azbulldog said:
It's alright, but missing a lot of features that Nova and Apex have so I won't be able to use it. I can't get the Sense widgets sized appropriately to where they are not stretched or having elements overlapping despite messing with the row/column settings. Other things like not being able to change the app drawer icon, and so forth are a bother.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
U can resize the widgets.
Icon packs for nova/apex can be used as well.
There r some niggling issues with this launcher, however if you want to use sense widgets and not sense launcher then it your only choice.
Sent from my HTC 'One' DNA
Tried it. Hated it.
Alignment was off on text and icons on adjacent screen, it kept reverting to default screen setup after arranging it with my setup, saw some screen redraw, and weather widget text and graphics were way out of line.
If these were fixed, i'd maybe try it again.