So, we all by now have heard of the awesomeness that is MIUI. Im running the Rodrigez port of the ROM, and its fantastic.
One thing about this ROM is that it stores all installed apps on the homescreen, much like the iPhone. There is no launcher. So for people like myself (and IM sure many others), its pretty time consuming arranging all 132 apps on the homescreens the way I want them!
I know in ADW launcher there is a setting to save your homescreen layout to your sd card, which can be conveniently restored when needed. I used this all the time with Cyan and Enomther, simply because it saved time after a fresh install.
Im asking the awesome coders of XDA if they think there is any way of either writing a command/app that will save your homescreen layout into a file on your sd card that can later be restored? I dont know if its something that can be written into the ROM, as Im not a coder. I just know it would save a lot of time in using this ROM. I just had a problem with my sd card and had to repartition it, meaning that I ll need to set all 132 apps on the homescreen again to the order I want them
I know that a nandroid can do this, but a separate application would be nice, as MIUI needs an ext 3 parition for apps2ext to work and everything I do a Nandroid +ext backup, I always have problems restoring it.
Any devs or coders out there know if this is possible?
Ideas?
I would like to see an auto rearrange option.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App
Question
Why would you want your homescreens cluttered with apps, I'm running Rod's MIUI, but I'm using Launcher Pro because I have to have a app drawer. And, I think most Android users aren't trying to make their Android phones like the Iphone. If you haven't already, check out the screenshots in the beginning of Themes & App's forum, most users are using alt. launchers to customize the UI. I didn't see one shot with anyone running stock MIUI
blas4me said:
Why would you want your homescreens cluttered with apps, I'm running Rod's MIUI, but I'm using Launcher Pro because I have to have a app drawer. And, I think most Android users aren't trying to make their Android phones like the Iphone. If you haven't already, check out the screenshots in the beginning of Themes & App's forum, most users are using alt. launchers to customize the UI. I didn't see one shot with anyone running stock MIUI
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have to agree. It seems like we are taking a step back in the evolution of the os. Like who seriously wants all apps mixed up in a clutter on your homescreen? But for the 5 people who do prefer this, I could see why they would want this save option included.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App
This is convenient for all users of the very nice standard launcher that MIUI comes with.
I'd happily use it if it existed.
blas4me said:
Why would you want your homescreens cluttered with apps, I'm running Rod's MIUI, but I'm using Launcher Pro because I have to have a app drawer. And, I think most Android users aren't trying to make their Android phones like the Iphone. If you haven't already, check out the screenshots in the beginning of Themes & App's forum, most users are using alt. launchers to customize the UI. I didn't see one shot with anyone running stock MIUI
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Imperial.mack said:
I have to agree. It seems like we are taking a step back in the evolution of the os. Like who seriously wants all apps mixed up in a clutter on your homescreen? But for the 5 people who do prefer this, I could see why they would want this save option included.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App
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Click to collapse
I have to disagree, MIUI is a huge step forward. Regular xda members may not like the iPhone-ness, but I'm willing to bet that the majority of the public tend to gravitate towards it. How do you think they still sell iPhones, anyways? lol.
I look at MIUI as a breath of fresh air. I'm sure I'm not alone in saying that we needed a break from Sense and stock for a while.
That being said, I have defected back to CM for now. Main reason: Lockscreen music controls. I love the MIUI lockscreen, but having to unlock, open music app, and press skip just wasn't safe for me, as the only time I use my phone for music is while driving. Personal preference, but pretty important to me.
wdfowty said:
I have to disagree, MIUI is a huge step forward. Regular xda members may not like the iPhone-ness, but I'm willing to bet that the majority of the public tend to gravitate towards it. How do you think they still sell iPhones, anyways? lol.
I look at MIUI as a breath of fresh air. I'm sure I'm not alone in saying that we needed a break from Sense and stock for a while.
That being said, I have defected back to CM for now. Main reason: Lockscreen music controls. I love the MIUI lockscreen, but having to unlock, open music app, and press skip just wasn't safe for me, as the only time I use my phone for music is while driving. Personal preference, but pretty important to me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Never knew people liked that iPhone-esque home screen. Always thought installing another launcher on top of it was mandatory for the Android crowd. Step back indeed, unless you think gravitating towards the iPhone's OS' simplicity is step forward according to the poster right above me. Assuming he's not some T-Mobile exec that just looks at the "big picture's aka sales...
@Op: sorry for veering OT. I just thought what he posted was absolutely absurd! Unless it was complete sarcasm, then I apologize.
You can use Titanium Backup to backup the data portion of the MIUI launcher, restoring that will restore the layout.
And what's with this BS fake "you're the 1 millionth user" banner ads, what is this, 1998!?
gstar_raw said:
Never knew people liked that iPhone-esque home screen. Always thought installing another launcher on top of it was mandatory for the Android crowd. Step back indeed, unless you think gravitating towards the iPhone's OS' simplicity is step forward according to the poster right above me. Assuming he's not some T-Mobile exec that just looks at the "big picture's aka sales...
@Op: sorry for veering OT. I just thought what he posted was absolutely absurd! Unless it was complete sarcasm, then I apologize.
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Click to collapse
It's a step forward in the fact that developers are thinking outside the box and working on the framework/user-interface, instead of focusing all efforts on the "behind-the-scenes" aspect of Android. Don't get me wrong, I love CyanogenMod and TheOfficial, and appreciate all the work the countless devs have done, but the stock UI hasn't changed at all, really, since 1.5...
It's not the simplicity of iOS, per say; rather, the ease of use is what I think draws the crowds. I'm an iPhone to Android convert, and have rid myself of most of my Apple products (bad experience with my MacBook left a horrible taste in my mouth), so I guess you could consider me an Android fanboy.
And why would a T-Mobile exec be promoting a competitor's biggest seller (aka AT&T and the iPhone). Kinda off-base there, if you ask me.
I would also like to apologize for going so far off topic. Had to speak my mind .
I won't be posting (off topic) in this thread again.
wdfowty said:
It's a step forward in the fact that developers are thinking outside the box and working on the framework/user-interface, instead of focusing all efforts on the "behind-the-scenes" aspect of Android. Don't get me wrong, I love CyanogenMod and TheOfficial, and appreciate all the work the countless devs have done, but the stock UI hasn't changed at all, really, since 1.5...
It's not the simplicity of iOS, per say; rather, the ease of use is what I think draws the crowds. I'm an iPhone to Android convert, and have rid myself of most of my Apple products (bad experience with my MacBook left a horrible taste in my mouth), so I guess you could consider me an Android fanboy.
And why would a T-Mobile exec be promoting a competitor's biggest seller (aka AT&T and the iPhone). Kinda off-base there, if you ask me.
I would also like to apologize for going so far off topic. Had to speak my mind .
I won't be posting in this thread again.
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Click to collapse
I feel you on the alleged ease of use of the iphone but personally I found the Miui homescreen harder to use. If I wanted to open an app, I had to mentally remember which homescreen I placed it on. There was also no other way to sort the homescreen. And when I wanted to move an app to a specific place, other apps shifted places but in sometimes undesirable places. I got frustrated. Thats why I think that the app drawer is a forward evolution of the os. Thats like me places a million shortcuts on my desktop computer instead of going to the start menu or searching for the program in the start menu searchbar. Just my 2cents. Iphone os just not that impressive to me.
I actually have used all the launchers out there and launcherpro is a good launcher to have over certain roms. I myself been on LP plus since CM6 and loved the ability of customizing almost every faucet of the ROM. But since MIUI, I have tried to use LP plus and I have to admit I cannot use any of the launchers to run on top of MIUI. IMO kinda takes away from MIUI.
And because of my opinion, all the apps of course, are on the screens. What did I do? I just used created two folders. One "app" and one "tools" folder and separated them that way. So far so good, unless someone can point me in the direction of a launcher that can organize it in a 'better' way, please let me know. Thanks!
kpjimmy said:
I actually have used all the launchers out there and launcherpro is a good launcher to have over certain roms. I myself been on LP plus since CM6 and loved the ability of customizing almost every faucet of the ROM. But since MIUI, I have tried to use LP plus and I have to admit I cannot use any of the launchers to run on top of MIUI. IMO kinda takes away from MIUI.
And because of my opinion, all the apps of course, are on the screens. What did I do? I just used created two folders. One "app" and one "tools" folder and separated them that way. So far so good, unless someone can point me in the direction of a launcher that can organize it in a 'better' way, please let me know. Thanks!
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Click to collapse
Yes folders are nice. I just didn't like the look of them. I'm happy that cm is porting over the power widget notification bar! That was my fav part of Miui rom
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App
wdfowty said:
That being said, I have defected back to CM for now. Main reason: Lockscreen music controls. I love the MIUI lockscreen, but having to unlock, open music app, and press skip just wasn't safe for me, as the only time I use my phone for music is while driving. Personal preference, but pretty important to me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you want to skip music without unlock the phone, there are many solutions, search in the marker: "Shake2PlayNext".
http://www.appbrain.com/app/shake2playnext/ru.atrant.shake2playnext
Imperial.mack said:
I feel you on the alleged ease of use of the iphone but personally I found the Miui homescreen harder to use. If I wanted to open an app, I had to mentally remember which homescreen I placed it on. There was also no other way to sort the homescreen. And when I wanted to move an app to a specific place, other apps shifted places but in sometimes undesirable places. I got frustrated. Thats why I think that the app drawer is a forward evolution of the os. Thats like me places a million shortcuts on my desktop computer instead of going to the start menu or searching for the program in the start menu searchbar. Just my 2cents. Iphone os just not that impressive to me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
or you just can use the search function of your phone
wdfowty said:
I have to disagree, MIUI is a huge step forward. Regular xda members may not like the iPhone-ness, but I'm willing to bet that the majority of the public tend to gravitate towards it. How do you think they still sell iPhones, anyways? lol.
I look at MIUI as a breath of fresh air. I'm sure I'm not alone in saying that we needed a break from Sense and stock for a while.
That being said, I have defected back to CM for now. Main reason: Lockscreen music controls. I love the MIUI lockscreen, but having to unlock, open music app, and press skip just wasn't safe for me, as the only time I use my phone for music is while driving. Personal preference, but pretty important to me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+ 1
Sent from my Nexus One
wdfowty said:
That being said, I have defected back to CM for now. Main reason: Lockscreen music controls. I love the MIUI lockscreen, but having to unlock, open music app, and press skip just wasn't safe for me, as the only time I use my phone for music is while driving. Personal preference, but pretty important to me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried WidgetLocker Lockscreen? =P maybe you'll go back to MIUI again if you try it.
I have organized lots of apps in folders so I don't miss the app drawer at all :]
Music Player Pro (app) has lock screen controls.
Best music player out there imo.
http://www.androidzoom.com/android_applications/multimedia/music-playerpro_jkyc.html
Interesting thoughts guys.
I actually take the MIUI homescreen as " a breath of fresh air" as well. I know its a bit iPhoneish, but it works VERY quickly and it looks nice. Also, less widgets = less lag, and for now Im enjoying the change.
I used ADW launcher (love it) and Launcher Pro (also great) on Cyanogen and Enomther for a while, but with MIUI, the launcher they have developed just works so well, which is why I think an app to import and retain homescreen settings would make the ROM even more awesome.
Dai323 said:
Interesting thoughts guys.
I actually take the MIUI homescreen as " a breath of fresh air" as well. I know its a bit iPhoneish, but it works VERY quickly and it looks nice. Also, less widgets = less lag, and for now Im enjoying the change.
I used ADW launcher (love it) and Launcher Pro (also great) on Cyanogen and Enomther for a while, but with MIUI, the launcher they have developed just works so well, which is why I think an app to import and retain homescreen settings would make the ROM even more awesome.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is miui open sourced?
The beauty of android
Dai323 said:
Interesting thoughts guys.
I actually take the MIUI homescreen as " a breath of fresh air" as well. I know its a bit iPhoneish, but it works VERY quickly and it looks nice. Also, less widgets = less lag, and for now Im enjoying the change.
I used ADW launcher (love it) and Launcher Pro (also great) on Cyanogen and Enomther for a while, but with MIUI, the launcher they have developed just works so well, which is why I think an app to import and retain homescreen settings would make the ROM even more awesome.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with you on that, MIUI is a very fast and dependable rom, I just don't like my homescreen cluttered, I run a lot of widgets and I don't lag. Nexus can handle it. I have over 200 apps installed and with the standard launcher I couldn't find anything. I have to admit the icons give the phone a uniformed look, but I don't want them on my home screen. I have the App Inventor from Google, and I was trying to come up with a idea for a app, so Ima see what I can do for you. I'm not a dev or anything I'm still going through the tutorials, but we'll see.
At the moment I'm using LauncherPro, but I don't remember seeing an option for this in any other launchers.
It would be nice if we could specify different widget layouts for landscape/portrait, and if possible different grid sizes. Widgets never behave well when switching between orientations.
No idea if this is possible, but it could be handy.
That would be real nice. I have that same thing on mine when switching back and forth. I am not sure that would be possible either, but wouldn't bet against these guys here that it couldn't be. They do some really amazing stuff..
+1
I think I was able to do this with spb mobile shell on my win 6.5 Ph...
In retrospect, switching layouts is a hacky solution. None of the current phone-based launchers feel right on a tablet. VTL is decent but it still has the same core problem.
They're functional of course, and with 3.x and onwards it might be less of an issue. A completely unique launcher would probably be required to have a "desktop" that felt native to the form factor.
For the time being the best solution is probably just to lock to a single orientation. Moving away from the widget/grid system completely would be nice, but I'm not sure how much could be done within the current android framework.
Sweeter Home 2 does this. I've been using it for a while in the past for exactly this reason and just gave it another try. It's a public beta, so keep that in mind.
It lets you create your very own interface with independent layouts for portrait and landscape. It takes some time to get used to its complex edit mode but once you've figured it out, you can do some pretty neat stuff with it. Also, it syncs with an online database to automatically sort your apps in different categories
Sadly, there's no support for scrolling widgets. It's also pretty resource-heavy, so it gets killed pretty often and eats some battery. This can be improved by disabling automatic syncing, though.
Here are some screens of my setup. I can upload it as a theme if anyone wants to try it (Dunno if the theme thingy works as intended, though. Haven't tried it)
Hey looks nice. I'll be keeping an eye on that.
Arbelzapf said:
Here are some screens of my setup. I can upload it as a theme if anyone wants to try it (Dunno if the theme thingy works as intended, though. Haven't tried it)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll have to give it a try...
To begin with, I'm far from new to Android, just new to Samsung and the Note.
Also - I know I'm not the only one with this problem but I haven't run across a solution yet. I can take and image I want to use as a wallpaper and, on the lock screen and the Touch whiz home screen and it looks exactly like I want it to. But, since I'm one of those folks who dislikes the fact that I can't swap out apps on the TW launcher bar, I slap my own launcher on the Note to make it mine again. Unfortunately, then comes the annoying part.......
Whatever photo I put up as wallpaper looses resolution and seems to explode in size so that only about 1/4 of the original wallpaper/ photo is visible and what's left is very blurry. I know this isn't limited to just one launcher - I've tried ADW, Launcher Pro, Nemus, Go Launcher, Holo, and a few more I can't remember the names of right now. And they all give me the same problem.
So far I've changed the format of the wallpaper photo to .png or .jpeg and back again, tweaked the size and resolution of the picture, dug through XDA and a few other forums fort wisdom, and used harsh language on my Note - all to no avail. So, can anyone tell me what I'm missing or if there's any hope for me at all? I'm rooted stock 2.3.6 and would prefer, for various reasons, to stay that way for now. But, at this point I'm willing to consider options if all else fails since I'm getting quite annoyed by this.
Thanks for any help/ insight!
Use the Quickpic app to set the wallpaper.
Thanks! I'll give that a shot.
Sent from this here talk tapper of mine