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My wife recently got a Vibrant, and she hates the bottom 4 required buttons on her home screens (Phone/Contacts/Messaging/Apps). She does not text, and wants to get rid of the messaging button. Is rooting the phone and installing a custom theme the only way to do this?
Also, what is the "lag fix" supposed to fix? She hasn't complained much about anything, and I haven't messed with her phone enough to see any serious problems with it.
EDIT: Also, what does having a "hardware locked" phone mean, what does it prevent you from doing, and how can I figure out if my wife has a hardware locked phone?
Rattor said:
My wife recently got a Vibrant, and she hates the bottom 4 required buttons on her home screens (Phone/Contacts/Messaging/Apps). She does not text, and wants to get rid of the messaging button. Is rooting the phone and installing a custom theme the only way to do this?
Also, what is the "lag fix" supposed to fix? She hasn't complained much about anything, and I haven't messed with her phone enough to see any serious problems with it.
EDIT: Also, what does having a "hardware locked" phone mean, what does it prevent you from doing, and how can I figure out if my wife has a hardware locked phone?
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First off, I think if this is your wifes phone and you and she are unfamilar to modding its best to do as little as possible to get what you need. That said, if she hasn't complained about lag, don't worry about it. If you are interested, then lag is created because samsung uses a proprietary file system rfs which is a little slow. Lag fixes try to remedy this by either adding an ext2/3 partition, or totally replacing the file system with ext4. This last is for advanced users and I would not recommend.
Hardare locked refers to some devices that are unable to get to recovery or download mode by using the volume buttons and power button. There are threads to explain how to do it. Use them to see if your wifes is one.
As for the big ticket of your thread customizing your home screen, there are numerous launchers on the market. I like launcher pro, and adw launcher. Im pretty sure you dont even need to root to use them, there are free versions in the market. Good luck.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
wildklymr said:
First off, I think if this is your wifes phone and you and she are unfamilar to modding its best to do as little as possible to get what you need. That said, if she hasn't complained about lag, don't worry about it. If you are interested, then lag is created because samsung uses a proprietary file system rfs which is a little slow. Lag fixes try to remedy this by either adding an ext2/3 partition, or totally replacing the file system with ext4. This last is for advanced users and I would not recommend.
Hardare locked refers to some devices that are unable to get to recovery or download mode by using the volume buttons and power button. There are threads to explain how to do it. Use them to see if your wifes is one.
As for the big ticket of your thread customizing your home screen there are numerous launchers on the market. I like launcher pro, and adw launcher. Im pretty sure you dont even need to root to use them, there are free versions in the market. Good luck.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
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Thanks for your quick reply.
I am not new to modding. I have pretty seriously modded my Evo 4G (custom kernels, deodexed ROM, customized themes, etc...). It's just I am unfamiliar with the Vibrant and its root process, and I don't want to do anything to it until I know the ins and outs of messing around with it.
If I can mod her home screen without rooting, then that's probably as far as I'll go. However, I've told her to look over the themes here to see if she finds one she likes, and I'm fairly certain I need to root to install a custom theme if she decides there's one she likes.
Rattor said:
Thanks for your quick reply.
I am not new to modding. I have pretty seriously modded my Evo 4G (custom kernels, deodexed ROM, customized themes, etc...). It's just I am unfamiliar with the Vibrant and its root process, and I don't want to do anything to it until I know the ins and outs of messing around with it.
If I can mod her home screen without rooting, then that's probably as far as I'll go. However, I've told her to look over the themes here to see if she finds one she likes, and I'm fairly certain I need to root to install a custom theme if she decides there's one she likes.
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Click to collapse
Ok then, most theming i've seen on the vibrant is for the status bar, and not the bottom. Most roms end up supplementing touchwiz launcher with something like launcher2 or adw launcher. You might want to take a look at eugene373's frankentwiz. Hes modified touchwiz so you can edit the bottom dock and app drawer. Or if you dont want to go that far he posted the default launcher in the dev section that you Adb push to system/app its literally the default launcher from the g1 days. Its what I use.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Just use LauncerPro or ADW.
I got it for my girls Mytouch Slide. She doesn't need root. I doubt your wife needs the lagfix... the phone is fine just how it is for normal use.
HG! said:
Just use LauncerPro or ADW.
I got it for my girls Mytouch Slide. She doesn't need root. I doubt your wife needs the lagfix... the phone is fine just how it is for normal use.
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Click to collapse
Considering the most she uses it for is to play Sims and other games (stealing my phone when she wants to play Angry Birds), and for surfing the web, I think she'll be fine without root, just using a new launcher. She just really didn't like the fact that 1/4th of her bottom dock was taken up with a useless icon.
Rattor said:
Considering the most she uses it for is to play Sims and other games (stealing my phone when she wants to play Angry Birds), and for surfing the web, I think she'll be fine without root, just using a new launcher. She just really didn't like the fact that 1/4th of her bottom dock was taken up with a useless icon.
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Click to collapse
You don't need a new launcher to replace the sms icon at the bottom of the dock. Open the app drawer-> menu-> view type-> customizable grid-> menu-> edit ...
Then you can drag any other icon on the dock to replace the sms icon. Press the back button to confirm, then you can switch back to alphabetical grid.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
::egg on face:: I also learn something new every day.
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Also, if you look around this forum you can find the Angry Birds apk and install it on your wifes vibrant.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
renster721 said:
You don't need a new launcher to replace the sms icon at the bottom of the dock. Open the app drawer-> menu-> view type-> customizable grid-> menu-> edit ...
Then you can drag any other icon on the dock to replace the sms icon. Press the back button to confirm, then you can switch back to alphabetical grid.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
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Thanks for that tip. Although I think I will be getting her ADW Launcher anyways since it's much more customizable, and not as overloaded as TouchWiz. Plus I found a theme for ADW I think my wife will love.
Just as a follow on, is it normal for you to have to hit the soft buttons (menu, home, back, search) multiple times to get them to actually register? I've noticed that if they are not lit up, I have to hit them once or twice to get them to light up, and then again to do the action I was trying to do.
Rattor said:
Thanks for that tip. Although I think I will be getting her ADW Launcher anyways since it's much more customizable, and not as overloaded as TouchWiz. Plus I found a theme for ADW I think my wife will love.
Just as a follow on, is it normal for you to have to hit the soft buttons (menu, home, back, search) multiple times to get them to actually register? I've noticed that if they are not lit up, I have to hit them once or twice to get them to light up, and then again to do the action I was trying to do.
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When I first got my vibrant I did, but I think it's because the touch sensors are very specific. As in, you have to hit the home button dead on for it to register. Once I got used to the button locations its not been a problem.
Btw, if you touch anywhere on the screen the buttons will light up ... Helpful when its really dark.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
all you have to do is....
1.go into app drawer
2.press menu and select view type
3.then select customizable grid
4. then go into your app drawer again and select edit
5.then select and hold an app and drag it in dock where the msg app is
6.and that's it
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renster721 said:
When I first got my vibrant I did, but I think it's because the touch sensors are very specific. As in, you have to hit the home button dead on for it to register. Once I got used to the button locations its not been a problem.
Btw, if you touch anywhere on the screen the buttons will light up ... Helpful when its really dark.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
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completely agree with this. You've kinda be dead on or cover the majority of the button. Adw is a great choice. It's an awesome and absurdly customizable home alternative. Plus it's free
Thanks for everyone's help. I ended up going with ADW and the iDroid theme (my wife adores the little android droid mascot). Very easy to setup and looks very nice.
Ok guys here is a weird one..
My mother just got an HTC Flyer, and it is still stock / not-rooted. I did an OTA update as soon as the Flyer was set up and ready to go. Its running Gingerbread 2.3.4 and the build is now 2.23.405.4 CL104635. I installed LauncherPro for her as Sense is a bit laggy, and she recently started having a problem where the tablet keeps forgetting its default home launcher.
I narrowed the problem down and basically this is what happens. No matter which launcher is set as default, as soon as you pull down the notification bar all default launcher settings are cleared. You can tick the 'use by default' box again, and switch between and use apps to your hearts content, and pressing home will bring you back to your homescreen, but as soon as you pull the notification bar down, pressing home asks you which launcher to use.
Obviously the first thing I did was go to settings > applications > manage applications and clear defaults for either HTC Sense launcher, or LauncherPro, neither of which work. I've tried apps like homesmack, homeswitcher and cleardefault, none of which make any difference.
This is a bizzare problem, and again I say, it is easily reproduced by simply pulling down the notification bar
Any ideas?
Very wierd. I use ADW EX Launcher on my Flyer and have no such problems but I see no reason that other launchers should not behave properly.
I've tried various other launchers, and even did a factory reset, but the problem is still there. When trying any launcher besides HTC Sense, the default home is instantly forgotten when the notification bar is pulled down, and I am forced to choose between the two launchers EVERY TIME. 'Use by default' is useless.
I'd like to avoid rooting for now for the warranty, but I don't see any other option!
This is driving me insane! Come on guys, any suggestions?
my wife's incredible just started doing this exact same thing last night. I have no idea what caused it, and no idea how to fix it. Making me absolutely crazy. Going to try and backup her stuff and factory reset it.....it worked fine until yesterday.
have you tried Home Switcher app or similar?
aidansdad22 said:
my wife's incredible just started doing this exact same thing last night. I have no idea what caused it, and no idea how to fix it. Making me absolutely crazy. Going to try and backup her stuff and factory reset it.....it worked fine until yesterday.
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Click to collapse
Easy solution... unlock the bootloader and put Honeycomb on it, as per globatron's instructional thread. It's pretty straightfoward.
Lol, not on an incredible.
globatron said:
Lol, not on an incredible.
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Click to collapse
Totally missed that part . Wasn't expecting people to talk about problems with the Incredible in the Flyer forums haha
Thank goodness, I'm not crazy. I have the exact same problem and it was (is) driving me nuts, but I couldn't figure out that pulling down the notification bar was the event caused this.
It's rather odd, because I'd been running Go Launcher EX for a month or two without any problems, then this prompt started happening a week or two ago. I cleared launcher defaults, reset them, etc. So I decided to try ADW. Still: same problem. Uninstalled Go Launcher EX, still the same problem (with ADW still installed).
I have a stock HTC Sensation running Sense 3.0 on Android 2.3.4. I don't remember seeing any updates come down for Sense or Android when the problem started, but perhaps I don't recall something. I wonder if a recent update to Launcher Pro caused the issue that stuck around even after being uninstalled? I don't really want to do a factory reset to try getting a clean machine that never Go Launcher installed.
I'm still frustrated by this problem which I haven't been able to solve. I know Sense adds things to the notfication bar like the "Quick Settings" tab. There must be some part of Sense that is activated when the bar displays causing the issue on the next press of the home key.
If any of you have found a solution, please post!
Thanks
I am having the same issue. Running stock Android 2.3.4 on my HTC Rezound. Also on my HTC Thunderbolt. Both when running CyanogenMod and HTC Sense. Also my mother-in-law has an EVO 4G running CyanogenMod doing the same thing. Its frustrating and I have tried eeverything but call HTC themselves. Its frankly starting to piss me off.
If anyone finds a solution, please let us know.
I have the same issue with HTC EVO 3D. Pulling down the Notification bar or Long Press the Home button would reset the Default launcher. I also found out that if I take out my sd card, it doesn't happen any more but I couldn't live without the sd card.
I have the same problem. But only opening notification bar clears default launcher on my HTC Evo 3D (not long home button press). I don't have my Evo rooted because of warranty and too early state of alternative ROMs. Removing SD card didn't help in my case.
Please help, it makes me crazy. I tried factory reset but this problem is now back after few weeks and after installing my favorite 150 applications only into internal memory. So avoiding SD card didn't help and I also don't know the reason.
Before taking it into the sprint store. I was hoping someone in here has some input.
Stock Photon.
This morning my wifes photon got stuck getting into the home screen. It unlocks but all we see is a black screen with the status bar icons on top. Battery is full. I tried to take battery out, same issue.
I could see the home page when i use the power button but very slightly. Anyone know what could have caused this? And is there a way to uninstall an app using google play store through a desktop? After a while we get the force close from magic locker and the phone restarts. Im assuming its magic locker causing the issue.
Atticustrd said:
Before taking it into the sprint store. I was hoping someone in here has some input.
Stock Photon.
This morning my wifes photon got stuck getting into the home screen. It unlocks but all we see is a black screen with the status bar icons on top. Battery is full. I tried to take battery out, same issue.
I could see the home page when i use the power button but very slightly. Anyone know what could have caused this? And is there a way to uninstall an app using google play store through a desktop? After a while we get the force close from magic locker and the phone restarts. Im assuming its magic locker causing the issue.
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Click to collapse
Have you tried installing a different home launcher
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RockoDev said:
Have you tried installing a different home launcher
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Click to collapse
I cant get to her apps. As soon as i unlock it i get a black screen.
I'm having some trouble with my launcher of choice, Apex.
Every now and then it will crash, leaving me with a black screen. The screen will remain black and the phone unresponsive for around 10 seconds. Then I'm thrown back to my home screen.
I'm assuming that it's Apex crashing, but there is no error message or dialog box of any kind, so I can't be sure.
This often happens if I click the back button multiple times to get out of an app, or when I am using an app and then click my home button. It does this with many different apps.
Is there any way I can start troubleshooting this? Logs of some kind? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Kiahnlliya said:
I'm having some trouble with my launcher of choice, Apex.
Every now and then it will crash, leaving me with a black screen. The screen will remain black and the phone unresponsive for around 10 seconds. Then I'm thrown back to my home screen.
I'm assuming that it's Apex crashing, but there is no error message or dialog box of any kind, so I can't be sure.
This often happens if I click the back button multiple times to get out of an app, or when I am using an app and then click my home button. It does this with many different apps.
Is there any way I can start troubleshooting this? Logs of some kind? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
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Click to collapse
I'm using apex (pro) and it works fine, maybe you clicking back several times is just making the app FC or just brain-farting android.
I have the Pro version too. And yeah at first I thought it was me causing it, since the last Android phone I had was running Eclair and I thought that maybe ICS doesn't like back button mashing... But the black screen also happens if I background an app using the home key.
It's really a shame because I'm loving Apex.
Kiahnlliya said:
I have the Pro version too. And yeah at first I thought it was me causing it, since the last Android phone I had was running Eclair and I thought that maybe ICS doesn't like back button mashing... But the black screen also happens if I background an app using the home key.
It's really a shame because I'm loving Apex.
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Click to collapse
Hmm well that's really weird. Do a backup in apex, then force stop, clear data, uninstall and then reinstall it. See if you still have the problem. Also, see if the "keep in memory" option is checked, this should prevent things like this, or it having to load again when coming back from another app.
I had the same issues with apex, couldn't figure out what exactly caused the problems...for that reason I'm on go launcher for now.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using XDA
i have the same problem
bortak said:
Also, see if the "keep in memory" option is checked, this should prevent things like this, or it having to load again when coming back from another app.
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Click to collapse
It seems like this has solved my problem! It was unchecked, so I checked it and now it seems fine! You the man!
Didn´t solve it here, as said above, it is already checked. Maybe an update will solve these problems in near future, it is really sad that apex suffers here.
It appears I spoke too soon, Apex still crashes/freezes for me.
I also tried Nova Launcher and it does the same thing.
I keep very few apps backgrounded, and I have removed a lot of bloatware. My phone should be a lean, mean machine... I guess I just have to live with it, maybe in the future a custom ROM will solve it.
If you guys check your logcat logs, you'll see evidence of apex crashing. I already contacted the developers and they said it's a known issue but are still looking into it. For now I'm using go launcher.. not so smooth, but lots of features
Had the exact same issues, switching to Nova solved the problem for me.
Yup same problem, back on touchwiz for now.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Something I noticed about a week ago, and that I've yet to figure out the cause of, is that trying to switch the app drawer icon's image while running Nova is no longer working. It does when you first install Nova, or after clearing the data, however it eventually stops working. Instead, holding down the icon's image in the edit pop-up makes the screen hang for a second (like it's going to open the icon preview screen) then revert back to the edit pop-up. A few others mentioned this over on Droid Life, so thankfully I don't appear to be the only one.
Any idea what may be causing this little glitch over time?
Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk
Tillmorn said:
Something I noticed about a week ago, and that I've yet to figure out the cause of, is that trying to switch the app drawer icon's image while running Nova is no longer working. It does when you first install Nova, or after clearing the data, however it eventually stops working. Instead, holding down the icon's image in the edit pop-up makes the screen hang for a second (like it's going to open the icon preview screen) then revert back to the edit pop-up. A few others mentioned this over on Droid Life, so thankfully I don't appear to be the only one.
Any idea what may be causing this little glitch over time?
Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
Hmm that's strange.. No problems at all here with Nova Prime. I've switched the app drawer icon many times and doesn't happen.
Maybe try clearing cache/Dalvic for the entire phone not just Nova data, may help may not
- Tapatalked from the G3
Been running Nova since day 3 so 3 and a half weeks at least (later upgraded to Nova Prime) and no such issue...
If it were happening constantly I think it'd be a little easier to pinpoint an issue. Best I can tell though, it only crops up after changing the icon pack a few times. Also, adding another app drawer shortcut to the home screen does not alleviate the problem either. Something is causing it to randomly lock up, and I believe it may have something to do with LG's stock software. Granted the only evidence I have to back that up stems from never having issues with any of my other devices and the fact that there is little to no reference of this in conjunction with Nova to be found on the web.
Tillmorn said:
Something I noticed about a week ago, and that I've yet to figure out the cause of, is that trying to switch the app drawer icon's image while running Nova is no longer working. It does when you first install Nova, or after clearing the data, however it eventually stops working. Instead, holding down the icon's image in the edit pop-up makes the screen hang for a second (like it's going to open the icon preview screen) then revert back to the edit pop-up. A few others mentioned this over on Droid Life, so thankfully I don't appear to be the only one.
Any idea what may be causing this little glitch over time?
Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Search is your friend
http://forum.xda-developers.com/verizon-lg-g3/help/change-app-launcher-icon-nova-t2826053
droidkevlar said:
Search is your friend
http://forum.xda-developers.com/verizon-lg-g3/help/change-app-launcher-icon-nova-t2826053
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Click to collapse
This is what I get for posting a topic after not searching for another answer since mid July when I first noticed it xD. Curious that it would require moving back to stock. That makes me believe it really is something in the code on LG's part that is causing it. Hopefully Nova can find a workaround for it.
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