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Long story short, about a year ago i got a Motorola Bravo (Android) phone for a few weeks but returned it because I couldn't really afford a data plan at the time. About a month ago I switched back to smartphones, this time for good, and now have a Samsung Galaxy SII.
The motorola phone had some AWESOME user-friendly features, such as resizing of widgets. Is this taken out because of Touchwiz or was that an older version of Android that's now obsolete? What all does Touchwiz take away functionality-wise? What does Gingerbread (2.3.6 to be specific) look like without Touchwiz?
I've yet to root my phone (the only reason I'd have right now is more battery life) but if I could reove Touchwiz and get some serious UI improvements, that'd definitely be a gamechanger for me
Motorola has Moto blur I think
HTC has sense
Samsung has TouchWiz
The clean Androind would be an AOSP based rom, like CM9/AOKP
I don't know if you understand me, I think I'm drunk or something right know can't remember
Oh
Galaxy Nexus is like what it looks witout the Touchwiz.
ScelestusAnimus said:
Long story short, about a year ago i got a Motorola Bravo (Android) phone for a few weeks but returned it because I couldn't really afford a data plan at the time. About a month ago I switched back to smartphones, this time for good, and now have a Samsung Galaxy SII.
The motorola phone had some AWESOME user-friendly features, such as resizing of widgets. Is this taken out because of Touchwiz or was that an older version of Android that's now obsolete? What all does Touchwiz take away functionality-wise? What does Gingerbread (2.3.6 to be specific) look like without Touchwiz?
I've yet to root my phone (the only reason I'd have right now is more battery life) but if I could reove Touchwiz and get some serious UI improvements, that'd definitely be a gamechanger for me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Make sure to go the MIUI route if you're on GB or go the AOKP route if you're on ICS. Those are good starting points if you want to see some nice UI improvements. If you decide to go AOKP make sure to mess around in ROM control.
AOSP stock apps on ICS (AOKP/CM9) are much nicer than touchwizz/samsung ics apps.
UI Ranking
#1 AOSP (AOKP,CM9) and MIUI [all ICS based]
#2 MIUI GB , Sensation ROM GB (Samsung based rom), AOSP GB (CM7) (LunarUI theme)
#3 Stock Samsung ROM or Stock CM7 [both GB based]
Recommend Choice is AOKP http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1574718
Just make sure you know what you're doing when you flash
You just need a different launcher. Try go launcher.
Sent from my SGH-I777 using Tapatalk
Biporch said:
Motorola has Moto blur I think
HTC has sense
Samsung has TouchWiz
The clean Androind would be an AOSP based rom, like CM9/AOKP
I don't know if you understand me, I think I'm drunk or something right know can't remember
Oh
Galaxy Nexus is like what it looks witout the Touchwiz.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh yeah! Now that you mention it, i remember reading about Motoblur.
Cryosx said:
Make sure to go the MIUI route if you're on GB or go the AOKP route if you're on ICS. Those are good starting points if you want to see some nice UI improvements. If you decide to go AOKP make sure to mess around in ROM control.
AOSP stock apps on ICS (AOKP/CM9) are much nicer than touchwizz/samsung ics apps.
UI Ranking
#1 AOSP (AOKP,CM9) and MIUI [all ICS based]
#2 MIUI GB , Sensation ROM GB (Samsung based rom), AOSP GB (CM7) (LunarUI theme)
#3 Stock Samsung ROM or Stock CM7 [both GB based]
Recommend Choice is AOKP http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1574718
Just make sure you know what you're doing when you flash
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are these custom Roms or just the normal Android OS without the company's additions to it? I have gingerbread atm (I'd rather wait for ICS until the official release from AT&T)
hobbs said:
You just need a different launcher. Try go launcher.
Sent from my SGH-I777 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried Go launcher. I didn't like how it was basically an OS on top of the normal OS. They both were running at the same time and I had to rearrange my apps to make them the same as they were. I just want the Android OS without the stupid additions/subtractions from Samsung/Motorola/etc >.<
However I have to say, I do like how Go Launcher doesn't require rooting
ScelestusAnimus said:
I tried Go launcher. I didn't like how it was basically an OS on top of the normal OS. They both were running at the same time and I had to rearrange my apps to make them the same as they were. I just want the Android OS without the stupid additions/subtractions from Samsung/Motorola/etc >.<
However I have to say, I do like how Go Launcher doesn't require rooting
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You do realize, right, that Touchwiz is a launcher too? And even vanilla Android builds use a launcher? When you use Go Launcher, it's not running "on top of" what's already there; it's replacing Touchwiz.
I'm sorry, but you can't have vanilla Android OS without installing it in the form of a custom ROM. Samsung makes their own builds of Android, which is what you have. If you want something else, somebody else has to build it...meaning the developers on this forum.
mattdm said:
You do realize, right, that Touchwiz is a launcher too? And even vanilla Android builds use a launcher? When you use Go Launcher, it's not running "on top of" what's already there; it's replacing Touchwiz.
I'm sorry, but you can't have vanilla Android OS without installing it in the form of a custom ROM. Samsung makes their own builds of Android, which is what you have. If you want something else, somebody else has to build it...meaning the developers on this forum.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe it just felt like that because I could cancel it at any time and go back and forth between normal touchwiz and Go launcher. I know this is a versatility feature, but I'd rather have that disabled, as crazy as it may sound.
But that's good to know. I didn't know a launcher was REQUIRED, just thought it was what most people did. I'll look into other launchers.
Is there still one where you can resize the UI elements and stuff like that?
ScelestusAnimus said:
Maybe it just felt like that because I could cancel it at any time and go back and forth between normal touchwiz and Go launcher. I know this is a versatility feature, but I'd rather have that disabled, as crazy as it may sound.
But that's good to know. I didn't know a launcher was REQUIRED, just thought it was what most people did. I'll look into other launchers.
Is there still one where you can resize the UI elements and stuff like that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As mattdm said, all Android builds require a launcher. Otherwise you'd have no usable GUI. When you were switching back and forth between GO and TouchWiz were you using a home/launcher switcher, or were you just using the default ui to choose one each time you went to your home screen?
You can have several launchers installed and use a switcher to make one "stick" until you decide you want a different look/feel.
Some prefer GO or LauncherPro. I use ADW EX and TouchWiz. ADW and LauncherPro are very configurable. VERY. Both have their ardent fans. I've not used GO.
PS: You do NOT want the ability to change launchers disabled. ;-)
ScelestusAnimus said:
Maybe it just felt like that because I could cancel it at any time and go back and forth between normal touchwiz and Go launcher. I know this is a versatility feature, but I'd rather have that disabled, as crazy as it may sound.
But that's good to know. I didn't know a launcher was REQUIRED, just thought it was what most people did. I'll look into other launchers.
Is there still one where you can resize the UI elements and stuff like that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Uhh... touchwiz lets you resize certain widgets... (UI elements) pretty sure go launcher and adw ex do too...
Biporch said:
The clean Androind would be an AOSP based rom, like CM9/AOKP
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
CM9 uses the Trebuchet launcher. as it has been hammered multiple times, all roms use some sort of launcher. I'm not sure what AOKP uses, but I'd wager its either Trebuchet, nova, or apex..
0p3nsrc said:
CM9 uses the Trebuchet launcher. as it has been hammered multiple times, all roms use some sort of launcher. I'm not sure what AOKP uses, but I'd wager its either Trebuchet, nova, or apex..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe it comes with both apex and nova. They are fairly similar but each have a few unique features.
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0p3nsrc said:
CM9 uses the Trebuchet launcher. as it has been hammered multiple times, all roms use some sort of launcher. I'm not sure what AOKP uses, but I'd wager its either Trebuchet, nova, or apex..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tasks came with trebuchet. I switched to nova and I'm fairly sure that apex came on it too.
Sent from my SGH-I777 using xda premium
ScelestusAnimus said:
Long story short, about a year ago i got a Motorola Bravo (Android) phone for a few weeks but returned it because I couldn't really afford a data plan at the time. About a month ago I switched back to smartphones, this time for good, and now have a Samsung Galaxy SII.
The motorola phone had some AWESOME user-friendly features, such as resizing of widgets. Is this taken out because of Touchwiz or was that an older version of Android that's now obsolete? What all does Touchwiz take away functionality-wise? What does Gingerbread (2.3.6 to be specific) look like without Touchwiz?
I've yet to root my phone (the only reason I'd have right now is more battery life) but if I could reove Touchwiz and get some serious UI improvements, that'd definitely be a gamechanger for me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First off, Welcome to Samsung!
A little background.
AOSP = Android Open Source Program. Meaning, a open source of code editable by anyone.
Touchwiz/Motoblur/Sense = Not AOSP, they were written as a launcher/GUI for each phone by their developer (Motorola/Samsung/HTC). On top of that, these GUI/Overlays have their fingers into everything on a phone, this is why updates take so long. Google creates a new version of Android and passes it to the phone manufacturer, they in turn need to take that new version and paste their GUI/Overlay on top of it, this takes time and money. Further, once the phone manufacturer finishes updating, they need to give the software to the vendor (VZW/AT&T etc) who add more bloat/custom crap to the software.
Custom ROM's, are and are not AOSP, Some are pure AOSP like AOKP or CM (Cyanogenmod), they are written by groups of people, all of whom work in concert to bring you the ROM. Then there are custom ROM's that are not in the realm of AOSP. For example, I use Phone Bricker, written by LilChris here on XDA. This ROM is not really Open Source as it's written by one person, the author may give out the source, I don't know.
So what would your phone look like w/o Touchwiz? CM9/AOKP is as close as you'll get. Those ROMs use the closest to stock version of Android.
To confuse matters even more, there are Launchers, Go Launcher/Apex etc. They operate as yet another GUI on top of a GUI, inside a ROM. So you could have a stock, unrooted Galaxy S2, with Touchwiz and Go Launcher, and customize it to make it look like you want it too. Or, you could root your phone, Update to CM9 (running Ice Cream Sandwich btw), and use the launcher that they have there, or change that to Go Launcher.
The options are endless, read read read. I am new to Samsung, I came from Motorola where things are done quite a bit differently. I can tell you this though, you are infinitely better off with a Samsung phone than a Motorola Phone. Not only does Motoblur blow chunks, but Motorola is a terrible company as far as software updates go. Toss in locked bootloaders... anyway, I hope the above answered your question.
Wink
Hello
I'm a big fan of Samsungs Hardware but never liked touchwiz. The hings that annoy me most are the launcher and the Email(Exchange) App.
Is there a way to use the Vanilla ICS pendants without switching completely to cyanogen (when it once will be available)? I would like too keep the few nice add ons by Samsung.
Thx for hints
You could try an alternative ICS launcher such as Nova https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.teslacoilsw.launcher&hl=en. Hope that helps some.
An alternative launcher will definitely get you away from much of the touchwiz experience but you will still be stuck with Samsung's email, calendar, etc apps. Take a look in the SGS3 Themes and Apps section. I believe someone there has created a flashable zip to replace the Samsung stock apps with the ICS ones.
Thanks both of you. Nova does the trick for now.
I also flashed the ICS Email but it did not want to work. Guess I'll wait for CM then.
cheers
Hey,
I was wondering if it was possible to install stock ICS on the Galaxy S 3, while keeping new useful Samsung's functionalities (S-Beam, All Share Play, Smart Stay, Direct Call, Smart Alert, Tap to Top, Popup Play, S-Voice, …).
Actually, I would like to feel I'm on ICS on my GS3, and not on a Gingerbread-styled TouchWiz. I know I could install a third party launcher, but it customizes only the launcher, and not the status bar or the Settings for example.
Thanks !
CM-Zoom http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1698273 is probably the closest ROM out there atm, its Samsung ROM with a bunch of Cyanogen stuff included.
I dont know of any AOSP-based ROMs that can run the Samsung app suite yet.
Nonepse said:
Hey,
I was wondering if it was possible to install stock ICS on the Galaxy S 3, while keeping new useful Samsung's functionalities (S-Beam, All Share Play, Smart Stay, Direct Call, Smart Alert, Tap to Top, Popup Play, …).
Actually, I would like to feel I'm on ICS on my GS3, and not on a Gingerbread-styled TouchWiz. I know I could install a third party launcher, but it customizes only the launcher, and not the status bar or the Settings for example.
Thanks !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Most Samsung features depend on the TW framework. So few things will probably never work on AOSP based roms. However, for a lot of the features you named, there are alternatives. For instance, pop up play isn't a Samsung specific feature. But overall, what you're asking for will not work. Maybe in time, but I wouldn't get your hopes up...
Mmmh...
Unfortunately, I am not so surprised by your answers
And what about theming ? Is it possible to create a theme like this one and install it on the original Samsung ROM ?
Nonepse said:
Mmmh...
Unfortunately, I am not so surprised by your answers
And what about theming ? Is it possible to create a theme like this one and install it on the original Samsung ROM ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why don't you use that theme?
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It's written "The Theme is just for deodexed Rom's and is tested on Omega V3-V5!". Is the stock Samsung ROM deodexed ? Even if I am a developer, I dont know much about Android development
If it turns out to be deodexed, I could adapt his project to my needs (as said before, I don't know too much but it's a good way to learn !)
Oh, and forgot something in my initial post :
What bothers me in TouchWiz is replaced apps like Calendar and Contacts. This cannot be solved by theming. Is it possible to install these separately ?
I know I am a little picky and want the best of the two worlds, but isn't that the strength of Android ?
[Off Topic]
@norpan111: Sweden / France tonight
[/Off Topic]
You can install any replacement app you want. Some of them might rely on a certain framework though (e.g. Cyanogenmod) and might not work. But any replacement app from the Play Store should be fine.
member68 said:
You can install any replacement app you want. Some of them might rely on a certain framework though (e.g. Cyanogenmod) and might not work. But any replacement app from the Play Store should be fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course, but what about stock ICS applications I am used to use ? Isn't it possible to "extract" them from original ICS ?
ICS (afaik) requires vendors to include the original framework and theming so that apps don't break on heavily modified phones.
The goo.im stock apps should work, but create a nandroid backup before attempting to flash it through CWM
http://goo.im/gapps
You most likely want the following:
http://goo.im/gapps/gapps-ics-20120429-signed.zip
Ok. So ICSwiz + goo.im apps should do the trick.
I won't try it right now due to a busy schedule, but maybe in one week or so.
I will post it there my results, in case anyone is interested.
Thanks for your replies
Nonepse said:
Oh, and forgot something in my initial post :
What bothers me in TouchWiz is replaced apps like Calendar and Contacts. This cannot be solved by theming. Is it possible to install these separately ?
I know I am a little picky and want the best of the two worlds, but isn't that the strength of Android ?
[Off Topic]
@norpan111: Sweden / France tonight
[/Off Topic]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Download the CM9 Rom and replace the desired apps in /system/app.
Make sure you remove the samsung counterpart, e.g. if you want the original calendar, remove SecCalendar (or something) and calendarprovider, add original calendar and calendarprovider.
Don't be stupid and only replace what you really want!
THIS WILL NOT WORK FOR PHONE, CONTACTS AND DOWNLOAD!
There are many threads where they offer a black google apps pack, search for yourself if interested.
Hey guys I have 2 questions.
1. Im looking for some nice homescreens that were themed and how to make them. If anyone can provide hwo they made it with a picture that would be awesome.
2. Is ther any rumors on when Verizon will release 4.1.2 or any sort of update.
Thanks for your attention
Anyone would like to help me.Would be appreciated
I just use Go Launcher for my themes but if your looking to do some really custom stuff you might have to go another route. Have you checked youtube
Yeah I have but i dont really like using launchers and such. I like TW.
It really depends on how much you want to theme. If you're not rooted, you can download widget apps such as Beautiful Widgets or HD Widgets and use those as well as change the icons for apps. If you're rooted you can basically theme whatever you want. A good place to look for theming is youtube. If you wanted to, you could even go to the "Screenshot of your homescreen" threads and if they are popular people usually ask how to get them. This will give you a good idea of what to use.
To answer your second question, Samsung has already started pushing the 4.1.2 Jelly Bean update to the International version of the Note 2 so it won't be too long before we get it on ours. Hopefully early 2013.
Mine came with it now, so i was just wondering what would happen if i were to save those APK's (theres touchwiz itself, touchwiz launcher i think, maybe a couple others) to apply on top of a stock android OS??
Is that possible at all? It would be 4.0.4 style, but that doesnt bother me at all. if its possible that is.
Pawprints1986 said:
Mine came with it now, so i was just wondering what would happen if i were to save those APK's (theres touchwiz itself, touchwiz launcher i think, maybe a couple others) to apply on top of a stock android OS??
Is that possible at all? It would be 4.0.4 style, but that doesnt bother me at all. if its possible that is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, yes you can put your touchwiz.apk to other OS, what its going to do is its going to make you device look like samsung device. These are the launchers used to customize the look of the whole ecosystem and that's is the major reason why people drives away from iOS to the Android ecosystem try using the touchwiz launcher and see your device transform onto samsung.
promo87 said:
Well, yes you can put your touchwiz.apk to other OS, what its going to do is its going to make you device look like samsung device. These are the launchers used to customize the look of the whole ecosystem and that's is the major reason why people drives away from iOS to the Android ecosystem try using the touchwiz launcher and see your device transform onto samsung.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please do your research before replying.
No it will not work as they need the base touchwiz framework to work properly which stock google doesn't have.
This is the price you pay for running a custom aosp based ROM.
zelendel said:
Please do your research before replying.
No it will not work as they need the base touchwiz framework to work properly which stock google doesn't have.
This is the price you pay for running a custom aosp based ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there some (fairly easy) way to transfer the framework as well?
Pawprints1986 said:
Is there some (fairly easy) way to transfer the framework as well?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No because the frameworks control the whole OS. They are not cross compatible
zelendel said:
No because the frameworks control the whole OS. They are not cross compatible
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm, in that case, are there mods available to make every part of the stock OS look like the touchwiz OS, including the notification area?? Thats gotta be my biggest thing that i hate about stock. I love the compact 1 page aspect of the touchwiz version.
I know theres a theme for touchwiz, i tried it on another device. but all it changed was the main screens. settings and notification areas stayed stock. That was a total bummer, i thought i found my solution right there...
Pawprints1986 said:
Hmm, in that case, are there mods available to make every part of the stock OS look like the touchwiz OS, including the notification area?? Thats gotta be my biggest thing that i hate about stock. I love the compact 1 page aspect of the touchwiz version.
I know theres a theme for touchwiz, i tried it on another device. but all it changed was the main screens. settings and notification areas stayed stock. That was a total bummer, i thought i found my solution right there...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some have a notification setting for the compact tiles but not completely like touch Wiz. I would either get used to not having them or use a stock based ROM. To be honest I would get used to bot having them as with the next update the whole thing is changing again.
zelendel said:
Some have a notification setting for the compact tiles but not completely like touch Wiz. I would either get used to not having them or use a stock based ROM. To be honest I would get used to bot having them as with the next update the whole thing is changing again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well the one i tried playing with the settings with is the moto G... but there are practically NO customization settings, at all. wallpaper and ringtones were all i was able to find. no notification bar settings, no compact, no nothing.
Im still using my ICS with no issues... im more thinking ahead for the future, will possibly set a couple of roms aside to try. Its gonna take alot to get used to the much uglier notification area though... maybe ill never have to!