[Request] Custom Android Launcher - Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I am looking to have a Launcher designed. It doesnt need to go into the Play Store, it'd be just for me I guess.
My idea behind this is to have the Recent Apps page as part of the Desktops
The desktop would consist of 2 main page types
The first is the Recent Apps page.
This is the page you go to by clicking on the App Switcher button, the Square icon that normally takes you to recent apps.
It has the same function as the recent apps page, except that it now displays them on the Desktop as thier own stand alone page. This page is for Recent Apps only, things like widgets and apps themselves can not be put onto this page. The Recent apps page will have the option to display 4 app on the page or up to 8. Individual Recent apps can also be pinned to the top of this page, so that no matter what app you open, your pinned open apps will always remain on the top. To veiw more open apps, you scroll down vertically. To close an open app you simply press the X. To get to your apps, you slide to the left.
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
The second desktop page type is the applications page. This page type contains all your apps and widgets. Because the launcher does not have an app drawer all your applications will be here. They can be put into folders and organized like a normal launcher. App pages are added by dragging an app to the right until a new page appears. Infinite pages can be added. When an application is opened, the screen slides to the Recent apps screen to show the app before popping opn to open your app. The app screen can be returned to by pressing the Circle home button. to get here from the recent apps screen you slide the recent apps screen to the left.
The Launcher will not have scrolling wallpaper.
The launcher would not have an option to have infinite scroll. Itwould stop scrolling pages when you hit the recent apps screen at the left or the last app page at the right.
The launcher icons would be stock Lollipop icons.
---
Another idea, but not needed, would be to have a unified inbox at the very far left after the Recent Apps page.
it would go.
Unified Inbox - Recent Apps - App Pages - More App Pages

Maybe you could make one of the existing launchers do this. Nova etc are very customisable.
Sent from my Xperia Z3

AMoosa said:
Maybe you could make one of the existing launchers do this. Nova etc are very customisable.
Sent from my Xperia Z3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nah, all the launcher Ive used still has the Recent Apps and Apps on two seperate areas with no way to swipe between them, just the home button and recent button.
Take BB10 for example. That's my idea. The recent apps are on one page and swiping one way takes you to the apps pages.

You can use this repo I've made for making your own launcher:
https://github.com/AndroidDeveloperLB/LB-Launcher

AndroidDeveloperLB said:
You can use this repo I've made for making your own launcher:
https://github.com/AndroidDeveloperLB/LB-Launcher
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, no idea how to code. This was more of a request thread.

I see.
There are some issues with getting the list of recent apps, which I've found while developing my "app manager" app :
1. it could sometimes be empty, especially when starting the device.
2. it isn't guaranteed to return you the amount of items you want.
3. Some items are quite weird to show (like launchers).
4. Starting with Kitkat, the permission to get this list of recent apps has become deprecated, and can only return you apps you've launched from the current app.
5. Starting with Lollipop, there are a lot more to get from the user (a lot of statistics), but it requires user's confirmation.

Related

[Q] [SOLVED] Gaps in App Drawer

My girlfriend has the X10 mini and when she removes an app from the phone, the icon is removed from the app drawer as expected but it leaves a space where the icon used to be which is never reused whn a new app is installed
she has several of these gaps now, has anybody else had this problem or know how to fix it or refresh the list maybe?
example screenshots
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
->
->
You should get a launcher like ADW. It has a much better drawer. There's no comparison between it and Sony's one.
The x10 mini's launcher tray is different from the trays of other launchers that just list the apps in alphabetical order - you can reorder them yourself - press the menu button, then select "Arrange icons" and you can drag the icons into a new order (so you can drag other apps to fill your spaces, or organise the apps by type, etc)
Eseb0 said:
You should get a launcher like ADW. It has a much better drawer. There's no comparison between it and Sony's one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its my girlfriends phone and she like it, I use launcher pro and tried getting her to let me install that but she's having none of it, cheers for the suggestion tho..
benjymous said:
The x10 mini's launcher tray is different from the trays of other launchers that just list the apps in alphabetical order - you can reorder them yourself - press the menu button, then select "Arrange icons" and you can drag the icons into a new order (so you can drag other apps to fill your spaces, or organise the apps by type, etc)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought I had tried this already and it didnt work, but have just held an icon down and its letting me move them... hmmm oh well, cheers fella thats sorted it.
the missus says thankyou
gavtaylor said:
its my girlfriends phone and she like it, I use launcher pro and tried getting her to let me install that but she's having none of it, cheers for the suggestion tho..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think LauncherPro only works on Android version 2 and up.
Yeh i found the gaps that were left behind a bit annoying... but i also found scrolling through each page at a time and remembering where each app was annoying as well as i started to rack up quite a few pages and the app drawer always loads at the page u were last on.
But now i use helix launcher which puts it all in alphabetical order which i did found annoying at first as i wasnt used to it but getting familiar with what apps u have and what they're called as well as being able to see more apps on the screen and scrolling down to the bottom with 1 swipe makes it a winner!
If your gf doesnt regularly download lots of apps and uninstall them i'd suggest to just rearrange/shift the apps into the gaps for her or get her to herself.

[Q] How to change bottom shortcuts on Gingerbread home screen

I wish to change the 2 shortcuts at the bottom of Gingerbread default home screen (Phone, Browser) to something else (Messages, Gmail). But I couldn't find a way to change those icons either by press and hold on the shortcut, or by dragging icons from the Apps screen.
What's the best way to change them without using 3rd party launchers?
Thanks.
On 2.3.5 Samsung Galaxy Mini I just press Menu key in app drawer and then edit to change Touchwizz launcher shortcut.
I am not totally sure if I can remember right, as I do not use the stock GB launcher at the moment, but have you tried using the menue button while the app drawer is opened?
try going on the app drawer,press the options button near the key and press Edit and then try and drag them
If you have the stock Gingerbread launcher, it is not possible to change them. You could try an alternate launcher like LauncherPro.
Please use the Q&A Forum for questions Thanks
Moving to Q&A
zero00zero said:
I am not totally sure if I can remember right, as I do not use the stock GB launcher at the moment, but have you tried using the menue button while the app drawer is opened?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the idea, I tried to open menu at app drawer, show only:
- Manage applications (equiv to Settings -> applications -> manage applications)
- Search (opens Google search)
- Notifications (opens top-down notification screen)
- Settings (Opens Gingerbread Settings screen)
Khanate said:
On 2.3.5 Samsung Galaxy Mini I just press Menu key in app drawer and then edit to change Touchwizz launcher shortcut.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, my rom starts with the stock launcher so this didn't work for me
silvercrus1 said:
try going on the app drawer,press the options button near the key and press Edit and then try and drag them
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was lost in "press the menu button near the key...", so I guess that would be pressing the menu button on app drawer, right? couldn't find a correct menu option to proceed
m-p{3} said:
If you have the stock Gingerbread launcher, it is not possible to change them. You could try an alternate launcher like LauncherPro.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alright then, I was using LauncherPro but for its bugs (like stacking icons), and slow load time on my aging machine, I'd rather give the stock launcher a try.
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"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
Is this stock Gingerbread launcher or Samsung launcher? The button looks like a Samsung one
Trick is being in the App List when you select the Menu button
Go from the Home Screen into your application list then select the Menu button - you'll now see Edit - View Type- Share App. Choose Edit and from here you can move out and then select what apps you want on the lower home screen. Select the Menu button again and chose Save. Once you are done it will leave your apps in the default view - choose the menu again and select View Type and select Alphabetical Grid - done and done.
For Stock GB 2.3.6 only. Newer Versions don't Require all this BS
Got it figured out, looks like the previous instructions have a missing step
1) Go to all Applications
2) Select "Menu", then select "Customization Grid".. Not Alphabetical or List
3) Select "Menu" and now the "EDIT" option shows up
4) You can Now "ADD" or "REMOVE" Shortcuts from Shortcut Bar
5) Hit "BACK" to stop the Editing function
I found the answer to your question!
louisli said:
I wish to change the 2 shortcuts at the bottom of Gingerbread default home screen (Phone, Browser) to something else (Messages, Gmail). But I couldn't find a way to change those icons either by press and hold on the shortcut, or by dragging icons from the Apps screen.
What's the best way to change them without using 3rd party launchers?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had the same issue with my Samsung Rugby Smart, until I found the solution here (it won't let me post links, so I will split it up and not include the first part, ok?)
:
samsung dot com slash /us/support/supportOwnersHowToGuidePopup.do?howto_guide_seq=6212 is the link - good luck!
:laugh:

go launcher... what am i doing?

Who here uses go launcher? I'm new to android so please bear with me. I was looking at themes and stuff and saw go launcher mentioned. I also saw it mentioned as a means for using scrollable wallpapers. So I downloaded it, opened it, and basically had no idea how to use my phone once i did. all my stock icons and everything were gone and there were 'download' bars everywhere. i realized when hitting the home button i could switch back to the default launcher and thats where i'm at now.
So before diving into messing with go launcher, is it worth it? Does it work well once properly set up? if so, got any tips or is there a site explaining how to use it and everything? I couldn't even find the applications button.
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
Go Launcher is the best Launcher ever... Just need to play around..
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using Tapatalk
Ok, so I was messing around with it a bit this morning and I'm figuring it out. One thing I can't get still is scrolling wallpaper. When I went to set it, it asked me if I wanted scrolling (and yes i've got a 1600x1280 image that I'm using), but it doesn't scroll. Is there something else that I might be missing?
Also, I installed their go task manager on one of my screens. It seems I have about 30 apps running. Is this normal? Was it like this on the stock launcher, or with this launcher do I have to constantly be sure to kill everything?
How's your battery? I never have that many apps running at once ..
I just started using GO launcher too, but it's very similar to adw ex which is what I've always used. These launchers are very easy to set up. Long-press on the screen to add your icons and widgets and so forth. Everything can also be resized, like long-pressing over a widget to get it resized properly to our larger screens. Just press the menu button and go through the preferences and see how you want to set it up to your liking. Also, go to themes and you can change everything such as icons and wallpapers in one step. Mine is currently on the ICS theme which comes preinstalled on the launcher.
I don't really use task killers so I'm not quite sure if the number of apps running is normal for you or not. From what I understand the android OS automatically deals with managing apps in the background and you should never really need to use a task killer.
I would recommend googling GO launcher guide for more in-depth reading if you're confused at all
Here are some screens showing what I think are the open apps. I'm not sure if theres a difference between open apps and apps running in the background. I didn't want to take a screen of each app as i scrolled through but you get the idea.
In ics theme using go launcher, folders on home screen.
Clicking on folder to open, it opens on top side of the phone,
How can I change pening of foldee to bottom side of phone by the location of folder.
Like in adw ex launcher.
Sent from my SGH-I717R using XDA
Go Launcher, atleast the version Im running (beta) the task manager widget shows apps running in the background as well as apps you have loaded. There are two different styles of widget you can choose for the task manager. The minimal version just shows a gauge / no apps and used / free memory. I think the one you are using is the 4x2 widget that shows app icons...
cgibsong002 said:
Here are some screens showing what I think are the open apps. I'm not sure if theres a difference between open apps and apps running in the background. I didn't want to take a screen of each app as i scrolled through but you get the idea.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Feint crap running in the background? How to get rid of it

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"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
I see this randomly popping up at the bottom of the screen and I'm not running any games or Feint apps (I have a few games installed that use it). How do I get rid of this?
Thanks
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
Press and hold the home button till the recent apps dialog opens (a list of recently used apps).
At the bottom there's 3 icons.
The icon that isnt the Google "G" or a bin will be the taskmanager - mines a round icon, with pie like sections cut out.
Select it then on the new screen that opens scoll across the top to "Active applications" - here you can see any open apps and close them - hopefully closing the Feint program - after that scroll across the top menu to "RAM" and hit the button "Clear Memory".
Any open programs or anything in the memory causing Feint to be open should now be closed, and Feint should not show any more.
RAM freeing apps are available on Google Play, and are easy to use usually allowing you to place a widget on a screen for one click access to free the RAM and kill any active processes like Feint. - This would be a much easier, quicker and convenient way to do what I have instructed above.
alchemist83 said:
Press and hold the home button till the recent apps dialog opens (a list of recently used apps).
At the bottom there's 3 icons.
The icon that isnt the Google "G" or a bin will be the taskmanager - mines a round icon, with pie like sections cut out.
Select it then on the new screen that opens scoll across the top to "Active applications" - here you can see any open apps and close them - hopefully closing the Feint program - after that scroll across the top menu to "RAM" and hit the button "Clear Memory".
Any open programs or anything in the memory causing Feint to be open should now be closed, and Feint should not show any more.
RAM freeing apps are available on Google Play, and are easy to use usually allowing you to place a widget on a screen for one click access to free the RAM and kill any active processes like Feint. - This would be a much easier, quicker and convenient way to do what I have instructed above.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I have been checking the Task Manager's Active Applications and there's usually nothing there but sometimes SMS, and I cleared memory so I'll see if it shows up again.

How to use "Lock This App" in Recent Apps One UI

Well, i came across this option as i play with the recent apps. I already know how to use "Pin this App" as its been there from previous version. But this "Lock This App" looks new. I tried everything there is to try from locking and unlocking an apps, nothings happened. Really wish Samsung include the Mask & Lock App again as it uses fingerprint to lock individual apps without using the comolex Secure Folder.
Anyone knows how to use the option?
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
forgive me if i got your question wrong . but lock this app option in recent panel means if you press " close all " button this app remain in recent apps and dont get closed . it has nothing to do with puting password on apps .
Joad said:
forgive me if i got your question wrong . but lock this app option in recent panel means if you press " close all " button this app remain in recent apps and dont get closed . it has nothing to do with puting password on apps .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well, initially thats my idea about it. Then i tried everything there is to try including locking an app, then clear recent apps. it cleared the app. lock app doesn't do anything. or its just a bug on my device i suppose. thanks btw.
you get it wrong. lock apps will not get removed from the recent menu (and not removed from memory) when you hit close all!
that's all!
it is not a security feature.
Doesn't prevent swiping
I like the fact that it prevents the app from being closed with the close all button and even prevents the close all button from appearing all together. The issue I'm having is I swipe the apps to close them and "Lock this app" doesnt prevent that. Is this a glitch on my end or is this no longer possible? That's what I liked about the pin app feature in previous version, as I use several apps at once, like music apps in the background while working on projects, etc. So if I swipe 1 or 2 apps away, sometimes I go so fast I swipe the music away instead and stops my momentum. The recent apps section helps unless I use more than 4 apps. :laugh:
DiablosRaven said:
I like the fact that it prevents the app from being closed with the close all button and even prevents the close all button from appearing all together. The issue I'm having is I swipe the apps to close them and "Lock this app" doesnt prevent that. Is this a glitch on my end or is this no longer possible? That's what I liked about the pin app feature in previous version, as I use several apps at once, like music apps in the background while working on projects, etc. So if I swipe 1 or 2 apps away, sometimes I go so fast I swipe the music away instead and stops my momentum. The recent apps section helps unless I use more than 4 apps. :laugh:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the s9 and also locking apps in recent menu doesn't prevent swiping them away.

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