I just completed my first app which works fine, and want to make a widget version of it.
I notice that most of the standard Android widgets are extremely limited in what they can do. Yet the Hero ones which run under Rosie have cool features like animations and scrolling within the widget itself.
Anyone know if there is an API or SDK for such effects, or if there is a fundamental reason why they arent generally used in widgets? Battery life and/or performance?
Related
Sorry, newb question. What does Rosie mean and why would I want to try different versions? Droid INc, SR 3.3.2, 2.15 radio, stock kernel. I've looked at screenshots of different rosie versions, but it just looks like minor appearance and launcher changes. Isn't that sort of what I get with a new rom anyhow?
Rosie, in simplest terms, is the launcher that appears at the bottom of the screen, above the home/menu/back/search buttons - opinions vary on her extent, but nominally that's who she is.
So then what's the big deal with Rosie if launcher pro makes that so easy?
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If you modify Rosie, you can tweak the default Sense launcher to look the way you want, AND stilll have access to the HTC widgets.
mikeymop said:
If you modify Rosie, you can tweak the default Sense launcher to look the way you want, AND stilll have access to the HTC widgets.
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Click to collapse
I guess I'm still confused, as you can still change the launcher and still have access to htc widgets without modifying rosie. Is it a theme? Is is a full Sense UI replacement? I'm just not grasping it.
From all I've gathered through this community, Rosie is like a theme on steroids - HTC uses it as a key piece of branding across nearly all their devices. In addition to being the main user interface in terms of widgets, buttons, launcher, etc it also includes an number of hooks and tweaks into core Android itself designed to make the experience more friendly for non-geek users (no insult implied!).
There are two main camps when it comes to Rosie - some dislike it since it adds bulk to the simplicity of vanilla Android, while some others love it for it's prettier user experience and all its widgets. I personally am in the former camp and have learned to love AOSP vanilla.
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kjjb0204 said:
I guess I'm still confused, as you can still change the launcher and still have access to htc widgets without modifying rosie. Is it a theme? Is is a full Sense UI replacement? I'm just not grasping it.
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Actually, you can't. If you change the launcher to something like Launcher Pro (which I <3), you can't use the stock HTC Widgets for FriendStream, Mail or more popularly that beautiful 4x2 Weather+Clock. Granted, if you buy Launcher Pro Plus you can get very similar social widgets, and if want that clock Beautiful Widgets is the way to go if you ditch Rosie for LPP.
Rosie, in simplest terms, is the black bar at the bottom of your homescreen. She gives you access to your app drawer, dialer and settings - and if you take her away, she takes the HTC Widgets with her. However, all other HTC Sense UI elements, such as the lockscreen or the black status bar all stay in place.
Rosie is just the launcher. She is in charge of your homescreens.
As previously mentioned, the reason people modify her is they don't want to lose the HTC Widgets for whatever reason (too cheap for LPP + BW?), but they want to have a custom look or replace the settings option with say the browser.
That clear it up?
Zoon0n said:
Actually, you can't. If you change the launcher to something like Launcher Pro (which I <3), you can't use the stock HTC Widgets for FriendStream, Mail or more popularly that beautiful 4x2 Weather+Clock. Granted, if you buy Launcher Pro Plus you can get very similar social widgets, and if want that clock Beautiful Widgets is the way to go if you ditch Rosie for LPP.
Rosie, in simplest terms, is the black bar at the bottom of your homescreen. She gives you access to your app drawer, dialer and settings - and if you take her away, she takes the HTC Widgets with her. However, all other HTC Sense UI elements, such as the lockscreen or the black status bar all stay in place.
Rosie is just the launcher. She is in charge of your homescreens.
As previously mentioned, the reason people modify her is they don't want to lose the HTC Widgets for whatever reason (too cheap for LPP + BW?), but they want to have a custom look or replace the settings option with say the browser.
That clear it up?
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Click to collapse
Did for me.... Thanks
Zoon0n said:
Actually, you can't. If you change the launcher to something like Launcher Pro (which I <3), you can't use the stock HTC Widgets for FriendStream, Mail or more popularly that beautiful 4x2 Weather+Clock. Granted, if you buy Launcher Pro Plus you can get very similar social widgets, and if want that clock Beautiful Widgets is the way to go if you ditch Rosie for LPP.
Rosie, in simplest terms, is the black bar at the bottom of your homescreen. She gives you access to your app drawer, dialer and settings - and if you take her away, she takes the HTC Widgets with her. However, all other HTC Sense UI elements, such as the lockscreen or the black status bar all stay in place.
Rosie is just the launcher. She is in charge of your homescreens.
As previously mentioned, the reason people modify her is they don't want to lose the HTC Widgets for whatever reason (too cheap for LPP + BW?), but they want to have a custom look or replace the settings option with say the browser.
That clear it up?
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Click to collapse
Absolutely. Thank you! The term Rosie didn't come up on any Android glossaries I found online. You should submit your description...
On a side note, I was a devout BB user for years and I feel like a kid again learning this whole new OS from scratch. I was as deep into BB as many of you are in Android, so just making the change was a huge leap. Some people close to me think I'm obsessed with technology, but for me it's what I find interesting and fun and challenging.
I used this clocks ( panerai ) back when i had my HTC HD2, But now on Android i wonder if this can be done or used On Android platform
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=670136&highlight=clocks
Will be nice to have a Panerai in my EVO.
if you're running a sense rom, i'm pretty sure that one of the clocks that you can choose from looks exactly like that within your widget options.
if not, there are tons clock widgets in the market for free and you can most likely find one that is very similar to that.
nah...not even close!!!
I've downloaded some very similar ones from the market. I always seem to experience horrible battery drain from clock widgets :/
Try an app called One More Clock. Basically has TONS of clock widgets and the developer opened it up for people to keep adding to it.
I think the free version allows all the clocks and the paid version just gives more customizations.
whats up ppl i was just wondering if is it possible to have a AOSP rom wit the sense widgets (flip clock, sync all, settings, etc) cuz lets be real the AOSP widgets are wake and if it is can u tell me how to cuz im a new in this and thnx in adv.
have a wonderful day
Please use the search...
Pay version of launcher pro has widgets similar to sense with the exception of the clock.
For the clock, you need the pay versions of either Beautiful Widgets of Fancy Widgets. I know for sure Fancy Widgets has skins to make the clock look identical to the sense clock. It also has screen on animations and weather animations when you open the weather.
A number of third party messenger and calendar apps also have their own widgets.
jstalford said:
Pay version of launcher pro has widgets similar to sense with the exception of the clock.
For the clock, you need the pay versions of either Beautiful Widgets of Fancy Widgets. I know for sure Fancy Widgets has skins to make the clock look identical to the sense clock. It also has screen on animations and weather animations when you open the weather.
A number of third party messenger and calendar apps also have their own widgets.
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Click to collapse
yea i was watching a video on youtube of fancy widgets but the animation when u unlock the phone does not work right and a another Q how do u put the signature (like the one u have after the line ) in here cuz i been looking around in my profile and i dont see any part for signature
Screen unlock animation worked fine for me. I think beautiful widgets has one too. Neither are as good as sense though. Worth the sacrifice for me though since I don't really like Sense.
Look under quick links at the top of the screen. One of them is edit sig.
Hello everybody,
I use Launcher7 on my SGS2. I know about most other launchers, and yes I know they support widgets way better, but I really like Launcher7's style. The only thing I am having a hard time with, is finding widgets that are compatible with this launcher / that fit in the tiles while still being readable.
Does anyone know some widgets that work well with this launcher? For now, I have found that (with a little bit of patience) the following widgets work great (next to the widgets provided within the launcher):
* Animated widget pro
* Advanced clock pro
* Google (play) music
I would love to hear from other Launcher7-users about other widgets that work for you! Please, do not post messages about other launchers, I am fully aware about their existence!
you need to experiment I have not a significant issue w/ widgets on L7.
Click on special tiles, select widget, the you get options menu:
1
2
full screen
Experiment! 1 w/ full screen
2 w/ full scree
2 alone
1 alone etc
this process gives you diff size tiles.
Some large clock widgets may be a little off I agree
good luck
hello, just wondering if having multiple launchers with apps / widgets etc will drain battery or slow phone down? if i am in one launcher and using wifi, then go to another launcher without switching wifi off will it still be running in background somewhere??
Multiple launchers can cause phone slowdown and in turn, use more battery. Why do you need multiple launchers? If you don't like sense flash a new ROM and be done with sense crap
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not too sure, i am on a cyanogen nightly, and facied having different home screens, without having to change the theme or rom and then set my settings up. i think cyanogen has adw or something, then go launcher is supposed to be great and holo launcher offered something else (this is going from the descriptions... i have downlaoded them, but not configured yet as thought would ask the above question first...
I've used Holo launcher beforw and I think its pretty good, decent customization options & not resource heavy. Never used Go Launcher before, so can't really comment. CM uses ADW which, personally, I believe is one of the best launchers out there (although I prefer Zeam; uses less battery power and is slightly quicker).
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t3rm3y said:
hello, just wondering if having multiple launchers with apps / widgets etc will drain battery or slow phone down? if i am in one launcher and using wifi, then go to another launcher without switching wifi off will it still be running in background somewhere??
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Click to collapse
If you mean will wifi still be running, then yes, it should be. It should only switch off if you tell it to.
You can see some launchers on my site if you'd like to get some ideas of how they look.
I use MIUI roms which come with the MiHome Launcher, which is beautifully smooth. (I prefer the 3D Cube animation style.)
I also run Wave Launcher which is designed to run over the top of all other launchers or apps. I totally recommend it for any-screen-you-are-on, quick shortcut convenience.
I don't experience any slow down or battery drain.
Of course the more animations, and other moving eye candy you have, the more work the CPU has to do (CPU cycles). The more work the CPU has to do - the more it uses the battery.
The same applies to live wallpaper, GPS, watching video, keeping the screen on, etc.