Develop Bugs

home replacements

Does anyone running non hero roms use any of the home replacements out there like sweeter home, dxtop, panda , ahome or any other ones?

i used open home recently on JACxROMv1.3 to change the ugly palm pre app tray. it worked for a while, but then it really started making the phone lag.

Open home was great but im using now stock home on CM3.9.10 build.. its better

http://sweeterhomeskins.blogspot.com/search/label/Themes

Nope, only used aHome on 1.1 before I rooted. Using the stock launcher on Cyanogen 3.9.11, loving global search

Advanced Launcher + Ted's Hero. I found all of them slow compaired to a themed phone.

Open Home is awesome... But it slows your phone down way too much

With Cyans ROMs a home replacement may not slow down the phone too much. The CPU scaling could help with the slowdown issues. There may be a little slowdown, but I doubt it would ever be slower than a stock build not running a home replacement.

I use the Home program that comes with the sdk samples. It's only got one home screen, an app drawer (lower right) and 3 icon spaces that list your most recent apps. It's all very basic and it's got a bug where it loses the wallpaper when you switch portrait-landscape, but here it is anyway if you want to try it. I'll be using this app as the base for a launcher i'm working on (I'll add 4 more home screens, widget capability, I'll turn the "recent apps" strip into a scrollable "favorites" strip, and maybe toss in some default, full screen widgets (like hero's, kind of like search is bundled as a widget for Launcher). It'll be a good long while though, i'm still brushing up my java.
to install this, connect your phone, put it in your C:\, and do:
Code:
adb remount
adb push C:\Home.apk.zip /system/app/Home.apk

jubeh said:
I use the Home program that comes with the sdk samples. It's only got one home screen, an app drawer (lower right) and 3 icon spaces that list your most recent apps. It's all very basic and it's got a bug where it loses the wallpaper when you switch portrait-landscape, but here it is anyway if you want to try it. I'll be using this app as the base for a launcher i'm working on (I'll add 4 more home screens, widget capability, I'll turn the "recent apps" strip into a scrollable "favorites" strip, and maybe toss in some default, full screen widgets (like hero's, kind of like search is bundled as a widget for Launcher). It'll be a good long while though, i'm still brushing up my java.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would defeat the purpose of a home replacement. Whole point is to make it look pretty. I'm not sure how the default home and a home replacement program interacts. If the default home runs in the background even when using a home replacement, then a lighter weight default home could help the system run faster.

ahome doesnt work at the moment on latest cyanogen experimental roms, DXTOP is nice i like the "diamond" shape screen layout, the speed is good but can sometimes be a little slow loading apps in launcher, sweeter home looks amazing the preview one is not really usable but a preview 2 will be out soon and it has amazing potential with being able to customise so many aspects of the layout. I loved the standard home with advanced launcher but am having issues with the advanced launcher i think where screen goes black. Currently i am on panda, I had tried this when it came out and really didnt see the point but it has come along and has some very nice touches will probably stick with this until I can resolve the issues with advanced launcher, overall speed is good on the home replacements but the standard home is the quickest, the launcher is so smooth and there is no lag at all.

I'm using dxtop... its pretty quick now.
I was having lag issues many iterations of CM and dxtop ago. But both are working very well with eachother now. dxtop also added a categories view for the tray and you can have live folders of those categories on the desktop.
The dev is also constantly working on this to optimize it and add features. (I beta for him)

I would like for a home replacement to incorporate the sense UI bar.

I am beta testing SweeterHome right now. IT IS AWESOME. The new and improved SH will have some options that will just blow the others AWAY! (IMHO)
With the current Beta options I only need to use about three of my total screens (with widgets and ALL)... And, the third screen is used for the Application Grid.
I'll be sure to post something in the Apps section when it comes available.
There are some seriously great new options in the new SH and the image handling has all been updated - so, it works much faster.
There are a few features that just blow me away. But, I have to wait to speak about them until the app is ready!

Spb Time v3 Now out

Just updated my version of Spb time to v3, it looks really great on the Touch HD, and fits WVGA screens, a whole new interface, which is very finger friendly and there are lots of new free skins you can download for it, plus a new bio alarm that wakes you up naturally, you also get some new Spb Time widgets in Spb Mobile Shell 3.5.1 if you need a good alarm clock for your HD, this is the one....
http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/pocketpc-software/time/

JohnnyK58 said:
Just updated my version of Spb time to v3, it looks really great on the Touch HD, and fits WVGA screens, a whole new interface, which is very finger friendly and there are lots of new free skins you can download for it, plus a new bio alarm that wakes you up naturally, you also get some new Spb Time widgets in Spb Mobile Shell 3.5.1 if you need a good alarm clock for your HD, this is the one....
http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/pocketpc-software/time/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes i already use this SPB Time and is very cool BUT
WHY This cant be used like Screen Server or to Apear when your Phone go to sleep?>!?!
I don`t see Any point to go in programs and open SPB Time to see this Beauty Clocks when i have a Clock already in the Home Screen on the Manila.. this make no SENSE?!
If this APP was Made to work like screen server and this beauty clocsk to apear on your device without to open the Program its cool but they dont do it.
Beautyful 6 Stars
Usefull 6 Stars
Intergration = 0 Stars

tsalta said:
Yes i already use this SPB Time and is very cool BUT
WHY This cant be used like Screen Server or to Apear when your Phone go to sleep?>!?!
I don`t see Any point to go in programs and open SPB Time to see this Beauty Clocks when i have a Clock already in the Home Screen on the Manila.. this make no SENSE?!
If this APP was Made to work like screen server and this beauty clocsk to apear on your device without to open the Program its cool but they dont do it.
Beautyful 6 Stars
Usefull 6 Stars
Intergration = 0 Stars
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In version 2 of Spb Time there was a screen saver, but it's gone in v3. I don't use Manilla on my HD only Mobile Shell and you can put Spb Time widgets on your home screen. My main use for Spb Time is as an alarm clock for waking up in the morning and it does a great job of that. I know Manilla has alarms too, but it don't look as cool as Spb Time.

Yes, integration is the problem.
Also this new interface is absolutely beautiful, but what happens when the Alarm rings: then the interface is quite ugly: blue, white and red! It's like they did not finish the program and forgot to revamp this part.
But anyway, it's a good soft.

arturobandini said:
Yes, integration is the problem.
Also this new interface is absolutely beautiful, but what happens when the Alarm rings: then the interface is quite ugly: blue, white and red! It's like they did not finish the program and forgot to revamp this part.
But anyway, it's a good soft.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes good point there, it does look ugly when the alarm goes off, maybe i'll mention that to Spb and see if they can jazz it up a bit for a later update..

JohnnyK58 said:
Yes good point there, it does look ugly when the alarm goes off, maybe i'll mention that to Spb and see if they can jazz it up a bit for a later update..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How about you just use G-Alarm. I think its far better than spb time. v2.2 integrates beautifully, when you click on any alarm settings anywhere, will bring up g-alarm. Oh and its real easy to use, looks good, and is reliable...

This is indeed great software, very nice update! As the point has already been made though, would definitely like to see the screen skinned when the alarm is going off to look like the rest of the program.

i use this software to set my alarms, it's much faster to open than my previous choice, g-alarm.
I have a question though.I think it would be very handy to have a 24 hour analog clock skin so you could check and set the daily alarms much easier.
I was thinking of something like the windows seven 24h clock gadget http://i.d.com.com/i/dl/media/dlimage/16/22/21/162221_large.jpeg
Do you think we could have a skin like that?

JohnnyK58 said:
Yes good point there, it does look ugly when the alarm goes off, maybe i'll mention that to Spb and see if they can jazz it up a bit for a later update..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1. I second that. Would be good if you could mention this to Spb.
I think this part should really be improved in a later update.

Just installed it on my HD (L26 3.5) and boy... the horizontal scrolling thing has to be the smoothest animation I've ever seen on my device! Almost iphoneish!

Yeap, it's really cool. i wish we could have 24-hour clock skins though.
the "drag 'n' drop" function is amazing but not very handy is you have many alarms around the clock, especially if you have 2 alarms "overlapped" (e.g. 1.pm and 1a.m)

wm6.5.3 with 6.5 styled bottom bar?

hi guys i'm a newbie here keen on knowing if any masters out here have successfully got rid of the 6.5.3 bottom bar for 6.5 styled. personally i really hate the big n ugly 6.5.3 bottom bar -- my phone has got 4 hardware buttons so there's really no need to upsize them on screen the only thing i might find upsizing useful is keyboard show/hide, which btw i find is exactly what wm7 is doing.
http://www.neowin.net/news/main/09/11/18/windows-mobile-7-ui-confirmed-by-microsoft

Um, the entire point of 6.5.3 is that bottom bar... That makes it far more finger friendly along with some other small tweaks to some drop downs and check boxes. Otherwise it is essentially the same as 6.5.

taoist said:
hi guys i'm a newbie here keen on knowing if any masters out here have successfully got rid of the 6.5.3 bottom bar for 6.5 styled. personally i really hate the big n ugly 6.5.3 bottom bar -- my phone has got 4 hardware buttons so there's really no need to upsize them on screen the only thing i might find upsizing useful is keyboard show/hide, which btw i find is exactly what wm7 is doing.
http://www.neowin.net/news/main/09/11/18/windows-mobile-7-ui-confirmed-by-microsoft
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you can search for 218xx series 6.5 rom. These are old style 6.5 roms.

Nagrom Nniuq said:
Um, the entire point of 6.5.3 is that bottom bar... That makes it far more finger friendly along with some other small tweaks to some drop downs and check boxes. Otherwise it is essentially the same as 6.5.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think a better way to say it is: When one goes to a 6.5.3 ROM, how does he get rid of the retarded oversized buttons at the bottom of the screen?

Nagrom Nniuq said:
Um, the entire point of 6.5.3 is that bottom bar... That makes it far more finger friendly along with some other small tweaks to some drop downs and check boxes. Otherwise it is essentially the same as 6.5.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But I dont really think it's practical. They' could've simply made a larger top bar, with regular buttons at the bottoms.
So there is no way to make the bottom bar thinner/ return to the WM6.5 setup in 6.5.3?

Nagrom Nniuq said:
Um, the entire point of 6.5.3 is that bottom bar... That makes it far more finger friendly along with some other small tweaks to some drop downs and check boxes. Otherwise it is essentially the same as 6.5.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
seems like there's no way around this...my point is that i don't need the bottom bar to be finger friendly, i just need it to show labels for my left/right soft buttons, which are hardware buttons i can happily press with my finger.
the only ui improvement i see in 6.5.3 is the tabs being replaced by pivots, which sadly do not feature kinetic scrolling...think i'll still stick to 6.5 for the time being and wait to see what com5 will be like...

Or try my theme with the Plain Toolbar. Perhaps this is what you want?

Nagrom Nniuq said:
Um, the entire point of 6.5.3 is that bottom bar...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ENTIRE POINT, lol...

WM6.5.3 has a big bottom bar. Period. Why make a bigger top bar where your thumb can't easily reach one handed. The idea is to make everything within reach of your THUMB, which is the fattest digit on your hand, thus needs a bigger area.
Stop using a WM6.5.x OS as a standard Wm6.5 device. Sure if you use your phone with your 1 hand while tapping the screen with your index finger of your other hand, then bigger buttons are a waste. But start using your phone with one hand, like we used to, and you'll appricieate the bigger buttons.
The whole new layout style is built from the ground up. Themes, Graphics, UI settings, image height, everything is revamped to allow the new style. You can't simply flip a switch and flip flop. It is what it is. If you don't like the new style, then use an build based off of the old style. It's that simple.

bottom bar is the best thing that has happened to WM

mxl180 said:
bottom bar is the best thing that has happened to WM
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seriously? Does it still look like this? Because this is the fugliest interface I've seen in a LONG time.

player911 said:
The whole new layout style is built from the ground up. Themes, Graphics, UI settings, image height, everything is revamped to allow the new style. You can't simply flip a switch and flip flop. It is what it is. If you don't like the new style, then use an build based off of the old style. It's that simple.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know any fix or tweak for the soft button bar, but you can tweak sizes of a lot of other features, such as the pop-up menu items which are way too big for my tastes, and the spacing in file explorer and and regedit. The main 6.5.x-specific registry keys are all in HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Today (menu and listview), and they are imported with the .tsk files. I've got a thread on it here.
I'll add, there are also registry keys that sound from their name that they might tweak the size of the soft key bar (like the group under HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Today\Softkeybar, lol), but I haven't played with them at all. I like the large size, even though I thought it was fugly as hell before I actually tried it out. The problem is that I think you may need to tweak other things, like the \RadioButton or \PushButton keys, so it may take some effort to shrink the thing down and to shrink the soft keys.

However the release date of WM7 has been delayed. Microsoft may still find WM7 has something that should be improved.

Farmer Ted: tks for the advice...i'll play around with the reg and see what happens
i think different ppl have different ideas about a big bottom bar, which boils down to dif usage habits and handsets. that's why i think ms should give an option for 'classic' bottom bar like they do with vista/7. i prefer operating my handset with thumb only as well, but as said my diamond2 has got 4 buttons so i don't actually have to press the bottom bar buttons on screen.
astart: i find wm7 bottom bar better from the screen shots, though the battery/signal indicators are just a dumb waste of real estate...

I was sceptical at first too. Didn't see the point of losing any screen space.
But I have to say that having the buttons below, although I have HW-buttons, is much easier to use. Just touch, not press.
At to that your skin of choice and you are all set
I do however find the topbar still something to work on.
Maybe an app to hide and unhide the top/bottom bars would do the trick..
If there is an need.

The bottom bar is not wasted screen space because it grew by the same amount the top bar shrunk. It is better in every way. There was a whole lot of extra room down there (two softkeys and the SIP button) while the top was crowded.
With the new way, there bottom now has 5 buttons, everything fits just perfectly, but now the top can have both clock and battery at the same time, a bunch of status indicators, and still hold the full program name on the left. No more screen space was used, yet more was fit on and start and OK are easier to hit with your fingers now (though those buttons have been on most recent devices making them a bit redundant, though keeping them is better than not having them at all).

khaytsus said:
Seriously? Does it still look like this? Because this is the fugliest interface I've seen in a LONG time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lumic said:
You removed the fugliness. 6.5.x is an enjoyable experience now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, man !
Anyway, I don't understand why MS didn't remove the Start and close buttons altogether - after all, all (?) devices have these as hardware buttons. This way, apps would have 4 softkeys...

FroYo and Sense UI Different Features??

A couple of questions in this one,
I was using Defrost and i Love the layout of the Call App
When you hit call you can see some tabs to see your Contacts, Call History etc
This is a very nice and sexy way of laying this out!
Is it possible to have this on a Sense UI ?
As i take it this is a FroYo feature
Am sooo torn in between too ROMS lol
DJDroid, Has all the widgets i want Email fancy clocks etc,
But misses things in the FroYo like the Layout of the Calls
DeFrost Has Everything i want and works perfect but it lacks Widgets Like my Emails on the home screen
The little LED with different colour LED's for different programs
There both good, but combine the both is a pretty sweet ROM that has all the features required, I take it this is not possible,
I looked at the LED Program from the Market, and its well useless, does not work properly
i supose i am just asking that little bit too much,
Just for the best phone in a long time (Previous phone N97 Ekkk lol)
Am keen to make this the perfect phone for me lol
Is it not Possible to get Port Widgets from Sense UI to FroYo (DeFrost) or something
Sorry if the question seem nooby, But i am just getting my head around the ROMS and Android, and now Froyo (Android 2.2) eeeeeekkk lol

dave7802 said:
A couple of questions in this one,
I was using Defrost and i Love the layout of the Call App
When you hit call you can see some tabs to see your Contacts, Call History etc
This is a very nice and sexy way of laying this out!
Is it possible to have this on a Sense UI ?
As i take it this is a FroYo feature
Am sooo torn in between too ROMS lol
DJDroid, Has all the widgets i want Email fancy clocks etc,
But misses things in the FroYo like the Layout of the Calls
DeFrost Has Everything i want and works perfect but it lacks Widgets Like my Emails on the home screen
The little LED with different colour LED's for different programs
There both good, but combine the both is a pretty sweet ROM that has all the features required, I take it this is not possible,
I looked at the LED Program from the Market, and its well useless, does not work properly
i supose i am just asking that little bit too much,
Just for the best phone in a long time (Previous phone N97 Ekkk lol)
Am keen to make this the perfect phone for me lol
Is it not Possible to get Port Widgets from Sense UI to FroYo (DeFrost) or something
Sorry if the question seem nooby, But i am just getting my head around the ROMS and Android, and now Froyo (Android 2.2) eeeeeekkk lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sence can only use the htc dialer, you can change dialers while using sence but phone button wont work, neither will calling contacts from widget or contacts list

So there is no way of getting Widgets or anything ported from sence to Froyo,
Really its have one or the other, or wait for more widgets

The SenseUI widgets won't work without the interface, unless someone decides to create a widget that looks and acts exactly like it.
There's alternative widgets available on the market that are quite efficient and powerful for emails, like PureMessenger.

http://www.appbrain.com/app/org.koxx.pure_messenger
Is that the one you are talking about
If so Thanks

with beautiful widgets you can make the clock look like sence's too
http://www.appbrain.com/app/com.levelup.beautifulwidgets

How do you feel about Sense 4.0

Seriously, I did not like it on my WinMo5 phone. I still don't like it on my 1X.
cons found so far:
- Launcher crashes when you add a widget too wide for the current screen
- Launcher eats so much memory it crashes randomly (or at least, pressing home gives you a loading spinner for a short while)
- Contacts app looks ancient, froyo style.
- CLOOOOCKS ! Why do they need a dozen clocks, each eating storage for nothing.
- IME is weird. Used smartkeyboard pro before finding the basic ICS one perfect.
- No power toggles in the drawer
- No widgets in the drawer.
- Lock screen seems twitchy, phone tried to call from my pocket this morning.
- Most of the app skins are really ugly compared to ICS' ones (settings, contacts..)
Don't get me wrong, the phone is a real beast. Even with sense obviously cluttering the performance, it's a real breeze, it's really fast as hell. Once we get a clean ICS build, I can only imagine how faster it'll get.

First real user review of Sense 4.0, thanks. I'd have to agree with you on some of these, esp the Contacts/Dialer looks like it hasn't changed at all.

only thing I like about sense is the lockscreen (weather skin is amazing!) and answerscreen
settings menu is also nice now
I hate the launcher.. always changed it, I mean it only looks good with the htc clock but then you only get 2 rows for apps on the homescreen..meh
so yea I wonder why so many people praize sense and it feels odd that htc was the only one who could make a animated lockscreen..

Please tell me what is the point of an animated lockscreen? I really don't like knowing my phone is using juice to show me some nice floating clouds.

Is it even possible for a capacitive touch screen phone to pocket dial unless you've got your hand in there with it?
Sent from my HTC Desire S using XDA

eyecandy mostly I always like seeing that animation, it also gives it a high tech feeling like it's suposed to be
a wow factor for people who grab your phone as well
some care about it.. some don't , I do.

I cannot imagine what you are doing with your phone thats causing so much crashes ... i would suggest looking at your apps and stuff first ...
Of course, most apps are not yet ICS optimized and causes memory issues and what not ... so not necessary that its HTC Sense's fault !!

Crashes are frequent and Sense starts pretty fast, but it's definitely not my apps. Crashed a few time without installing a single thing. Anyway, stable or not, ICS base launcher is way better, IMHO.

I like the new lock screen showing your unread messages but I dont like the email app. The font size is too big even when set to small.
I have a Sensation and there was a smallest setting that worked really well. Its like they made the fonts too large over compensating for the higher resolution of the screen.

I had my One X for 4 days now and I have to say I can't wait to get a rom without Sense. I hope for CM9 since I am coming from a Galaxy S with CM9.
The Lockscreen that launches 4 Apps is the only good thing about sense.

I actually love the look and feel of Sense 4.0, can't agree with you.

ICS builds I tested had ring lockscreen with up to 8 shortcuts.
EDIT: ok, now everytime I hit the "home" button, sense reloads -_-'

I might be wrong but didn't Google say that every phone using ICS should provide an option to the user to use stock launcher..am sure read on some tech blog....I dont have the phone, but if thats the case then in theory u should be able to clear the default setting for sense launcher in settings/apps menu and hopefully then get a prompt to select launcher
either way...do let me know , if this works
Edit :- or else there's always Go Launcher (with ICS theme done by the GOLauncher Team)
Cheers,
M

meletios said:
I might be wrong but didn't Google say that every phone using ICS should provide an option to the user to use stock launcher..am sure read on some tech blog....I dont have the phone, but if thats the case then in theory u should be able to clear the default setting for sense launcher in settings/apps menu and hopefully then get a prompt to select launcher
either way...do let me know , if this works
Cheers,
M
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You wish... You have to use sense AND sense keyboard.
I restored from titanium a MeDroidMod Launcher (looks very ICS-ish to me, don't know what has been modded here) backup from my old N1 sd, and it works. Status bar still sensucks, but at least I have a stable and simple ICS launcher without all the candies. According to the app/running/cached memory usage value, the launcher eats 22Mo where Sense ate 55...

meletios said:
I might be wrong but didn't Google say that every phone using ICS should provide an option to the user to use stock launcher..am sure read on some tech blog....I dont have the phone, but if thats the case then in theory u should be able to clear the default setting for sense launcher in settings/apps menu and hopefully then get a prompt to select launcher
either way...do let me know , if this works
Edit :- or else there's always Go Launcher (with ICS theme done by the GOLauncher Team)
Cheers,
M
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I remember the statement but if it's only to include the launcher then it's pointless
even on stock ics everyone gets nova or apex launcher lol, think they'll have to use the default android skin as well
btw. it only has sense launcher now

As useless Rosie was, it was at least pretty.. sense 4.0 looks like pre ICS stock android, and doesnt seem to be much less bloated.
Thankz god we have XDA, just a pity ure buying a phone knowing you wont be able to fully enjoy as stock.

You are using apex or nova, maybe. But surely not everybody. All the people around me like the stock ics. Why bloat the OS ? For a colored battery bar ?
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium

ok Sense 4.0 looks great, BUT what happened to the wonderful rotating carousel? Now Sense rotates three screens to the right, then you have to come all the way back to get to screens to the left of the home screen. Surely it would have been easier to let Sense rotate through all the screens, making selection far faster?

I'd like it (the widgets are AWESOME) IF it
- didn't crash all the time
- had 5 rows as an option!!!!!!!
running nova now due to the crashing. Unbelievable how unoptimised it is

If I could have 6 rows instead of 4 I'd use sense launcher instead of nova, i mean we have a 4,7" 720 screen and it's just a big waste of space to have 4x4 grid, and I really don't like the cube style flipping, I feel a bit old for that. I even disable wallpaper scroll. I want it clean and smooth.