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I have only ever changed my romm from 2.1 to 2.2 stock. Not sure what makes a custom rom so much better. What else can you physically do? Is there one that works with ota stock radio and froyo update (downgraded to get it). I am rooted on 2.2. I would like to see whats so cool about changing. Advice?
Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk
Try them out for yourself. Personally I like the fact that custom roms have verizon bloat removed and also seem the run more smoothly. Just remember to create a Nandroid backup of your stock rom so you can go back to it whenever you want.
jbeitel said:
I have only ever changed my romm from 2.1 to 2.2 stock. Not sure what makes a custom rom so much better. What else can you physically do? Is there one that works with ota stock radio and froyo update (downgraded to get it). I am rooted on 2.2. I would like to see whats so cool about changing. Advice?
Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Download ROM Manager and Titanium Back up... make a Backup of your ROM currently and try out another ROM! no harm in trying it. If you don't like it you can always go back to EXACTLY how you left it.
Anyways... every ROM has there "thing" and they usually start off as a vanilla or a sense based ROM. A ROM can be optimized to to be much snappier and even come with their own custom kernels. Don't forget that you can get better battery life! They all work with the Stock froyo radio... except maybe the Desire ROM. I think you need the latest radio leak for that one, but you can install it and mess with it... just no signal.
These devs pretty much can add, delete, and modify practically anything and everything and it seems to be ALWAYS better over stock.
Examples...
-My app drawer has added functionality now. I can uninstall apps straight from the app drawer and I can organize my apps in FOLDERS inside the app drawer so now it's not just a huge list of icons anymore.
-When adding apps to my homescreen I can change the naming convention or have no name at all!
-ROMs come with a lil "theme" to them so us users don't have to hassle with adding the mods our self.
-battery indicators
-notification drag down bar
-rosie can be different (vanilla, sense, expresso) with right button customed
-widgets can be themed to look more aesthetically pleasing
-a mix mash of vanilla and htc apps are used (best of both worlds)
-the Inc camera can be replaced with the EVO
-added Pre-Installed Apps for us (ex. wireless tether)
.....etc.
The list can go on and on. you can do a lot of this on your own but why when a dev has done it for you? and not only were they nice enough to create a nice ROM for us but they also went through beta testers to catch most of the bugs and glitches you would find if you did it yourself!
Anyways, download and flash a couple ROMs and you will never go back!
Thanks for the awesome response. I certainly would like folders in my app drawer so i didnt use a whole screen for folders. Thanks again
Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk
His rom sounds like uncommensense. Most roms dont actually do that. His does. Your launcher can also add alot of customization. Launcher pro allows you to elimanate names but you cant name folders where as open home allows you to.hes right check it out. Thats most of the fun.
fernando sor said:
His rom sounds like uncommensense. Most roms dont actually do that. His does. Your launcher can also add alot of customization. Launcher pro allows you to elimanate names but you cant name folders where as open home allows you to.hes right check it out. Thats most of the fun.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
correct... those were just examples. every rom has their "advantage" over others. the custom app drawer is definitely ROM specific.
Typing names on the dialer app will bring up your contacts
Sliding the names left and right from the messaging app will go to message and phone
Task manager on the recent apps screen
What are some of your favs
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
my favorite thing about touchwiz is definitely the ability to replace it with 3rd party launchers.
cnstarz said:
my favorite thing about touchwiz is definitely the ability to replace it with 3rd party launchers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you hit that nail on the head.
cnstarz said:
my favorite thing about touchwiz is definitely the ability to replace it with 3rd party launchers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+9000 lol
10char
I really like the touchwiz launcher with 5 icons. Nothing's faster. I only miss landscape mode.
HTC sense and Rosie are much worse IMO.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
cnstarz said:
my favorite thing about touchwiz is definitely the ability to replace it with 3rd party launchers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This, I got launcher pro.. But still many of the things noted above are outside of the launcher and I do like them.
the sliding to call is one of my favorites..
cnstarz said:
my favorite thing about touchwiz is definitely the ability to replace it with 3rd party launchers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, I laughed pretty good at this....
Havek923 said:
OK, I laughed pretty good at this....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The thing is replacing the launcher doesn't remove a lot of touchwiz, just the launcher...
I was very worried about jumping from CM7 to touchwiz when I got the phone, but coupled with a new launcher I have to say I do like TW.
Its kinda funny, I used to hate touchwiz back when I got my OG Epic. I always used ADW. When I got my Evo 3D I liked sense, so used that. Now I use Touchwiz on my Epic Touch. I have tried other launchers, but I dont like having to download widget apps to use with each one. I am using the calander, clock, and weather widgets from I9100 theme here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1334922 I have them built into the rom, the are great.
This is the first time I have left the stock launcher on the phone. Through 4 Android devices and CM or MIUI on each one, I have always changed it because I hated the stock experience. Now with the Epic Touch I love TouchWiz. Hope Samsung keeps improving TouchWiz and doesn't move backwards with it.
Speaking of third-party launchers...why did Fede stop developing Launcherpro? Maybe not "stopped" but really, the refresh was promised for this time last year and he still hasn't done anything with it. What happened?
jedwardmiller said:
This is the first time I have left the stock launcher on the phone. Through 4 Android devices and CM or MIUI on each one, I have always changed it because I hated the stock experience. Now with the Epic Touch I love TouchWiz. Hope Samsung keeps improving TouchWiz and doesn't move backwards with it.
Speaking of third-party launchers...why did Fede stop developing Launcherpro? Maybe not "stopped" but really, the refresh was promised for this time last year and he still hasn't done anything with it. What happened?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried emailing Fede?
HondaCop said:
Have you tried emailing Fede?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Long time ago but haven't bothered for a while. I was more or less just throwing it out there in case anyone knew anything. I am not really all that concerned to be honest as I am actually liking TouchWiz anyway.
<3me said:
Typing names on the dialer app will bring up your contacts
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Isn't this just a standard Android feature? I remember a friend showed me that capability on his G1 a few years ago, but he may have just been using a modded dialer.
With this being my first experience with Touchwiz (as well as Android) I haven't been conditioned to hate it, and I actually kind of like certain features like the calendar widget. I don't know if I'm not looking hard enough, but I can't find another calendar widget that behaves like TW one.
Also really like how you can adjust the brightness by touching the top bar, but I guess that isn't really TW feature.
jedwardmiller said:
This is the first time I have left the stock launcher on the phone. Through 4 Android devices and CM or MIUI on each one, I have always changed it because I hated the stock experience. Now with the Epic Touch I love TouchWiz. Hope Samsung keeps improving TouchWiz and doesn't move backwards with it.
Speaking of third-party launchers...why did Fede stop developing Launcherpro? Maybe not "stopped" but really, the refresh was promised for this time last year and he still hasn't done anything with it. What happened?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He just disappeared. He has a music app that development has basically stopped for as well. Don't know why he stopped, he had to be making a killing. Hope he is okay.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk
patthew said:
Isn't this just a standard Android feature? I remember a friend showed me that capability on his G1 a few years ago, but he may have just been using a modded dialer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You'd think so but no, not on the AOSP dialer from GB.
cnstarz said:
my favorite thing about touchwiz is definitely the ability to replace it with 3rd party launchers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL! Oh man, that's funny right there! + 1
Having been a long time ADW EX user, which has been awesome, I'm currently running Go Launcher and I have to say: it's impressive so far.
I ran Launcher Pro Plus on my EVO and enjoyed it as well.
IMO, TW actually isn't bad for a stock launcher, especially after having used Sense for a while on both my OG EVO & EVO 3D. I didn't care for Sense. Blech. The use of hardware acceleration of TW makes it the smoothest launcher of any I have used on my S2. The modded version of TW here on XDA takes it to a new level and is actually pretty good. I used it for awhile early on and appreciated the customization ability of it over stock. I got spoiled using the gesturing features of these other launchers, though. If the modded version of TW were to incorporate this feature, I would definitely consider it as a daily driver.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1061883
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA App
Wow, it looks like everyone's favorite feature is the ability to use a 3rd party launcher
I personally use Go Launcher myself and it works for me now.
my1zamboni said:
Wow, it looks like everyone's favorite feature is the ability to use a 3rd party launcher
I personally use Go Launcher myself and it works for me now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is far and away the most ICS-like launcher I've found lately :
http://db.tt/N6xGTKpJ
It's a new beta of the 360 launcher, and through it, you can download and install a ridiculously great ICS theme... Play around with the transitions till you have exactly what you want.
P.S.: It's awesome.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
the one thing touchwiz improved upon stock android is how you add widgets and are able to swipe to different screens to add them. the stock implementation is just crude looking.
also being able to move about the multiple homescreens quickly by sliding the numbered dots.
you can't discount the buttery smooth browser performance either, dunno if stock is as smooth.
First thing I do when a flash a ROM:
1. Restore ADW Ex with data
2. Delete TW launcher.
Hey! Here's what's bothering me..
GT-N7100, JB 4.1.1. - rooted - Go Launcher EX installed (with go keyboard, go power manager..)
When I swipe through the home screens (3) or go to the app drawer and flip through that, it always "stutters" a bit.. the same thing happens with scrolling the news feed in the Facebook app, scrolling some site in the Dolphin browser or just scrolling the app list in the app manager..
When I switch over to TouchWiz, it's perfectly smooth.. I can have 10 home screens filled with stuff, app drawer fast and smooth, so it seems the Go Launcher is to blame.. BUT - the same problem still exists in facebook and the browser etc. regardles of launcher used. Also, there are no app killing managers installed or active, I use go power manager simply to monitor the battery..
There's plenty of free memory, usually 1GB or more, using a HomeManager to kill TouchWiz or to disable the Go Launcher doesn't help.. could it be some lack of hardware acceleration in those apps or something, I'm not really an expert here so.. I won't go crazy over this as I'm more about using it than looking at it, I'd just like to now if it's something I can fix or my fault or is it something else.. Tried killing all but the neccessary apps through Task Manager, but to no use.. Seems kinda silly to have a quad-core 1.7GH, 2 GB RAM phone that has problems scrolling a web site..
Any advice?
Thanks guys!
Disable scrolling cache
Sent from my GT-N7100
Just use touchwiz launcher. I don't get why people like go launcher. It looks like cheap Chinese production to me.
Use the stock samsung browser for the smoothest experience. Other browsers, especially chrome, are known for their lag.
I don't use facebook so I can't say anything about it.
In my experience, scrolling on the stock kernel is much much smoother than all the custom kernels.
You can also wait till Google releases the next version of android with improved project butter.
Try using the app called Seeder.
Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 2
UtkarshGupta said:
Disable scrolling cache
Sent from my GT-N7100
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well, seems I can't do that in a stock ROM..
darkchazz said:
Just use touchwiz launcher. I don't get why people like go launcher. It looks like cheap Chinese production to me.
Use the stock samsung browser for the smoothest experience. Other browsers, especially chrome, are known for their lag.
I don't use facebook so I can't say anything about it.
In my experience, scrolling on the stock kernel is much much smoother than all the custom kernels.
You can also wait till Google releases the next version of android with improved project butter.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't like TouchWiz. I can't get my main homescreen organised the way I want, the page indicator itself take like a row and a half, I don't have the app drwer options go launcher gives me etc. There's nothing cheap looking in Go Launcher, I don't get what you mean? I don't use Chrome nor the stock browser, Dolphin has a LastPass plugin which I use cause for work, cause I have like 25-30 passwords and don't want the browser to remember them.
bushako said:
Try using the app called Seeder.
Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Installed it, but no improvement, in fact, maybe I'm just imagining it, but seems worse in some cases?
Guess I'll try some custom ROM, like Omega or something. Meant to try out something else anyway, cause of the multiwindow support that can use all the apps, not just some like on stock.
igorvx8 said:
Installed it, but no improvement, in fact, maybe I'm just imagining it, but seems worse in some cases?
Guess I'll try some custom ROM, like Omega or something. Meant to try out something else anyway, cause of the multiwindow support that can use all the apps, not just some like on stock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm on omega now and I still get stutters. Any sort of scrolling has some occasional lags I've found. Notification bar included.
I notice the same stutters in my One X, s3 and note 2.
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda premium
igorvx8 said:
Installed it, but no improvement, in fact, maybe I'm just imagining it, but seems worse in some cases?
Guess I'll try some custom ROM, like Omega or something. Meant to try out something else anyway, cause of the multiwindow support that can use all the apps, not just some like on stock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To be quite honest with you mate almost all roms ive tried that are based on the stock rom such as omega, ARHD, Wannamlite, etc all have the same stuttering/lag when scrolling around especially in the settings menu, you could try certain tweaks or mods but the difference is almost unnoticeable.. However, this issue is not present in the AOSP/CM10.1 ROMS, they are very smooth.
I have a question: why is it that every rom, every new OS all the icons stays the same? Why don't these companies or rom developers just create a whole new icon set? Yes, I know that I can install a launcher and get new icons but I like to just leave the phone just the way it is without installing a launcher and then installing sets of icons. Samsung is the same, KiKat is the same as way back to eclair. No difference. Its just the same ol' same ol' boring icons.
Its one of those, "if it ain't broke" things I guess. It seems to me a lot of folks think they nailed it back on ics, so they are sorta sticking to a lot of that and introducing changes a little at a time. Kk for example does have a different look in some areas such as the status bar and notification area. I also think that most significant changes will be made for different devices. The average person using their S3 for the past 2 years may not want all different icons when they update. They expect to only have to relearn what's what when getting a new device.
Thats a theory anyway...
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk
DocHoliday77 said:
Its one of those, "if it ain't broke" things I guess. It seems to me a lot of folks think they nailed it back on ics, so they are sorta sticking to a lot of that and introducing changes a little at a time. Kk for example does have a different look in some areas such as the status bar and notification area. I also think that most significant changes will be made for different devices. The average person using their S3 for the past 2 years may not want all different icons when they update. They expect to only have to relearn what's what when getting a new device.
Thats a theory anyway...
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have done great things with the 4.3 update, the themes are freaking awesome to change the stock-flat-boring icons from TW. Personally, Im using the AOSP theme on the TW launcher, love that combo! Thanks for giving us taste of KK with your sprint port. Can wait for you to mess with the KK update we will be getting soon. Oh, and I have a request for your future KK rom, include the AOSP theme or the option to use the google launcher like you did on 4.3 :highfive::highfive::highfive:
Actually, I cannot take credit for all of that! If I am not mistaken you are referring to the StockMod rom right? Pretty much the entire rom is the work of @saranhai. All due credit goes to him for that one! And I am certain he will be hard at work on it too.
We just got wifi working, so if we can get screen rotation solved, it wouldn't surprise me if he rebased using my port!
Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk
Yeah, I guess that makes sense. its just that, if you build a rom couldn't the icons be replaced to make it a bit different? I do like the flat samsung icons even though they still look the same, its just flat. I don't like using launchers any more because most of them need to install lots of widgets in order to complete the launcher and then when I install another rom then I have to do that all over again. Thats why I gave up on launchers.
Your roms are great and I love them. I guess what I'm trying to say is that most KK roms gets boring with the same look. I know that there's some that offer more features in settings, but they still look the same in general. I mean, they still using the same stock messaging icon since the beginning of Android, time for a change.
First, admittedly, KK has switched back to drab White over black icons which are not exactly appealing. So I will grant you that. Secondly When it comes to icons, you do have to edit the actual app APK in order to change or replace the icon. That is if you don't want to replace the laucher. There are inherent problems and a ton of time editing the APKs not to mention copyright issues.
If you are not wanting a Launcher change then you can go for either a lightweight launcher with theaming support (Such as Apex) and you can apply Themes. Otherwise you can go for De-Odexed Roms that are skinnable and highly customizable. AOKP (Unicorn) and Pacman come to mind.
Do know there are projects here on XDA such as Team Blackout who invert Google Apps and other apps.
You can't expect OEMs to design new icons every time they push a new update.. And from eclair to KK, I've had a Samsung eclair device and the icons look way better with kk, don't know what you mean that they look the same.. You can use an xposed module to change icon themes on any launcher even stock, gravity box or wanam modules to add mods and change a little appearance, there's flashable themes.. I don't see a reason to rant about this
Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk
Let me preface by saying that I have been a Nova prime launcher user since as far back as I can recall. My beautiful white Nova outfitted Note 3 is sitting right next to me still connected via wifi as I transfer my experience to my Note 4. That said, I committed to actually giving TouchWiz a chance with this purchase and so far so good. Granted, it's just one day in but thus far TouchWiz feels and works wonderfully. There are certain cues that are lost when going to a 3rd party launcher which drove my decision to really commit to giving TW a shot this time around. So far I have been able to avoid going to the play store and grabbing trusty ol Nova..lol
I'm interested in hearing the thoughts from those of you that are also using TW. Please share.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using XDA Free mobile app
I don't like the app drawer icon in the bottom right, nor the spacing of the icons. That being said, it runs nice on this phone. I too have been using Nova exclusively for years, but have been using Google now launder and really like it. Going to stick with it for at least a while.
I used Touchwiz for a bit but quickly switched back to GNL.
137 views. 2 comments. A clear representation of what everyone thinks of TW..lol.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using XDA Free mobile app
b3asty said:
Let me preface by saying that I have been a Nova prime launcher user since as far back as I can recall. My beautiful white Nova outfitted Note 3 is sitting right next to me still connected via wifi as I transfer my experience to my Note 4. That said, I committed to actually giving TouchWiz a chance with this purchase and so far so good. Granted, it's just one day in but thus far TouchWiz feels and works wonderfully. There are certain cues that are lost when going to a 3rd party launcher which drove my decision to really commit to giving TW a shot this time around. So far I have been able to avoid going to the play store and grabbing trusty ol Nova..lol
I'm interested in hearing the thoughts from those of you that are also using TW. Please share.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am with you 100%. I was a Note 3 user with my sexy Nova Prime since I got it, and I would never go back to touchwiz.... until now. So far I have made it 2 days on Touchwiz. I mean it is clean, and it looks awesome, but I miss having more rows for icons, and mainly for stretching my widgets. So I feel at some time I am going to switch back. I wanted to give Touchwiz 2 days to see the battery effect when switching to Nova. I definitely am with you I would like to hear other peoples views, if anyone is using Apex, and what features they are switching to a launcher to get, for me its:
- 5 rows of icons
- App drawer also shows widgets
- App drawer can scroll apps vertically and horizontally
- When pressing and holding an icon you have the option to remove, uninstall, all from the app, without having to click it, hold it, and drag to remove. And then going to the app draw, clicking, dragging, and dropping on uninstall.
joshklee said:
I used Touchwiz for a bit but quickly switched back to GNL.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for posting about google now launcher, somehow I missed that one. I love it!
I was also pretty happy with touchwiz (I used TW the whole time with note 3), but GNL is still so much cleaner and I love the integrated full screen google now. Google has a much better sense for interface design.
I'm on day three with TW and haven't had any strange impulses to go grab Nova. This is good. No lag. Silky smooth. The only tweak I made this far was to change all of the animation settings to .5 in developer settings.
This phone is incredible. I didn't think it could get no much better coming from my note 3 but they've really stepped things up.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using XDA Free mobile app
I've always used launchers and roms to mimic stock android but since I got the note 4 I haven't even thought about it. I'm pretty impressed with TouchWiz on this phone.
Sent from my note 4 using xda app
I too am going on three days with Touchwiz. On my GS4 I used GNL modified with Xposed. I miss the swipe left for Google Now, but otherwise it has been a much better experience than Touchwiz on my Captivate, GS2 or GS4. Once/if we get root I may be convinced to switch, until then I will stick with Touchwiz.
I tried TW the first day and I did find it slightly laggy and hated the folder icons. I'm back to Nova Prime.
Sent from my Note 4
Been using TW without a hitch.
Me too giving TW a chance so far so good.
Sent from the TermiNOTEr 4!
I found slightly laggy so I went back to Nova, but I might give it a second chance. The thing I definitely find not as smooth as expected is the recent apps, it takes a bit for the phone to show them once you tap the button, and a it to switch to the newly selected app. Nothing huge but with the phone's specs I expected a bit more
back to nova prime after 10 minutes lol
lebertian said:
I found slightly laggy so I went back to Nova, but I might give it a second chance. The thing I definitely find not as smooth as expected is the recent apps, it takes a bit for the phone to show them once you tap the button, and a it to switch to the newly selected app. Nothing huge but with the phone's specs I expected a bit more
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
^^^ this
I was just about to ask about this. Is there any alternative or possible fix? It's quite laggy with the 2-3sec delay at first pull up.
My only complaint / wish for future fix
On my note 2 I was an avid Nova user, I am trying to use the stock touchwiz, but find myself annoyed that I cannot alphabetize apps in a folder.
I might give it a week then jump back to Nova, le sigh.
Jennygirl said:
^^^ this
I was just about to ask about this. Is there any alternative or possible fix? It's quite laggy with the 2-3sec delay at first pull up.
My only complaint / wish for future fix
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The fix for this is allegedly the update that is floating around for the Note 4. The international versions have it, and the TMo version got it yesterday (I think). It fixes the recent applications button and improves the battery life. So it is said at least.
Not sure when AT&T is going to release it. I would expect it any minute, but thats just an opinion, no one really knows.
That's great to know!
Looking forward to that update x2 now
boufa said:
The fix for this is allegedly the update that is floating around for the Note 4. The international versions have it, and the TMo version got it yesterday (I think). It fixes the recent applications button and improves the battery life. So it is said at least.
Not sure when AT&T is going to release it. I would expect it any minute, but thats just an opinion, no one really knows.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good to hear that! Hopefully AT&T won't take forever, but that might be wishing too much lol
TW isn't bad at all, but I like Nova because I can change the icon size/spacing and also take the padding out of widgets and fit a LOT more on my screens.
The one thing I freaking HATE is all the white in TW now, the settings menus, etc. WHY!?!?!?!? Don't devs understand that we have this thing called darkness? Man they should at least give us the option of a dark theme.