Develop Bugs

[Q] Touchwiz vs....

So Ive tried all kinds of launchers out there. And after a few weeks or so I keep finding myself going back to touchwiz. I'm always reading how people hate touchwiz but Im starting to thing that its the best launcher.
I was using GOLauncher for the longest but it just doesn't feel as nice as touchwiz.
What launchers are you using that you think is better than touchwiz?

I'm using ADW Launcher. Right now, I have 4 icons of my choice on the bottom, to go to my App Drawer, you have to swipe up, and swiping down anywhere brings the notification down, so I don't have to reach all the way to the top.
I think the real thing is TouchWiz vs MotoBlur vs HTC Sense. I don't really mind TouchWiz, but I really do lyk being able to swipe up for the app drawer. BTW, I really prefer HTC Sense. It's so awesome.
Also, TouchWiz uses a lot of resources. That's also a reason why the Vibrant isn't getting ICS with TouchWiz. TouchWiz has too much going on with it, which slows the phone down.
You probably won't notice the slow down, unless you change your ROM and use an AOSP ROM. (Vanilla Android)

I don't think the epic 4g touch will ever slow down. Touch Wizz home screen is hardware accerrated which means scroling side to side will be made smoother than a non HW accellerates launcher (tecknically). How ever i have used GOlauncher PRO which isnt HW accellarated and its practically just as smooth even though on any phone of lesser hardware it would be noticably laggier. This phone just powers through with ease how ever. Eventually i went back to touch wizz because its simple and works flawlessly and isnt bad looking (unlike how i feel about how htc sense looks). OP i went down the same exact test road you did and honestly Touch Wiz is my personal choice. Its really up to you and what style you like. This phone will breeze through any aftermarket launcher wether its HW accellerated or not. I would suggest dooling around and testing several out. There lots of different tweaks that ADB launcher and GO launcher offer that Touch Wizz doesnt. But i love how simple and easy it is and looks.
Oh FYI HTC Sense and MotoBlur arnt available for a samsung phone. Honestly i prefer Touch Wizz over sense any day after using sense for over 2 years. I know you were asking for what launchers people think are the best. I like stock the most but have done TONS of research of after market launchers and it seems the the one you and i have both already tested GO Launcher Pro is by far the most widely used and the overall favorite for after market ones.

No_Nickname90 said:
I'm using ADW Launcher. Right now, I have 4 icons of my choice on the bottom, to go to my App Drawer, you have to swipe up, and swiping down anywhere brings the notification down, so I don't have to reach all the way to the top.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The customizable dock and gestures are a large reason I like the look and feel of GO Launcher EX over TouchWiz. I even played some with ADW, but still like GO Launcher slightly better. It may be because I'm an iPhone convert [FREE AT LAST!] and felt I could customize GO Launcher a little more to match things I'm used to like sideways scrolling in the app drawer, etc.
Haven't compared speed too carefully, but it seems as fast. I recently rooted, put down the Blazer ROM, and overclocked, so either way it's blazing.

MDK666 said:
So Ive tried all kinds of launchers out there. And after a few weeks or so I keep finding myself going back to touchwiz. I'm always reading how people hate touchwiz but Im starting to thing that its the best launcher.
I was using GOLauncher for the longest but it just doesn't feel as nice as touchwiz.
What launchers are you using that you think is better than touchwiz?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The newest iteration of ADW EX is the best launcher experience I've ever used: To me, even better than Go Launcher, what with the new ICS-like interface.
That's one of the apps that I'm so glad I paid for, as the dev is totally on his game as far as updates and cutting-edge releases go.
There's a reason that Teamdouche included ADW as part of CyanogenMod for all that time:
It works REALLY well, and has enough customization out-of-the-box that even those guys basically said "Yeah, this'll work fine for us."
That speaks volumes, to me.
ADW EX ftw, for now, and for the foreseeable future, as well.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium

Ah -- I prob haven't tried the newest edition. I'll check it out!

I have tried them all. But I still don't care who knows it but I like touchwiz. And I'm not just talking about replacement launchers. Blur/sense/aosp they all suk.
Touchwiz is my fave. Also I have my nomex undies on sooo flame away.
---------- Post added at 01:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:02 PM ----------
But I do agree W/mazook ADWex is purty good. But I still always go back to TW..

I have no problem with TW, I just got too used to launcher pro, honestly only the dock I would miss, I'm used to having 5 icons there and the app drawer always in center.

Adw ex +1
sent from my E4Gtouch

jmejiaa said:
I have no problem with TW, I just got too used to launcher pro, honestly only the dock I would miss, I'm used to having 5 icons there and the app drawer always in center.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you like 5app drawer W// speed and stability give Calkin's ROM a try. I have tried them all and my fav is Calkin's sheot.

Indrid Cole said:
If you like 5app drawer W// speed and stability give Calkin's ROM a try. I have tried them all and my fav is Calkin's sheot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just meant 5 app dock.. The drawer is fine for me(I prefer scroll, can't deal with regular TW drawer)

jmejiaa said:
Just meant 5 app dock.. The drawer is fine for me(I prefer scroll, can't deal with regular TW drawer)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry about that. Ment to also put that it does have a 5app dock also. Give it a try,this is what stock outa the box should be. Samsung needs to fire there whole R&D department and hire some of the dev's here on XDA.
---------- Post added at 03:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:25 PM ----------
One last thing. Have you tried to hold your finger on the bottom page indicator dots and slide your finger? It will move through your pages super fast but not so fast that you cant see your apps. I feel this much faster than any scrolling app drawer. Just my two cents. It works the same on the home screen also.

mazook98 said:
The newest iteration of ADW EX is the best launcher experience I've ever used: To me, even better than Go Launcher, what with the new ICS-like interface.
That's one of the apps that I'm so glad I paid for, as the dev is totally on his game as far as updates and cutting-edge releases go.
There's a reason that Teamdouche included ADW as part of CyanogenMod for all that time:
It works REALLY well, and has enough customization out-of-the-box that even those guys basically said "Yeah, this'll work fine for us."
That speaks volumes, to me.
ADW EX ftw, for now, and for the foreseeable future, as well.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The latest update of ADW EX is great. I use it on my Epic Touch and my NS4G running ICS. I am really torn between the ICS stock launcher and ADW EX on my Nexus but ADW EX runs so well and with a custom ICS icon pack...
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using xda premium

jmejiaa said:
I have no problem with TW, I just got too used to launcher pro, honestly only the dock I would miss, I'm used to having 5 icons there and the app drawer always in center.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
5 is nice.
7 is nicer:
(Once again, ADW EX.)
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium

Here's a shot with a regular, non-live wallpaper, btw:
(I'm just digging the new ADW.)
And, I'm knee-deep in wrapping presents at 4:00ish in the morning on XMAS Eve, because I tend to procrastinate, lol.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium

mazook98 said:
5 is nice.
7 is nicer:
View attachment 829041
(Once again, ADW EX.)
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I havent tried ADWex but it looks pimpin! Im going give that **** a try right now!

mazook98 said:
Here's a shot with a regular, non-live wallpaper, btw:
View attachment 829042
(I'm just digging the new ADW.)
And, I'm knee-deep in wrapping presents at 4:00ish in the morning on XMAS Eve, because I tend to procrastinate, lol.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I love the new ADW as well. At first I didn't think I could edit my icons anymore. I accidentally double tapped one and the options showed up, I have been loving it ever since
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using xda premium

god anything is better than touchwiz (throws up) lol
adw ex ftw....

banksmi09 said:
god anything is better than touchwiz (throws up) lol
adw ex ftw....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Banks, PLEASE keep updating Minimal Black theme! I hope that theme stays around for the life of this phone!
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk

JohnCorleone said:
Banks, PLEASE keep updating Minimal Black theme! I hope that theme stays around for the life of this phone!
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will most def.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium

Forum pool on when we get an official ICS update

I read the forum rules and online gambling isn't mentioned. Any good guesses on when we will be getting 4.0? I am betting $5.00 on 3/30/12.

I'll take the end of February for $0.00... They have to add all the unneeded bloatware.

Way too optimistic dates above me ^

Id say about a month after the sgs3 is released

as soon as bubby finishes cm7 they can do ics, lmao

$5 we won't see it until August

xSaint21 said:
Id say about a month after the sgs3 is released
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You beat me to it ISaint! That's what happened with official Gingerbread on the Epic. After I got this phone it got released after like 10 leaks
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk

What I really want to know is when if ever we will have a fully functional AOSP ICS ROM? I'm sure TW will make ICS look and feel like crap.

What about never. Lol. Who knows maybe Sammy will surprise us and drop it on us soon.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using xda premium

SantinoInc said:
What I really want to know is when if ever we will have a fully functional AOSP ICS ROM? I'm sure TW will make ICS look and feel like crap.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Besides Bubby, it Looks like Darchstar is working on an ICS build
https://github.com/darchstar
Sent from my Epic Galaxy S2

I will take May 16.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium

SantinoInc said:
What I really want to know is when if ever we will have a fully functional AOSP ICS ROM? I'm sure TW will make ICS look and feel like crap.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, then you just throw on the Trebuchet launcher from CM9, or even the vanilla ICS launcher, and your problems are solved.
Dang, you wouldn't even have to have Root for that. Just like when I bought this phone: Touchwiz 4.0 didn't even make it out of the Best Buy parking lot before I had ADWEX running. (and Touchwiz 4 actually had a slim chance of survival, because it's the best version they've made so far, to be sure.....)
However, ADW won out merely because of the sheer speed factor.
(And yes, I know that Touchwiz is still there, lurking underneath, but it's really almost transparent compared to HTC's Sense or Motorola's Blur thing....)
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
EDIT: Oh, yeah, the pool for "official" release: February 21st.

I think you should make the launcher look more in favor of the new flavor. The people app is royally renovated and I am looking the look. Any idea if you can make the theme of the whole phone look like that?
1. Making the status bar transparent
2. Vertical scrolling of the apps menu. Scroll horizontally to go to widgets menu.
3. Changing the whole background to white (pearl white) with black roboto font, or at least an option to do so.
4.to make apps on the dock bar run continuously so that there a no lag when trying to open them.(everyone I try to open the people app, it takes sometime to load and it's irritating)
5 instead of grey background on every pop up menu, a blue white themed menu options would be great. I am new to xda, so if this is in a wrong forum, please feel free to post the same in the right forum.
I greatly appreciate the work your are doing. Good luck!
Dr. Droid
Dr. Droid
sent from my nexus s using xda premium

Official ICS? I'm guessing April or May probably.
Unofficial? January is looking pretty likely so far.

raghucares said:
I think you should make the launcher look more in favor of the new flavor. The people app is royally renovated and I am looking the look. Any idea if you can make the theme of the whole phone look like that?
1. Making the status bar transparent
2. Vertical scrolling of the apps menu. Scroll horizontally to go to widgets menu.
3. Changing the whole background to white (pearl white) with black roboto font, or at least an option to do so.
4.to make apps on the dock bar run continuously so that there a no lag when trying to open them.(everyone I try to open the people app, it takes sometime to load and it's irritating)
5 instead of grey background on every pop up menu, a blue white themed menu options would be great. I am new to xda, so if this is in a wrong forum, please feel free to post the same in the right forum.
I greatly appreciate the work your are doing. Good luck!
Dr. Droid
Dr. Droid
sent from my nexus s using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your making a theme request in a ICS launcb date guessing game thread? Lol did i miss something....

I was told we will not have it until ....wait for it....sometime in April the latter part of the month. QUOTE me on this
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk

eao1991 said:
$5 we won't see it until August
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that's more like it! 6-9 months for me as well. gentleman's bet of course though.

My request was not exactly a theme. the status bar becoming transparent can be viewed as hiding the status bar. scrolling options is definitely launcher. and keeping the dock icons in homescreen running use definitely launcher again. and yeah dude you missed something. And as long as you don't do anything productive there's no need to lol. And this is me being polite.
Dr.Droid
Sent from my nexus s using xda app.

bluefire808 said:
Your making a theme request in a ICS launcb date guessing game thread? Lol did i miss something....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My request was not exactly a theme. the status bar becoming transparent can be viewed as hiding the status bar. scrolling options is definitely launcher. and keeping the dock icons in homescreen running use definitely launcher again. and yeah dude you missed something. And as long as you don't do anything productive there's no need to lol. And this is me being polite.
Dr.Droid
Sent from my nexus s using xda app.

Launch date is no fun to talk about. If you are waiting for the update you are in the wrong website.
Dr.Droid
Sent from my nexus s using xda app.

Does touchwiz make a rom slower?

I see that the darkside rom has the option for both touch and touchless. I was curious if it made a difference other than personal taste, or if one runs better than another.

Yes much slower.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium

Thank you for clearing it up. Touchless it is!!
Sent from my SGH-T989 using XDA App

I don't think so, stock rom for this phone is actually pretty snappy.
So I don't think it matters that much which one you go with.
I prefer TW myself.
Powered by the SGSII....

Honestly the only thing I noticed was it freed up a lil ram but I could tell a difference in feel. I like TW it looks nice with the 5 icon dock.

I think its more about software optimization & hardware, most high end phones shouldn't struggle at all jumping from apps to menus etc.

Touchwiz is actually a really light overlay. Compared to htc's sense it runs quite fast
Sent from my SGH-T989 using XDA App

This is actually bonestock compared to anything from HTC. Its snappy and fast as anything I've used, I would argue faster...
Sent from my T989

Touchwiz is a really light launcher. The biggest performance difference you're going to get is gonna be from removing the bloatware.

2hvy4grvty said:
Touchwiz is a really light launcher. The biggest performance difference you're going to get is gonna be from removing the bloatware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+100
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium

i tried go launcher, adw luancher and launcher pro. Now i'm back to TW. I realize I like to keep things as simple as possible.

prodigy702 said:
i tried go launcher, adw luancher and launcher pro. Now i'm back to TW. I realize I like to keep things as simple as possible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with you 100% touchwiz isn't bad at all especially on a phone like this a performance difference would be hard to notice
From a Galaxy better than yours.

I also prefer TW over all the other launchers. I like mine nice and simple

You can also try the modded TW 4.5 launcher floating around here as well. Still TW but you can adjust more things and have 5 icons in the dock
Sent from my SGH-T989 using XDA App

+ 1 for TouchWiz. I meen you bought a Samsung GS2 = TouchWiz. I have a Sensation with Sense 3.5 and it's Nice, but my GS2 will Smoke it Hands down.

I can say that I didn't care for touchwiz myself...I'm just spoiled using Nexus phones before this with CM7 & CM9 I've got ADW with CM7 on mine. Simple as you can get right there...though trebuchet on CM9 is worlds ahead of ADW...

i dont know exactly what the Touchless version does, but you can just install a third party launcher (i use go launcher ex) and freeze or uninstall Touchwiz launcher in system/app

Touchwiz is AOT more than just the launcher.. its the dialer, contacts, messaging, the status bar, the list keeps going..
A "touchless" rom i would expect to have non of these enhanced apks.
I personally do not think the twiz slows the phone down. if anything it gives it a better apeal to the eye without bogging performance.
So to answer the question.. No it does not slow anything down.

The touchless darkside uses zeam launcher which actually reminds me of tw. Try it out see if you like it... If not go back to tw
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium

i wanted to like zeam... but touchwiz was more responsive. so +1 on touchwiz.

[Q/A] Who actually likes Touchwiz?

I mean.. comon it looks terrible especially when I came from the HTC hero G2 which had amazing UI designs and creative customizations (transparent, minimalistic, colors matching beautifully, sometimes complex with lots of beauty)
i cant wait till AOSP comes out and more themes gets developed. I have seen some awesome ones here, few but still special.
But who here likes touchwiz? or dont care about the looks and feel of it?

I don't, but here is some AOKP if you want to give it a shot.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=26108781
Sent from AOKP Goodness :-D

LoopDoGG79 said:
I don't, but here is some AOKP if you want to give it a shot.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=26108781
Sent from AOKP Goodness :-D
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks!

I've been using it cause Samsung made it for my phone.. Its very smooth even while under clocked, plus everything just always works
Sent from the moon

Been using GoEx for years...love it
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium

I think it looks and feels ok. But the one thing that stops me from using it is the way folders look and work.. So I just use other launchers and I can still benefit from the good things that touch wiz has
I like my Roms the way I like my women..... Clean and smooth

tbong777 said:
Been using GoEx for years...love it
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Go ex is the best...you can do almost any look you want with it and loads super fast...
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium

Coming from Sense, I love touch wiz. Besides, you own wallpapers and stuff make it all look the same in the end to me. Sense felt like it had so many unneeded elements to it

I use and like it.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using XDA

the TW on the s2 is dull, the s3 TW is much better. Given that some prefer not to flash things, my fav launchers are Apex and Nemus.

I like it. But SG3's Touchwiz is much better

I have the GNote and the Galaxy S2, use touchwiz on both.....I do switch between Nova and touchwiz. I have loved touchwiz since the Samsung vibrant. Don't know I love it and prefer it, I just do.

I hate how people whine about tw launcher. Tw is much more than a launcher. In fact i dont like ANY stock launcher. I always end up putting go launcher or something else over it. But tw is awesome. Slide to call/text, swipe finger on notification bar for brightness, the freaking music player is the best i have ever used. Seriously id prefer tw over any ui, even aosp
Sent from Flip's SGS2

Tw folders arent that good. Adw ex and apex are much better IMHO
Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2

elflip88 said:
I hate how people whine about tw launcher. Tw is much more than a launcher. In fact i dont like ANY stock launcher. I always end up putting go launcher or something else over it. But tw is awesome. Slide to call/text, swipe finger on notification bar for brightness, the freaking music player is the best i have ever used. Seriously id prefer tw over any ui, even aosp
Sent from Flip's SGS2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can agree with this on the TW features...they are pretty nice but I do prefer the look of aosp.

I Like It. The Icons Are Simply The Best. Gives The phone a nice look.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium

I love touchwiz, but I hate the launcher. Mainly because it doesn't rotate.
But All the features in the framework are amazing. The phone book is great. The media players to me work the best of all the company specific, and unlike most framework it allows file sharing without 3rd party apps. Like if I want to send my friend a song.
I think Sense is too heavy, Blur doesn't really add anything but an ugly color scheme (but decent widgets), LG devices actually has a nice framework. But I prefer TW.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium

rymanh said:
I think it looks and feels ok. But the one thing that stops me from using it is the way folders look and work..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was going to say the exact same thing. The UX launcher from the S3 handles folders a lot better. I actually found myself with way more folders than normal because they worked so much better.
I'll admit I have yet to try any aftermarket launchers, but the I really like the S3 launcher.

1sagain said:
I mean.. comon it looks terrible especially when I came from the HTC hero G2 which had amazing UI designs and creative customizations (transparent, minimalistic, colors matching beautifully, sometimes complex with lots of beauty)
i cant wait till AOSP comes out and more themes gets developed. I have seen some awesome ones here, few but still special.
But who here likes touchwiz? or dont care about the looks and feel of it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i dont mind the look of touchwiz on the s3. it looks smooth and fast, and im so glad that they finally let you customize the dock. but the only thing that really bothers me is ridiculously ugly folders. forces me to have to download apex or go laucher themes. on apex i can put two apps in a folder and it looks so simple and nice. in touchwiz it makes it look like a folder on your windows laptop and doesn't adjust the icons to how many apps are in the folder.

I just started using Apex and am adjusting from GoLauncher EX. That was adjusted from TouchWhiz. Each to their own when it comes to preference. There are some nice features I like about all of them... but so far, GoLauncher appears to be the most versatile when it comes to a customized a launcher as a whole.
My two cents.

[Q] TW App Drawer

Is there a mod available to be able to move the TW App Drawer rather than keeping it on the right side? Id like to be able to move it like other launchers. If not put it in a mode to move it when ever, Id like to at least have it in the middle to access with my left hand.

Like what you said, just why don't you go with a different launcher then?
Sent from my SPH-L900 using xda premium

XxLostSoulxX said:
Like what you said, just why don't you go with a different launcher then?
Sent from my SPH-L900 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because I like the TW launcher and dont want to lose the built in SPen features that it offers.

spotopolis said:
Because I like the TW launcher and dont want to lose the built in SPen features that it offers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like what exact features? All I use it for is to type, draw, scroll.
Sent from my SPH-L900 using xda premium

OP, I'm with you.. I like TW and the only thing I would want to change is to move the apps button to the middle of the launcher. But it doesn't look like we have that option unfortunately. I've tried other launchers, Nova was pretty good, but you inevitably lose some cool TW stuff like certain widgets(4x4 calendar was a big one for me). I wasn't willing to live with that, so I stayed stock.

XxLostSoulxX said:
Like what exact features? All I use it for is to type, draw, scroll.
Sent from my SPH-L900 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I like the look an feel of TW. I haven't had a phone that used it before until now, so its a new launcher option for me. I like the TW SPen detach screen and other OEM functions of it that you loose with an aftermarket launcher. That and when I have replaced my launcher in the past I usually delete the other, I dont like keeping apps on my phone that are not going to be used and take up space. The Note 2 is so much more complicated than my OG Evo, its going to be a while before Im ready to just start pulling stuff out and gutting it.
kalapa said:
OP, I'm with you.. I like TW and the only thing I would want to change is to move the apps button to the middle of the launcher. But it doesn't look like we have that option unfortunately. I've tried other launchers, Nova was pretty good, but you inevitably lose some cool TW stuff like certain widgets(4x4 calendar was a big one for me). I wasn't willing to live with that, so I stayed stock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nova is good but I like Holo launcher and Holo locker a lot. I used those on most of my ROMs that I would run. Just like you said though, Ive tried a few mostly Smart Launcher (runs great on my TV Stick), but keep going back to TW.

spotopolis said:
I like the look an feel of TW. I haven't had a phone that used it before until now, so its a new launcher option for me. I like the TW SPen detach screen and other OEM functions of it that you loose with an aftermarket launcher. That and when I have replaced my launcher in the past I usually delete the other, I dont like keeping apps on my phone that are not going to be used and take up space. The Note 2 is so much more complicated than my OG Evo, its going to be a while before Im ready to just start pulling stuff out and gutting it.
Nova is good but I like Holo launcher and Holo locker a lot. I used those on most of my ROMs that I would run. Just like you said though, Ive tried a few mostly Smart Launcher (runs great on my TV Stick), but keep going back to TW.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Gotcha I understand, but when a launcher is in use the othe js nkt and dont be worried about space back in the day yeah, but now you should have plenty of room haha.
Sent from my SPH-L900 using xda premium

somehow I moved mine but cant tell you how.. then it was a pita moving it back
I just kept rearranging the icons and it moved
Sent from my SPH-L900 using xda app-developers app