Better ui than touchwiz? - Galaxy Note II Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Any suggestion about ui? I would like to change from touchwiz to another one.
But just concern about performance and
If I change to another ui, will I lost some functionalities?
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You could try one of the launchers out there. Nova Launcher would be a good place to start. One thing you'll definitely lose is Page Buddy - the homescreen panel that appears when you remove the S-Pen or plug in headphones.

Nova is simple and fast... I am using tsf shell.... it is something new. ..
Also you can try action launcher. ..simple and fast like nova
handwritten from my note 2 (N7100)

You will loose some of the widgets. I have tried Nova, Apex, SSlauncher and a few others but really like the smoothness of TW and the S-Planner widget.

+1 for Nova. Simple, fast, and is basically the closest thing to stock. Tw is great, but the inability to change homescreen grid was too much. With nova i can go up to 7x7 i think. In the past I've kept tw but only because other launchers took up too much ram. I don't think it's possible to run out of ram on this thing. Lol
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Related

Best Launchers

I was wondering what launchers everyone was using besides stock TW. Just kinda of getting bored with it and seeing what else is out there. So basically, any recomendations?
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium
I use Apex. I have tried Go, Nova, and Apex. Prefer that one.
A lot of people love Nova though too so really you need to try them out yourself and see what fits you best. But I'd start with apex, nova, go, etc. they are the main ones.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1635930
enjoy. find hwat works best for you
apex
I've tried Nova, Apex, Go...Go was my favorite as it handles scrolling widgets and have all the features I wanted/needed baked in, I just couldn't get it as fast and fluid as TW. Nova was my second favorite but you have to pay for the Pro version that has the gesture features, among others, it also doesn't support scrolling widgets. Nova was pretty fast and fluid though so long as I had power saving mode off and it set to "faster than light", but that drained battery. So for the time being, i'm back to TW.
always used adwex, i still find it snappier than nova, apex, etc.
Apex for me is the best outta the ics launchers
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LG Home or Trebuchet for me
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda premium
I have found the cause of the issue I was experiencing above, I was only changing the animation speed...there is also a scrolling speed to adjust as well. I changed both to "fast as light" and it's all good now.
I've found that no matter what android I an on one of the first t things I download is Zeam launcher droid, nook color ,nook tablet ,HTC flyer, hero, epic, etc4g and now s3. Only thing it forest have for me is folders as icons.
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I was using Go for a while until I came across Nova. For me it seemed like Go was using a lot of resources. That doesn't matter now with this phone. I like the small things about Nova. Pay for prime, well worth the money imo.
OhioDroid80 said:
I was using Go for a while until I came across Nova. For me it seemed like Go was using a lot of resources. That doesn't matter now with this phone. I like the small things about Nova. Pay for prime, well worth the money imo.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree. They also have been adding features. I like the unread count add-on as well.
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OhioDroid80 said:
I was using Go for a while until I came across Nova. For me it seemed like Go was using a lot of resources. That doesn't matter now with this phone. I like the small things about Nova. Pay for prime, well worth the money imo.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here! Nova Prime is lovely
via Galaxy S III
I tried lots and I always come back to ADW EX, I use the same on my TF201 tablet they go well but I'm still searching
adwex has been the best launcher for me. Everything about it is great.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2
Launcher 7 is all I care to use. Once I used it, I realized, Android makes it too difficult to find/touch the simple things.
I love apex launcher.. that 5x5
Felnarion said:
Launcher 7 is all I care to use. Once I used it, I realized, Android makes it too difficult to find/touch the simple things.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Really? If you say so
blackte4 said:
I love apex launcher.. that 5x5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nova goes up to 7x7
Nova prime
Nova prime
__________________
Samsung Galaxy S III I747

Whats your favorite launcher to replace TouchWiz?

I wanted to give TouchWiz a chance but I could only deal with it for about an hour. At first I replaced it with Holo Launcher since thats what I used on my SGS Vibrant but it was a bit buggy on the SGS3. I then installed Nova Launcher and its been pretty good.
Whats your favorite launcher to replace TouchWiz?
Apex Pro, no doubt!
Pebble Blue Samsung Galaxy S3 (T-Mobile Style)
Agreed apex pro
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium
Nova Prime hands down.
Hands down after testing all of them the lightest and most customizable is adwlauncher ex.
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Madblaster6 said:
Hands down after testing all of them the lightest and most customizable is adwlauncher ex.
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're kidding right ?
Hmm just for fun this should have been a poll hehe.
Apex pro for me so far is the best. It's fast, minimal, but feature packed. I used a bunch of other ones but they either too bloated, development is dead, or I noticed my battery starting to suffer. Apex pro is owning hard.
Does using an alternate launcher actually avoid loading touch wiz in the background? Asking because i see TW uses about 70 mb of ram and i don't really want two launchers taking up memory in the background.
Sent from my SGH-T999
Go Launcher Ex all the way, just as fast as Nova or Apex but with more features. I have tried all 3 and I noticed Nova is a bit smoother than Go Launcher but I dont think its worth it to give up the customization that Goi Launcher offers
Nova Prime!
Apex pro without a doubt
Gotta agree with some of the others. Nova.
Apex pro here
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Tried them all, Go Launcher Ex is the best one I have used, they also have a lot of other apps, like Go SMS, Go Calender widget, that are integrated very nicely.
Give them a try and go with what suits your needs best, I did and I always went back to Go Launcher Ex.
They all copy from each other, Apex, Go, and ADW seem to have the same level of customization options, plus or minus one or two here and there.
Apex pro ftw. My girlfriend uses Nova and they are pretty much the same.
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Go launcher
androidmonkey said:
I wanted to give TouchWiz a chance but I could only deal with it for about an hour. At first I replaced it with Holo Launcher since thats what I used on my SGS Vibrant but it was a bit buggy on the SGS3. I then installed Nova Launcher and its been pretty good.
Whats your favorite launcher to replace TouchWiz?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Apex pro, faster than the others. Never has f/c yet.
Threw APEX Pro on it soon as I got it.
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Nova......!
Go launcher ex is really nice and has a lot of cool features
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Launcher for GN2!

Well I just came from rooted mytouch 4g and loved the endless possibilities of being rooted! But I don't want to root this GN2 yet because of warranty but enough said I want to change my dpi or just change the size of things and love a good launcher with lots of themes but not any launcher IV tried has abilities to change icon size or dpi...
Any one found a good launcher besides nova prime, or go launcher
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adw launcher was updated today and its completely new
haldi15 said:
adw launcher was updated today and its completely new
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 adw ex has resizeable icons
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Awesome going to check adw out tonight I Un installed nova prime and put go launcher on last night but being a battery hoe that it is kinda sucks because I'm not always able to charge my phablet
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I hate Go Launcher. It used to be great. Then they switched over to GetJar to download themes, and they have Free to download but pay to use themes. It's a huge mess. I personally like Nova or Apex. Although now that ADW has updated their app, I've been using that. I have to say it works pretty well, though each time I reboot I have to reset it as the default launcher.
I love the stock launcher with a few exceptions; I don't understand why they made the pages a 4x4 grid. The Note fully justifies a 5x5 grid. I wish that the other launchers gave you the ability to quick-scroll between pages in the homescreen and in the dock like the stock touchwiz launcher does.
I changed my DPI to 280 and use Go Launcher with a 6x6 grid and works very well. Now the stock Samsung keyboard and dialer did not scale correctly, but I use Swipe and the Go Dialer.
Adw has gotten as lot better and after a haitus from it I'm back and it's better than it had ever been
geekempire said:
I changed my DPI to 280 and use Go Launcher with a 6x6 grid and works very well. Now the stock Samsung keyboard and dialer did not scale correctly, but I use Swipe and the Go Dialer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I kinda switch back and forth now but think I'm liking mine set up just like this its almost perfect haha
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Lovin this LauncherWP8. Very neat and customizable. This phone is otherworldly.
Not finding that on the play store. Are you referring to a theme or an actual launcher?
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Still stuck on Nova launcher. Fast, stable and the backup feature is in the free version. $4 for the pro, gives you message and email counts on the icons, just like TW.
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You could simply use one of the toolkits. And if something happens you can use it revert back to complete stock.
sent via note 2 in boss mode @ quad core 1.8ghz
Well, I finally invested the time in learning enough about Lightning Launcher. It's really COMPLETELY different than other launchers I've tried, which is what I like about it. I've tried Apex, ADW, Nova and briefly touched GO -- they're all pretty much the same -- all pretty good. Lightning is kind of a big pain to figure out and it doesn't give the option for a scrollable dock, but you can pin, resize, rotate and arrange all icons, widgets and folder labels in whatever way you want, all on a zoomable, scrollable page. You can't really apply themes, but you can make up whatever you want. Your screen is really like a window onto an infinite desktop that you have full control over. It doesn't have the fancy animation options that the others do, so there's not a lot of "Wow" factor for others to see, but I have everything accessible from a single screen that doesn't feel too cluttered with icons. Lightning is free from Play and doesn't require root.
FWIW, here's a screen shot of my home page -- The two rows of icons at the bottom are pinned as well as the Google search widget at the top. Everything else moves and zooms in or out behind the pinned stuff. If I want, I can place other items above, below, or to the sides and just scroll to them. Lightning does support other pages that you can switch to with a two-finger swipe, and I use them as sort of a sandbox for trying things out, but everything I want is on my main home page.
I've been using atom launcher for a while first on my s2 and now on my note2. It will let you create folders which is nothing new but you can scroll with your finger or with the S Pen. Also you can vary the opacity of the icons on the home screen if you want to keep some what of a clean look. I'll post pics to better explain.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dlto.atom.launcher
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I use nova AND circle launcher.
I am using Apex. Great launcher. Fast scrolling and screen transitions. You can install some nice themes and change the icon packs.
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I'm pretty sure I've tried them all, and seem to always revert back to Nova Pro. Its fast, stable, has nice features without be gimmicky like Go and some of the others. Bottom line I want something that works that isn't at burden on system resource, Nova fits that bill.
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Still sticking with my Go note 2 go launcher locker and animated weather wallpaper as well as go sms and it's great but.....
Question: can I root and not void warranty?
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YourCancer01 said:
Still sticking with my Go note 2 go launcher locker and animated weather wallpaper as well as go sms and it's great but.....
Question: can I root and not void warranty?
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Root modifies your devices's firmware, so...no :/

Touchwiz or custom launcher?

Hey there I am thinking about using a custom launcher to further customize my phone and was wondering if you guys and girls had any input in regards to battery life and performance. Do custom launchers typical have negative effevts on performance and battery. The way it seems to.me is that you are essntially always running a program in memory. Which would in turn use up ram and ofcourse battery life. If I am wrong in this please feel to correct me. Any and all input is welcomed.
Here is my current themed homescreen on touchwiz.
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I prefer tw, but if I was going to I would run GO launcher
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Optimuscle said:
Hey there I am thinking about using a custom launcher to further customize my phone and was wondering if you guys and girls had any input in regards to battery life and performance. Do custom launchers typical have negative effevts on performance and battery. The way it seems to.me is that you are essntially always running a program in memory. Which would in turn use up ram and ofcourse battery life. If I am wrong in this please feel to correct me. Any and all input is welcomed.
Here is my current themed homescreen on touchwiz.
Sent from my SGH-I317M using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Touchwiz launcher is a program that's running and using memory as well. You could use something like holo launcher that is more lightweight than the tw launcher. The tw launcher isn't running in the background if you use a different launcher cause that one took its place. You can even freeze the tw launcher with ti backup (touchwiz home). A launcher like go or adw may use more memory though.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD
I really like touchwiz, but as of recently I have been using lightning launcher.
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If you decide to use an alternate launcher then the default Touchwiz launcher will not be "running" in the background using up your battery.
Other launchers like Go Launcher , Nova, adw, etc., etc., do not necessarily use more or less battery. If poorly written software then yes.
However, the major launchers do a great job maximizing battery life...otherwise no one would use em.
I like alternate launchers simply for the added features such as gestures, resizing icons, different grid sizes, etc.. I really don't care about theming or changing colors but many do and alternate launchers allow that of course.
Try some, u can always uninstall.
Note: there is zero reason to freeze Touchwiz...no benefit at all.
From my iPad Mini using Tapatalk HD
andrawer said:
If you decide to use an alternate launcher then the default Touchwiz launcher will not be "running" in the background using up your battery.
Other launchers like Go Launcher , Nova, adw, etc., etc., do not necessarily use more or less battery. If poorly written software then yes.
However, the major launchers do a great job maximizing battery life...otherwise no one would use em.
I like alternate launchers simply for the added features such as gestures, resizing icons, different grid sizes, etc.. I really don't care about theming or changing colors but many do and alternate launchers allow that of course.
Try some, u can always uninstall.
Note: there is zero reason to freeze Touchwiz...no benefit at all.
From my iPad Mini using Tapatalk HD
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Click to collapse
Thanks my man. That was really helpful and informative. I am gonna give a few a go and see what I like. Nova launcher seems to be packaged with some roms and ADW seems to also get alot of recommendations.
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I use ss launcher.
Sent from the TermiNOTEr 2!
Try TSF Shell 3d launcher or Next Launcher
My favorite is nova launcher.
Touchwiz has page buddy which you wont get in the other ones I believe.
Sent from GN2 using XDA app
TSF is a beast to get used to, thus far. Unless I'm a total moron, which is possible, it doesn't appear you can place apps in the app drawer in to folders. This makes for an awful navigation experience, despite the amazing eye candy.
-----
I would love to help you, but help yourself first: ask a better question
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
Optimuscle said:
Hey there I am thinking about using a custom launcher to further customize my phone and was wondering if you guys and girls had any input in regards to battery life and performance. Do custom launchers typical have negative effevts on performance and battery. The way it seems to.me is that you are essntially always running a program in memory. Which would in turn use up ram and ofcourse battery life. If I am wrong in this please feel to correct me. Any and all input is welcomed.
Here is my current themed homescreen on touchwiz.
Sent from my SGH-I317M using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was a 'stock' launcher user for a while. I gave Nova a try and have been happy. I don't utilize all of the features it has but it has been running smooth without any issues. You can always use a program like Home Switcher to try out different launchers easily.
Att.Fan1982 said:
Try TSF Shell 3d launcher or Next Launcher
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Click to collapse
TSF looks interesting. I watched the video but seem to have missed a place to download a trail version the price is steep to give it a shot.
I like touch wiz but I like scrollable wallpaper more. Nova ftw!
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I use Apex launcher and Nova launcher, but prefer Apex. It just seems like a smoother launcher compared to Nova. Plus I like that when I leave from the app draw it saves my place on Apex rather then reverting back to the beginning like Nova does. Besises that they're basically the same if u ask me, just my two cents. Have fun trying them all out, they all have at least one maybe two things that sets it apart from the others. Now all u gotta do is find the one that u like and customize the heck out of it!
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Im using xperia launcher, it uses less ram than touchwiz.
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Which launcher do you use?

i know, i know, this has probably been asked a million times, but i'm directing this to S3 users here in our little corner of the world, please don't hate
i've been using the holo launcher hd pro now for some time and i truly love the way it works. its smooth, elegant, doesnt get in the way, and best off all, gives me an AOSP look and feel when running a non-AOSP rom. i also use the holo locker as well. i use this launcher on both my S3 and my Xoom tablet
it seems to me that the holo launcher doesnt get enough respect. i see many a custom rom that includes nova or apex, but not holo (or even adw or go launchers for that matter).
when i search for "launcher" on the play store the first five results are in order GO, ADW, Nova, Apex, and Launcher 7, with Nova Prime and Apex Pro 6th and 7th.
Holo is on the first page of results, but is second from the bottom. hardly respectable if you ask me. there are themes that show up higher in that search
anyway, so lets keep it civil and not bash on each others choice of launcher. i just want to get a feel for how popular these launchers are on the S3 or do you prefer the stock TouchWiz interface?
let your voice be heard and vote above!
Wrong section
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serio22 said:
Wrong section
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Click to collapse
why do you think that? launchers are apps.
My favorite one is the one that gets launched when i press the home button
I use nova prime because of the folders in the app drawer. Go launcher is too heavy.
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Apex is very light, smoth and dont use alot resource therefor batt last longer.
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I'm debating on nova, next, or atom launcher.. I'm using nova atm and i love it but i love the visual features of next and atom is pretty sleek too
Sent from my morphed WICKED fast GSIII
RedJack117 said:
I'm debating on nova, next, or atom launcher.. I'm using nova atm and i love it but i love the visual features of next and atom is pretty sleek too
Sent from my morphed WICKED fast GSIII
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i tried Nova prime, alot of features but sometime is lagging for me, Next use too much power, Apex dont have alot of features like all the other once beside that very good
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium.
HiT tHaNk If i BeEn HeLpFuL.
Ive become a huge fan of action launcher. Best new launcher I have used in a while.
jajaja ive tried them all..use to like golauncher but takes up to much ram.. nova lags to much when i add widgets on screen...next seems ok but you cant change icons on the ones that bring look awfull... atom is smooth but its not letting me add widgets only the one launcher brings...smart launcher is kinda boring...and action launchers is slow xD spb is to heavy to.... im using apex now... until i find another one to try out...lol
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Primo
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Nova prime is the best one I've found so far imo.
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I use the stock TouchWiz one, but when I root it I use LGUI3.0 It's so much better, and gives you alot more customization options than TouchWiz. I think TouchWiz is so bland...
I was surprised to see that the default launcher with CM10 doesn't have a back-up function. I switched back to ADW because I was familiar with it from CM7. I also missed the infinite scroll feature that's available in ADW (and some of the others).
Jose0726 said:
jajaja ive tried them all..use to like golauncher but takes up to much ram.. nova lags to much when i add widgets on screen...next seems ok but you cant change icons on the ones that bring look awfull... atom is smooth but its not letting me add widgets only the one launcher brings...smart launcher is kinda boring...and action launchers is slow xD spb is to heavy to.... im using apex now... until i find another one to try out...lol
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
have you tried holo launcher at all? i just did a test and it does use about 59mg of ram where as apex shows as cached and ready when you need it, so from that, it seems that apex is much lighter on resources, but i still really love holo, you should try it
zeekx4 said:
I was surprised to see that the default launcher with CM10 doesn't have a back-up function. I switched back to ADW because I was familiar with it from CM7. I also missed the infinite scroll feature that's available in ADW (and some of the others).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i should have added trebuchet to the list. it has a lot more than it used to
I used touchwiz for a while it was ok, then I tried atom launcher it was good and smooth except app drawer laggs little bit now using the latest sony home launcher from the xperia Z really smooth and packed whit good widgets..
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Moving to General, as I think that it will garner more votes/views/opinions as opposed to staying in the Themes/Apps section.
Touchwiz ... I purchased apex pro and nova prime and holo plus .. but I love touchwiz launcher
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Apex pro. Tis great
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Next launcher is the best....!!!!
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