Related
I would really like one or two more sliding panels. is there a way to add another panel?
Also are themes just background/icon packages or do they change more?
Excellent question, i myself would like a couple extra slides. Although, i believe there is already a thread created for that.
From the aHome themes I've downloaded, its the icons, background and skin of the bottom tab when you slide up that are changed.
The only way I know of adding more panels is to download either Fresh Fase or Panda.
Try the following thread it will give you options to have 2-10 slide panels.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=538871
Ive been thinking about the same thing. But that thread says the app is unstable.
MurderDeathKill said:
Ive been thinking about the same thing. But that thread says the app is unstable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i think the advanced launcher works ok. used it before, no issue then..
str4vag said:
i think the advanced launcher works ok. used it before, no issue then..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I currently use it on a stock, unrooted MT3G. No problems.
You need to load an alternative launcher. The stock one only supports 3 home screens.
Advanced Launcher is now stable though it is a bit slower than the stock one if you make heavy use of submenus. It scrolls the screens as quickly as the stock launcher... it is just the submenus that are slower. I have 62 apps in 5 submenus.
I use it with 6 screens and have no issues.
if you use cyanogenmod's rom you can apply this updated advancedlauncher.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=577651
It worked great for me, although now I use my own modified launcher with less tweaks to make it slightly faster. And installing aHome, PandaHome or OpenHome will make your OS slower.
Home problems are solved
Search the market for Home++. I've tried them all and this works the best. You get up to 7 screens. Have the option of allowing the wallpaper to scroll with the screens or sit still, choose which screen is the home screen, use the apps clock and calendar or the stock one, power strip at bottom with quick launchers, and theres almost no lag.
Best i've used yet. Can't hurt to try it.
over at rootzwiki i just learned that ICS can go into tablet mode, so i did switch and i find it perfectly usable. some apps are even more useful than before like settings, mail, etc.
my only gripe right now is the launcher, it wastes space. i use nova with a 7x7 grid but in portrait mode its too small and in landscape mode i'd like to have more icons in the app-drawer.
does anyone know which launcher will do better? also, is it possible to get back stock launcher2? im on aokp b27 and it had trebuchet (which crashes) and nova.
thanks!
ps. for those who don't know it yet, try it out:
0. make a nandroid. should your launcher crash you are screwed
1. get latest aokp
2. change dpi to 190 in rom control
3. add hide-navbar option in powermenu
4. press powerbutton and hide navbar
5. reboot
trouble-shooting:
market trouble can be resolved by following the steps indicated in the AOKP dpi changer. i still had to manually delete its cache and data plus force close it until it finally shut up and let me download.
phone.apk will likely crash. it can be fixed be exchanging it with the one from AOKP's droid incredible build: http://www.file-upload.net/download-4168356/Phone.apk.html
i used adb, can also be done via root-browser i guess
molesarecoming said:
over at rootzwiki i just learned that ICS can go into tablet mode, so i did switch and i find it perfectly usable. some apps are even more useful than before like settings, mail, youtube, etc.
my only gripe right now is the launcher, it wastes space. i use nova with a 7x7 grid but in portrait mode its too small and in landscape mode i'd like to have more icons in the app-drawer.
does anyone know which launcher will do better? also, is it possible to get back stock launcher2? im on aokp b27 and it had trebuchet (which crashes) and nova.
thanks!
ps. for those who don't know it yet, try it out:
0. make a nandroid. should your launcher crash you are screwed
1. get latest aokp
2. change dpi to 190 in rom control
3. add hide-navbar option in powermenu
4. press powerbutton and hide navbar
5. reboot
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ADW Launcher Ex works fine...
looks like what i needed, thanks!!! will now download and try
btw, i had problems using the phone app, it crashed. i read pushing the Phone.apk from aokp droid incredible build into /system/app works. and it did. now it runs perfectly, no fc's, no crashes. i uploaded it here in case anyone needs it: http://www.file-upload.net/download-4168356/Phone.apk.html
Yea I was going to say, ADW is my choice for my 10" Tablet.
My Setup:
Hide Dock Bar
Hide Status Bar (top part with App Drawer and redundant menu icon)
Hide Desktop Icon Text
Create a Drawer Icon coupled with whatever desktop icons.
Crank up the desktop Row/Column
This gives you a pretty large work area that is edge to edge. I don't use the dock bar but rather hide it and place my own icons. This removes the restriction of a 5 icon dock.
However I've never done this on my Nexus so I don't know how small the icons would be.
Hiding the statusbar is tricky because it doesn't work via the options checkbox. You have to create a gesture to hide/show statusbar. Go to the desktop and perform the gesture to hide it. Then go back into settings and delete the gesture. Now you'll gain access to the top bar.
With the Status bar gone, you access ADW Settings via the App Drawer like other ICS launchers.
why hiding the navbar? it's only initially since tablet mode brings its own, and i really like it so far. i find it more useful than the one in stock ICS even.
i installed adw and sadly i really don't like it so far. it feels like gingerbread and i hate having to theme ICS when im on ICS. but function-wise i got tiny icons in portrait mode and they seem to behave kinda strange. for now i got nova back, wastes space but i find it optically more appealing.
what i search would be a launcher that can stretch icons. i'd like it to behave just as before, if i use a 4x4 grid it would be cool if it could use the entire screen and not just a tiny fraction. nova comes close using a 7x7 grid but 49 tiny icons look kind of cluttered - not really nice for a homescreen.
btw, look how youtube reacted to tablet mode, never used a tablet or owned one, so my jaw pretty much dropped when i saw it running.
APEX launcher does the job. uses 100% screenspace and icons are big enough.
Also, check out Go launcher Ex. Make the icons larger in the settings menu. I manual set them to 80 and they look great. I also remove the top bar in the launchers setting menu. Set the screen to 6x6 and it looks perfect. Of course running an ICS theme but I don't mind a theme when I am actually on ICS. it is when you are on GB running an ICS theme that makes it feel cheesy!
I wish we could run the density in 160 but it seems like no phone.apk will run in that density. While running in 190 you need to use a modded market but it still seems like the market causes issues with certain apps while trying to download them. 160 would be native so we wouldn't need a modded market.
i still know it from my gf's phone, but must say i never liked it much. i guess im pretty happy now with apex in tablet mode, looks almost stock without the dpi changes, as it should. if i had the 5-button dock back and the notification-curtain (don't like they way they implemented that for tablets, it sucks) yeah it would be perfection but that can't be done unless the rom gets rewritten. im using it now daily, can live with small kinks and the new gapps/settings more than make up for it - would never ever want to revert to old mail/youtube/contacts/callendar, etc.
btw, are there rom's out there making dedicated use of it? i guess could care less about the newest tweak that gives me 5 minutes more battery power. but something that transforms the entire UI/IX into something more useful...
Go Launcher HD is made for tablets. I haven't tested it, but you can get a beta on their site.
http://golauncher.goforandroid.com/2012/03/go-launcher-hd-v1-0-beta/
mwalt2 said:
Go Launcher HD is made for tablets. I haven't tested it, but you can get a beta on their site.
http://golauncher.goforandroid.com/2012/03/go-launcher-hd-v1-0-beta/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Man that thanks button is in a bad spot. You just got a freebee.
That launder does not work with the densities that we can use. It does work at 160 in portrait but not landscape.
Wish someone implemented this as a stable and full functioning ROM..
Worked well with AOKP until it went into airplane mode and never got out. I then rebooted and my cellular data was gone all together. Guess it really thought it was a tablet.
Sent from the future.
molesarecoming said:
APEX launcher does the job. uses 100% screenspace and icons are big enough.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good call on Apex Launcher, looks good:
SocialReject said:
Wish someone implemented this as a stable and full functioning ROM..
Worked well with AOKP until it went into airplane mode and never got out. I then rebooted and my cellular data was gone all together. Guess it really thought it was a tablet.
Sent from the future.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, data seems to be a little weird. I downloaded a file then it just stopped and wouldn't connect again and I couldn't make a call either. It was still showing full bars and 4G though. A reboot fixes it. I was running Franco's kernel so thought maybe it had something to do with that so I am back on stock kernel and going to see how it behaves. I so don't want to give this up. It it pure awesomenes!
SocialReject said:
Wish someone implemented this as a stable and full functioning ROM..
Worked well with AOKP until it went into airplane mode and never got out. I then rebooted and my cellular data was gone all together. Guess it really thought it was a tablet.
Sent from the future.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thats terrible, i better make a nandroid before i try it. a custom rom would be great though, im getting really tired fixing this up.
the thing is, i really dislike the new tablet notification center, and the launcher. i wish it would behave just like before, if it could perhaps be tricked into ignoring the fake dpi. and i reaalllyy miss the notification curtain and the dock-bar. i tried hours to find some replacement for the old dock, the only thing that came close was desktop visualizr from the market, it creates resizable launcherbuttons with or without label and let's you set icons/images.
i love the new apps and settings, but the homescreen looks kinda long and dorky.
[email protected] said:
Good call on Apex Launcher, looks good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yea at least it fills up the screen, nova wouldn't. would be great through if it could do 5x4 icons + dock, everything in normal size, like before.
btw, your widgets look nice, could you share their names?
[email protected] said:
Good call on Apex Launcher, looks good:
Yeah, data seems to be a little weird. I downloaded a file then it just stopped and wouldn't connect again and I couldn't make a call either. It was still showing full bars and 4G though. A reboot fixes it. I was running Franco's kernel so thought maybe it had something to do with that so I am back on stock kernel and going to see how it behaves. I so don't want to give this up. It it pure awesomenes!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Let me know if data is still a problem after reverting back to stock because I'm currently on Franco's kernel, also.
Sent from the future.
molesarecoming said:
yea at least it fills up the screen, nova wouldn't. would be great through if it could do 5x4 icons + dock, everything in normal size, like before.
btw, your widgets look nice, could you share their names?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is Beautiful Widgets and Pure News Widget.
SocialReject said:
Let me know if data is still a problem after reverting back to stock because I'm currently on Franco's kernel, also.
Sent from the future.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So far so good on stock kernel after a few hours. Will continue to test.
Edit...Data just stopped working with stock kernel. That really sucks! 4G still shows and so does the data arrows but no data works...
Deleted...
Someone implement this! Argh
Sent from the future.
guys, i modded apexlauncher with apktool. made some changes in dalvik code to trick it into getting back the old dpi and brought back the dock through changes in the res files. icons are back to normal size aswell. it craps its pants though when it goes to landscape and the appdrawer shows only half of the screen, definitively needs more work. if someone could help with this i'd really appreciate it.
try it out for yourself: https://rapidshare.com/files/4205643622/ApexLauncher-signed.apk
molesarecoming said:
guys, i modded apexlauncher with apktool. made some changes in dalvik code to trick it into getting back the old dpi and brought back the dock through changes in the res files. icons are back to normal size aswell. it craps its pants though when it goes to landscape and the appdrawer shows only half of the screen, definitively needs more work. if someone could help with this i'd really appreciate it.
try it out for yourself: https://rapidshare.com/files/4205643622/ApexLauncher-signed.apk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice so far!
Sent from the future.
Tired of moving your fingers up/down your tablet to switch applications? Try out TasKarou!
TasKarou is a multitasking launcher overlay.
Taking inspiration from the 'Quick Controls' feature in the android browser, TasKarou provides a multitasking layer on top of a launcher on tablets.
By swiping anywhere on the left or right edge of your tablet screen, you can activate TasKarou's UI.
It gives you access to a quick, smooth, and intuitive interface to facilitate app launch, transition, and management for the user
The user interface brings a more responsive, and enjoyable level of interaction to your tablet.
Notes:
To use TasKarou, set it as the default home launcher, and from TasKarou's settings, select the actual home launcher you want to overlay.
TasKarou user interface is then triggered by swiping from either the left of right edge of your tablet screen, while still allowing access to the overlaid home launcher through the home button.
The app is also available in the android market.
nice app, but how do i use the browser controls? when im in the browser and put my finger to the side the taskarou menu opens...
kendong2 said:
nice app, but how do i use the browser controls? when im in the browser and put my finger to the side the taskarou menu opens...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not possible to use both at the same time, since both controls rely on the user touching the edge of the screen.
If you have an idea on how I could get around that issue, I'm all ear.
ne0fhyk said:
It's not possible to use both at the same time, since both controls rely on the user touching the edge of the screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that sucks, because it basically makes the browser unusable.
ne0fhyk said:
If you have an idea on how I could get around that issue, I'm all ear.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
some ideas from the top of my head:
- disable taskarou menu completely when in browser
- disable one side of the screen (permanently or when in browser)
- disable the upper/lower/middle half of the screen (permanently or when in browser)
on another note, the notification HAS to go. at least make it optional.
that being said, i really do like the concept of the app :good: i found myself regularly swiping in from the screen edges when not in browser, and then being disappointed that nothing happened.
kendong2 said:
that sucks, because it basically makes the browser unusable.
some ideas from the top of my head:
- disable taskarou menu completely when in browser
- disable one side of the screen (permanently or when in browser)
- disable the upper/lower/middle half of the screen (permanently or when in browser)
on another note, the notification HAS to go. at least make it optional.
that being said, i really do like the concept of the app :good: i found myself regularly swiping in from the screen edges when not in browser, and then being disappointed that nothing happened.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your suggestions. I have a few other ideas along with the ones you suggest that I will try to integrate, and test in the following days.
In the meantime, I updated TasKarou to also support android phones. I duplicated this thread in the 'Android Apps and Games' section to make it more visible: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1984010
I like this. Definitely a nice addition to my current launcher.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Definitely slick in some aspects. Can't say I really like it as it messes with my LMT set up and takes up more RAM on top of it.
There's a lot to be done like distinguishing different "hotspots" and designating right side only or left side only. Overall though I really enjoy the transitions and how the menu auto-switches based on which choices you're hovering over. Very intuitive choices too that I agree with about which things go where.
Looking forward to the potential this holds in the future. I may just abandon my LMT setup if done right.
Edit: And of course the ability for users to add/edit the options, potentially switch the color for mere superficial reasons. Something like my screenshot.
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Xparent Cyan Tapatalk 2
ne0fhyk said:
It's not possible to use both at the same time, since both controls rely on the user touching the edge of the screen.
If you have an idea on how I could get around that issue, I'm all ear.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe ask SwipePad's developer.
(I'm not being sarcastic)
Really useful. Love the idea, but it does cause a few conflicts with apps that rely on swiping from the sides of the screen. Having said that, when I set the margin to 13 pixels I can use the Dolphin browser (for example) without too many issues by not swiping from the outer edge, but by placing the finger a little more away from the edge and then swiping inwards. Other apps are less forgiving.
What about a button in the notification area, which is visible at all times anyways?
EDIT:
If swiping has the preference, then it would be more logical to align the available programs/tasks to the side from which was swiped. Swiping and selecting can be done with one hand then, regardless of which hand was used to swipe with.
The recents button is useless, I never use it, ever.
I'd like the option to use this instead and just disable the side activation altogether.
Nice idea. However on TF101 after getting the quick control moving the finger to one of the options too fast causes the quick controls to disappear. I have to move the thumb really slow in order to select any option. Hopefully, this will be fixed soon:fingers-crossed:.
ppl get over it, the man is trying to make ur life simpler, so if u don't like some stuff about the app then tell him your opinions in a decent way so he can make a proper development for the app instead of trashing it, otherwise f*** off
I like this!
1. I only see it from the right edge in portrait.
2. Might have a user selected area(s) for its swipe. This would allow those with conflicts to fix them. There is a similar app on Play which just gives a row running/recent apps icons which is not a bad interface. I found its use of the bottom obtrusive.
3. The home key does not go home in the base browser (I am using Trebuchet on a CM10).
4. There is a difference between "running" and "recent" (exited, cached, and still available.) !!
Long press of home gives a vertically tiled thumbnail view of both.
Taskarou shows only icons of running apps, not recent.
Taskarou should show both, either in two panes or in one with some distinction?, i.e. frame around one or the other. I sort of like having the thumbnails and they could be tiled or cascaded. If cascaded, should be focus-able, if tiled, scroll larger view like the app list. Best eliminated the number of apps option or make that for the pane (but that would be scroll-able for more). Cascading the main webOS motif. Flick down to kill?
mosta_9741 said:
ppl get over it, the man is trying to make ur life simpler, so if u don't like some stuff about the app then tell him your opinions in a decent way so he can make a proper development for the app instead of trashing it, otherwise f*** off
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First of all, as far as I can see, no one is trashing his app. So maybe lower your tone a bit and at least pretend to be able to communicate in a proper way.instead of telling people to "F-off".
The developer probably appreciates the feedback as he responds to it. Feedback (be it positive or negative) is valuable for both him and the app he works on. The end product can benefit from any kind of feedback as it points out flaws and strong points, and it can give the developer some different perspectives and experiences from different users and from different devices.
The day a developer stops listening to his/her targeted market is the day the product will begin its downfall.
Hey man, I just noticed that you dont have a video demo on google play... would you like one? I can do some switches with a background music... may I do it and you decide after if use it or not?
360porcento said:
Hey man, I just noticed that you dont have a video demo on google play... would you like one? I can do some switches with a background music... may I do it and you decide after if use it or not?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That'd be cool, thanks.
Was having issues on my Nexus 7 running SmoothRom 4.1.2. Updated to 4.2 and no more disappearing quick controls as soon as my finger leaves the border. To get them to stay I had to leave my finger there for at least 1.5 seconds. Now all is well. Really liking it. I look forward to extended and customizable menus
Update:
Scratch that. Conflict was gesture control. Had it set to consume events in starting zone. So a touch on the edge first went to gesture control. Just an iD10t error.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
ddlooping said:
That'd be cool, thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you the the same guy as the OP?
360porcento said:
Are you the the same guy as the OP?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No but it'd cool regardless as I'd be interested in seeing it in action.
(the app that is)
360porcento said:
Hey man, I just noticed that you dont have a video demo on google play... would you like one? I can do some switches with a background music... may I do it and you decide after if use it or not?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would loved one, that'd be greatly appreciated... thanks! (i am the op)
I think touchwiz has come a long way. It really adds alot to stock android in my opinion, and im not just talking about the s pen additions.
The dialer, the whole phone app in general, all the motion settings...
What I want to talk about are issues that people have with touchwiz in general, meaning, reasons that you would jump ship to a custom rom, and I'd like to see if anyone would have solutions to these issues.
Ill give you a few examples of my own experiences.
1) I need to have a battery percentage in the status bar. So when youre running any rom worth its salt, there's an option for that. I was going through the settings on the note 2 and there it was, built into the touchwiz settings... im curious to know when this was added because im pretty sure it wasnt there in gingerbread.
2) I like the additions to the stock player but to me, its still not functional enough, I at least need a screen lock. When I mentioned this in a post, someone pointed out that screen lock is built in now, all you need to do is press the power key when playing a video and it locks the screen.
3) I remember someone posting about how on this phone, the calls and messages show up in the call log and how annoying that is. I just looked for a second and realized that theres a way to change that. When youre in the call log, you hit menu then view by.
I think we could all benefit from learning about the other "hidden features and functionality" in touchwiz. For example, I still have an issue with the stock video player that you cant easily fast forward by dragging like other players and there doesnt seem to be any options or preferences built it...
What I want from Touchwiz is wallpaper scrolling and the option to change the screen grid. Other than that, it has really improved a lot and I'm pretty much comfortable using it now.
most touchwiz doesn't work for me because I work in a 240dpi environment and touchwiz doesn't scale well in it. not even the Samsung keyboard loads, it just FCs. I use different launcher, different dialer. stock kernel is not too battery friendly...I got almost 2 days usage with jedi master 2 rom with normal usage (yes, it's touchwiz based but wherever I can change it I do).
why would I jump ship?
- better environment scaling in 240dpi
- better/longer battery life
- faster operations
lennie said:
most touchwiz doesn't work for me because I work in a 240dpi environment and touchwiz doesn't scale well in it. not even the Samsung keyboard loads, it just FCs. I use different launcher, different dialer. stock kernel is not too battery friendly...I got almost 2 days usage with jedi master 2 rom with normal usage (yes, it's touchwiz based but wherever I can change it I do).
why would I jump ship?
- better environment scaling in 240dpi
- better/longer battery life
- faster operations
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 on Jedi... I consider myself an "advanced" user and stock touchwiz is not quite there yet but if you add Jedi's rom and Nova launcher then it makes the experience much better imo... I don't mess around with dpi settings as I will just wait for a rom that will customize that to my liking. We are lacking in the development department right now but as soon as it picks up there should be lots of great options for us...:fingers-crossed: And as far as scrollable wallpapers... I just download Zedge & an app called wallpaper changer and I have on demand scrollable wallpapers in Nova!
mottyengel said:
I think touchwiz has come a long way. It really adds alot to stock android in my opinion, and im not just talking about the s pen additions.
The dialer, the whole phone app in general, all the motion settings...
What I want to talk about are issues that people have with touchwiz in general, meaning, reasons that you would jump ship to a custom rom, and I'd like to see if anyone would have solutions to these issues.
Ill give you a few examples of my own experiences.
1) I need to have a battery percentage in the status bar. So when youre running any rom worth its salt, there's an option for that. I was going through the settings on the note 2 and there it was, built into the touchwiz settings... im curious to know when this was added because im pretty sure it wasnt there in gingerbread.
2) I like the additions to the stock player but to me, its still not functional enough, I at least need a screen lock. When I mentioned this in a post, someone pointed out that screen lock is built in now, all you need to do is press the power key when playing a video and it locks the screen.
3) I remember someone posting about how on this phone, the calls and messages show up in the call log and how annoying that is. I just looked for a second and realized that theres a way to change that. When youre in the call log, you hit menu then view by.
I think we could all benefit from learning about the other "hidden features and functionality" in touchwiz. For example, I still have an issue with the stock video player that you cant easily fast forward by dragging like other players and there doesnt seem to be any options or preferences built it...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi OP,
If u go to Settings -> Display and if you select Display Battery Percentage, it'll show you the battery percentage in the notification bar.
I'd like a better home screen layout. 5x4 is a GINORMOUS waste of space.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda app-developers app
achusaysblessyou said:
Hi OP,
If u go to Settings -> Display and if you select Display Battery Percentage, it'll show you the battery percentage in the notification bar.
I'd like a better home screen layout. 5x4 is a GINORMOUS waste of space.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i guess i wasnt clear, i found it, but i never knew it was there... and the homescreen layout... use a different launcher..
The only thing I missed from a custom launcher are:
1) can't change the icon grid, would like a 5x5 at least.
2) can't lock the home screen. Hate it when I accidentally moved stuff after having it setup perfectly the way I want it.
Also it would be great if we can select which app the page buddy brings up.
The only thing that really pushed me away from TouchWiz is that you can’t move the “Apps” button in the dock. I can’t reach the button when holding the phone in my left hand, one handed.
I really hate the lock screen. I was running a ROM with AOSP JB lock screen on my previous phone. I use the lock screen music controls all the time.
On Touchwiz lock screen if you use the basic swipe lock, you get the quick apps at the bottom, but the music controls don't show up at the top (at least not for Spotify or DoggCatcher). I can turn on pattern unlock, then it will show the lock screen music controls, but I lose the quick apps (I find it useful to access Google Search or Camera from lock screen).
The only solution to get both is to use pattern unlock with swipe gesture. This gives me the swipe lock screen with quick apps at the bottom, then when I swipe it gives me the pattern unlock with music controls at the top. WAY too many steps to access these two features that apparently can't be on the lock screen at the same time.
Can't say I often log in just to reply to a thread here, I'm more of a lurker. But I definitely feel the need to contribute to this.
I actually just returned my Note 2 (with the intention of getting an unlocked Nexus 4 in a couple days) and one of the major reasons was TouchWiz.
I hate it. Hate hate hate it. I hate the notification bar customizations. I hate that they've taken something as wonderful as power toggles in the notification bar and so badly butchered them. The entire notification pulldown is a crowded clusterfk compared to vanilla Android (full disclosure: I'm a long time vanilla Android user through Nexus devices/AOSP ROMs). The low DPI for a phone with such a big screen is damn absurd. I feel like I'm using my 37" computer monitor at 1280*1024. The TouchWiz customizations to the settings UI is just as bad or worse than Sense. If anything the Note 2 should be using the default Android tablet settings UI. The TouchWiz lock screen is a step up in customization from vanilla Android, but I still think it's ugly as all hell. Most of it is fluff that doesn't add any function or aesthetics. Not specifically TouchWiz related, but I loathe that they moved the back button from the left side of the screen as in vanilla JB to the left side via a capacitive hardware button.
I don't hate ALL of Samsung's tinkering. S-Voice was actually a phenomenal surprise and I'm going to dearly miss it. I could actually reliably send text messages with it without ever so much as glancing at the phone. Voice recognition was fantastic and it covered basic phone features better than vanilla Android's default abilities.
What I would really LOVE to have is a Note 2 without the hardware buttons, running AOSP with S-Voice and the S-Pen apps. Perhaps one day if there's a stable CM release where I can install extracted APKs for the Samsung apps I may get another one. Until then I'm going to stick with the Nexus line. TouchWiz really is that bad IMO.
... at least TouchWiz is a lot better than one of the first versions of it with the Behold II *shudders* I used one of those for a week.
hittingsmoke said:
Can't say I often log in just to reply to a thread here, I'm more of a lurker. But I definitely feel the need to contribute to this.
I actually just returned my Note 2 (with the intention of getting an unlocked Nexus 4 in a couple days) and one of the major reasons was TouchWiz.
I hate it. Hate hate hate it. I hate the notification bar customizations. I hate that they've taken something as wonderful as power toggles in the notification bar and so badly butchered them. The entire notification pulldown is a crowded clusterfk compared to vanilla Android (full disclosure: I'm a long time vanilla Android user through Nexus devices/AOSP ROMs). The low DPI for a phone with such a big screen is damn absurd. I feel like I'm using my 37" computer monitor at 1280*1024. The TouchWiz customizations to the settings UI is just as bad or worse than Sense. If anything the Note 2 should be using the default Android tablet settings UI. The TouchWiz lock screen is a step up in customization from vanilla Android, but I still think it's ugly as all hell. Most of it is fluff that doesn't add any function or aesthetics. Not specifically TouchWiz related, but I loathe that they moved the back button from the left side of the screen as in vanilla JB to the left side via a capacitive hardware button.
I don't hate ALL of Samsung's tinkering. S-Voice was actually a phenomenal surprise and I'm going to dearly miss it. I could actually reliably send text messages with it without ever so much as glancing at the phone. Voice recognition was fantastic and it covered basic phone features better than vanilla Android's default abilities.
What I would really LOVE to have is a Note 2 without the hardware buttons, running AOSP with S-Voice and the S-Pen apps. Perhaps one day if there's a stable CM release where I can install extracted APKs for the Samsung apps I may get another one. Until then I'm going to stick with the Nexus line. TouchWiz really is that bad IMO.
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I find it entertaining that you mentioned you are an avid vanilla android user, then explain how you run custom roms. *boggle* Enjoy the on screen buttons taking up real estate, 16gb of total memory, and yearning for the s-pen. Btw, something as simple as go launcher could allow you to set up plenty of things you want, to include a 5x5 icon set.
I could go on and on, but to be honest, I don't think it will be long for you to realize you are making a mistake. *cough* battery
mdt73 said:
I find it entertaining that you mentioned you are an avid vanilla android user, then explain how you run custom roms. *boggle* Enjoy the on screen buttons taking up real estate, 16gb of total memory, and yearning for the s-pen. Btw, something as simple as go launcher could allow you to set up plenty of things you want, to include a 5x5 icon set.
I could go on and on, but to be honest, I don't think it will be long for you to realize you are making a mistake. *cough* battery
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Click to collapse
He does have a point with a lot of that stuff, particularly the lock screen music control. I just don't understand why it's so hard to add it just under the weather, or as a small bar just above the other lockscreen targets at the bottom of the screen. That's the most frustrating thing for me, as most the the other stuff he mentioned can be changed, and if it can't I'm willing to overlook it for a while because of all the added features this phone brings.
I have been using power amp for music since my DroidX2 back when we yearned for an eq... so its always been there for me (the lock screen music control).
Everything mentioned can be addressed. That's the beauty of android; customizing your android experience. What people have become is lazy because roms do it for you.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda premium
mdt73 said:
I find it entertaining that you mentioned you are an avid vanilla android user, then explain how you run custom roms. *boggle*
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Click to collapse
How so? AOSP ROMS are pretty well vanilla with very minor tweaks. Nothing like horribly reskinned menus at every turn. *yahtzee*
I use ADW EX to do a hell of a lot more than add icons to my home screen. Changing the launcher can only do so much to fix a horrible complete OS reskin.
hittingsmoke said:
How so? AOSP ROMS are pretty well vanilla with very minor tweaks. Nothing like horribly reskinned menus at every turn. *yahtzee*
I use ADW EX to do a hell of a lot more than add icons to my home screen. Changing the launcher can only do so much to fix a horrible complete OS reskin.
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Only thing that looks skined on my phobe now isctge lockscreen, and im sure I can fix that with a lock screen app. Otherwise my launcher is now ADW, my notification bar is themed blue with circle battery and stock JB settings/clear all buttons. No brightness bar in notification window either. In all honesty there is not much mire I was able to change on my Galaxy Nexus that I cant on here, visually. In the options department Samsung has done a wonderful job and I currently dont miss anything from AOKP other then the widget popups on nav bar (would love to hold say menu button to get that on here)
Sent from my SGH-T889 using Tapatalk 2
I just got my Note 4 and one of the biggest things that is bugging me (besides the delayed menu button) is not being able to have my installed apps display in an alphabetical list. Is there anything that can fix this?
I found an app calle 'App Drawer' but I am now unable to remove the default 3x4 grid icon on the bottom right which makes having 2 icons for different app drawers incredibly annoying!
Dreyzzyn said:
I just got my Note 4 and one of the biggest things that is bugging me (besides the delayed menu button) is not being able to have my installed apps display in an alphabetical list. Is there anything that can fix this?
I found an app calle 'App Drawer' but I am now unable to remove the default 3x4 grid icon on the bottom right which makes having 2 icons for different app drawers incredibly annoying!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
click on "apps", click three small squares on top, sort, alphabetical.
doesn't give me that. I only have Custom and Alphabetical Order
Same problem
Dreyzzyn said:
doesn't give me that. I only have Custom and Alphabetical Order
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Click to collapse
Hey Dreyzzyn,
Did you ever find a solution for this problem? I just upgraded from the Galaxy S3 to Note 4 and very much miss my apps in "alphabetical list" mode. So much easier hitting the starting letter of the app you want and BAMN...a listing of apps with that letter pop up. But this Note 4 is confusingly not allowing me to do it.
Thanks in advance. Thought this phone was supposed to be so powerful...yet I find I'm missing my S3.
Rudedog123
Get a launcher!
Note 4 stock does not allow listing of apps, to do this you must install a launcher. I use Apex but there are many out there. Just install it and pick set your apps to list view. As far as lag, to get rid of it just set Window, Transition and Animator scale to "off" under Developer options and you should be good to go. I've done that since the S3 days no problem and phone gets waay faster.
fozzir said:
Note 4 stock does not allow listing of apps, to do this you must install a launcher. I use Apex but there are many out there. Just install it and pick set your apps to list view. As far as lag, to get rid of it just set Window, Transition and Animator scale to "off" under Developer options and you should be good to go. I've done that since the S3 days no problem and phone gets waay faster.
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Yes it dose with the stock launcher. As texasez said "click on "apps", click three small squares on top, sort, alphabetical". The screen shots are with the stock touchwiz launcher.
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I think you misread the original post as he's looking for an "alphabetical list'. This is not possible on the Note 4 as it was on Note 3 and Note 2. If you think it's available please post of screenshot of that instead of just showing that you can sort apps alphabetically which every version of android can do. Two, totally different things. I've posted what an "alphabetical list" looks like in Apex since you can't do it in touch wiz. https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/31104043/screenshot.JPG
fozzir said:
I think you misread the original post as he's looking for an "alphabetical list'. This is not possible on the Note 4 as it was on Note 3 and Note 2. If you think it's available please post of screenshot of that instead of just showing that you can sort apps alphabetically which every version of android can do. Two, totally different things. I've posted what an "alphabetical list" looks like in Apex since you can't do it in touch wiz. https://www.dropbox.com/s/03mpfsx5wha27xk/screenshot.JPG?dl=0
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Ahh I see said the blind man. I wasn't aware of the difference from list view and order.
Yes get a third party launcher.. I use Nova.. but like the fozzir said theres Apex and many others that are great.