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Does anyone running non hero roms use any of the home replacements out there like sweeter home, dxtop, panda , ahome or any other ones?
i used open home recently on JACxROMv1.3 to change the ugly palm pre app tray. it worked for a while, but then it really started making the phone lag.
Open home was great but im using now stock home on CM3.9.10 build.. its better
http://sweeterhomeskins.blogspot.com/search/label/Themes
Nope, only used aHome on 1.1 before I rooted. Using the stock launcher on Cyanogen 3.9.11, loving global search
Advanced Launcher + Ted's Hero. I found all of them slow compaired to a themed phone.
Open Home is awesome... But it slows your phone down way too much
With Cyans ROMs a home replacement may not slow down the phone too much. The CPU scaling could help with the slowdown issues. There may be a little slowdown, but I doubt it would ever be slower than a stock build not running a home replacement.
I use the Home program that comes with the sdk samples. It's only got one home screen, an app drawer (lower right) and 3 icon spaces that list your most recent apps. It's all very basic and it's got a bug where it loses the wallpaper when you switch portrait-landscape, but here it is anyway if you want to try it. I'll be using this app as the base for a launcher i'm working on (I'll add 4 more home screens, widget capability, I'll turn the "recent apps" strip into a scrollable "favorites" strip, and maybe toss in some default, full screen widgets (like hero's, kind of like search is bundled as a widget for Launcher). It'll be a good long while though, i'm still brushing up my java.
to install this, connect your phone, put it in your C:\, and do:
Code:
adb remount
adb push C:\Home.apk.zip /system/app/Home.apk
jubeh said:
I use the Home program that comes with the sdk samples. It's only got one home screen, an app drawer (lower right) and 3 icon spaces that list your most recent apps. It's all very basic and it's got a bug where it loses the wallpaper when you switch portrait-landscape, but here it is anyway if you want to try it. I'll be using this app as the base for a launcher i'm working on (I'll add 4 more home screens, widget capability, I'll turn the "recent apps" strip into a scrollable "favorites" strip, and maybe toss in some default, full screen widgets (like hero's, kind of like search is bundled as a widget for Launcher). It'll be a good long while though, i'm still brushing up my java.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would defeat the purpose of a home replacement. Whole point is to make it look pretty. I'm not sure how the default home and a home replacement program interacts. If the default home runs in the background even when using a home replacement, then a lighter weight default home could help the system run faster.
ahome doesnt work at the moment on latest cyanogen experimental roms, DXTOP is nice i like the "diamond" shape screen layout, the speed is good but can sometimes be a little slow loading apps in launcher, sweeter home looks amazing the preview one is not really usable but a preview 2 will be out soon and it has amazing potential with being able to customise so many aspects of the layout. I loved the standard home with advanced launcher but am having issues with the advanced launcher i think where screen goes black. Currently i am on panda, I had tried this when it came out and really didnt see the point but it has come along and has some very nice touches will probably stick with this until I can resolve the issues with advanced launcher, overall speed is good on the home replacements but the standard home is the quickest, the launcher is so smooth and there is no lag at all.
I'm using dxtop... its pretty quick now.
I was having lag issues many iterations of CM and dxtop ago. But both are working very well with eachother now. dxtop also added a categories view for the tray and you can have live folders of those categories on the desktop.
The dev is also constantly working on this to optimize it and add features. (I beta for him)
I would like for a home replacement to incorporate the sense UI bar.
I am beta testing SweeterHome right now. IT IS AWESOME. The new and improved SH will have some options that will just blow the others AWAY! (IMHO)
With the current Beta options I only need to use about three of my total screens (with widgets and ALL)... And, the third screen is used for the Application Grid.
I'll be sure to post something in the Apps section when it comes available.
There are some seriously great new options in the new SH and the image handling has all been updated - so, it works much faster.
There are a few features that just blow me away. But, I have to wait to speak about them until the app is ready!
I ran a few searches and while there are some topics on other sub-forums just thought I'd ask here. Is there a general aversion to using this app?
I've used it on all the ROM's I've flashed and have found that it is more efficient than a stock launcher. It most often runs smoother as well especially the app drawer.
I know there are many who use it here, but overall rosie's get the win on XDA hance all the rosie/Sense mods.
Is it because it is not an open source launcher? Is it the aesthetics? Is there such a thing as "Android Purists"?
What say you!
I love it but won't use it because i love my sense widgets too much and it acts funny.with widget locker
Sent from my Incredible using XDA App
Been using it since almost Day 1. I change backgrounds and clocks fairly often. Wouldn't use anything else.
You lose all the sense widgets. And in the new sense roms which have been ported to the inc, there are great new ones - so on the new sense roms I can't afford to use launcher unless they have equivalent widgets.
I use launcher pro on cm6.1 which is an aosp rom. There it is the better option because I don't have any possibility of getting the sense widgets anyways...
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App
Thanks for the replies so far! I use one widget (smooth calender) and forgot about all the sense widgets folks like to use.
I use launcher pro as well. I think its a great home replacement. Gives great options in settings to change almost everything. I currently just have it set to give me 3 home screens and that is it. I don't need any more than that currently.
I replaced the Sense widgets with beautiful widgets and extended controls. I also love launcher pro's ability to make custom shortcuts that can take you directly a page in the setting menus that may be 2 to 3 pages in. Saves a lot of time as I currently have one set directly to the development page. Have to turn that thing on to use PDAnet.(The 3g hotspot just doesn't work for me very well as it drops my laptop every 10 minutes and then it cannot join it again till I restart the hotspot on the phone.)
Additional Info:
I never really liked senses giant phone button at the bottom of the screen all the time. With launcher Pro I can make the dock look like stock android. Once I made the switch I never went back
boomertwo said:
I use launcher pro as well. I think its a great home replacement. Gives great options in settings to change almost everything. I currently just have it set to give me 3 home screens and that is it. I don't need any more than that currently.
I replaced the Sense widgets with beautiful widgets and extended controls. I also love launcher pro's ability to make custom shortcuts that can take you directly a page in the setting menus that may be 2 to 3 pages in. Saves a lot of time as I currently have one set directly to the development page. Have to turn that thing on to use PDAnet.(The 3g hotspot just doesn't work for me very well as it drops my laptop every 10 minutes and then it cannot join it again till I restart the hotspot on the phone.)
Additional Info:
I never really liked senses giant phone button at the bottom of the screen all the time. With launcher Pro I can make the dock look like stock android. Once I made the switch I never went back
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Launcher Pro is great, and Launcher Pro Plus is worth every bit of $2.99. It's one of the only apps I've paid for and it has all of the sense widgets; including multiple bookmark and calendar widgets for example. In addition, having the ability to resize any widget to your liking I find makes it that much more attractive. Like you also said the shortcut option basically eliminates the need for apps like Bettercut. And of course the obvious options to change docks and icons make it a fun alternative for people.
Good stuff I've always like LP as well and got the + version as soon as it went live. A lot of proponents so far!
I think i remember seeing something that the dev of Launcher Pro asked that it not be cooked into custom roms
Therev29 said:
I think i remember seeing something that the dev of Launcher Pro asked that it not be cooked into custom roms
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If the stock launcher isn't used, they cook ADW or launcher 2 into ROMs. But you always have the option of installing LP and even removing the launcher you had previously
Quick question, I have seen a couple of places how to remove the white frames from around the icons.
Should be Settings > Display > Icon frames.
However in my new T-Mobile Note 7, that option is greyed out. I can't click on it to change the settings.
Has anyone else seen this? I would love some assistance.
Thanks in advance!
Icon Frames - Only for Default Settings
blade061188 said:
Quick question, I have seen a couple of places how to remove the white frames from around the icons.
Should be Settings > Display > Icon frames.
However in my new T-Mobile Note 7, that option is greyed out. I can't click on it to change the settings.
Has anyone else seen this? I would love some assistance.
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think this option only works if you don't have a custom theme applied. If you switch back to the default theme, the option should be available again.
I've noticed the same thing using default thene.
cary328is said:
I think this option only works if you don't have a custom theme applied. If you switch back to the default theme, the option should be available again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply. I haven't added a theme. the phone is brand new. I tried clicking on the default theme again just to make sure.
Icon frames is still unavailable.
Im having the same issue, and i got mine from tmobile
wahaaab said:
Im having the same issue, and i got mine from tmobile
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe just download a frameless icon pack you like.
Having this problem too. Wonder if it's got to do with the system update that got applied on the first day?
Same possibly here. I'm on T-Mobile with default theme. I would like to remove the frame.
I have only been able to change this setting whike in easy mode (which i don't like). It is greyed out for me in standard mode as well.
Ok, I figured it out. I'm using Nova Launcher and Sammy doesn't like that. I changed to touch wiz for my launcher and suddenly Icon frames are available to change.
I changed back to Nova again afterwards, and the change stuck, so it seems to be a reasonable workaround.
Let me know if this works for you.
I don't have a custom launcher but I do have a theme. I deactivated the theme and it worked. I guess the theme locked the borders on. Sucks.
Yeah so I don't think it's launcher specific but rather theme based. Once you apply a theme it seems to lock in whatever the icon choice was. So I went back to default theme (which opened up the option again), changed to icon only, and then applied my theme again. Now it's locked again, but as icon only.
I have no theme and stock launcher and it is still greyed out. Switched to easy mode, made the change and went back and all is well now.
Dave
Has anyone had any luck removing the frames and using the Google Now Launcher? I can turn it off in TouchWiz and Easy Mode, but as soon as I switch back to Google Now Launcher they come back and the option to turn them off becomes I unavailable.
I might not mind these damned circles if it was consistent, but it only affects about half the app icons and the other half are normal. It's crazy to look at...
Yeah it seems like the only way to get them to stay TRULY off is to use touchwiz, using the standard them.
I know everyone is saying you can switch to off, then go back to what you were on - and it is "locked in off". I agree that it looks this way in the settings.
However the icons clearly have the frames around them still.
I have stuck with touchwiz for how smooth it is, but I think I am going to give up on it.
Also, the only reason why I say its smooth is because my initial setup was with "good lock" (needed to download an apk for that as it doesn't show up in store) and google now launcher and stuff - but there was a decent amount of choppiness and also the battery was not performing to my expectations. So I did a factory reset (which some people say fixes stuff like this) and sure enough, things got better. Battery better, smoothness better. However I have stuck with normal touchwiz since then... been afraid to change it since everything seems better now lol.
I hear you.
I had to try several different icon themes but i found one (that i like) that doesn't leave borders on the rest of the icons. I think it's some sort of default setting that goes unchanged when custom themes are created.
Trial and error. Good thing the Samsung theme store has a preview option. It reduces a lot of hassle.
finsmaniac02 said:
Yeah it seems like the only way to get them to stay TRULY off is to use touchwiz, using the standard them.
I know everyone is saying you can switch to off, then go back to what you were on - and it is "locked in off". I agree that it looks this way in the settings.
However the icons clearly have the frames around them still.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here. I ended up going back to TouchWiz mostly because I couldn't stand the weird frames on some of the icons. It's not as good as the Google Now launcher, but it's good enough.
I've been searching for this answer for weeks, finally I found it, nearly started to think my device was faulty.
My option is unavailable and I have stock Rom and launcher.
But this option was available but not anymore. Can't understand why???
Which aftermarket LockScreen do you use?
AOSP lock screens just aren't customizable enough yet for my tastes.
Which is funny because I like a super simple lockscreen.
But one that lets me swipe in any direction to unlock. Not just up/down or left/right.
Tried Zui lockscreen last night and it was nice but they tried to hard and it's got a stupid "control panel" via swipe that you can't disable.
That, and I prefer apps developed in USA or India or Europe because too many Chinese apps send data back to the developer.
I've honestly never been a fan of replacement lockscreens. I have never found one that performs as good and is as stable as the OS default lock screen. I always see them failing out and sometimes showing the os lockscreen instead, or I'll unlock it only to find the default one behind it etc etc.
With that said, maybe they have come a bit further since last time I tried them. I might give them another shot.
Subscribed for the suggestions.
Well, I just tried like ten different lockscreens.
Ever single one of them tries to do toooo much.
I wanted a lockscreen without any notification bar, no navigation bar, no app shortcuts, and the first nine apps I tried had one or all of these things without any option to remove them all.
I just tried C-Locker now and so far it's got what I need.
Which is odd for me to say because the app isn't working properly.
But it's an XDA developer so I bought it and will trust in the dev to get me past my issue.
Dev thread:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2182431&page=21#post70554247
It may even be some conflict due to all the junk the previous nine lock apps installed.
Ugh, I may just clean flash the ROM and try again.
Since I barely have any setup done yet on my 1/13 DU so not a big deal.
Yeah, I wiped my internal SD and C-Locker is working great now.
Man, those other lockscreen apps left behind folders all over the freaking place on my phone. And they were all thousand+ download, 4+ star apps.
I'm really liking C-Locker and will stick with it.
So far, there are no bugs like original lockscreen popping up (I disabled it of course).
And the dev just approved me to his beta program.
I have always been a big fan of Nova Launcher Prime but having just received the S9, I thought I would give the stock launcher a go. The only thing that annoyed me was how bright and white everything was.
To remedy that I used some tips from this page:
https://goo.gl/tPfLM6(it wouldn't let me use the original android.gadgethacks URL)
Theme:
I couldn't find the "Material Black" theme mentioned on that site so I went with "[MINU]Black Edition V2".
I installed the .apks (BlacknotificationsOnly & Blackframework) and rebooted.
Navbar:
It annoyed me how I couldn't just select a black or transparent navbar. Hiding it (immersive mode) seemed inconvenient, so I went with "Navbar Apps" (available free on play store) which allows you to pick a pre-set/custom colour or even an image to use for the navbar. Again, transparent only didn't seem to work, so I stuck with black which I am more than happy with.
Navbar Apps on playstore - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=pl.damianpiwowarski.navbarapps
I am pretty happy with the result so far but I can feel myself being drawn back to Nova in the future, just for the clean look and more customisation options.
p.s. for anyone interested
Homescreen clock widget - Zooper Widget Pro with huk zooper (free on playstore) - "Zooper_ppick_29"
Wallpaper is from app Walpy, you can find it by searching "Coffs Harbour" - direct link to artist https://unsplash.com/photos/fkJl4HrTeM0
Hope this can be of use to someone! :good:
Screenshots
Day 4 still on stock launcher but I feel nova breathing down my neck. But sammy/Google have incorporated a lot of novas features now
hassan.ikh said:
Day 4 still on stock launcher but I feel nova breathing down my neck. But sammy/Google have incorporated a lot of novas features now
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After 1 week i picked up my nova launcher setup and this phone seems to be fast as hell right now ?
young_fresh said:
After 1 week i picked up my nova launcher setup and this phone seems to be fast as hell right now
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've moved my theme on to "Mattblack" now which I spotted on another post - http://www.samsung.com/global/themestore/index.html?appId=com.set.mattblack.common&SITE_CODE=uk
I originally restored the Nova setup which I was using on my S7 but it just didn't feel right and I couldn't be bothered sorting it out. Also I have noticed that the battery drains fairly quickly, it is the first week so I still have AOD and some nice shiny settings on to show off the phone. I think I am going to have to have a look through everything and see what I can turn off/down/live without, when I get time. How is yours looking after a week?
dnmrt said:
I've moved my theme on to "Material Dark" now which I spotted on another post - http://www.samsung.com/global/themestore/index.html?appId=com.cambunch.MaterialDark
I originally restored the Nova setup which I was using on my S7 but it just didn't feel right and I couldn't be bothered sorting it out. Also I have noticed that the battery drains fairly quickly, it is the first week so I still have AOD and some nice shiny settings on to show off the phone. I think I am going to have to have a look through everything and see what I can turn off/down/live without, when I get time. How is yours looking after a week?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Battery could be better, but it lasts the day from morning until next morning. SoT About 5h.
I guess some updates will make it better
young_fresh said:
Battery could be better, but it lasts the day from morning until next morning. SoT About 5h.
I guess some updates will make it better
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Spotted a few people saying EE and CFW staff have advised a UK update is going out Friday, lets see what that brings. I know it is early days and the device won't be optimised yet but I am slightly missing my S7 which I didn't expect to be saying.
Material Black is available for the S9/S9 now - guess they had to make an update for compatibility. It's not free, but I tried a trial and WOW is everything black. Maybe a bit took black (i.e., dark grey might be easier to handle), but still quite nice looking.
I'm trying the stock launcher, but while its nice, I do feel Nova knocking. Mainly because i'm so used to 6 icons in my bottom tray (dialer, chrome, maps, contacts, messages,camera along with the app button) that it seems odd without it. I like how I can swipe up, and my son was having a hard time trying to find my games (his sister who found it right away), but I'm going to give it a bit more time.
eleven os black theme takes care of that for you, including the nav bar. I like how it's blacked out, but has slight color touches throughout, preventing it from looking dull.
Without that massively annoying Bixby crap the launcher would be really nice, but that Bixby page just ruins everything. I'm back on Nova and it feels way better.
how did you guys get it to work? it wont work on mine. is it compatible with oreo?
Zwulf said:
Without that massively annoying Bixby crap the launcher would be really nice, but that Bixby page just ruins everything. I'm back on Nova and it feels way better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you can remove that page and then disable the button.
dnmrt said:
:good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How did u made the search bar black in the settings? (3rd. attached picture) even the official theming tool from sammy doesn't allow to skin that part. please respond.
chieco said:
How did u made the search bar black in the settings? (3rd. attached picture) even the official theming tool from sammy doesn't allow to skin that part. please respond.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It must have been from one of the .apks I mentioned. I haven't done anything other than what I mentioned in my first post - https://goo.gl/tPfLM6 (I installed the .apks (BlacknotificationsOnly & Blackframework) and rebooted)
chieco said:
How did u made the search bar black in the settings? (3rd. attached picture) even the official theming tool from sammy doesn't allow to skin that part. please respond.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
dnmrt said:
It must have been from one of the .apks I mentioned. I haven't done anything other than what I mentioned in my first post - https://goo.gl/tPfLM6 (I installed the .apks (BlacknotificationsOnly & Blackframework) and rebooted)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, I've just noticed I no longer have the black search bar, so it must have been part of the theme "Black_Edition_V2". I'm now using the theme "Mattblack" and I don't have the black search bar.
chieco said:
How did u made the search bar black in the settings? (3rd. attached picture) even the official theming tool from sammy doesn't allow to skin that part. please respond.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
again.. you guys don't need to install separate things when one theme does it. look at my previous post.
For an overall black theme I'd recommend Substratum + Andromeda companion app (required for the S9,) though not free. And then I would get the Swift Dark theme, which also isn't free. So you're overall looking at around $5 (I can't check the price now.) It will take a minute to learn how to use it effectively since you need to select specific App Update Versions for what you have installed, reboot once or twice, but it's not that difficult at all.
Skin not compatible with Facebook. Will work for Messenger but only App Version 145 and 146 Stable. (See 2nd image.)
I use LockClean, Navbars, and Swift Dark when it comes to Substratum ... pretty much handles everything except for Facebook itself, which is a huge shame.
The icons pack I use is from Samsung Themes; Black_Edition_V2 by MINU
My launcher is just Nova Launcher Prime.
Here's some screenshots from my Sprint S9 non-root with everything applied:
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Serfrost said:
For an overall black theme I'd recommend Substratum + Andromeda companion app (required for the S9,) though not free. And then I would get the Swift Dark theme, which also isn't free. So you're overall looking at around $5 (I can't check the price now.) It will take a minute to learn how to use it effectively since you need to select specific App Update Versions for what you have installed, reboot once or twice, but it's not that difficult at all.
Skin not compatible with Facebook. Will work for Messenger but only App Version 145 and 146 Stable. (See 2nd image.)
I use LockClean, Navbars, and Swift Dark when it comes to Substratum ... pretty much handles everything except for Facebook itself, which is a huge shame.
The icons pack I use is from Samsung Themes; Black_Edition_V2 by MINU
My launcher is just Nova Launcher Prime.
Here's some screenshots from my Sprint S9 non-root with everything applied:
-
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Looks very nice.
Serfrost said:
For an overall black theme I'd recommend Substratum + Andromeda companion app (required for the S9,) though not free. And then I would get the Swift Dark theme, which also isn't free. So you're overall looking at around $5 (I can't check the price now.) It will take a minute to learn how to use it effectively since you need to select specific App Update Versions for what you have installed, reboot once or twice, but it's not that difficult at all.
Skin not compatible with Facebook. Will work for Messenger but only App Version 145 and 146 Stable. (See 2nd image.)
I use LockClean, Navbars, and Swift Dark when it comes to Substratum ... pretty much handles everything except for Facebook itself, which is a huge shame.
The icons pack I use is from Samsung Themes; Black_Edition_V2 by MINU
My launcher is just Nova Launcher Prime.
Here's some screenshots from my Sprint S9 non-root with everything applied:
-
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How about your notifications? I gave up on Andromeda/Substratum because no matter what, I just couldn't find notifications that looked "normal"
I'm currently using [Minu]Oreo Black from the Samsung Theme Store and it looks pretty good.