Database Users

Trying to Kill My Sense Addiction

Coming from a G1 after two years and Cyanogen, I felt it was inevitable that I would hate Sense UI. I hated teh Hero version, but after being stuck with stock for two weeks and SlideMeRoot for another, I grew attached. I am now torn, whether I should move on to a more stock Android feel or wait for the Froyo update that will never come... I also ponder why we exist and how the universe works.

Yes it is for this reason I now establish the first SUAA. Sense UI Addicts Anonymous I thought I also would hate it, but I am close to installing the Launcher Pro Beta or whatever it's called to wean myself off of it.................... This group would have it's own steps: Step 1: Admitting that you have an addiction, but continue to clutter your device screen with widgets that aren't even really that useful and take up entire screens on the Home pages. Step 2: Install an alternate Home app Step 3: Don't look back and hope the update doesn't cause you to relapse.

How I got over my Sense UI addiction:
Switched to LauncherPro.
Got the Weather and Toggle Widget (you can also get Fancy Widget which is free). This replaces the HTC weather & clock widget.
Twitter + Facebook widgets on one screen. This replaces FriendStream.
That's about it. There's nothing else I liked about the Sense UI.

Original Sense UI = kickass
Espresso = Cheap TMO inspired UI with some real Sense UI widgets thrown in. IE. the weather widget.
I never understood how much I missed plain no-border icons until I finally installed one of Eugene's ROMs

chrisinaz said:
Original Sense UI = kickass
Espresso = Cheap TMO inspired UI with some real Sense UI widgets thrown in. IE. the weather widget.
I never understood how much I missed plain no-border icons until I finally installed one of Eugene's ROMs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't stand the Original Sense UI tho... Maybe I'll finally flash SlideM... it is still sitting on my SDCARD.

I just flashed it last night and it was a welcome change over Espresso... at least for me.
Launcher Pro does have a cool setup for the actual app drawer / call button, messaging, etc etc with some cool preferences you can mess with. It's definitely worth a try.

The Sense UI grew on me as well. I'm now using SlideM and just added a few things back to it like mytouch radio, IME, alarm clock and so forth.
This Rom is fast and I love launcher pro, it's just kick ass and looks great with LWP. I can live without the Sense UI now. This will hold me over untill CM throws something our way.
Props to everyone for all the work so far on the Slide!

I hate to say it but I don't think I can go back to stock without something similar to the MyModes option. I have gotten an amazing amount of use out of that program. Also, the Friendstream/Clock widgets are better than other widgets in the same category.
Plus, I don't want to feel like I simply have a faster G1 (even though I still want to KILL the MyFaves app)

simplyTravis said:
I hate to say it but I don't think I can go back to stock without something similar to the MyModes option. I have gotten an amazing amount of use out of that program. Also, the Friendstream/Clock widgets are better than other widgets in the same category.
Plus, I don't want to feel like I simply have a faster G1 (even though I still want to KILL the MyFaves app)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Down with MyFaves!!!! Lol If only they would get it right in the first place/

simplyTravis said:
I hate to say it but I don't think I can go back to stock without something similar to the MyModes option. I have gotten an amazing amount of use out of that program. Also, the Friendstream/Clock widgets are better than other widgets in the same category.
Plus, I don't want to feel like I simply have a faster G1 (even though I still want to KILL the MyFaves app)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This. I like MyModes a lot, and the Faves app is terrible. (Really? We can only import one contact at a time? How's that for efficiency?)
Has anyone ever seen the amount of logging data that gets spit out by Faves and other Sense apps? It's like they forgot to switch "static final boolean DEBUG" to "false" before release. :-(

Owners- how integrated is touchwiz?

Hey,
On the old Touchwiz, it was heavily integrated into the phone, so much so that if you did a home replacement like LauncherPro, it still would give you the weird notification bar, etc. The dialer and contact apps were touchwiz too and couldn't be replaced.
Could one of you guys try launcherpro and tell if it does the replacement right? Or is the phone still separate in the odin images?
Thanks.

Wii60 said:
Hey,
On the old Touchwiz, it was heavily integrated into the phone, so much so that if you did a home replacement like LauncherPro, it still would give you the weird notification bar, etc. The dialer and contact apps were touchwiz too and couldn't be replaced.
Could one of you guys try launcherpro and tell if it does the replacement right? Or is the phone still separate in the odin images?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LauncherPro doesn't replace the notification bars, dialers etc. Only the launcher and the app menu I believe. I don't have a single problem with the touchwiz stuff though, and will probably go back to Touchwiz launcher too.

Haukifile said:
LauncherPro doesn't replace the notification bars, dialers etc. Only the launcher and the app menu I believe. I don't have a single problem with the touchwiz stuff though, and will probably go back to Touchwiz launcher too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, just one more question then, what about the settings, are they the stock settings menu or another custom UI like the old Touchwiz?
Thanks.

People have used both launcher pro and adwlauncher and they say they work perfectly fine with the phone.
Personally I'm staying with touchwiz, I love it and I love the smooth application menu, unlike other android devices where it's sluggish and strange. Also, it looks very very good, unlike the videos online, in real it's beautiful. to me anyways

Wii60 said:
Ok, just one more question then, what about the settings, are they the stock settings menu or another custom UI like the old Touchwiz?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
stock Android 2.1 settings with a few added features like vibration intensity, tv out, video calling, lcd power save etc...

Archius said:
stock Android 2.1 settings with a few added features like vibration intensity, tv out, video calling, lcd power save etc...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great thanks. I'll flash my nexus before deciding, but maybe Samsung got it right this time.
Sorry to be ragging on your phone guys, but touchwiz absolutely ruined the Behold 2.

yes that's what I heard that touchwiz 2222222222 ruined but the 3 is great for me. I haven't seen the 2

How deep does Sense UI reach?

I've got the Legend with Sense. I'm just not quite sure how much Sense includes, which bits are Sense and which are standard android..
I know the HTC widgets are Sense, but the only ones I use are the clock, calender and footprints (though I could do without the last 2)
Is the contact linking system where details from facebook etc are taken and merged with phone contacts part of Sense?
Is the smart dialer where you can put in a number or search for name at the same time Sense?
Basically, if I switched over to an alternative home app, what exactly would I lose?
I like the Sense bar down the bottom which has app tray button, phone and the +, it looks real smooth and borders nicely with the notification bar, looks better than the screen abruptly ending at the bottom imo. Are there non-sense clones/alternatives to this?
Cheers

If you keep the Sense ROM and use an alternative launcher you keep the same phone and contacts apps. But you lose the app tray and the ability to use the HTC widgets, they only work with Rosie as the launcher.

I see thanks. And I can still use all the HTC Apps e.g. Photos and Music?
Does anyone know of a similar app or something to replace the bar thing at the bottom of Sense, with app tray, phone and + button?

Try launcher pro or adw launcher. Both offer much more and better looking functionality than the sense launcher

le3ky said:
Try launcher pro or adw launcher. Both offer much more and better looking functionality than the sense launcher
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been tempted, but the main things I'm worried about losing from Sense is the bar down the bottom with the easy phone button, and the pretty weather animations that play fullscreen from the weather/clock widget after unlocking the phone.
I think that being a phone, the 'phone' part of it deserves the more integrated and dedicated phone button like that... rather than it just being like any another app

Snowtoad23 said:
I've been tempted, but the main things I'm worried about losing from Sense is the bar down the bottom with the easy phone button, and the pretty weather animations that play fullscreen from the weather/clock widget after unlocking the phone.
I think that being a phone, the 'phone' part of it deserves the more integrated and dedicated phone button like that... rather than it just being like any another app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The weather animations on the home screen are part of the Weather-Clock widget. Switching to an alternative home will make you lose the ability to use Sense widgets, so you will lose that.
LauncherPro and ADW.Launcher allow you to customize shortcuts you have next to the app button so the phone button is not a problem.

JAguirre1231 said:
The weather animations on the home screen are part of the Weather-Clock widget. Switching to an alternative home will make you lose the ability to use Sense widgets, so you will lose that.
LauncherPro and ADW.Launcher allow you to customize shortcuts you have next to the app button so the phone button is not a problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah well there are clones of the Sense clock/weather widget but they don't seem to do the nice weather effects.
And yeah I could have the phone button down next to the app button, but it will still just be like an app icon, not a dedicated and integrated natural looking bar or something

For those that like and use TouchWiz

I thought I just throw it out here since there are so many people complain about how bad touchwiz is.
What do you like about TouchWiz interface on Galaxy S?

One thing I really like is how music players stack up onto the pull down taskbar as well as on the lock screen where you can stop, change track and play your musics without unlocking your phone.

I only like the lock screen missed call or missed sms notification.
Other than that it's crap.
I use adw for everything else.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App

is there any way to change it to something better without rooting or anything like that?

kcharng said:
I thought I just throw it out here since there are so many people complain about how bad touchwiz is.
What do you like about TouchWiz interface on Galaxy S?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sliding across the notifications bar to adjust brightness.
The Touchwiz Corporate Email client is MUCH better than stock Android. Much.
The Notification panel is the best stock panel on Android, and nothing aftermarket even comes close.
The stock Clock application has a great "Smart Alarm".
Task Manager, which is just a long-press of the Home button away.
Built in "My Files" application, no need to download something like Astro.
Memo and Mini Diary are quite useful.
Very solid SNS integration into Contacts, complete with pictures.
A pretty damned good stock dialer.
A pretty good stock keyboard (and Swype too!)
The best stock Music Player IMHO. Equalizer presets!
The best stock Video Player, bar none. Divx, MKV, AVI, it plays them all.
AllShare actually works, and is actually useful and fun.
Ability to change system fonts on the fly, and to download or create your own.
Road SMS just for ****s and giggles.
Integrated Calendar (Exchange, Google, etc.)
Car Home and Desk Home launchers are nice.
How friendly TW3.0 is to 3rd party launchers.
I'm sure there's more, but the long and short of it is, TouchWiz 3.0 is pretty damned good. I don't use the TWLauncher either, but most of that is habit, having used ADW and LauncherPro for months.

kcharng said:
I thought I just throw it out here since there are so many people complain about how bad touchwiz is.
What do you like about TouchWiz interface on Galaxy S?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I love TW3.0 I've tried all other launchers and they dont really compare to the functionality that TW3.0 offers altho most of the launchers are just home screen and application drawer replacements.
My only gripe is that samsung should have added a msg counter on the messaging icon like on the wave... everything else is great for me!

Nothing of these things have to do with touchwiz. Im on launcher pro and can do the same. The only thing missing are the samsung widgets.
Ps. On launcher pro you get msg and call counter in the dock icons
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App

What i like in TW3.0 is that apps are divided to pages. I don't like scrolling, scrolling and scrolling to find my apps in other launchers. I know on which page i have app that i need right now so i jump quickly there and launch it.

I tried ADW Launcher and LauncherPro but don´t like them. They feel a lot more incomplete and slower compared to TW3. I can´t complain about the speed of TW3 and i really like the the Screenlock, and the notifications for missed calls and sms

Twlauncher isn't the only part of the phone that's changed by TouchWiz, as listed above.
I also use LauncherPro, mainly because I prefer its vertical sliding application list, but the notification icons and integration with media players is nice. I have no argument with the lock screen either - again, the music player integration is useful. The Task Manager in newer builds is also pretty decent and good to see in a stock ROM.
The TouchWiz customisations you can't remove/bypass are pretty good, and because you can change default handlers in Android, it's no big deal to use alternative launchers and applications. I was concerned about not having HTC Sense, but happy with this.

I currently switched from LauncherPro to TouchWiz recently, just because I like variation. I might use ADW instead next week. There's nothing bad about TouchWiz to make me not use it. Nice to see other people supporting the stock software.

TouchWiz 3.0 is Good!!
I am not sure why there is so much of TouchWiz hate. But once one would come out of the "only Sense/ADW is good", they would really see what all functionalities have been added to TouchWiz to make it look good and actually work well.
I really like it.
And I really wonder if Sense can do this much!!

kcharng said:
One thing I really like is how music players stack up onto the pull down taskbar as well as on the lock screen where you can stop, change track and play your musics without unlocking your phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This works on Launcher Pro too, it's not unique to TW
d3a said:
is there any way to change it to something better without rooting or anything like that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just download an alternative like Launcher Pro or ADW and Home Switcher to easily switch between them.
Croak said:
Built in "My Files" application, no need to download something like Astro.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's just an application, irrespective of the launcher. Switch launcher and that is still there.
Memo and Mini Diary are quite useful.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As above, stock applications, not launcher specific.
A pretty damned good stock dialer.
A pretty good stock keyboard (and Swype too!)
The best stock Music Player IMHO. Equalizer presets!
The best stock Video Player, bar none. Divx, MKV, AVI, it plays them all.
AllShare actually works, and is actually useful and fun.
Ability to change system fonts on the fly, and to download or create your own.
Road SMS just for ****s and giggles.
Integrated Calendar (Exchange, Google, etc.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ditto, all stock, not dependent on launcher.
[/QUOTE]
yrizan said:
Nothing of these things have to do with touchwiz. Im on launcher pro and can do the same. The only thing missing are the samsung widgets.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed!
I like certain aspect of TW, sort of like the horizontal scroll applications page but wish there was a way to reorder things alphabetically without clearing the data. Manually sorting applications according to type etc. is useful but then sort of duplicates what the home screens are for. Like the icon display on TW as well with their button backgrounds as opposed to plain icons in Launcher Pro.

I think touchwiz is pretty good, one cool feature is sliding your finger left or right on a contact either calls them or composes s message! Until someone ports Sense to the SGS ill stick to touchwiz
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App

I don't "like" touchwiz, but don't hate it either. The widgets that come with it are pretty cool. I like the people(social networking) and the yahoo finance widgets in particular.

MAMBO04 said:
I think touchwiz is pretty good, one cool feature is sliding your finger left or right on a contact either calls them or composes s message! Until someone ports Sense to the SGS ill stick to touchwiz
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is a feature of the contacts manager, not Touch Wiz. It works the same under a different launcher.

No greyish pull up tab underneath? Never liked that bit.

Croak said:
Sliding across the notifications bar to adjust brightness.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with you, but what do you mean by this? How do you adjust the brightness from the notifications bar?
This is probably some new addition like the task manager, right? I'm still using the JF3-firmware...

Think the touchwiz is pretty well thought out. I actually like it better then Sense tbh even though I figured I would miss sense after switchin to the sgs.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App

I love touchwiz that when I slide, if I touched the app icons first for like 0.2 sec and slide, it will still give me a slide.
If I do it on ADW or LauncherPro, it will act like I'm holding that icon. Like I hold icons from drawer to place at home screen.
I don't know how to explain this, my english is not very good. Hope you understand.

Twitter and facebook feed widgets

I'm lookimgs fo widgets that are simlar to launcher pro widgets any one have any ideas
Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk

You could try installing launcher pro. It's not in the market, but you should be able to find the apk with a little elbow grease.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA Premium App

Ditto. Load LauncherPro. You have to buy it to get the widget but it is cheap and worth it. Attached is a screenshot of my screen. Upper left is Friends widget which combines FB and Twitter feeds. Totally worth it.

I used LP 0.8.3 plus since I got the Xoom. Wasn't sure how it would turn out but I figured it couldn't hurt. It's been fanatastic. Have to tweak some small settings to make it snappier transitioning screens but it does the job well. The ability to stretch the Widgets and the additional Widgets makes it worth the effort. Feels very customized and it works great.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

For those running Launcher Pro... Are you using the CNN stackable widget as well?
When I installed LP+ and would flip through the CNN widget stacks, I would constantly get Force Closes on Launcher Pro. I finally gave up on it... Maybe I will try again.
Anyone experiencing the same? Or different?
Thanks.

Cnn widget works fine for me (I have it resized a little smaller than what it looks like stock)

keitht said:
Ditto. Load LauncherPro. You have to buy it to get the widget but it is cheap and worth it. Attached is a screenshot of my screen. Upper left is Friends widget which combines FB and Twitter feeds. Totally worth it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Launcher Pro looks nice. I'll have to try it.
Is it your birthday Keith? Happy birthday, if it is.

New to Android... so this could possibly be a dumb question.
When using the stock Twitter widget, it only displays one tweet at a time and isn't scrollable. When reading up on Launcher Pro, it said that you can resize and create scrollable widgets. Could I take the stock Twitter app, resize it, AND make it scrollable?
Thanks in advance.

Here is another question related to Launcher Pro... I have my screens setup and all is working well, however, the stackable widgets (CNN, Youtube, etc) do not automatically flip every minute.
I know this is not a big deal, however, I am guessing they also do not refresh every minute as well.
Anyone seeing the same thing?
If this is a known problem, I am assuming this will be fixed when LP+ is actually released to use the Honeycomb engine.

green94 said:
New to Android... so this could possibly be a dumb question.
When using the stock Twitter widget, it only displays one tweet at a time and isn't scrollable. When reading up on Launcher Pro, it said that you can resize and create scrollable widgets. Could I take the stock Twitter app, resize it, AND make it scrollable?
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No.
LPP+ has a very nice twitter widget that is scrollable.
LPP+ does nothing to widgets that aren't LP widgets, other than allow you to resize them. The stock Twitter widget does not have the ability, that I've seen, to be scrollable, there for for me, it gets deleted.
Its very hard if not impossible to find LPP replacement widgets for the Calendar/Agenda, facebook, and twitter widgets. ADW an equally impressive launcher does not have these widgets, but has a couple other tweaks LP doesn't.
There are also themed versions for LPP+ and ADW which are very nice. I'm using a transparent theme, XTG and Love it.
Here's the thread for all the themed versions. Looks like he just added HC too. Make a backup of LP, delete it. Install the themed .apk and restore. Activation codes work and it really adds a nice touch.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=783427
Its sad that the stock Launcher is so inadequate. I really tried to like it but the lack of resizing the widgets is a complete fail imo.

Mandelbrot.Benoit said:
No.
LPP+ has a very nice twitter widget that is scrollable.
LPP+ does nothing to widgets that aren't LP widgets, other than allow you to resize them. The stock Twitter widget does not have the ability, that I've seen, to be scrollable, there for for me, it gets deleted.
Its very hard if not impossible to find LPP replacement widgets for the Calendar/Agenda, facebook, and twitter widgets. ADW an equally impressive launcher does not have these widgets, but has a couple other tweaks LP doesn't.
There are also themed versions for LPP+ and ADW which are very nice. I'm using a transparent theme, XTG and Love it.
Here's the thread for all the themed versions. Looks like he just added HC too. Make a backup of LP, delete it. Install the themed .apk and restore. Activation codes work and it really adds a nice touch.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=783427
Its sad that the stock Launcher is so inadequate. I really tried to like it but the lack of resizing the widgets is a complete fail imo.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First off, great information. Really appreciate it.
A few follow up questions:
What are the differences between LPP+ and ADW beyond widgets? Candidly scrollable widgets is my most pressing need at this time, but I'm interested in hearing about the other "tweaks".
Do you use both launchers at the same time?
How do these programs handle battery consumption?
Lastly, which do you recommend for use with Honeycomb?
Thanks again