Database Users

Not down with the TouchWiz UI

I just upgraded from a G1 to the Vibrant and I gotta say, I'm not impressed with the iphone like UI. Is there a way to install the stock android UI on the Vibrant?

I don't like it either. Give launcherpro a try...
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

LauncherPro (what I'm using) or ADW will get rid of *some* of the iPhone-ish Touchwiz UI -- but not all of it. The drawer is much improved, but it leaves some of the decent Touchwiz features -- like the pull down capability to switch wi-fi, bluetooth, gps, etc.. Pretty cool, actually.
Give 'em a try.

I think the Touch Wiz UI improves on and polishes the Android UI quite as bit. I will say I'm not a fan of the app drawer nor do I like any of Samsung's included widgets. I do love what they did with the contacts menu. I think the whole swyping right to call or swyping left to text a contact is genius and original. Samsung also made it easier to navigate through the contacts. I also find the WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth and silent toggles built in to the notification bar come in handy quite a bit.
I could go on but I need to get to bed.
If you can get past the visuals in TW it really isn't a bad UI.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

I personally have no problem with it aside from the supposed performance issues and prefer it to the stock android user interface and some other custom android IU implemented by other companies.
Positives:
App drawer scrolls horizontally, which seems more natural to me(like turning a page in a book).
Wi-fi, bluetooth, GPS, and Vibrate controls integrated into the notification bar removing the need of the power control widget
Music App appearing notification area when screen saver is up removing the need to unlock the phone to switch songs
I still use launcher pro, though

Are you aware of the fact that the Launcher is NOT the only aspect of TouchWiz UI? Nope.. Stock Android is fugly.

heygrl said:
Are you aware of the fact that the Launcher is NOT the only aspect of TouchWiz UI? Nope.. Stock Android is fugly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed, give another vote for TW from me. I always hated vanilla Android, on my G1 I used to change themes daily cause of it. I used LP for a bit but went back to TW. I Use that pull down toggle way too much.

TouchWiz actually had me against getting this phone before it came out. The whole "iphone-looking" app drawer icons was a huge disappointment. But being a big ADW supporter (and knowing this phone would have plenty of development behind it), I checked it out on launch day and walked out of the store with it.
Granted, I installed ADW before even paying for the phone. Plus side...the power and music controls are still there. I'd definitely give TW a thumbs up (minus the app drawer icons).

LauncherPro (my choice) and ADW are the best of both worlds. You get some of the more polished TW apps and skins, but no BS iPhone clone homescreen.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

The fact that the only thing people can complain about it is that it looks too much like an iPhone means to me that it's a pretty solid interface.
I love it in any case.
People need to get over their iPhone to Android superiority complex.

heygrl said:
Are you aware of the fact that the Launcher is NOT the only aspect of TouchWiz UI? Nope.. Stock Android is fugly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, to be fair, 2.2 android looks good, but when compared to touchcwiz, doesn't even compare. even on my nexus, I always run skins.
Anyway, I personally like the way vibrant looks.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

I personally don't care for appearances, I prefer having the latest features and newest versions of Android. I care more about the features that is included rather than how it looks because honestly.. skinning isn't that difficult but waiting for these manufacturers to port their custom skins take too long. Skinning is just so simple in Android with metamorphing, alternative launchers etc.
Take a look at Nexus One, it already has Android 2.2 while other phones have to wait so much longer. Or even Motorola Droid, they're supposedly getting 2.2 this week and running vanilla Android. I rather have the latest and skin it on my own. This of course will definitely all change when CM6 is released for the Vibrant.

heygrl said:
Are you aware of the fact that the Launcher is NOT the only aspect of TouchWiz UI? Nope.. Stock Android is fugly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeppers. Big Android fan but the default Android UI is like the default UI on a Linux system, plain and boring.

Love ADW but need to port the TW widgets over, or at least install some of the stock widgets. One of these days...
For the moment I don't set a default for either and just select whichever one I need when I press home. I know it's an extra button to press but I like the option.

TW would be great if there was a way to customize things more. Like getting rid of the horizontal app drawer and changing the default home screen when the numbers of screens are changed.
I read on another post that LauncherPro might be causing a little extra battery drain. I just switched from LP to ADW to see if I can notice a difference.
The samsung video app is so much better. I had to use DoubleTwist to convert every movie I put on my myTouch but with my Vibrant almost every file I've tried works. The contacts app is nice but a little buggy for me sometimes.
Sent from my Samsung Vibrant using the XDA app

badaphooko01 said:
Agreed, give another vote for TW from me. I always hated vanilla Android, on my G1 I used to change themes daily cause of it. I used LP for a bit but went back to TW. I Use that pull down toggle way too much.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That pulldown toggle is still there when you switch to launcherpro or adw.
sent from my Samsung Vibrant

I can't stand the ugly blue tabs they put on all their apps. They look like the 80s vision of 'futuristic' (and they're way too big). Also, they hid a lot of features of the stock google apps -- for instance, you can't set your alarm ringtone in calendar.

Touchwiz Vs HTC Sense (What is the Real Advantage / Disadvantage?)

I've read the pundits comparasion, but I really want a "User's" experience opinion. Since I'm coming from HTC with Sense UI and going to Samsung with TouchWiz UI, what I'm I really gaining or loosing?

agonzalez1010 said:
I've read the pundits comparasion, but I really want a "User's" experience opinion. Since I'm coming from HTC with Sense UI and going to Samsung with TouchWiz UI, what I'm I really gaining or loosing?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Losing, nothing beat's Sense

Sense(evo) Touchwiz(captivate)
widgets
10/10 1/10
Bottom Icons
8/10 10/10
App menu
8/10 10/10
Dialer
8/10 10/10
Music player
8/10 6/10
Video player
8/10 10/10

shep211 said:
Sense(evo) Touchwiz(captivate)
widgets
10/10 1/10
Bottom Icons
8/10 10/10
App menu
8/10 10/10
Dialer
8/10 10/10
Music player
8/10 6/10
Video player
8/10 10/10
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks Shep211, This is the kind of stats I want....

shep211 said:
Sense(evo) Touchwiz(captivate)
widgets
10/10 1/10
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why 1/10 for widgets? while they may not have as many as sense ui you can still use Android widgets as well as Samsung widgets...it at least warrants more then 1/10 >.>
Also aren't all the old widgets from winmo, symbian and even new ones from bada compatible with TouchWiz?

gTen said:
Why 1/10 for widgets? while they may not have as many as sense ui you can still use Android widgets as well as Samsung widgets...it at least warrants more then 1/10 >.>
Also aren't all the old widgets from winmo, symbian and even new ones from bada compatible with TouchWiz?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think the touchwiz widgets are useless but androids are fine. I dont use any of the touchwiz widgets so thats why i said 1/10. Not sure about winmo, symbian and bada compatibility.

shep211 said:
I think the touchwiz widgets are useless but androids are fine. I dont use any of the touchwiz widgets so thats why i said 1/10. Not sure about winmo, symbian and bada compatibility.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is an old article so don't know if they kept it with TouchWiz 3.0..but thats whats it states :/
http://www.unwiredview.com/2009/08/...third-parties-by-launching-mobile-widget-sdk/
If someone could test it, then it would bee interesting :/

IMO, they both suck. Sense sucks less in that it is more refined but is far more pervasive. You really can't just turn it off as its fully integrated in the os. Touch wiz is easier to just get rid of.

Aridon said:
IMO, they both suck. Sense sucks less in that it is more refined but is far more pervasive. You really can't just turn it off as its fully integrated in the os. Touch wiz is easier to just get rid of.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed. Now that applications can integrate accounts into Android, I don't think Sense brings any extra functionality to the table. At least Touchwiz has the power controls on the notification drawer, but I'd have stock Android over either. Pretty much a lose/lose.
If I had to choose to keep one, I suppose I'd say Sense, just because I (perhaps irrationally) enjoy using it more. I do love Sense's weather widget, and I haven't found anything close enough in the Market.

gophergun said:
Agreed. Now that applications can integrate accounts into Android, I don't think Sense brings any extra functionality to the table. At least Touchwiz has the power controls on the notification drawer, but I'd have stock Android over either. Pretty much a lose/lose.
If I had to choose to keep one, I suppose I'd say Sense, just because I (perhaps irrationally) enjoy using it more. I do love Sense's weather widget, and I haven't found anything close enough in the Market.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try weather & toggle widget. The default skin sucks but load the htc one and it looks just like htcs. It even has the weather animations. The pic in my profile is my n1 with the weather widget.

shep211 said:
Try weather & toggle widget. The default skin sucks but load the htc one and it looks just like htcs. It even has the weather animations. The pic in my profile is my n1 with the weather widget.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The flip clock's fine, but the weather widget looks completely dissimilar.

If you want something exactly like the htc clock widget google "fancy widget"

This is great stuff folks. I really appreciate all the feedback. I am hoping this little "comparasion" thread will help others coming into the EPIC know what they are getting. It's better to hear it from real life users then the tech pundits...
Thanks to all...

I'm a big fan of Sense, but really the only thing I'll miss is the clock/weather (I alreeady have the weather toggle widget) and the HTC calendar, which I think is the perfect calendar widget. I was using Pure Calendar widget, but it didn't fit my needs as well as the HTC one did.

The main reason that someone wouldn't like Touchwiz is because they're so used to Sense. It's just like going from iPhone to Android. The person that's used to the iPhone would prefer the iPhone over an Android phone, and vice versa.

shep211 said:
Sense(evo) Touchwiz(captivate)
widgets
10/10 1/10
Bottom Icons
8/10 10/10
App menu
8/10 10/10
Dialer
8/10 10/10
Music player
8/10 6/10
Video player
8/10 10/10
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They both come with the same stock music player.

I came from my touch 3g.. On att so no 3g and it was my first android experience. I was sold within a week then waited for captivate to come out to use my upgrade. Never going back. Sense vs touchwiz is moot if you actually plan on using all the great upgrades in these forums. Stock stuff can and usually should be replaced even if its super duper pretty. Set priorities on hardware.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

For those who are coming from sense and love the weather and clock widget, google "fancy widget". Its an exact duplicate. If you miss the other widgets from sense like the bookmarks, calander, people, etc., Launcher Pro has your back there. It is bringing all the sense ui goods

I'm coming from WinMo 6.5. I liked Sense, but are Sense, TouchWiz, etc. really even needed? I played with the Android port to WM, and IIRC, you can install widgets and such on top of stock Android. Just wondering if there would be more benefit to just rooting and getting that off the phone period.

TripleAgent said:
I'm coming from WinMo 6.5. I liked Sense, but are Sense, TouchWiz, etc. really even needed? I played with the Android port to WM, and IIRC, you can install widgets and such on top of stock Android. Just wondering if there would be more benefit to just rooting and getting that off the phone period.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Absolutely not, in the end they add very little in the way of functionality, though at least Touchwiz attempts to with 5.1 sound and the power control shortcuts in the notification bar.

What functionality in Sense is broken when....

You change the the launcher? If i use LauncherPro rather than Sense, what can i not do that i could with stock sense?
Obviously i wont get the same dock, with the theming and the app drawer will change. But im more interested in the apps. Will all the Sense apps still work? Like for example will the camera app remain the HTC one with all the customizations rather than the bland Google one.

SupremeBeaver said:
You change the the launcher? If i use LauncherPro rather than Sense, what can i not do that i could with stock sense?
Obviously i wont get the same dock, with the theming and the app drawer will change. But im more interested in the apps. Will all the Sense apps still work? Like for example will the camera app remain the HTC one with all the customizations rather than the bland Google one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The stock apps will work just fine IIRC, but you wont be able to use HTC Sense's widgets.

phunkycow said:
The stock apps will work just fine IIRC, but you wont be able to use HTC Sense's widgets.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
indeed and very true.. only the widgets will not work.. the apps will still work as its still under HTC Sense framework..
htc sense is sorta like the stock, but enhanced. I see that from my eye.. imho

override182 said:
indeed and very true.. only the widgets will not work.. the apps will still work as its still under HTC Sense framework..
htc sense is sorta like the stock, but enhanced. I see that from my eye.. imho
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i dont really like the look of the dock. I like the Froyo look MUCH better. Also with Sense much of the Froyo animations are disabled. LauncherPro brings those back i think.
About the widgets, that's the big drawback i guess.

SupremeBeaver said:
About the widgets, that's the big drawback i guess.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, but LauncherPro Plus offers almost the same widgets as Sense.

Who else here will miss Touchwiz?

I will be exchanging my Epic for the first dual-core phone on Sprint (don't try to convince me otherwise!)
Anyways, I'm sure it'll be an HTC EVO type of phone, so it will be lacking Touchwiz. I have gotten so used to the touchwiz Lockscreen (I text ALOT!) and it's beautiful UI.
Will you miss Touchwiz when you get a new phone?
P.S. I stay away from roms that don't have touchwiz launcher. LOL

Meh. There are other lock screens and ADW gives me better functionality than TW - particularly the ability to organize the app drawer into groups.

Beautiful UI? Touchwiz?! You must be using a different version of touchwiz then
Personally all I will miss about touchwiz will be systematically hunting down and getting rid of any elements of it.

063_XOBX said:
Beautiful UI? Touchwiz?! You must be using a different version of touchwiz then
Personally all I will miss about touchwiz will be systematically hunting down and getting rid of any elements of it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1,000 millions

Never use it. The first thing I do when I flash a new ROM is install a 3rd party launcher.

stir fry a lot said:
+1,000 millions
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That would be + billions then

I actually think Go Launcher is very good. Touchwiz is somewhat limited on features.

Hey hey, it's very basic and the size of the dock is perfect for my setup. I came from sense and I have a sense ui feel to my Touchwiz, but as stated, touchwiz lockscreen wont be on HTC phones, which is why I will miss it.

bjhill2112 said:
Meh. There are other lock screens and ADW gives me better functionality than TW - particularly the ability to organize the app drawer into groups.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And eww. I tried ADW, waaayyy too many options/preferences when adding just a single shortcut. Select shortcut name, icon, destination, etc. I just want to place the damn thing on the homescreen!
When I open up TW drawer, I can simply long press on any app and it'll drag it to the current homescreen I'm on.

Overstew said:
And eww. I tried ADW, waaayyy too many options/preferences when adding just a single shortcut. Select shortcut name, icon, destination, etc. I just want to place the damn thing on the homescreen!
When I open up TW drawer, I can simply long press on any app and it'll drag it to the current homescreen I'm on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Works with ADW too. Actually, I think that has worked on every home replacement I've tried...

bjhill2112 said:
Works with ADW too. Actually, I think that has worked on every home replacement I've tried...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Launcher Pro does.
I will only miss one thing: the slide to adjust brightness on the notification bar.

TW has its good points - the music player's above average and has nice dropdown controls, and the lock screen is useful. The launcher, however, is a real piece of crap, and I wouldn't miss it. There's plenty of good music players out there.

I don't.mind touchwiz but I like launcher pro the.best.
Sent From My Evo Killer!

Samsung would be better off using Launcher Pro and Beautiful widgets.
If Samsung is smart they would just have the developers for Launcher pro with Beautiful widgets work for them. I use the android AOSP lock screen and I am set the only thing I hate is when I get an incoming phone call I have to swype the screen to answer the call. I hate twiz is sucks!!! It slows your phone down and it does not have very many features. Your benchmark score improve considerably without touch wiz. But I do like the hardware on the Samsung phone better the Samsung camera and screen are why better than HTC. Superior product inferior customer service. But I understand HTC does not update their hardware so it is easier to update their phone while as Samsung updates their hardware all the time so they need new code to get the with the newest hardware working at it's optimal level.

I wont miss touxhwiz...
Ill miss the wobble of the slider

If you think touchwiz is bad, wait till you get SenseUI. At least with touchwiz you can put on a new launcher and pretend it's not there.

k0nane said:
TW has its good points - the music player's above average and has nice dropdown controls, and the lock screen is useful. The launcher, however, is a real piece of crap, and I wouldn't miss it. There's plenty of good music players out there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why would you say the Launcher is crap, out of curiosity?

iSaint said:
I wont miss touxhwiz...
Ill miss the wobble of the slider
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL. My slider wobbles too!

nutswillkillme said:
If you think touchwiz is bad, wait till you get SenseUI. At least with touchwiz you can put on a new launcher and pretend it's not there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same with sense
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App

marcusant said:
Same with sense
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Kind of. The htc dialer, messaging app, and email app are dumb and ugly as butt.

Tips & Tricks: Replacing Sense with CM7

I think not only I would appreciate tips how to replace Sense with CM7 with the same functionality.

If you want app suggestions.
Syncmypix for facebook image sync to contacts.
Pure messenger widget to replace friendstream.
Dialer one or go dialer for dial pad quick dial of contacts.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

I'd say Launcher pro plus, as close as you'll get to Sense but with the upside of fully resizable widgets and other fantastic stuff like an SMS widget that lets you preview your texts at a glance.

I find Go Launcher much smoother. I still have my Launcher pro licence, but its completely uninstalled from my device. Plus its still updated.

go for android make message widgets fb/twitter widgets calendar clock contacts task manager and so on just like LP+ but without having to pay for them... bonus.

I actually did replace a sense 2.1-3.0 mix rom with the latest cm7 nightly just yesterday and I have to say that it's awesome!! i found my way with GO launcher ex which has now a lot of widgets, such as contacts, calendar (both beautiful), facebook and twitter as well... the clock/weather widget is provided by GO weather (with LG skin!!).
I also installed an awesome theme for go launcher, which is RetroPlus..
it is amazing how smooth my desire is now!!
and that new rings lockscreen is just spectacular!!

RyoSaeba254 said:
new rings lockscreen is just spectacular!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Huh? Is this a new feature for CM7?

What about a good keyboard replacement? I hate the stock keyboard and love the HTC one.
Sent from my HTC Desire using xda premium

SwiftKey X is pretty good...
And the biggest tip is: Just go CM7. You wont ever go back.
I was really attached to Sense. Now it gives me the chills. lol

el_durao said:
SwiftKey X is pretty good...
And the biggest tip is: Just go CM7. You wont ever go back.
I was really attached to Sense. Now it gives me the chills. lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've gotta say that i would agree with you but there are a few things that are not as good as sense in CM7, such as the camera and Facebook intergration. I think if those 2 were resolved then I'd go back to CM7..

Like rootSU I've a paid copy of Launcher Pro Plus, but after switching to Go Launcher Ex I'm finding it a lot better.
Best keyboard imho is Swype.

el_durao said:
And the biggest tip is: Just go CM7. You wont ever go back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried sever times CM7, and eventually I ended up with Sense again.

zedmarcus said:
Like rootSU I've a paid copy of Launcher Pro Plus, but after switching to Go Launcher Ex I'm finding it a lot better.
Best keyboard imho is Swype.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here! Go EX has been smoother and widgets are not bad at all.

el_durao said:
SwiftKey X is pretty good...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 on SwiftKey. I find both of the launchers very smooth, but you must set memory preset to 'light' in LPP. After doing so I couldn't make it lag with helicopter view again, even with all 5 screens loaded with widgets. I used my widgets and LPP on top of the Sense roms for 6 months or so.
rootSU said:
Dialer one or go dialer for dial pad quick dial of contacts
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alternate dialers have no permission to clear notifications on 2.3.

Here you go. the "only" true sense-like launcher:
http://lpsense.allo-mobile.fr/lp-sense-ui-download-is-here/
+ sense widget pack for this launcher
+ Fancy Widget clock (h7C)
+ Widget Locker (with sense theme)
+ dialer one
+ http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=970459 (for t-mobile Theme Chooser)
DONE
(and do not forget to press the thanx button )

erklat said:
Alternate dialers have no permission to clear notifications on 2.3.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wouldn't know. Don't use.one. stock is best.IMHO
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App