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Always seems to be a ton of threads about why people hate touchwiz and how eager they are to get rid of it but...what do you like about what Samsung did different?
I absolutely love the pulldown menu modifications
I love the music/call controls in the pull down, and like the power widget there. This is something I really wish that Google would adopt/roll into stock android later on (or at least Cyanogen).
I also like the shortcut to adjust your phone's brightness (rolling finger across the top bar).
I personally prefer the way this phone handles making a call on a 2nd line and conferencing people in...it's much better than stock android (I came from a Moto droid and conferencing in a new # was always kind of a pain in the ass).
I personally prefer the way they redid the calendar to stock (I seem to be in the minority here though).
I use google voice for all SMS, so I can't really comment on that.
I use LauncherPro, so the actual look of the launcher doesn't bug me...
Actually, the only thing I truly hate about the modifications Samsung made was the damn alarm program..it's way worse than the droids, and it's way too easy to turn off...and the snooze button is hard to differentiate from the turn off alarm button.
Overall, Samsung has some nice stuff if they just abandon the cartoony iPhones look of the launcher and work on a few of the performance hickups here and there.
hydrogenman said:
I absolutely love the pulldown menu modifications
I love the music/call controls in the pull down, and like the power widget there. This is something I really wish that Google would adopt/roll into stock android later on (or at least Cyanogen).
I also like the shortcut to adjust your phone's brightness (rolling finger across the top bar).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Other than the calendar (which is a near-total fail for me; maybe others' calendars don't have the same bugs as mine - which is a scary thought, b/c it makes a global "fix" seem less likely), I really like TouchWiz - particularly the features listed above. The "Power Control" Android widget (or whatever it's called) - which is normally crucial - becomes almost unnecessary, provided you're OK with using the pulldown for toggling GPS, Wifi, etc.; and sliding finger for brightness. (The only Power Control item you can't toggle using pulldown is "Sync," which I almost never turn off anyway).
I like how the TW icons look; and I dig the app drawer, b/c I prefer the "list" view that it offers. I may try another launcher someday, but right now I feel no need -- I'm digging TW (and much prefer it to stock Android).
Don't care for the Samsung widgets at all, but their functions can easily be bested with stuff in the Market.
pavvy said:
Other than the calendar (which is a near-total fail for me; maybe others' calendars don't have the same bugs as mine - which is a scary thought, b/c it makes a global "fix" seem less likely), I really like TouchWiz - particularly the features listed above. The "Power Control" Android widget (or whatever it's called) - which is normally crucial - becomes almost unnecessary, provided you're OK with using the pulldown for toggling GPS, Wifi, etc.; and sliding finger for brightness. (The only Power Control item you can't toggle using pulldown is "Sync," which I almost never turn off anyway).
I like how the TW icons look; and I dig the app drawer, b/c I prefer the "list" view that it offers. I may try another launcher someday, but right now I feel no need -- I'm digging TW (and much prefer it to stock Android).
Don't care for the Samsung widgets at all, but their functions can easily be bested with stuff in the Market.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've never once used any of the TW widgets...that's one thing that was a bit of fail
BTW, you can get the TW style of app drawer on 3rd party launchers
I was rather pleasantly surprised with TouchWiz. I think it's much better than Stock Android. I'm not sure exactly why people are complaining about it.
What I like about it.
1. WebOS like UI controls for Music and Toggles in the Notification drop down.
2. Paged scrolling of apps in the App Drawer. I hate inertial list scrolling.
3. Some of the widgets like dual clock and calendar clock. If there is no place to add a widget on that screen, it finds a screen with space. Buddies Now is a nice widget, but it's slow and buggy.
4. The interface to add/remove screens and move screens around.
What I dislike.
1. It syncs all contacts instead of just "My Contacts". Of course this is not the launcher, but the app. But other than this, the contacts and dialer are much better than stock.
2. Pressing the Home button, sends it off to Screen 4 on my phone instead of the center screen. Very annoying.
3. There is an Android bug that prevents folders from being opened. With LauncherPro, I can restart the launcher which fixes the problem. No such ability in TW.
4. Can only change two of the 4 icons at the bottom.
Likes:
Messaging/calling through contacts.
Power control in notification drawer
Launcher is starting to grow on me
The interface when a call is in progress
Puzzle piece notifications
Dislikes:
Music player can't distinguish between songs and ringtones
Nearly the same issue with gallery and album art
Can't set the home screen when less than 5 screens
Lock screen but that's purely cosmetic
The media scanner, but I don't think that's TW specific (Be awesome to have it scan on demand)
I really don't like how all the Samsung widgets want to take up an entire screen.
hydrogenman said:
BTW, you can get the TW style of app drawer on 3rd party launchers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, that's good to know... I'll have to try 'em sometime, I know they have lots of fans around here.
I actually prefer TW to LauncherPro or ADW. So far everything works pretty well.
I do wish that the samsung widgets were re-sizeable so they didn't take up the whole screen. I like the app drawer, it is just copying the iPhone, but I don't visit it a whole lot thanks to the FolderOrganizer widget. That widget should have come stock with the phone IMHO.
i really like some of the modifications that samsung has added, especially in the dialer and contacts apps (they have already been mentioned). i found another one last night in the calendar app, if you add a location to an entry it shows you a map of the location from the calendar entry.
wolfvgang said:
I actually prefer TW to LauncherPro or ADW. So far everything works pretty well.
I do wish that the samsung widgets were re-sizeable so they didn't take up the whole screen. ......
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey. If I do understand you correctly, you are using ADW or LauncherPro and mention that 'everything is working pretty well, also referring to 'samsung widgets'?
How do you access 'samsung widgets' from say ADW Launcher - ESPECIALLY BuddiesNow ??
I can only access it from the default launcher, but do prefer ADW also - but am stuck
Thanks for your help or ideas.
I don't understand anyone wouldn't use LauncherPro.
The scrolling dock is genius. I have about 15 apps that I use regularly, so the dock does a really great job to accommodate that. Also, you can easily add your own custom icons, and do away with the default ones that come with TW and LP.
I also hate that on TW, you have the home screen # indicators at the top, giving you a lot less home screen space.
The app drawer, though not as easy to use as the Applications viewer in TW, is at least original. This phone already looks like an iPhone, so having a very Android-esque applications viewer is refreshing.
TW does a lot fantastic things, some of which you guys mentioned, but the general layout of it is pretty ****ty, and LauncherPro is just about perfect... and free.
I like the toggles on the notification pull down. I don't like how the brightness slider has no visual feedback to determine what the current bright is set at. If there was a slider widget attached to the bottom or a popup when the slider is in use that would make it easier.
I like the swipe on contacts for the call/sms.
After loading JI6, I tried using the TW launcher again, but I couldn't find any of the TW widgets compelling so I'm back to Launcherpro.
Just found this out, if you dislike the iPhone style of the app drawer, left to right, changing it to Alphabetical list gives me the normalish way we are used to the app drawer working, up and down.
Now if we could just remove the annoying outline on the icons I'd be set
Coming from an iPhone, Touchwiz was a bit too iphone-ripoff for me. I personally use Launcher+ but TW did have some good points.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
my biggest dislike is that contacts and dialer are no longer the same application. I never had a dialer shortcut on my phone before because I could just use contacts, now I have to use up 1 more space for the dialer.
Owenv said:
my biggest dislike is that contacts and dialer are no longer the same application. I never had a dialer shortcut on my phone before because I could just use contacts, now I have to use up 1 more space for the dialer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can access the contacts from the dialer, would be an extra click if you really want to not have that extra icon
z0phi3l said:
You can access the contacts from the dialer, would be an extra click if you really want to not have that extra icon
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah but as far as I know you can't get to dialer from contacts, and I'm used to having the contacts icon on my home screen. I know I could just change it but you know what they say about old habits. however it isn't a problem since I have another contacts app that solved it for me.
My favorite feature is the dialer. I love the fact that it has speed dial unlike stock android. I also love the predictive dialing. These two are the biggest for me.
Hey mates,
i have this friend (he's the typical iDork) who keeps annoying me with comments about how ugly he finds my homescreens...
i used to have only one scene (The Sense HD remix scene in minimal grey).
now i'd like to install launcher pro and make it look awesome, custom icons, everything designed as minimal as it gets.
only problem, every time i hit "home" my beloved desire asks me what homescreen it should return to. i know i can make it remember one of the two, but if i want to change then, i'd have to work through the settings and options...
so, here's my request:
a SIMPLE, SEXY WIDGET, that can instantly change the launcher assigned to the home button. i think it's not much work to do, if the API allows apps to change settings (not sure about that).
I'm a C++ programmer with zero experience in java, so i can't do it myself.
finally, i'd like to know how i can mod the launcher pro in the ways seen around on this forum (e.g. Mnml Icons as buttons etc.)
Thanks for your time,
Max
PS: does anyone know a widget for email/sms with a minimal style, such as Cal Widget with transparent background.
Settings > Applications > Manage Applications > LauncherPro > Clear Defaults.
Do you need a widget for that? ..
this isn't my point
i want to be able to switch between two launchers FAST, so i have, let's say a private and a business launcher, one designed for usability, and the other for style.
i don't want to reassign the home button everytime i want to switch, thats why i wnat a widget, or a shortcut, which i just touch once.
but since it seems like i'm the only person here switching frequently between launchers, i guess i'll have to code something myself.
anyway, thx for your time.
Oh.
Not a bad idea.
Good luck.
maxupp said:
Hey mates,
i have this friend (he's the typical iDork) who keeps annoying me with comments about how ugly he finds my homescreens...
i used to have only one scene (The Sense HD remix scene in minimal grey).
now i'd like to install launcher pro and make it look awesome, custom icons, everything designed as minimal as it gets.
only problem, every time i hit "home" my beloved desire asks me what homescreen it should return to. i know i can make it remember one of the two, but if i want to change then, i'd have to work through the settings and options...
so, here's my request:
a SIMPLE, SEXY WIDGET, that can instantly change the launcher assigned to the home button. i think it's not much work to do, if the API allows apps to change settings (not sure about that).
I'm a C++ programmer with zero experience in java, so i can't do it myself.
finally, i'd like to know how i can mod the launcher pro in the ways seen around on this forum (e.g. Mnml Icons as buttons etc.)
Thanks for your time,
Max
PS: does anyone know a widget for email/sms with a minimal style, such as Cal Widget with transparent background.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is an app on the market that can do that.
TheRedDrake said:
There is an app on the market that can do that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
HomeSwitcher.
Works from 1.5 - 2.1, I think.
Certainly doesn't support 2.2
zHk3R said:
HomeSwitcher.
Works from 1.5 - 2.1, I think.
Certainly doesn't support 2.2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No,not home switcher. It was called easy switcher or something like that, can't say for sure. It supported widgets for quick switching also. I found several with similar function Launcher switcher/Home manager/, don't know if this one has widgets.
thanks mates,
homeswitcher does indeed not support android 2.2.
anyway, i found "Launcher Switcher" BUT:
- doesn't provide a widget
- sends me to the android settings screen, when i want to re-bind the home button
so, i stiiiiiiiiill haven't fouuuuuuuuund, what i'm looking foooooor....
Cleardefaulthome
It takes you straight to the current launcher info page where you press clear defaults, then press home and select the one you want. Its the best option atm.
Sent from my HTC Desire
Just flashed SC 2.4 voodoo rom and have some questions about it.
1. how do you delete the home screen? (I have 7 home screens now.. which is too many for me)
2. When I turn on Camera, it says update firmware. do I have to update firmware?
3. how can you customize shortcut on the bottom (a grey box that have call, app list, browser icon)? sry its kinda similar question as #1.
4. What kind of launcher does Superclean rom use? when i see task manager, icon looks like Touchwiz.. but overall interface and app list look like ADW.. but doesnt have ADW options though.. I'm confused.
I thought I had more questions but I forgot
I will edit this post if I think of more.
triple486 said:
Just flashed SC 2.4 voodoo rom and have some questions about it.
1. how do you delete the home screen? (I have 7 home screens now.. which is too many for me)
2. When I turn on Camera, it says update firmware. do I have to update firmware?
3. how can you customize shortcut on the bottom (a grey box that have call, app list, browser icon)? sry its kinda similar question as #1.
4. What kind of launcher does Superclean rom use? when i see task manager, icon looks like Touchwiz.. but overall interface and app list look like ADW.. but doesnt have ADW options though.. I'm confused.
I thought I had more questions but I forgot
I will edit this post if I think of more.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1,3, 4: its pretty much the stock aosp launcher, so any kind of home screen customization is out of the question unless you get something else like launcher pro/adw. Its called launcher2, I believe, taken straight from aosp source. So, if you want to change stuff, you're going to have to look at other launchers.
2. Yes.
And if you're looking for alot of customiziation options along with neat transitions built in...try launcher pro. I've been using it for years on different androids and love it.
mrodsunshine said:
1,3, 4: its pretty much the stock aosp launcher, so any kind of home screen customization is out of the question unless you get something else like launcher pro/adw. Its called launcher2, I believe, taken straight from aosp source. So, if you want to change stuff, you're going to have to look at other launchers.
2. Yes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you mean I can't even set numbers of home screen with 'launcher2'?? thats not good..
what does aosp stand for?
If I use launcher pro or adw, stock launcher will be running in background? running 2 launchers will consume more battery and RAM?
2 launchers won't affect you that much. I used to run LPro and Twiz back on DI01 and could get 24-48 hours of bat life.
From what I have read on other posts just make sure that there are no widgets running on the unused launcher, as they might sitll be using the data connection to update.
AOSP is android open source project.
http://source.android.com/
Personally I recommend Lancher Pro over ADW, but I'm sure others will tell you differently. Free versions of both exists so just try em both out.
Full Battery Popup
I didn't know where to post this but I downloaded the new superclean 2.4, and despite it including a program that should have disabled it, I still got a pop-up notifying me of my full battery in the middle of the night. Does anyone know why I got this or does the full battery popup disable not work for all phones?
If you don't like having two launchers and want more customization options, install Launcher pro and uninstall Launcher ebproductions. I use nothing but LP, none of the other launchers can cut it for me.
eboersch said:
I didn't know where to post this but I downloaded the new superclean 2.4, and despite it including a program that should have disabled it, I still got a pop-up notifying me of my full battery in the middle of the night. Does anyone know why I got this or does the full battery popup disable not work for all phones?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you wipe prior flashing?
And launcher pro is imho the best hands down. Try the trial and if you like it pay for the full. The twitter and facebook widgets are the best of any out there...bar none.
go launcher
re jenisiz - I used rom manager and always back up previous rom and wipe data but i did not try to do it myself in cwm but now that you mention it I will give it a shot
re triple486 - Launchers make all the difference. I have tried just about everything I could find and I personally liked Go Launcher. Launcher Pro is cool but i would say it is 100 times better for the pay version. You can resize widgets to your liking and there is a lot of support for theming the Launcher Pro widgets. Overall, any launcher seems like it offers more flexibility and features than the stock or aosp launcher. Try the free versions and see what you like.
Battery pop up still there
I cleared all data and the cache twice but the full battery popup is still there.
I did not mention this but i installed the Revolution theme over superclean 2.4. Will that prevent the battery popup from being disabled?
triple486 said:
you mean I can't even set numbers of home screen with 'launcher2'?? thats not good..
what does aosp stand for?
If I use launcher pro or adw, stock launcher will be running in background? running 2 launchers will consume more battery and RAM?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, the only cool thing about the stock AOSP launcher is the 3D app drawer, LauncherPro does this as well but it's not quite as good.
Once LauncherPro/ADW is installed and running, you can use the task manager to kill the other launcher so it's not running in the background.
Press your home key and set the default to LauncherPro/ADW and it will use these by default from then on and the other launchers will not run.
I personally use Launcher Pro on all my android devices and I always recommend it over ADW but they're both good and its just a matter of personal preference, you can install both and try them - it wont hurt anything and they hardly take up any space.
If you set one as a default and want to change the default again go to settings > applications > manage applications - find the launcher you set as a default, and click "Clear Defaults".
Hi all,
i have just installed miui rom and really like the ui and particularly the speed of the rom.
the one issue i have is the lack of app drawer and the apparently random nature of application placement on the home screens. having browsed the threads this appears to be a 'feature' of miui...
to manage these apps it is recommended to use folders. but speed is an issue to me. creating a folder is easy enough, but i find it extremely slow to long press on an icon and drag to the necessary folder for all my apps. i would have liked to see a quick way of management, similar to folderorganizer app where you can quickly place multiple apps in folders.
does anybody have tips that allow better / quicker management of apps and folders in miui?
I'm using LauncherPro on top of MIUI. It's awesome and very fast! Especially after LP was optimized for Gingerbread.
ive been using miui for a few weeks now and i think its great, i havent installed any launchers on top as i think it kinda messes with the whole idea of the rom in the 1st place.
but one thing ive found out is when u click and hold an icon so u can move it, u can use another finger/hand to scroll thru the pages. that way i managed to quickly sort eerything into folders and where on which page i wanted it
hope that helps
otherwise use launcher pro or adw launcher, from past exprience i prefer ADW Launcher Ex best $3 spent on the market for me
hi ruskival - thanks for the tip.
i just wish there was a quicker way to organise, and to use labels rather than folders (like folder organiser, which, despite its name uses labels rather than folders...).
oh, and scrollable widgets please!!
i love widgets as a quick view to my calendar, mail, messages, rss feeds, facebook, twitter etc.
Hey guys, just wondering why some of you sware by sense. I am currently on Unity and the only thing I really use is the weather lock screen. I had to switch to Launcher Pro due to the lag of the stock launcher. I love eye candy but not at the cost of speed. Sense has always kind of been associated with the word lag it seems. So what do you guys like most about Sense and what you keeps you from moving away from it? What am I missing about these Sense ROMs?
Notification bar offer the last used applications and you can switch view to rapidly disconnect your Wifi, GPS, etc.
It's Eye-candy,the camera app contains lots of effect, you can locate your phone via htcsense.com, etc.
Also when you plug the phone to your computer you have a better interface with a lot of options like hotspot, internet computer->phone, internet phone->computer to PC AND Mac OS x.
It's awfully purty...
Sent from my T-mobile G2
Im on the awesome mexdroidmod rom, but I do miss a few aspects of sense. The lock screen is amazing, but what I really miss is the dialer and camera. I have tried many replacement apps for these but haven't found anything that suits me. I also seem to get better facebook and hotmail contact integration on sense roms. Still the speed of the non sense roms is more important to me.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App
I swear by sense because it is exactly what I am used to. I used the HTC touch pro using sense for winmo and now sense for android. I like the feel and integration HTC has done for their UI.
I don't really use the Sense 3.0 (or Sense 2.0 for that matter) weather app at all.
What I do like about Sense is that it has the wifi hotspot available out of the box; no need for any extra apps to get that function.
Sense 3.0 camera also comes with the panoramic function which I think is quite handy.
I also like the quick settings available after dragging down the notifications tray. Not too sure if that's from Sense 3.0 or is it an added feature of Unity though, but it's handy and saves me from having to install the toggle widgets.
I like sense because it has the extra conveniences just like everyone likes using. I like the integration of FB contacts with the contacts. I really love how you can launch apps in the lock screen with 3.0
I dont like using the weather that much either, but the overlay is just very very pretty. Htc sense is one of the reasons android is better than iOS.
i'm on MIUI now, love MIUI's notification settings toggles, way better than sense 3.0... any way to import MIUI notification bar to non MIUI roms??
not much to complain about MIUI, some gps problems tough :/
Senses dock is so nonfunctional :/ only 3 shortcuts, and 2 of them are "useles". no need to keep customize button available @ dock. And then the appdrawer button, like to use launcher pros swipe up to open appdrawer.
I like sense too because it gives selection of usb connection types, MIUI only asks if i want to mount sdcard. for internet share, need to go though all the settings.
I'm on Unity now as well, and the Sense 3.0 launcher actually feels less laggy than past versions, especially considering all the animations. But you're right in alternate launchers are still faster/smoother, and also much customizable. I'm using ADW EX. People often ask, why use Sense if you aren't using the Sense launcher. But there is actually a lot to Sense, besides just the launcher.
The Sense camera continues to completely pwn the stock Android one in layout, looks and features. I also prefer the HTC dialer and keyboard over stock Android, although many of the differences for those are aesthetic, and its just a matter of personal preference. Of course Sense 3.0 has "trace" on the keyboard, but Swype is still better at this style of text input.
The notification area (with quick settings) and lockscreen (with fast launching of your favorite apps) on Sense 3.0 are quite nice. The HTC stock and weather apps are pretty nice too. Nothing special that can't be matched or beat by Market apps. But its nice to have apps that are integrated with the general theming of the ROM, no ads, etc.
Agree with above comment that the Sense dock is pretty useless. It takes up a lot of space for so little functionality. HTC actually added the ability to customize the dock apps for the version of Sense on the Flyer tablet. Hopefully, this is a feature they bring to the phone version of Sense.
one more thing, i like senses web browser app, it's great, is there a standalone app for nonsense phones?
Almost There Sense
For me, the things I like about sense are the social (wish tweeter and facebook were separate) and weather widgets, the lock screen and the overall look and feel.
Things that keep me on CM7 (with launcher pro) are: configuring of the dock, scrollable widgets, speed and free memory, no "The application HTC Sense (process com.htc.as) has stopped unexpectedly. Please try again" messages.
If the dock on the Sense ROM was more configurable (may have 5 icons instead of 3) and scrollable widgets, then Sense might become my DD.
On a side note, I haven't tried Launcher Pro with Sense, so maybe there is something to try. Curious how many people use Sense with non-sense launchers.
-brad
I use sense with laucherpro. Main reason for me to use sense are the following:
-Smart Dialer
-Email app (unified mailbox)
-Contact list
-Calendar (like the way how it looks)
You probably can get these options by downloading some other apps, but i like to keep my phone as stock and functional possible.
I've used CM6 and CM7 and I always end up back on a Sense ROM (lately, Sense Unity), for several reasons:
1. Camera - the stock (and CM) camera experience is ABYSMAL. Completely terrible. The Sense camera app has so many more options and just gives a MUCH better experience.
2. Sharing - this is hard to explain, but in AOSP-based ROMs, when you click to share something, the intents menu that pops up ISN'T scrollable - that means, if you have lots of apps that tie into that menu, it may crowd out the one you want to use. In Sense ROMs, this submenu is scrollable, so I can access EVERYTHING on that list.
3. Exchange mail - the Sense mail app has several improvements in functionality over the stock one, including the ability to subscribe to folders (so they automatically update), an integrated inbox with all your subscribed folders, etc. It also looks MUCH better.
4. The Sense 3.0 lockscreen is freakin amazing. Anything prior to Sense 3.0, CM7's is actually better
5. Settings - Sense has the extras that let the ringer mute itself when you pick up the phone, switch to speakerphone by putting it face-down, etc etc. I *believe* the later versions of CM7 have that as well, but it wasn't commonplace until recently.
I use LauncherPro Plus, and have on all my phones, regardless of the ROM. The customization options and lower memory profile make it a slam-dunk. I don't use Sense Launcher and I don't use ADW, so all my Sense benefits are on the backend.
I haven't used the ROM's stock launcher since my HTC Hero running 1.5. My current choice is GO Launcher EX with the paid version of Colorize Widgets or the free GOWidgerts. I would love to figure out a way to run the Sense 3.0 widgets with a third-party launcher.
As many people have already mentioned, the Sense 3.0 weather lockscreen is great. I also love the "cylinder tumblers" style of setting date and time values. I hate having to click + and - buttons. The only way it could be better is if tapping on the value allowed you to type in the number, like in stock Android. Check out the implementation in the Sense Calendar app... it has click-stops every 15 minutes.
I tend to use 3rd-party replacements for everything else (dialer, SMS, keyboard), although the camera app is quite nice. If it were possible to get just the Sense 3.0 lockscreen (with wake/sleep-on-trackpad), I'd probably go back to running CM.