Related
Do you want an additional 'THREE' customizable homescreens on your Hero? Well, there's an 'app' for that! HA!
First, I'm not sure if doing this has any bugs or inherent problems, and I am not responsible for any problems you may encounter doing this! BUT, I haven't experienced any so far myself.
Anyway, I stumbled onto this by using the Home Switcher app. When I saw how it launched the original Android Home app, that gave me an IDEA.
Using an application called 'Bar Control', I setup a Taskbar ICON to launch the native Android 'Home' application which, if you ask me, 'extends' the Hero with an additional three homescreens. I simply pull down the Taskbar and tap Home to launch the original Android Home app which gives me access to three more homescreens. AND, a simple tap of the Home button takes me back to HTC Sense.
So, I now have TEN (10) homescreens!!!!! These additional native Android homescreens are where I put some Android widgets (non HTC Sense widgets of course). And get this, the two Sprint widgets, NFL Mobile Live and Sprint TV, are available too! The Hero uses the same Wallpaper for both HTC Sense and Home, but it unlocks the native Android wallpaper gallery too.
Steps I did:
1. Downloaded Bar Control from the Market.
2. Launched Bar Control and waited for it to scan all the programs.
3. Scrolled down to the app called, 'Home' and selected it.
4. Selected an ICON of choice. (I used the same home ICON)
5. Pulled down my Notification Bar, tapped 'Home, and WALLA!
Simply hit the Home button to return to HTC Sense.
Note: To get rid of this Home ICON in the Notification Bar, simply perform the first three steps above again which will remove it.
OK, now can anyone tell me of a simple shortcut app that can be set to launch the native Android Home app without having to go through the Taskbar via the Bar Control app in my example above?
So, I believe this is the GREATEST HERO HACK so far!
When two unused screens just aren't enough lol, nice find.
Not really an hack if you ask me... why don't you install a few extra homescreen replacement apps (like openhome) so you'll even have more homescreens
this is not a hack at all. installing apps and using them as intended is as far away from a hack as could be. please change the title, this is so lame...
btw, i would love to have my homescreens scrolling "round", meaning if i swipe screen #7 (the most right one) to the left i want to go to screen #1 (the most left one). anybody know if this is possible?
kendong2 said:
btw, i would love to have my homescreens scrolling "round", meaning if i swipe screen #7 (the most right one) to the left i want to go to screen #1 (the most left one). anybody know if this is possible?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would like to know this as well, I sort of wonder why htc didn't design it like that.
DaWeav said:
5. Pulled down my Notification Bar, tapped 'Home, and WALLA!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
[PEDANTRY-MODE]
It's "Voila" not "Walla"!
[/PEDANTRY-MODE]
Sorry, couldn't resist - to me, it's like fingernails on a black board!
Regards,
Dave
lol, the same happens when you install any theme app such as open home, dxtop, etc...
What happens is, the default for the home button is cleared of it's default (HTC Sense) giving you the option which home screen you want to fire up after holding down the home button.
You could probably just clear the default yourself in App settings, limiting the need for another app all together.
Downloading a home screen app equals hacking your phone?
give him a Break it was his first post.He was over zealous on his find..LOL
well atleast he let us know about his find.sum peeps probably wouldnt had even shared..thx DaWeav
Yup, just to elaborate on what N0J mentioned:
menu/settings/applications/manage applications/HTC Sense
tap "Clear defaults"
Now, every time you push your "Home" button you will be presented with the options "Home" and "HTC Sense." As long as you don't check the default box you will always have a two-touch access to either interface.
Alternatively, for those that prefer vanilla Android to Sense, check the default box and hit "Home." Your phone will no longer load the Sense UI. This can be reversed by going to Home in manage applications (above) and again clearing defaults.
cgraunke said:
Yup, just to elaborate on what N0J mentioned:
menu/settings/applications/manage applications/HTC Sense
tap "Clear defaults"
Now, every time you push your "Home" button you will be presented with the options "Home" and "HTC Sense." As long as you don't check the default box you will always have a two-touch access to either interface.
Alternatively, for those that prefer vanilla Android to Sense, check the default box and hit "Home." Your phone will no longer load the Sense UI. This can be reversed by going to Home in manage applications (above) and again clearing defaults.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well said and thanks for the detailing the steps out for me!
Dang. I thought this was actually going to be some useful information that could lead me to getting rid of the 4 unused homescreens
This isn't a hack and not much of a discovery but if it makes you happy...
Would be kind of cool if Sense had 10 screens of its own.
nice find! But yes, 7 home screens is a little much. until we find some better widgets.
kendong2 said:
this is not a hack at all. installing apps and using them as intended is as far away from a hack as could be. please change the title, this is so lame...
btw, i would love to have my homescreens scrolling "round", meaning if i swipe screen #7 (the most right one) to the left i want to go to screen #1 (the most left one). anybody know if this is possible?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
GDE Home Screen does this
edit: by the way this is a dumb "hack"
I'm assuming this works for vanilla android as well? One of the most annoying things about my Moment that my Hero does is only having 3 screens.
Does anyone know how to REMOVE any of the homescreens from sense?
My hero is so slow!
I really hope that as part of an update to Sense that they make it so you can have any number of screens so long as it's 2X+1. (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11)
Personally, I only really use 5, so I would just drop the last 2 screens and have the little indicator get a tiny bit larger.
the HD2 has done something strange with programs that use dropdown menus - it has replaced them with a bar.
this is fine for some apps where you can use the slider at the side of the screen in order to scroll, but where there is a small box which just drops down a short list of data for you to choose from, the bar replaces the box, stops the list dropping down and thereby disables you from using the dropdown menu.
is there any way to stop it behaving in this way and reverting to the old form of dropdown menus?
thanks
rjstep3
I think I know what you mean. Can you give an example of where this happens?
"a picture paints a thousand words" but unfortunately I don't have a camara with me so can't take a picture to upload (at the moment).
An example is a program which give a list of dates in a dropdown menu - on my HD, that is fine, tap the box, the list of dates drops down, and I can select one. On the HD2, however, no dates drop down, but a bar appears inside the box, it's the sort of bar that appears at the side of screen when you use your finger to grab the side-bar and slide down a long window quickly.
That's the best description I can give in words. I was talking to someone who couldn't use the HD2 as it prevented him from using one particular app which used dropdowns extensively to enable selection of items from dropdown lists.
Hope that helps - can't find anything on it in the tips and tweaks, and searching generally reveals nothing at all.
Can't believe I am the only person with this problem/issue.
rjstep3
Again, I think I know what you mean.
Did you know you can scroll by moving the items in the dropdown up and down? You don't have to use the scrollbar. Obviously, if the dropdown is too narrow that won't work as you'll open the scollbar when you try to grab an item.
The alternative is to try a different theme. That might sound daft, but there was a thread a while back discussing how to get the popout scrollbar working and it turned out that it doesn't work on most of the themes. (I believe it only works on the HTC Black one).
Maybe that would help?
I think you do know what I mean!
As you rightly say, when I tap the scrollbar that has appeared inside the dropdown box, that opens up the entire list in a different screen, and so for this program at least, that is the workaround. Whether that works for all other programs that use dropdowns is another question of course.
I am using HTC Black - which I prefer as a theme, I try some others when work subsides and see if that helps.
thanks for quick posting.
rjstep3
rjstep3 said:
I think you do know what I mean!
As you rightly say, when I tap the scrollbar that has appeared inside the dropdown box, that opens up the entire list in a different screen, and so for this program at least, that is the workaround. Whether that works for all other programs that use dropdowns is another question of course.
I am using HTC Black - which I prefer as a theme, I try some others when work subsides and see if that helps.
thanks for quick posting.
rjstep3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No worries mate - good luck!
Hi people
Although I have been a thorough reader of the forums, I am posting today after a long time, after having spent days looking for what I need and not finding it. Appreciate your help with the follows:
1. I need an app launcher/dock/shortcuts widget on the home screen that lets me access some of the apps/activities from the homescreen without taking a lot of space (something like the Home++ launchbar at the bottom). however I am not looking to change the desktop entirely (so no home++, pandahome etc), and apps like bar control, ultimatefaves and bettercut don't do it for me simply because they do not group the things I want together in one place (i.e. under one button or dock or bar). Anything else I can try?
2. I am looking for a way to launch the call log by pressing the phone widget, and not the dial pad. Is there a way around this?
3. Am also looking to somehow change the lock screen mute slider to change to a vibrate-only slider instead...any clues?
4. I am looking for a list of wallpaper sites that have wallpapers for N1 in the correct aspect ratio and resolution so when applied they do not lose their sharpness
5. In better cut, whatever icon pack I use it cuts the icon image when placing it on the phone home pages...resolution needed please.
6. Looking for a full screen caller image when I get a call or make a call, preferably of high quality.
7. For some odd reason, google listen is not appearing in my market, can someone share the apk link here please?
Apologies for so many Qs, I have no been able to find solutions to these till now, would really appreciate any help.
Regards
bump....people help pls
1- You can add a "folder" on your home screen, rename it and drop inside whatever apps u want
7. Just search for "Listen" it's the first hit. Or serach for "Google Listen" and it's the second hit.
1 - download apps organizer, very nice app, similar to adding folders but looks a lot cleaner and is very easy to organize.
4 - i use socwall.com, if you sort by widescreen they all look great on my Nexus.
5 - they fixed this in the last bettercut update, all mine look great now, check the market to see if you have an update available.
3 - silent mode jammer in the market will make the lockscreen toggle vibrate instead of silent.
thanks people...anything else from anyone?
Loving your new tablet but want more? Try some of these tips to add new experiences:
-Official Asus mini FAQ pdf HERE.
-Official English language manual HERE.
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-If you have rooted your device, then applying the FOTA update (firmware over the air) from Asus will re-lock your device, as it enables signature checking. If you wish to keep root, either wait for a safe update to be released by a member of the forums, or don't update at all. If you have already updated from the original stock firmware you will have to wait for an updated root method.
*Root allows low level system access to all features of a device. Benefits include, but aren't restricted to, allowing everything to be backed up, blocking adverts, greater customisation, etc.*
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-What apps are compatible?
Try HERE for a list.
-Getting lag from google search?
Set your home page instead of 'www.google.com' to 'www.google.com/webhp?complete=0'. This will remove the instant feature and give you lag free search results.
-Enable Quick Controls in web browser.
Open Browser>Settings>Labs>Quick Controls. Now go back to the browser window and swipe your fingers in from the side of the screen, for a cool options menu.
-Want a longer charging cable?
Certain USB 3.0 male to female extension cables may have the extra pins required to allow you to lengthen your cable. Failing this you could always use a mains lead to extend the electrical lead. Links HERE and HERE for more info. Full thread on cables working and not working HERE.
-Got a problem you can't seem to fix? Tablet locked up or become unresponsive? Speakers not working?
Try holding the power button down for 10-12 seconds, which will totally power off the device. This is different from other power down methods. It's fixed many people's various problems so it's worth a try if you are stuck.
-Install a different keyboard.
There are many keyboards available for tablet devices on the market. Settings>Language & Input>Keyboard Settings>Current Input Method. And if you hadnt noticed, the default Asus keyboard lets you swipe your finger to spell out words, just like Swype.
-Improve your wifi connection speed to the tablet.
Hold your pad vertically while facing the direction of your router or access point. You can get up to a 50% stronger signal just by doing this, as the aeriel is in the top of the device behind the screen. Also make sure your router is on a specific channel and not set to 'auto'. Use a free app such as 'Wifi Analyzer' to help you find the best channel.
-To store more files, expand your memory.
SDXC cards can be read by the keyboard dock. Format your new card to NTFS if you are planning on using files over 4gb. There is no need for partitions. If you are not planning on putting any files over 4gb on it, Fat32 filesystem is also an option.
-How can I get the best quality wallpaper as my background, and still have the scrolling effect?
For non rooted and rooted devices. Check THIS thread for an updated view of the wallpaper situation. Also a good app to help you create a wallpaper with the scrollable effect and still keep the quality is called 'Wallpaper Wizardrii' which is free from the market.
-What is the best resolution to make the wallpaper so I get that cool scrolling effect with the best quality onscreen when changing home screens?
For rooted devices. 2135 x 1408 pixels. The picture posted at the bottom of this post shows you the layout (credits to the Xoom forum people for this image). This is for adding wallpapers to the original directory once you are rooted. This way they are exactly the same resolution as the original 'asus tree' wallpaper. For reference, the middle area of the home screen is 1280x720 in size.
-Can I stop programs running when I start my device up?
You need to root your device and then you can install an app called Autostarts or Startup Manager which will allow you to disable apps that start up automatically.
-Change to an animated wallpaper.
Press and hold your finger on the home screen. Select Wallpaper>Live Wallpaper.
-How do I capture screenshots?
Settings>Screen>Screenshot Now go to the screen you want to take a picture of and hold down the task switching button for 1 second. Release and 1 second later it will take a screenshot. These are saved to sdcard/Screenshots/ in the file manager.
-How do I get into the bootloader?
Hold the volume down button and press the power button. Keep holding volume down until the screen lights up.
-Can I change the boot animation? (the animated 'Asus' logo at startup)
Details HERE.
-Add an internet bookmark list to your home page.
Press and hold finger on home screen. Widgets>Bookmarks
-Show the web browsing history.
Long press the back key in the default browser to show the last few websites you visited.
-Can I change the way web pages display in the default browser?
You can set the browser to tablet, desktop or mobile mode. This will tell the web server you are accessing, how your device should process a page and display it accordingly. It's recommended to set the option to desktop or tablet to make the most of the transformers large screen. To save on data costs when tethered, set it to mobile mode. Open the default browser. Open the browser settings>advanced>user agent string. Change it to whichever option you want. Close browser. Re-open. Should display the pages based on the option you chose.
-Add a finger pattern unlock screen.
Go to Settings>Location and Security>Configure Lock Screen>Pattern>Draw a pattern (and remember it)
-Use Battery Monitor Widget?
Set the battery to 6600mA instead of the default 1200mA. In battery monitor widget>settings>monitoring preferences>battery capacity (Check the underside of your box for the phrase '2CELL3300' to confirm, as there may be different versions for different countries). Setting it to this rating should give a more accurate reading for your battery stat tracking. (Thx to Edge929)
-You can plug other devices into the cable using a female usb to female usb connector.
Certain devices (such as usb memory sticks, keyboards, etc.) can be used via this method. Thread HERE with more info.
-How do I check battery usage?
Settings>About Tablet>Battery use>Click the graph OR Settings>Applications>Battery Use>Click the graph. Shows the system devices that have been using the battery.
-Email someone a lot? Add them to your home screen.
Press and hold home screen>Contact>Their Name. Adds a widget to the screen of your choice that lets you select a method of contacting them.
-What do the colours on the dock indicate?
Solid Green light = Battery above 95% charge.
Solid Orange (they call it orange, it's red on mine) = 10-95% charge.
Orange blinking = Battery less than 3-10% charge.
Orange fast blinking = Battery less than 3% charge.
-Hidden debug settings option in the default browser:
For advanced users. Changing these settings may dramatically affect performance. Type in about:debug into the default browser bar, then hit the options>settings>debug tab.
-Hidden easter egg in 3.1:
There's a honeycomb easter egg in 3.1. Tap the version number "3.1" in the settings>about tablet a few times.
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Got any handy tips? Let me know...
_______________
Maintaining these lists has started feeling like a job so if anyone feels like buying me a coffee (via the donate button) or a new house (wouldn't say no to that one ) it's much appreciated (I've made it through too many sleepless nights with a cup o' Joe lately). Or if you don't like that idea then please consider donating to The Red Cross, as they certainly deserve it a lot more than I do.
The browser quick shortcuts was new to me, thank you
Helium_Junkie said:
The browser quick shortcuts was new to me, thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problem. If anyone has any more, please let me know and i'll add to the list.
I was gonna open a thread on it but saw this one.
Another tips is that since we are going to see updates more often, please don't update it as soon as you see "new update" available. Wait for it, give it sometime. As we've already seen a thread where user bricked their transformer because of an update...
If its working, don't fix it.
Someone has to risk it. If no one will update we'll never know if it's safe to do.
dotpro said:
I was gonna open a thread on it but saw this one.
Another tips is that since we are going to see updates more often, please don't update it as soon as you see "new update" available. Wait for it, give it sometime. As we've already seen a thread where user bricked their transformer because of an update...
If its working, don't fix it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
New tips added...
Right... as of 28th April the first post is updated with as much stuff as I could find from the entire Transformer section of the forums. I'm sure I've missed a fair few things that could be added, so please send me any useful tips that you think others might like to use, or that may help improve their devices. Thanks.
swype
Looks like swype keyboard works w/o needing to download anything... just try swyping on your keyboard!
aarofloyd said:
Looks like swype keyboard works w/o needing to download anything... just try swyping on your keyboard!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I forgot to add that earlier. Added now.
screenshot function under settings > screen
This is really dumb
Sorry for asking this ..but this is my first tablet How do you get rid of the widgets from the homepage?? I have added about 4 email widgets by trying to get rid of one.
I dont see and delete option. Plus if any of you know where I could learn more about working this thing that would be great.
Just joined and trying to learn ASAP.Thanks for the help in advance.
long press on the widget in question and drag it to the trashcan in the upper right corner of the screen.
seshmaru said:
long press on the widget in question and drag it to the trashcan in the upper right corner of the screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks !!! worked like a charm.
If you have any other questions I'll be watching this thread for instant replies
Mr Dude said:
Sorry for asking this ..but this is my first tablet How do you get rid of the widgets from the homepage?? I have added about 4 email widgets by trying to get rid of one.
I dont see and delete option. Plus if any of you know where I could learn more about working this thing that would be great.
Just joined and trying to learn ASAP.Thanks for the help in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hold the widget till you can move it and drag it to the upper right where you see remove
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
Thanks guys one more question how do you close close multi windows..say like youtube ....camera....email setup window.???
just press back till you reach the homescreen
seshmaru said:
just press back till you reach the homescreen
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Still now luck I still have on the left side 5 windows email browser places weather and youtube. I have tried clicking on each window then hitting the back arrow still there.
oh you mean that, that isn't actually open apps, those are just most recently used apps. Doesn't mean they're still running. To make the 5 windows go away just press anywhere besides the 5 windows.
seshmaru said:
oh you mean that, that isn't actually open apps, those are just most recently used apps. Doesn't mean they're still running. To make the 5 windows go away just press anywhere besides the 5 windows.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok ..got it ..thanks man. First 2 hours with this thing
First of all, how awesome is this forum !!!
I consider myself a pretty "upright" forum user as in I usually read the pinned, "read this first", Q&A, and search before I make new posts. Whenever I come upon people who don't do that, I kinda frown to my computer screen but beyond that seems like nothing much can be done? The "Here are the similar threads we found:" section is just pure brilliance.
Sorry about the rambling but I will start with a tiny background story first.
So once upon a time, I got warned thru my gmail that my account apparently was "compromised". After I did some preliminary verification to make sure they are not spams, I decided to try the google "2-step verification" process. And I bet most of you knew what comes next: I keep getting bad password popups. After some hours of frustrating struggle, I fixed my gmail on my phone. But Gtalk would not let me do that 1-time psasword verification thing, and thus my play store won't work. (God really who designed them to be linked!? I did not launch Gtalk once in my life.) Before this happened, I was happy with my stock launcher from Samsung and always have the "if it ain't broken, don't fix it" motto. In the end, I decided it is "certified broken" and I thought this might be a good time to look into upgrading to Jelly Bean.
hm.. i think i'm making this post unnecessary long so I will just cut through the chase. I never thought "stock" stuff would come in any quality. But amazingly in my first day experience of CM10, I am already missing a bunch of features that I used to take for granted. I have no desire to go back to the last launcher (as this in theory should be a step up overall, i believe). So if anyone have tips for me to how to get these features back, I would very much like some pointers! Thanks in advance.
Just some clarification in case this matter: I bought my phone unlocked in Hong Kong. So there is no service-provider-associated stuff that came with the stock launcher I got.
EDIT: I used the 11-02 nightly build of CM10 and its corresponding Gapp package.
1) Contact list
+ Improved: To my amaze, my chinese contacts got sorted by their pronunciation in english! The original stock launcher lumped all of them in the end of the list.
- What I missed: Slide left on names will message the contact and slide right will call them.
# What I tried: Of course my first solution is to search on App store to find a replacement. For some reasons, only two (with good rating) showed up. Did the search got dumber? Or it got smarter but just not doing what I want?
Go Contacts: I think i remember trying it and personally not a big fan of the GO packages. I didn't give it a second try.
Contants+ with a penguin icon: There's a function that lets you "Hold" on a contact to call them. This is very much inferior to the slidings : ( I need recommendations for contact list app.
2) App drawer
+ I like how the widgets got attached to the horizontal pages. Much nicer option than Homescreen-> menu and keep scrolling through the 1x4 area LOL. I love widgets and I have a lot of them. Yes it was painful.
- You can't custom organize the drawer. You can sort by Name or Install Date and that's it. I used to organize them by functionality. I have over 160 apps on my phone. I don't use all of them all the time but I would say I use close to 70% of them at least once in a while. So while my homescreen is really reserved for Widgets, App drawer is where I launch my less-used apps. I really like the "menu -> edit" function in my old launcher. I can create new page, move the apps around and even uninstall the app right there (with a minus sign on the top right corner of the app icon. Yes I didn't use to understand why one would even need uninstaller app from the store). Please don't hate me if you really just rather sort by Name.
# Funny the problem this time is not about how I can't find a suitable app from the play store to do a better job with the drawer. It's that I CAN'T move the original app drawer icon of the launcher from the bottom middle area. I imagine there's probably a way to replace it but it's obviously not a readily available option or I am missing something.
3) Task manager?
+ I think it's just recent launched apps (or apps in the background) now. It's in a way good that it goes beyond the last 6. Not that I find that old limit bothering really.
- Where's my task manager? I'm a bit OCD when it comes to ram usage and processes/services. Oh how i missed the Hold home button -> recent app screen with a task manager button -> Kill all task. LOL It's not much but it shows just enough: total ram usage, running apps, processes, and even storage space. Scratch that, it's actually very much.
# Right now I am resort to Auto Memory Manager with a blue fish icon. It's sufficient. But I can't access it anywhere.
4) Misc. stuff that I missed and would like help to find them. Note: these have nothing to do with the launcher.
- I used to have this "Windy Weather" live wall paper (or what i believed it was called). There were some wind turbines running on a grass field. It reflects the current weather. I scour the store and I couldn't find anything remotely like that besides having to go back to the GO family or you have to pay. I know it's not recommended but I tried titanium back up to restore it from my old system - no luck.
- Ap news widget. The widget was 2x4. It does not refreshes on its own and only do so with a tiny refresh button on the bottom right corner. It cycles through headlines with pictures that fully stretches the whole 2x4 window (beautifully). Can't find it in the store.
- Pinch on the home screen zooms out and gives you a quick view of all 7(now 5, but I can live with that) pages of home screen.
- That's all for now. I think I am still missing a few things I wanted to mention but I forgot what they are at the moment
anyway, sorry about some of the ranting. Here are some features i like:
+ File Manager is awesome.
+ Camera is great as well. And I love the quick browse gallery. It's weird that the actual gallery don't even have to pinch function while they put it here.
+ The pull down menu is clean. I kinda missed the "auto-rotation" quick set. But it's minor. I usually don't allow auto rotation anyway. I also like the setting button in there. But I used it so much I have to put a short cut on the home screen anyway.
+ The animation when you turn off the screen is COOL
+ The lock screen which gives you direct access to the camera is very convenient as well.
There is no sammy like app with swipe unfortunately.(edit :didnt know ex dialer has it sry_
Try apex launcher,nova launcher,adw ex launcher(i prefer this at the moment,pletora of settings)
autorotation ,play with toggle settings in system settings menu.
Don't bother with ram,free ram is wasted ram.
That windmill wallpaper i think go has something similar to it but i dont use it as it is a huge battery hogger .I just use a plain wallpaper.
I suggest u stay playing a bit with the lockscreen/system settings
Hi, i use ex dialer and it have slide right to call and slide left to sms.
Cheers!
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app
For dialer I recommend Dialer Ex from Play. I also missed the swipe to call & message function from Sammy roms. This app does it(it also has other great features like theme support etc.!)
Sent from my premium potato
1) ExDialer. You will never look back. You can customize it to your taste and it has the features you ask.
2) You need to use another launcher for that, but in my case I got accustomed to search for apps instead of looking for icons. It's easier and can be done from everywhere in your launcher if you click and hold the Menu key. You can also have folders in the Home screen, that's also a nice way to organize. Why I ended doing this? Because other launchers have too many options.
3) You shouldn't care about running apps. You can kill them by pressing Menu key on the Home and selecting manage apps. There, in "Running" you have the apps that are currently working on the background, the memory they use and you can eventually kill them. I'm against that unless you have an issue with an app (like Media Scanner going rogue).
4) GO Weather. You can download it from the web if it's not on the store and side-load it. But I have it available. I can't help you with the news widget as I never found one useful enough to my usage patterns. I don't think the default launcher can show you all Home screens at once.
Thanks for all the help guys. You are quick to reply : )
android manages ram efficiently u dont need to free ram if u still want to have a kill apps button on recent apps its part of aokp and if u want to have it on cm10 try pacman rom