noob question about widgets - Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

so being new to android, i find this weird lol. so widgets are only available for apps that you have correct? and you can place either widgets or the app icon on the home screens?
also how do i resize widgets? i've pressed and held on the widget and the only options available are to drag somewhere else.

Pretty much. Note that some widgets are not resizable.

Solutions Etcetera said:
Pretty much. Note that some widgets are not resizable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unless you use a third-party launcher such as Nova and Apex that allows you to resize widgets that are normally not re sizable.

Being able to resize a widget depends upon if that function was added by the developer. Most of the widgets supplied with Android Pro Widgets (paid version not sure about free) are resizeable by long pressing them.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rdr.widgets.core

Not all apps have a widget, and keep in mind that some widgets use more battery based on how often they sync

Related

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

Twitter and facebook feed widgets

I'm lookimgs fo widgets that are simlar to launcher pro widgets any one have any ideas
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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

[Q] Using Xperia-Widgets when using other launchers?

After installing ADW Launcher EX, i noticed that the Music-Widget, Timescape Widget, and the Picture & Video Widget don't show up in the widget list.
Is there a way to use these widgets within ADW Launcher?
I tried many other widgets from all over the markets, but couldnt find good alternatives for Music and Picture-widgets.
Montechristo1979 said:
After installing ADW Launcher EX, i noticed that the Music-Widget, Timescape Widget, and the Picture & Video Widget don't show up in the widget list.
Is there a way to use these widgets within ADW Launcher?
I tried many other widgets from all over the markets, but couldnt find good alternatives for Music and Picture-widgets.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They only work with the Sony home launcher. The widgets depends on something in the launcher. It's the same on htc phones some widgets only work with the native launcher as they depends on the sense overlay of the UI wich is only there in the native lancerer. All 3rd party launchers depends only on the android fw and therefore does not support the different overlays of UI's done by the different company's afaik.
Regards Dousan...
This sucks These widgets are great, but i want my launcher to be more flexible and customizable, so i installed ADW....
So i think i have to search again for some alternatives
Montechristo1979 said:
This sucks These widgets are great, but i want my launcher to be more flexible and customizable, so i installed ADW....
So i think i have to search again for some alternatives
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Poweramp has the best music widget i dont use a picture one though
Sent from my R800i using Tapatalk
I already tried out nearly all music-apps/widgets, but there is no widget having the feature(s) i want. It's especially the progress-bar when playing a song and showing how long the song is.
I was wondering this as well, Sucks that you can't get the widget. I was using Winamp for a while, that worked well and has wireless sync with my PC. Only problem is that when using the bluetooth headphones (mw600) the controls always open the default music player.
Dousan said:
They only work with the Sony home launcher. The widgets depends on something in the launcher. It's the same on htc phones some widgets only work with the native launcher as they depends on the sense overlay of the UI wich is only there in the native lancerer. All 3rd party launchers depends only on the android fw and therefore does not support the different overlays of UI's done by the different company's afaik.
Regards Dousan...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah, they require the SE Framework, and as such won't work with other home launchers!
You could try MIUI music player. Search in the generel android themes and app section.
Regards Dousan...
I tried it, but it doesnt have this feature.

Launchers

Is there anyway app/way to back up home launchers (adw, go, lp) screens and switc,h them from launcher to launcher? I tried backing up from one launcher and restorin with another (renaming and putting them in the correct directories) but that doesn't work. Othr than replacing all my icons and widgets, is there a way to backup and restore from launcher to launcher?
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
Not sure what you mean about backup/restore. Many launchers include a backup option. If you are worried about a launcher loosing its settings when you switch to a different one, then don't. As long as you don't go into applications and clear the launcher's data it should retain everything fine. Otherwise just use your favorite backup app (MyBackup Root, Titanium, etc).
As for easily switching them, checkout Home Switcher.
Edit:
Nvm - I get it now. No, none that I know of - they are all different as far as source goes, so I'm guessing you're out of luck.
yeah i dont think this is possible dude.
Home Switcher
Alright...I was jw because it was bugging me. Maybe someone can develop a app of some sort, but untl then o well.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
You can, if you were able to find the actual apk's you could throw them in the backup folder if you ever use sdxappremover, then you could always restore from there, but these files go into system not data, but I havnt seen this being a problem since they all still get updated from what I've seen...
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If I'm reading what you're asking correctly you want to be able to back up your GoLauncher settings for example and then switch those settings to your ADW launcher? That wouldnt work because several things for the launchers are specific to them. Go themes for example that will not work on ADW or LP icons that wont work with Zeam etc... But check out CrazyHome. You can theme 3 different 5 screen desktops basically all different.
I could care less about the settings, I just want to be able to have all the icons and widgets. Lets say I have a music widget and a facebook icon in adw (main launcher) I want to be able to transfer the widget and shortcut to a different launcher (say go launcher) without doing it by hand. Having 7 home screens full of icons and widgets is not easy to switch over to a different launcher.
ugothakd said:
I could care less about the settings, I just want to be able to have all the icons and widgets. Lets say I have a music widget and a facebook icon in adw (main launcher) I want to be able to transfer the widget and shortcut to a different launcher (say go launcher) without doing it by hand. Having 7 home screens full of icons and widgets is not easy to switch over to a different launcher.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the only possible way that I can think of (if you regularly switch between launchers) is to set one up, then switch to another, set it up, then switch.. lather rinse, repeat..
once set up, it will remain the same as long as it's installed on your phone.
There's no way to (easily) save a configuration setup/style/whatever and have it transfer seamlessly from one launcher to another that I'm aware of.
Yep, I get it and no it cant be done. (And I doubt someone ever could do it in the future for the reasons MikeyLee mentioned.) I totally agree it would be nice though...
Ok, thanks for all the help. I was going to try to check out some different launchers but I can't switch all the home screens by hand.

[Q] iphone like Launcher for Color Nook

Sorry if this is posted in the wrong area.
I am looking for a launcher that just displays a list of all the applications installed on the NC. I have tried all the usual suspects (LauncherPro, ADW, Zeam, Go Launcher etc) but they all go the desktop first and then you need to open the app drawer to access the shortcuts. I could add shortcuts to the desktop but it does not seem to be a good use of time when the shortcuts to all apps are already there.
It would be nice if the launcher had a dock of favorite apps but not necessary. It would be even nicer if press the Home (N) button in the launcher displayed a list of running programs.
In summary, the launcher should work like the Home screen on iOS.
Any suggestions? Be nice now ;-)
Thanks
Have you tried the MIUI roms yet? They are basically designed to look like the iPhone design. If your just wanting a different home replacement then I always liked the Zeam Launcher because you could add like 4-5 shortcuts to the dock bar...hopefully this helps..
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Thanks for the suggestion
I don't really want to try a non-standard ROM at the moment. I did try some of the MIUI themes for ADW and other launchers but all the themes really do is change the icons. That is, the functionality of the launcher does not change. The default screen for the launcher is the desktop and you have to add shortcuts to the desktop.
I might try loading a MIUI ROM on a bootable SD card and see how that works.
Thanks again
ugrxda said:
Sorry if this is posted in the wrong area.
I am looking for a launcher that just displays a list of all the applications installed on the NC. I have tried all the usual suspects (LauncherPro, ADW, Zeam, Go Launcher etc) but they all go the desktop first and then you need to open the app drawer to access the shortcuts. I could add shortcuts to the desktop but it does not seem to be a good use of time when the shortcuts to all apps are already there.
It would be nice if the launcher had a dock of favorite apps but not necessary. It would be even nicer if press the Home (N) button in the launcher displayed a list of running programs.
In summary, the launcher should work like the Home screen on iOS.
Any suggestions? Be nice now ;-)
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't tried it...possibly get a key remapper. I think one of the launchers has one for the home key...see if this will work...

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