Ok, so I'm trying to find a decent launcher for the HDX. I'm going to chronicle my struggle with this great launcher deficit. I do realize there is a "Working Launcher Thread", but it's rather strewn about and disorganized. I would like to make my first contribution to this forum a comprehensive Launcher list, with a quick n' dirty prognosis of each item.
Kindle Fire HDX 7"
Stock ROM Version 13.3.2.4
Rooted with Towelroot
OTA Updates Disabled
I was just going to flash a new ROM, but I was not able to boot into any ROM Manager. If anyone could point me in the direction of a good ROM and ROM Manager that works with the KFHDX7, I'd be highly appreciative. Now, I digress.
Key:
Glitchy and/or Sucky
Mediocre
Awesomesauce
Tested the following launchers:
Otter(aka stock "Home"): Obviously, this one sucks the proverbial balls. No customizability, no widgets. My whole motivation for rooting.
Next Launcher 3D 3.10: Looked pretty, but unfortunately too glitchy.
GO Launcher HD: Stable thus far. Somewhat busy. GO Widgets work, if you have Google Play.
KitKat Launcher 1.14: Stable, minimalist design. Surprisingly, did use slightly more RAM than relatively cluttered GO Launcher(without Widgets activated)
Holo Launcher HD 2.0.4: Worked great until I rebooted. Sent my device into epileptic crisis.
Galaxy/Touchwiz Beta v5: Always in landscape mode, would not react to moving device to portrait mode.
GEL/Google Now: Widget support! However, I did need the Xposed Framework and GEL Settings app to make things work properly.
Unfortunately, NONE of the launchers had native widget support. They would simply crash when trying to add a launcher to the homescreen. I'm guessing this has something to do with the KFHDX OS itself. The exception to this was GO Launcher, which had working GO Widgets. To be honest, I wasn't overly impressed by the GO Widgets.
Also, another common theme was issues with the screen orientation.Several launchers had problems with device orientation. When in landscape mode with Next, you could not move icons around. The screen would invert, and you would 'drop' the icon. When in portrait mode, the persistent launcher frame with the Home/Back/Apps/Search button would cause the Next launcher bar to overlap some of the icons on the screen, thereby rendering them inaccessible. The same thing happened with KitKat as far as being unable to move icons around when in landscape mode. However, there was no issue with overlapping elements, so this was less of a deal-breaker.
I use Nova on mine. Everything works great widgets and all.
I'm using the everythingme launcher. Its my new favorite.
Sent from my KFAPWI using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Everything me crashed on me every time
Nova prime and Apex both working perfectly. Widget support, wallpapers etc
I installed KK Launcher from the Play Store. Once downloaded you can all install the KK Locker which will replace your Amazon lockscreen with KitKat style one. In the settings of KK Locker choose the disable default lockscreen option and it will take you to the amazon lockscreen options, then back out of it. Reboot device. The amazon lockscreen will appear for a few seconds, then disappear. From then on, the KK Locker screen always appears, no double lockscreen. If you download Android L Wallpapers by AKWS, you can use it to change wallpapers. You can also change the keyboard by installing keyboard of your choice and then finding it under keyboard languages. I installed Android L keyboard from the Play Store and found it under languages as "English (United States)" and checked it. There is another option with same name already checked and that was the Amazon Keyboard, which I unchecked. Then selected the checked keyboard under default and voila. Now my Fire HDX looks like an AOSP Android L (except when entering settings).
BTW - If you go to the app drawer within the launch and select manage apps, it will open the Amazon app manager, but you will lose your onscreen buttons at the bottom of the screen. I did this while typing this post ... still trying to get them back Maybe I can figure out how to load the AOSP buttons in their place:fingers-crossed:
KK Launcher : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kk.launcher&hl=en
KK Locker : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kk.locker&hl=en
Android L Wallpapers : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=alexanderkazmin.androidlwallpapers&hl=en
Android L Keyboard : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.e.android.softkeyboard&hl=en
First a preamble....
I am thinking this might be better placed in the themes and apps section, but I am not sure.
If you have read all of the posts about bricking, you would know that flashing a replacement Rom is both dangerous and bound to fail because we do not have an unlocked boot loader yet.
Be careful with implementation, but if you want to experiment with alternate roms, head over to the developer section, read everything about Dagestan for your particular device, and then have a it. Be sure the first thing you do is back up your current Rom. Then make a new slot, and only make changes on new slots.
Okay with that our of the way...
As others have stated, I use Nova. It is quite nice.
For those of you who have issues with typical Android things like wallpapers and widgets, Amazon left out some apps that run those services. Some launchers do not need those services to implement those things. Most do.
You can install those services safely (without locking up your device) by using Kindle Free. It is an app that is in the play store. I just used the free one.
I was happy to discover that even Amazon Native apps come with widgets that can be used once the fix is applied.
I am on the OEM Rom, rooted.
Good luck. Sorry if this comes across as pejorative, but a lot of people are bricking their devices and I would hate for that
T to happen to anyone else.
Apex works well for me. Love that you can resize widgets. Wallpapers work well. That being said, there is the occasional glitch that is fixed with a reboot.
rootnooby said:
Apex works well for me. Love that you can resize widgets. Wallpapers work well. That being said, there is the occasional glitch that is fixed with a reboot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Amazon Kindle doesn't open when I use Apex. Haven't tried other launchers but expect the same thing to occur. Does anyone have any ideas on how to fix that?
Thanks
Related
After my really bad first impressions with my new GT 7.7 (read here), I made some settings, that makes this thing usable - if not a pleasure to use!! The Tab has no issues with speed within the apps, but the UI (launcher) is a real pain (I hope it gets fixed with ICS). So I thought, what makes it slow and what can I do about it? Other launchers (like ADW) are not optimized for, well, "beauty" (imho) and personally I like the look and feel of the stock launcher.
Here is how I "fixed" it:
The widgets: I removed nearly all of them and only left the icons and the weather widget from BeautifulWidgets (you can get it free (!) from getjar.com).
Live wallpaper: obviously this does not have any benefit and slows down scrolling the homescreen - normally. I tend to just use a picture wallpaper, but I found a really cool clock/date LWP that even "speeds up" the scrolling! Sounds funny, but it really has no effect on the scrolling speed of the homescreen and everything feels smooth. See the screenshots - it's nice to look at. It's called Super Clock Wallpaper by Mariux (I've attached the wallpaper too, if you like it)
Scrolling in general: like I said, TW is slow and stutters a lot. Easiest way to fix it is not to scroll! Android is cool and allows a lot of icons on the screen or to make folders. You don't have to scroll umpteen pages to get to your app. I created folders within the app drawer (see screenshot) to organize it and don't have to scroll. It's more efficient and convenient too - imo.
These settings don't fix the lagginess of TW itself, but now it's not annoying anymore and I finally start to love using my Tab!
Here is what I did to nearly "destroy" my new Tab...
I rooted my device and edited the build.prop to be able to install and try more apps. Obviously I'm very bad in this because I messed it up and my Tab couldn't boot anymore...
I used "Root Explorer" to edit the file which luckily made a backup of it. I thought I could just use adb to rename the files but I always got "permission denied" when trying su in adb shell to get root permissions and be able to rename the files on system partition. Afaik, the kernel has to support it, but the stock kernel doesn't and there are no custom kernels out there for now.
Solution: after fiddling for hours and trying all possible solutions I found on internet, I just flashed the ClockworkMod Recovery, went to "mounts and storage" menu and selected "unmount /system". After trying "adb shell" again on my computer, I finally got root permissions in shell and was able to use "mv OldFilename NewFilename" to rename the files. Pfuh...
Of course you can flash a new ROM to revive it, but everything gets lost then.
not sure about this getjar,why do you have to download to the device?
I like your live wallpaper though, using that
getjar is an alternate market, like amazon appstore. each week you get a full version of a game or app for free – legally!
You have to sideload the apps with this market.
Add the following to your build.prop and Android will try to keep the homescreens in RAM which results in much quicker response when returning to the homescreen.
ro.HOME_APP_ADJ=0
Sent from my GT-P6800 using XDA App
Great hint - thanks! Will try it!
I'm running Go Launcher EX instead of TW Launcher. I also briefly tried ADW but Go seems faster. Widgets slow things down whichever launcher you use...
I've also used Titanium to freeze some usual hogs like Social Hub. It's only day two so still experimenting.
Just use ADW Launcher EX and the tab will fly.
Also freeze everything you don't use.
I've modified the LCD desity to 170 via "build.prop" file, the only downside is that the Dialer is distorted and you've to use it in landscape mode to be usable, and the mini dialer FCs.
use ADW EX and dump the stupid TW launcher.
I know ADW is faster as I bought it. But I don't like the design of it and feel is not the same as on stock launcher. Go Launcher is no beauty also and more designed for phones, not tablets...
For me, design is important to have fun using the product. That's what it's about: fun. Who really needs a tablet anyway? Of course it makes no sense if it doesn't work. But with the settings I made it's useable without annoying me until ICS hopefully fixes this thing.
So how do you sideload apps? I'm trying to install the beautiful widgets?
I've managed to install but it has a black border around the widgets, it doesn't blend into the wallpaper like yours! How did you manage that?
EDIT: Searched for .apk file and transferred it to the tablet via USB, installed from the tablet but had the non-market installation box cheked.
Played around with the options until I found the background transparency options, happy.
I've been having problems for a while now, but the issue is that all the apps and widgets disappear from my home screen. It happens when I go to my screen with my email, browser, and calendar widgets on it. If I try to swipe to another screen, the widgets stay where they are and flash, but nothing from the next screen appears. The problem persists when I lock and unlock the tablet. If I rotate the screen, the apps and widgets go away, but my wallpaper remains. I can still press the buttons on the status bar and switch to different apps, but can't open new ones unless I open acer ring and search for them, or open them through settings. I did a bit of poking around and all I've determined the issue is a result of the Launcher crashing. If I do a force stop in settings and then return home, everything is back to normal, unless I go to the page with the widgets on it then i'm screwed again.
Any help?
Running RE-FLEXxx Rev 4 and V8 BL, but I noticed problems after updating to the ICS bootloader.
Have you tried other launchers? Nova is a good option. I use GoLauncherHD for tabs. Try a different launcher and see if it makes a difference.
Went with GoLauncher. I tried it a while ago and liked it, but reverted once I started using more roms. Seems to be working well so far, but I'd still like to know what the original issue was. Or a solution.
Welcome to the club.
Well, you're not the only one. It seems to be an issue with the ICS bootloader (Any flavor. Modified or stock.). If it gets too annoying you can remove scrollable widgets like the gmail and browser widget from your home and that will help. It's quite rare from what I understand. Not many people are having the problem besides a few of us. I think the solution will have to come from Acer... if it comes at all. What would be nice is if there was a searchable term for this. It really needs an acronym... SOF (screen of flashiness) maybe??? Anybody?
Problem persists with go launcher, although the flashiness is much more... interesting. Is FOD taken? Gotta have death in there somewhere.
I like "LOD"... Launcher of Death.
Welcome to third party launchers for tablets
Do you have any idea where the issue is? Is it in the launcher, or is it just the one that gets screwed up? And how does the boot loader effect the way it runs?
That's a very good question. How the hell can a bootloader affect a rom? I've read in several places that the trebuchet launcher had the bug...but since you're saying it happened on GoLauncher, then that throws that out the window. I'm running the JB rom and it works great. It's my DD now. Some games don't work, but who cares...lol.
Is there an easy way to make an widget that will force stop launcher? That'd be less annoying than opening settings and doing the whole process there.
Haha just realized when the launcher doesn't work, a widget is useless...
I wish that I had answers. Here is what I know about this. Launchers don't matter much. Every rom that I've tried when used with an ICS bootloader does this regardless of launcher. Every rom that uses the HC bootloader does not. Even the Flexreaper versions of ICS on the HC bootloader do not have this. It is very likely that I am just missing something more practical and am off base by pointing at the bootloader. But so far it has been the only switch that has worked for me. It does seem like 3d apps and advanced rendered widgets are part of the blame. I took a few logcats when this happened. I think I see where the errors happen, but I don't know enough to say for sure, let alone try to fix whatever it is.
My Gmail app does a similar flashing thing then crashes, but launcher still works. Play Music will also go blank/black. Anyone else having this problem or know if they're related?
(I know, 2012.... but nobody posted a solution and I found it.)
Solution was pretty simple. Go to Launcher in App settings, and wipe stored data,. You will lose some setup stuff but in least it won't crash anymore.
If like me, you dislike the look and feel of Touchwiz ... it is possible to replace at least the launcher portion of it with Google Launcher. This will make the Note look cosmetically similar to a Nexus device. The remainder of the Touchwiz interface will remain unaffected.
For those of us on JB 4.3
Download the zip file from this post (credits @geoworld_200)
Extract the 3 apks but copy only GoogleHome.apk to external storage
Install (requiring temporary disabling of the "unknown source" security block)
Run the app and it will invite use of GoogleNow which you can either accept or decline
Press the physical "Home" button and you can now chose to use the Google Launcher instead of Touchwiz
I've tried this on my (rooted and custom ROM) P605 and it works just fine with no FC or issues so far. But, per usual, YMMV. And it obviously won't get updates via Play.
Presumably the same could be achieved for KK using the more recent version of the apk found here. But I haven't tested it yet pending a 4.4 ROM release ...
rickinoz said:
If like me, you dislike the look and feel of Touchwiz ... it is possible to replace at least the launcher portion of it with Google Launcher. This will make the Note look cosmetically similar to a Nexus device. The remainder of the Touchwiz interface will remain unaffected.
For those of us on JB 4.3
Download the zip file from this post (credits @geoworld_200)
Extract the 3 apks but copy only GoogleHome.apk to external storage
Install (requiring temporary disabling of the "unknown source" security block)
Run the app and it will invite use of GoogleNow which you can either accept or decline
Press the physical "Home" button and you can now chose to use the Google Launcher instead of Touchwiz
I've tried this on my (rooted and custom ROM) P605 and it works just fine with no FC or issues so far. But, per usual, YMMV. And it obviously won't get updates via Play.
Presumably the same could be achieved for KK using the more recent version of the apk found here. But I haven't tested it yet pending a 4.4 ROM release ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or just use Apex or Nova - which will be updated in Google Play? My personal preference is Apex, and I also use the LG Lock Screen app on the Play Store too.
I'm rooted, so have removed TW Launcher via Titanium completely.
YmmV
I own NOVA launcher on GS3 and tried on P600 but I prefer Touchwiz ability to show unread FB notification count directly on icon. I didn`t find any replacement with similar feature.
kornelius1982 said:
I own NOVA launcher on GS3 and tried on P600 but I prefer Touchwiz ability to show unread FB notification count directly on icon. I didn`t find any replacement with similar feature.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just place the FB widget on the home screen, and resize to 1x1. Does the same thing. Then you can escape the lag that TW gives.
cdinoz said:
Just place the FB widget on the home screen, and resize to 1x1. Does the same thing. Then you can escape the lag that TW gives.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the solution, I`ll give it a try later, but to be honest, Touchwiz on KK isn`t as laggy as older one, at least I for me.
p.s. I just tried on GS3 but when I try to resize I get white little widget without any info on it.
I was excited about trying the Google Experience Launcher because it would respond to "OK Google" on any launcher screen.
However, I was extremely disappointed with the lack of ability to configure the launcher. No, that's too general. There's absolutely no configuration options at all.
One of the things I don't like about the TouchWiz and Google Launcher is that there's no way to control the number of rows/columns and the spacing between them. I use Apex where I can get a lot more rows and columns on the page. And I can control the spacing so I can get icons right up to the edge of the screen. In addition I can reduce the size of the icons for a better look.
It's not like I want to fill the screen with icons, on the contrary, I like to have the icons near the edges and out of the way so I can better see the wallpaper. The TouchWiz and Google launchers are pretty much an iPad launcher. No flexibility and no configurations.
Hi All,
I have a couple of Nexus Players and all work just great. My friend just bought one, and all is good except one issue - long pressing the Select button on Home screen does not activate the Rearrange mode, to move icons around.
Seems like the remote is OK, because when we used it in Kodi, it recognized long press and popped-up the context menu. But I could be mistaken here.
Updated to latest, non-rooted.
Any ideas?
Thanks!
Does he have the current version of the Leanback Launcher (1.1.5.2775444) installed? The details can be be checked from Settings >> Apps >> System apps >> Leanback Launcher. If not, have him check Google Play >> My Apps for updates.
Thanks, although everything was updated will check anyway.
As far as I know, you can't rearrange anything unless you are rooted and running a custom rom, but I am not 100% on this. I remember I was trying to do the same thing awhile back when I got my Nexus player, but even with custom rom the rearrangement options are limited. I ended up using a different launcher Top TV Launcher to have more control and not the excess bloat from the Leanback launcher.
Rearranging is for sure possible, and it's a well-documented feature (long-press/move icons/hit save&exit/done). I have it working fine on two of my players, NOT having it is a problem, which I am trying to solve.
And, after a long-while, an answer - it works indeed, IF the Android TV Launcher is updated to the latest version! Somehow on this player it was not updated, and it was not showing up in the list of My Apps, I found it by accident, searching for "Launcher" in the Google Play store!
Hi,
In every other android based phone I've owned I've always had an option to hide apps I don't use allot so you just drag an app up to the top and there are usually two options: Uninstall and Remove which places it in a vault for safe keeping. This doesn't seep to be present on this phone and I HATE cluttered desktops so I'm a bit bummed about this so I thought I'd reach out and see if I'm not figuring this out.
I am now aware of the right swipe that brings me to some other settings but there is no app vault there for hiding apps I don't use.
Also is there a way to uninstall allot of the bloat ware this phone came with? I use Google apps for most of my needs and Opera as my main browser so having these other apps on board isn't much to my liking and again without a vault of some kind to take them off of hte desktop...... no fun!
I do know about the combining apps into "folders" and renaming them but I'd just like the apps GONE that I don't and never will use.
Thanks for any help you can provide.
You could just download another launcher with the option to vault apps and about the bloatware you can follow this tutorial right here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/redmi-note-7/how-to/remove-redmi-note-7-bloatware-root-t3925049
Can you recommend a launcher that's stable and good? I've tried a few on my tablets but ended up going back to the default as they were mostly unstable... I'm sure it's going to be different on a phone but it was a bit disheartening to try about 4 launchers on my Lenovo tablet and just didn't like them at all.
Thanks for the quick reply!
Nova Launcher is pretty good
Give a try to poco launcher.
Very stable.
I use Evie Launcher, lightweight amd simple to use
RAMWolff said:
Can you recommend a launcher that's stable and good? I've tried a few on my tablets but ended up going back to the default as they were mostly unstable... I'm sure it's going to be different on a phone but it was a bit disheartening to try about 4 launchers on my Lenovo tablet and just didn't like them at all.
Thanks for the quick reply!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can try CPL (Customized Pixel Launcher) from playstore. I guess CPL is the best in term of stability, optimizations and LOTs of customization, you wont find in any launcher IMO
No need for Nova launcher or Poco ,new system launcher alfa version ,have new options , swipe up to app drawer..
Hmmm, but if there is an App Drawer in a newer version of the launcher that ships with this phone I wasn't aware of that but the main thing for me, besides the drawer or vault or what ever it's called (too many strange labels to understand what I'm trying to say ) I really need that bit when I'm dragging up to allow me to remove the app from the desktop. In the default there is that weird option that seems to replace the "remove" option.... called "Dual apps" which I have NO IDEA what that's all about and really don't care.
I'm using Poco and it's nice enough. I love the dark theme option but one thing I am missing is when one gets new phone calls or texts the icons in the lower bar area usually changes to indicate how many there are waiting. With the Poco set up there doesn't seem to be any indicators like that... or perhaps it's because I changed the icon set out?? Not sure what's caused that to stop working.... Weird.
Thanks for all the suggestions good people!