Database Users

[Q] Sorting the app drawer

Dear all,
How can I sort the apps in App drawer? I searched the forums for the ones related to Jelly bean, found this one: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1881712 , but Nexus 4 has a different UI than Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1; on the top right in app drawer I see the app store icon. The user manual provided by LG is also of not much help. I hope I don't need a specific launcher to do just this. I have used Sony Xperia series before and it gives several sorting option of apps in app drawer, specially: "sorting by recently installed" is a very useful one. I hope I could do the same here.
Best regards.

waqarz said:
Dear all,
How can I sort the apps in App drawer? I searched the forums for the ones related to Jelly bean, found this one: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1881712 , but Nexus 4 has a different UI than Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1; on the top right in app drawer I see the app store icon. The user manual provided by LG is also of not much help. I hope I don't need a specific launcher to do just this. I have used Sony Xperia series before and it gives several sorting option of apps in app drawer, specially: "sorting by recently installed" is a very useful one. I hope I could do the same here.
Best regards.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have to use a third party launcher for this feature. Stock android launcher is pretty basic.
You can probably even grab the stock Samsung Launcher or stock Sony launcher pretty easy. All OEM's do is remove the android launcher and replace it with their own anyways.

elliot.newnham said:
You have to use a third party launcher for this feature. Stock android launcher is pretty basic.
You can probably even grab the stock Samsung Launcher or stock Sony launcher pretty easy. All OEM's do is remove the android launcher and replace it with their own anyways.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks elliot, I am intending to try Nova or Go launcher, I hope one of them has this feature! I couldn't find it so far for Nova launcher though.

Nova launcher prime has it :d
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

Nova launcher is the way to go! I've tried apex launcher too (not on this though), but nova kicks ass!
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium

Anything like Go Locker?

Is there other apps like it? Widgetlocker is so old and outdated that the stock lockscreen works better then it. I just mainly want something I can customize and use as a lock screen.

MagicLocker.
How about MagicLocker? It's pretty easy to use and works well. I tried Go Locker, Stock, even Widgetlocker, but I always come back to ML. I use it on my S3 & Nexus 7. Very happy

Play store pulls a not compatible with this version, I'll search for the apk.
The version i got is rather laggy..
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD

Eagle1337 said:
Play store pulls a not compatible with this version, I'll search for the apk.
The version i got is rather laggy..
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you changed your DPI? All of the apps mentioned in this thread show as compatible when I check the Play Store.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD

Eagle1337 said:
Is there other apps like it? Widgetlocker is so old and outdated that the stock lockscreen works better then it. I just mainly want something I can customize and use as a lock screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, widgetlocker gave me a very nice, jelly bean lock screen back when I was on stock. It has been updated. You just need to remove those gross froyo sliders
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app

najaboy said:
Have you changed your DPI? All of the apps mentioned in this thread show as compatible when I check the Play Store.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
180 dpi, with the play store set to 213 dpi in jellybeer.
Censura_Umbra said:
Actually, widgetlocker gave me a very nice, jelly bean lock screen back when I was on stock. It has been updated. You just need to remove those gross froyo sliders
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It doesn't rotate nicely like the stock launcher is another thing that always bugs me..

Getting The S4 As Close To Stock As Possible

I'm trying to make my S4 as close as possible to stock without rooting.
What I've Done:
I installed Nova Launcher and told it to use Jelly Bean Stock Icons.
I replaced the lock screen with holo locker.
Finally, I installed the Google Keyboard.
What Needs To Be Addressed (in order of importance):
Notification Panel
Phone App
Contacts
Settings Screen
Camera App
Gallery App
Out of the list that needs to be addressed, do any of them have a "Close To Stock" option out there?

There are some apps on the playstore if you search for ex. "camera jb", but most of them are not free .
Skickat från min HTC Sensation Z710e via Tapatalk 2

MSmithXDA said:
I'm trying to make my S4 as close as possible to stock without rooting.
What I've Done:
I installed Nova Launcher and told it to use Jelly Bean Stock Icons.
I replaced the lock screen with holo locker.
Finally, I installed the Google Keyboard.
What Needs To Be Addressed (in order of importance):
Notification Panel
Phone App
Contacts
Settings Screen
Camera App
Gallery App
Out of the list that needs to be addressed, do any of them have a "Close To Stock" option out there?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wait for June 26th and install the stock non-rooted google image on your s4 (if i9505)

Hackerlacka said:
There are some apps on the playstore if you search for ex. "camera jb", but most of them are not free .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been trying to find them, but haven't been too successful...especially when it comes to trying to find something that looks like Stock. I can't find any notification apps for example. Is the notification window not something an app can replace? I don't mind paying, but I just can't find them.

The only way to get is as close to stock as possible is to install vanilla.

Aerys said:
Wait for June 26th and install the stock non-rooted google image on your s4 (if i9505)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm wondering how that's going to work out. So many unanswered questions. Will Google release the image right away or wait months? Will it just work for all S4's and be stable and fully functional? Or will it require devs to tinker with it to make it work for a Non-Google-Edition-S4's, and in the mean time users have smalls bugs to deal with as the devs make it more stable...like AOSP?
Time will tell. But...again, that will require rooting and this is a work phone.

Theshawty said:
The only way to get is as close to stock as possible is to install vanilla.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then I should rephrase: "Closer" to Stock than how I've got it

Ex dialer, with holo jb theme will get you the dialer and contacts app
Sent from my GT-I9305 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

MSmithXDA said:
Then I should rephrase: "Closer" to Stock than how I've got it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Let's see what we're dealing with here.
Notification Panel - Maybe something here?
Phone App - Swipe dialer (free) Swipe dialer (paid)
Contacts - See the dialer
Settings Screen - Not possible. Themed maybe, but that's all you're gonna get.
Camera App - JB Camera+
Gallery App - Quickpic

MSmithXDA said:
I've been trying to find them, but haven't been too successful...especially when it comes to trying to find something that looks like Stock. I can't find any notification apps for example. Is the notification window not something an app can replace? I don't mind paying, but I just can't find them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Search for Moblynx and you will find some good jb apps .
Skickat från min GT-I9505 med Tapatalk 4 Beta

One word: Vertumus

Install the stock camera and gallery app from the Google Edition SGS4 (it's just a single apk that needs to be installed and you get both apps).
Skickat från min GT-I9505 med Tapatalk 4 Beta

Best apps for using themes on Nexus 5

I find AOSP plain and boring so i try new homscreen replacement now and then and have compiled a list of top 5 android homescreen replacements and they are
1] Next launcher
2] Go launcher
3] themer
4] Buzz launcher
5] Nova launcher
here is the blog post i wrote about it Top 5 android theming apps

Wergin said:
Good apps thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
welcome

Also Apex Launcher (similar to Nova but some slight differences).
I tend to use either Nova or Apex (currently Nova since they were the first to add in KitKat's transparent status bar) but Themer is on track to be very cool for people who want something a little less like an extended version of the stock launcher. It's still in beta but it's from the folks at mycolorscreen who have become the best source for custom theming on Android.

My number 1 spot would go to Themer. Liked it from my old phone. Since I'm not that keen on customizing anymore, and I want to have Google Now with just 1 swipe away on my homescreen, I don't use it currently. But from all the launchers I have tried so far, themer is my favorite one. The second place goes to Action Launcher.

Good information sharing..

Where is the Mi Launcher?

And tsf launcher too
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

@hapticc - your page isn't opening mate
about the launchers, my favorite atm is holo launcher...
cos all i need from a launcher is gesture swipes.. up & down for notification & app drawer..
nova & apex have these only in paid version..
i wish GEL would incorporate gestures..
along with access for google now & LMT, that would be perfect

Sliding Explorer
Sliding Explorer have full screen on 4.4:laugh:

solved said:
Where is the Mi Launcher?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doesn't work...
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

I was always a nova user since i had a galaxy nexus. Since getting the nexus 5 though, i discovered more customization tools for themes and widgets, and ive been using Go launcher just because it works with the aesthetic/homescreen setup im currently using.
If nova launcher had a few more tweaks to it like icons not clipping/cropping, id probably go back to using it.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Juansegovia20 said:
And tsf launcher too
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
TSF launcher is great but next launcher has replaced it.
letmedanz said:
@hapticc - your page isn't opening mate
about the launchers, my favorite atm is holo launcher...
cos all i need from a launcher is gesture swipes.. up & down for notification & app drawer..
nova & apex have these only in paid version..
i wish GEL would incorporate gestures..
along with access for google now & LMT, that would be perfect
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fixed the link sorry for inconvenience
aangelsmithh said:
Good information sharing..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanx for positive comments its make me blog more and more

DigitalUnderground said:
Doesn't work...
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
Yeah they updated it to work on their website but the play store version wasn't updated yet. I had a thread on it. The only thing I don't like about it is non transparent nav bar. The notification bar is transparent but not the nav bar. In the broken version it was transparent. Not sure why it was removed unless that's what caused the issues
Sent from my white LG Nexus 5

Custom Launchers, Full Screen or Letterbox?

Has anyone tried using custom launchers like Nova on the Essential? Do they use the full screen or do they letterbox around the camera like apps that haven't been updated tend to?

bump.....this is an excellent question I didnt think of. If someone could try action launcher it would be appreciated!!!

Nova and Action Launcher both are not full screen.

bretrick30 said:
Nova and Action Launcher both are not full screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Neither is the pixel launcher port

graffixnyc said:
Neither is the pixel launcher port
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You just killed any excitement I had for this phone. Nova is an automatic install for me. It may take them several months to update

Yup, nothing is full screen right now. Just the stock Essential launcher which is pretty terrible and has virtually no settings.

Isn't the stock launcher literally Essentials own port of the Pixel launcher?

IM0001 said:
Isn't the stock launcher literally Essentials own port of the Pixel launcher?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Probably fork of launcher3 from aosp
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

slothdabski said:
Probably fork of launcher3 from aosp
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which is the same launcher I am using on my U11 right now instead of Sense.
Love it. Simple, fast, smooth.

worldsoutro said:
You just killed any excitement I had for this phone. Nova is an automatic install for me. It may take them several months to update
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They will fix it in no time..

I'm not too sure it's something that Nova can fix. I just received this email response from them when I inquired about it.
Hello,
This is a bug on their end that we are hoping to have a work around for at some point in the future.
Please contact us using Nova Settings -> Contact Support. This helps us help you better!
Answers to your questions are often found in the FAQ's: https://help.teslacoilapps.com/faq

I have an HTC U11 and own the paid version of the Shortcutter app by LeeDrOiD. I've installed it on my PH1 and it's giving me a few more features such as custom quicksettings tiles and a sidebar. I have enabled his version of night mode which adds some red to the screen. It's gonna have to tide me over until we get root and custom launchers etc. rolling.
Sent from my PH-1 using XDA Labs

Arrow launcher is not full screen either.
Sent from my PH-1 using XDA-Developers Legacy app

what about lawnchair? anyone tried?
I want to increase my grid size to 7 by 5 and stock launcher just has 0 customization!

Did anyone who installed a different launcher have any issues switching back to the stock Essential launcher (Launcher3)? I tried Action Launcher and after seeing that it was not full screen I switched back to Launcher3. However, Launcher3 won't run now - it keeps crashing. I tried uninstalling Action Launcher and rebooting but neither helped. I'm stuck on Action Launcher now because the stock launcher crashes before loading the home screen. Any advice? Anyone have the stock launcher apk?
UPDATE - I got it working again by clearing the cache and data for the app. I just have to set it back up with my preferred apps & widgets again.

What sucks is that the the status bar size is HUGE!! I tried many apps for status bar overlay but doesn't work with custom launcher. Pretty stupid of Essential!

varun.gid said:
What sucks is that the the status bar size is HUGE!! I tried many apps for status bar overlay but doesn't work with custom launcher. Pretty stupid of Essential!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That doesn't have anything to do with essential, the custom launcher developers have to update their launchers to work with essential phone.
Sent from my PH-1 using XDA-Developers Legacy app

I sent an enhancement request to Nova and they responded with the following:
"Essential has made it that only apps that are whitelisted will use the full screen. You would need to contact them directly."
Looks like we all need to be submitting requests to Essential. Seems to be a stupid decision on their part.

tigercranestyle said:
folks of you want to use custom launchers, it takes about 60 seconds to submit a request here:
https://support.essential.com/hc/en-us/requests/new
one thing android has always been better than ios at is customization. with this phone we can't say that. fill out the request, please. include the name of the apps... nova launcher, action, lawnchair, etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. Just submitted asking to whitelist Arrow Launcher.
Sent from my PH-1 using XDA-Developers Legacy app

Ahh the joys of beta testing