[Idea] Fast intuitive launcher - Android Software Development

I have not found any launcher or appdrawer that simly uses folder icons that is suitable (could choose custom) to the group. All/most launchers uses the iPhone app-miniatures-impossible to easily see-folderstyle. Also icons and foldericons are too small. So here is a suggestion.
3*4 big foldericons, e.x. social (phone, messaging, facebook), office (word, excel, etc), media (camera, pictures, musicplayers), tools, games, settings (settings apps, widgetsettings)
When a new app is installed, it is automatically asked in what folder to put it, or if create a new folder for it.
(I only found 3 icons in my example, and not very intuitive suitable icons, soo you have to imagine 3 more rows)

a extra feature: it could open up a cloud of widgets when sliding a foldericon. Example sliding the social icon pops up a circling cloud of facebook stats, tweets, messages, last phonecalls, and contacts. Or it pops up when simply clicking a icon, and further clicking on the widget opens the app.

Sounds good :thumbup:
Thanks don't hurt ya know?
HTC Desire HD (PACMan)
Samsung GNote 10.1 (Stock)
Sony Xperia Z (borrowed, rooted)

Wexler comes to mind...

With some work it could be done kind of, using SSLauncher: Only 2 pages. One page with informative widgets and hidden buttons to start shortcuts. One page with big folders 2*3 grid, when clicked they open folder showing app icons at normal size.
Minimal, non-distracting, fast. Screenshots below.

Sound almost exactly like folder organizer. You can have a scrollable folder on your home page(like the tools one in screen) or have icons like the those in the screen( tools games) when you click on the icon, you get an app drawer with only the apps you specified as that category. It also asks what you want to categorize an app as when you in install it, on a per app basis,
Sent from my GT-P3110 using xda app-developers app

Related

So many home screens?!

SO, I'm a simple iPhone user, aka these 5 home screens and moving backgrounds confuse and fluster the hell out of me. While I try and downloads hoards of apps to put the the phone I still can't quite figure out what the hell to do with 5 home screens, in reality I have only filled one page and even still its only really my phone and weather widget.
Are there any apps / widgets / clocks / keyboards ya'll would say are "required" for the nexus? I really don't know where to look some one should make a suggested app thread.
look forward to hearing your responses.
JG
it all depends on you decorate it to your liking
for me on my main screen i have my
Mainscreen
-flipclock from beautiful widgets
-Most used apps: gallery, aim, maps, camera, gmail, browser and market
Second Screen Left
-Search bar on top
-picture frame of me and my girlfriend in the middle
-A folder for games and a folder for tools on each side of the frame
-and the power control on the button
and then on other screens i have my friendstream(facebook widget), favorite contacts, end all task widget, flashlight widget, music player widget, bookmarks widget, news widget
oh and im using the the desire rom btw but there are equivilant widgets on the market
You don't to have to have live wallpapers, and on the iphone don't you get how many screens you need to compensate for the amount of applications you have installed? So unless you had a minimal amount of applications, wouldn't you have more (or equivalent) than five screens? So how come now it is confusing you?
Ok, back to the matter at hand. Usually I just decorate my home screens with applications that i need, apps that are not used regularly stay in the app wheel thingy (its not really drawer anymore). Really your homescreens will be determined by your needs, and likes. Decorate with the most essential applications that you need, and expand on that by adding widgets and etc. I'm sure others could recommend apps for you, I've been an Android user since the G1 (which isn't long really), but apps just come to mind without hesitation.
On my main screen I have a nice clock and my most used programs. The screen to the right has toggles for various settings. To the right of that is speed dials. To the left of the main screen is weather and news plus a few more program shortcuts and to the left of that is my music player widget.
I only use 3 screens, centre is big clock and most used apps, to the right is a bunch of regularly used apps. to the left is some widgets and speed dials.
I keep the other 2 blank for some reason.
Rock3nrenigade said:
Are there any apps / widgets / clocks / keyboards ya'll would say are "required" for the nexus? I really don't know where to look some one should make a suggested app thread.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For the love of god please use the Search button!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=620092&highlight=apps
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=617667&highlight=apps
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=633104&highlight=apps
+ a dozen other of the same threads
.

Does anyone use the other screens?

I find myself just using the main home screen and putting my icons there, but the other screens don't get used and are blank. If I want an app, I press the dots and flick through the launcher.
Is it just me?
I only use 3 of the screens. main one (centre), the left and right one. Other ones are empty.
3 here, I removed the other two using Helixlauncher2
I'm using all 5 and they are all full heh. I have different themes for each screen with most used apps + clock/weather on the middle screen, social networking widgets on one, utilities on one, fun on another and one with an agenda and some other stuff.
Not really hard to fill those screens up imo, but I guess other people actually use the app-drawer.
I use them all and kind of wish there were more. LOL like the poster above, each page has a specific "theme".
I'm using all 5 and they are all full heh. I have different themes for each screen with most used apps + clock/weather on the middle screen, social networking widgets on one, utilities on one, fun on another and one with an agenda and some other stuff.
Not really hard to fill those screens up imo, but I guess other people actually use the app-drawer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you're screens are set up EXACTLY like I set my Nexus 1 screens up : -). but on my g1 I just use 1 screen
Sent from my HTC Dream G1 using the XDA mobile application powered by Tapatalk
I use Helixlauncher and am using all 7 screens. Although I noticed that with all of the widgets I'm using, there is some lag once in a while, but it's more that it's not as smooth as the stock homescreens really.
I use each screen for different types of task.
My home screen has Calls, SMS, GMail and the Browser icons. First screen to the left has facebook and twitter widgets and the second screen to the left has tool apps like netcounter, task killer, astro file manager and the power widget.
First screen to the right is for media so I have the news widget, music, camera and gallery icons/widgets. The second right screen has apps I want to find quickly like torch, calculator, dictionary and a few games.
Scrolling up and down the app drawer seems like a pain to me
C.Slater said:
I use each screen for different types of task.
My home screen has Calls, SMS, GMail and the Browser icons. First screen to the left has facebook and twitter widgets and the second screen to the left has tool apps like netcounter, task killer, astro file manager and the power widget.
First screen to the right is for media so I have the news widget, music, camera and gallery icons/widgets. The second right screen has apps I want to find quickly like torch, calculator, dictionary and a few games.
Scrolling up and down the app drawer seems like a pain to me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have almost the same layout but with the left and right reversed... might be because i am in a right handed drive country xD
C.Slater said:
I use each screen for different types of task.
My home screen has Calls, SMS, GMail and the Browser icons. First screen to the left has facebook and twitter widgets and the second screen to the left has tool apps like netcounter, task killer, astro file manager and the power widget.
First screen to the right is for media so I have the news widget, music, camera and gallery icons/widgets. The second right screen has apps I want to find quickly like torch, calculator, dictionary and a few games.
Scrolling up and down the app drawer seems like a pain to me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do have the exact same layout!
3 screens, apps to the left, widgets to the right, and calling, text, emails, contacts center. Not ruling out using the far screens but have no need for them with my usage. There is still plenty of room on the inboard 3 for future additions.
3 screens only & using the Helix Launcher
Using 3 main screens loaded with apps & widgets.
all 5, but not all full. home screen has most apps, with phone, contacts, notes, task panel widget, car home, voice, gesture search, sms, settings and spare parts. left 1 is gmail and weather
left 2 is pandora and facebook.
right 1 is some games, system widget (sync, locale, wifi, bt)
right 2 is the calendar pad widget covering whole thing. i need to see whole month.
SBS_ said:
I'm using all 5 and they are all full heh. I have different themes for each screen with most used apps + clock/weather on the middle screen, social networking widgets on one, utilities on one, fun on another and one with an agenda and some other stuff.
Not really hard to fill those screens up imo, but I guess other people actually use the app-drawer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here. I have the calendar widget on my main screen, which takes up four "slots", and my most frequently used apps (mail, phone, camera, Twidroid etc.and a battery widget) One screen to the left I have other frequently used apps, two screens to the left I have the 4square widget. One screen to the right some frequently used widgets (like weather, Google Buzz and networks) ans two screens to the right: games.
I use 5 out of seven on my Desire ROM.
Center is most used apps plus weather clock.
To the right is two rows of apps. right of that is facebook and textsfromlastnight
the left of center is weather, but the expanded widget from sense
to the left of that is sticky notes and some media.

Two quick questions

Is there any pc interface to rearrange a phone's screens?
Is there any app similar to the Blanks app for iphone?
(Create invisible icons to better organiza folders, etc)
You mean just a dummy to fill the spot where you'd like a blank space? I suppose you could make a do-nothing app (immediately returns) and give it a transparent icon. I've never heard of "Blanks" for IPhone. Is that what it does?
Its actually called iBlank, all it does is create a "homescreen" bookmark that opens safari, then opens iblank, then crashes and returns to the homescreen.
Also, do not need to add any blank icons to my vibrant, I can.place the icon anywhere on my device, but perhaps this is just Samsungs Touchwiz at work.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

[Q] MIUI Folder Management

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.

Application Folder Pro for Android for FREE

Application Folder Pro for Android for FREE
http://www.amazon.com/Mobile-Jeong-...1?ie=UTF8&s=mobile-apps&qid=1314632955&sr=1-1
Product Description
Application Folder
Create your folders
Application Folder
A variety of icons
Serious Widgets and Folders for the Serious Android User
Do you have bookmarks, shortcuts, contacts and apps that you use all the time, but they're scattered here, there, and everywhere on your smartphone? How much time do you waste navigating to the things you need? Don't you wish you could just put them all in a folder or two, easily accessible on your home screen?
Application Folder helps make folders accessible from your home screen using instantly recognizable icons. Set up and customize folders, stuff them full of apps, bookmarks, and contacts, and place them as widgets anywhere on your home screen. Now those frequently used apps, bookmarks, and contacts are right there for you to access immediately.
The King of Folders
Let's say you want to be able to e-mail certain contacts quickly. First, access Application Folder through your Widgets menu. Next, create a folder and long-press the standard icon and replace with the e-mail symbol, or any of Application Folder's dozens of attractive icons, such as an airplane, bus, movie reel, pen, paint pallet, etc. Now choose the contacts you want to be in this new folder. Select Menu, then select Apply and exit, and that folder-widget is now on your screen. Tapping on the widget will bring up your chosen contacts that you can now use to e-mail with one tap. You can set these contacts up to be phoned or texted with one tap as well.
We Want Widgets
Create a folder-widget for family e-mails. Create another folder-widget for your favorite games. With Application Folder, there's no more hunting down a function or link through various menu trees. The app, contact, bookmark, or song you want to access immediately is right there on your home screen. You can also customize the size of the widget.
Please note that Application Folder must be launched from the Widgets menu. After you launch the widget, Application Folder scans and organizes your applications, contacts, and bookmarks. Application Folder's main menu is also accessible from any of the widgets you've set up.
Features
Choose custom icons to adorn your folders--anyway you like
Choose from four types of folder shapes and choose opening animations
Organize bookmarks, contacts, and shortcuts, as well as applications, the way you want, sorted the way you like
Are Amazon REALLY encouraging users to allow their devices to install content from unknown sources?
Whilst people here might know good from bad, I find the thought of the unwashed clueless installing any old APK because Amazon showed them how to do it rather worrying.....
As it is, I got as far as them wanting me to install their marketplace, and then I gave up. I couldn't be arsed with some free content just so they can muddy the Android content waters... (You can bet Apple will be using that as the next thing to beat Android up about).
CrazyPeter said:
Are Amazon REALLY encouraging users to allow their devices to install content from unknown sources?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You do realize that any non-Google market place would have to do that, right? But look at it this way...at least you have the choice. If this were Apple you would be screwed.
To be honest it is nice to have the option of a various market place applications (although useless they may be sometimes). Thanks for the post OP, I will be using this.
@MISFITZ / I'm duly impressed. It's like a combination from Folder Organizer and Wizz Bar. I can put this to good use. Ahhh, A new app to tinker with. hehe
Thanks and gave you a thanks too.
EDIT: Is there anyway to adjust the size of the widget icon? I tried tinkering with the margins but that didn't work and next I tried editing the widget by dragging the edit box outward but it did not affect the icon itself. Thais would be a really kewl feature. Can you try and implement that into the next update? Thanks
It seems like your and mine conception of FREE differs.
vlasac said:
It seems like your and mine conception of FREE differs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It was the free app of the day a few days ago when he posted. He probably should have noted it was just that one day in his post to avoid confusion later, but it was true at the time.

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