So you've been using your stock ROM or maybe one of the custom ROMs found in our Rooting, ROMs, and Hacks section for a while now. Are you wishing that all the apps you have installed could be better organized? Do you want a cleaner look on your desktop? How about a transparent or less intrusive dock to fit your wallpaper?
Changing up your launcher is one of the easiest and coolest customizations you can do to change the look and feel of your device. And you don't even need to be rooted to do it.
Perhaps you have looked at some options by searching on the Market or AppBrain. The choices can be overwhelming. There are usually just as many dissatisfied reviews as there are delighted, and you'll have no idea how well it works on your Optimus S. Well, here's your guide!
Things to Keep in Mind:
The two limitations of your little Opti S compared to other devices are the internal memory and the processing power.
There are some very fancy launchers that perform acrobatic feats before your very eyes, but consume significant resources in the process. While flashy, this can make your experience slow and clunkier than you might like and it can reduce the space available for other apps. In other words, spending too much on fireworks for your arrival at the reception hall might mean you have to settle for a YouTube DJ and a Miller High Life toast to your betrothal. It's your funeral, but why not put the resources into making the party last?
All of this is preference based, but for the Opti S, there are some impressive launchers that are more featured, lightweight, run fast and look good. In other words, they are a real upgrade.
Here is a quick list of options that I suggest after my tinkerings and why. All of them come in under 1.25MB:
1. LG Launcher.
This is ported from builds of other Optimus phones. It does not have a lot of features, but it does allow you to sort your apps in the app drawer by any category you like, and will run that much quicker. A nicely modified version of this launcher is what comes by default in great custom ROMs like Reborn, Your Mom ROM, and HydroROM. Of course, upgrading to one of those ROMs requires rooting and some hackery, but it's worth it. Super stable and lightweight.
[Screenshot missing.]
2. [Only registered users can view links. ] 387KB.
Keep all of the features you love about Reborn or HydroROM in the pulldown menu, add in the ability to have as few or as many apps in the dock as you like, be able to name the number of home screens you want (How about 6!) and rearrange them like cards on a table. Want your notication bar to get out of the way when it isn't saying anything important? No problem. Want the dock to look cooler or just be transparent. Can do! Want to get more on your home screens or app drawer (change the density)? Too easy. I don't mind saying that this one is my personal choice on this device. The app drawer does not allow for much sorting though. Great balance of features and simplicity, super snappy!
3. [Only registered users can view links. ] 1166KB.
The champion of open source launchers, possibly best know for being the default Cyanogen Mod launcher. Incredible features and customizability, perhaps a bit much for some, but amazing. Themeable, sharp, and still snappy on performance.
Can take a little while to get set up how you want it, but if you want great folder management, a transparent dock, and a well organized and easy to sort app drawer, give this one a spin. It's got some slick little animations to make things friendly as well. So simple, it doesn't even have a preferences menu.
5. [Only registered users can view links. ] - 825KB (Experimental. ZVH and CM7 users only).
I have not played with this one very much, but I do like it. It takes a different approach to the dock, placing your 4 main apps in the corners of the screen. Much of the same app drawer advantages of the Arc edition.
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Other great launchers that I have used, but would not suggest for an Opti S:
1. [Only registered users can view links. ] -- 4537KB+.
I ran this and the most of the Go Dev suite of interface apps for several months. Nice stuff, but it sucks up a lot of internal memory, especially when you start adding themes, icon packs, widgets, widget themes that all come as separate packages. It has oodles of features, but it takes about 10x the space you might want to invest to make it really great and runs a little slow for my tastes. No prob if you have a 16GB internal, but when you only have 0.5GB... Also, the features and settings can be overwhelming for many users.
2. [Only registered users can view links. ] - 2119KB.
Launcher Pro used to be the standard as far as custom launchers. Some diehard folks still swear by it. But it is no longer well maintained and for what it weighs, it lacks some features.
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A thank you and shout out to imhumanoid for this post and the perspective conveyed therein. Her ADW screenshots are better than mine will be.
Last edited by epidenimus; 02-07-2012 at 08:58 PM.
I've been using LauncherPro for a while, but I agree that it's probably time to switch. Although for some reason I'm very particular about the icon used for the app drawer; I absolutely love the LauncherPro one. Do any of the launchers listed allow to edit the icons/replace them in the dock?
I've been using LauncherPro for a while, but I agree that it's probably time to switch. Although for some reason I'm very particular about the icon used for the app drawer; I absolutely love the LauncherPro one. Do any of the launchers listed allow to edit the icons/replace them in the dock?
The paid version of ADW does, [Only registered users can view links. ] and I think the free ADW.Launcher does, too, but I don't have it installed right now to verify. This is something that GO Launcher EX does also.
LauncherPro i love for the fact you can easily theme the bar or hide apps... i had it at one point in time where i only had 3 apps on the app drawer
Thanks for confirming ADW on this.
Wow. Just 3 in the Drawer?? What's the point in even having an App Drawer? With Zeam, you could just omit the App Drawer (called "Applications grid" in Zeam) shortcut on the dock and replace it with a folder that you name "Apps" or "Favs" and just include what you want. You could put an App Drawer button in a corner on userspace 5, if you wanted.
Last edited by epidenimus; 02-08-2012 at 08:02 AM.
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