Nova Launcher installed, but...noob help needed

[mset]

Well, I feel pretty...old. Can't believe I can't figure this out.

I saw what you can do with Nova Launcher here . I'd love to customize my N4 like this. So I downloaded Nova Launcher then grabbed the Prime paid version.

Installed it, went through the prompts that appeared upon launch, and immediately saw that when I swipe back and forth between my desktop views, the icons kind of 'turn' around a central point as if they're all on different faces of a cube. Very cool. I then went into Setting and assigned a few of the gestures to specific tasks. Also cool.

Now, I want to try to get my home screen looking cool, with one of those stylized clocks and a really color-rich background like I see in that thread above. So I search through Settings for 'Desktop appearance' or 'customize desktop' or 'Preview desktop themes' or anything like that.

I hate to admit this but I can't actually figure out how to use Nova to get one of these cool desktops. So I guess there are no themes actually baked into the app, and I should download what I want from the Play store? Or elsewhere? Will installation be straightforward? Now I suspect that some of the really beautiful themes I've seen are user created. I'm not sure I'm that interested in icon packs, just want to customize my desktop (I think). Can I preview themes somewhere?

Like I said, I'm an old guy so go easy on me. I tried some Google searches. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[gone down south]

Those clocks are widgets, and you can download any one of thousands from the Play Store. The backgrounds are wallpapers, essentially just picture files. You can use your own picture or download from the web, there's nothing special about them.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Android Central Forums

 

[mset]

Those clocks are widgets, and you can download any one of thousands from the Play Store. The backgrounds are wallpapers, essentially just picture files. You can use your own picture or download from the web, there's nothing special about them.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Android Central Forums

Okay gds, thanks. I guess what I'm really looking for is something like this . I see that there's quite a bit of tweaking involved. This might be above my head. I do think this needs a Launcher program, right (Apex)?

In any case, I thought that with a Launcher, I could just download something that would automatically set my phone up to look like the link I just gave.

 

[moosc]

I bet that works with nova launcher. Send a email or post a reply on that page you linked. Also search for nova launcher theme in play store. There are a ton in there. Almost every one has a video showing set up.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Xparent Cyan Tapatalk 2

 

[mset]

I bet that works with nova launcher. Send a email or post a reply on that page you linked. Also search for nova launcher theme in play store. There are a ton in there. Almost every one has a video showing set up.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Xparent Cyan Tapatalk 2

Okay, I'll do that. I don't even mind buying Apex as well. I saw a bunch of icon packs for Nova at the Play store but I'll check for themes as well.

 

[moosc]

nova ten times better then apex. nova was is designed for jelly bean. also most themes and icon packs work on both launchers.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

 

[Rizy7]

Okay gds, thanks. I guess what I'm really looking for is something like this . I see that there's quite a bit of tweaking involved. This might be above my head. I do think this needs a Launcher program, right (Apex)?

In any case, I thought that with a Launcher, I could just download something that would automatically set my phone up to look like the link I just gave.

You have nova launcher which is an excellent choice, prime making your possibilities even greater. Apex and nova are both popular but any design you might see should work on both. If not you will just need to do a little work around. Your homescreen has:
Wallpapers - This can be anything you want, hd wallpapers look the best.
Icons - You can theme all your icons or you can theme just a selected few by holding on an app shortcut and clicking edit
Widgets - You have stock widgets such as clock, calendar etc while also being able to download a huge variety of widgets from the playstore allowing you to display the information you want. Whats good about nova and apex is that you can resize and even overlap the widgets.
UCCW - This is the main widget creator which homescreen designer use to create their own widgets. Any designs you find will come with instructions on how to set up your homescreen. Any uccw files you see can be downloaded to your phone and be applied to your homescreen using the uccw app.

The amount of homescreen customizability available to us is extraordinary so I would advise with just trying a few basic set ups first. Placing a few widgets here and there, placing your most used apps on the homescreen. Then from there you can get into the real theming if you want to.

 

[mset]

UCCW - This is the main widget creator which homescreen designer use to create their own widgets. Any designs you find will come with instructions on how to set up your homescreen. Any uccw files you see can be downloaded to your phone and be applied to your homescreen using the uccw app.

The amount of homescreen customizability available to us is extraordinary so I would advise with just trying a few basic set ups first. Placing a few widgets here and there, placing your most used apps on the homescreen. Then from there you can get into the real theming if you want to.

Rizy7, thanks a lot for taking the time to provide all that info. Yes, on that page I linked to in my second post I saw the reference to UCCW, but didn't know what it meant.

Can you just clarify one thing for me? So UCCW is an app that is already a part of my OS, correct? I'm running 4.2.2.

 

[frenziedfemale]

No UCCW is an app you download from the playstore https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...ustomwidget&feature=nav_result&token=qrS5mBJW

It helps you make widgets. If you are new to android, you might like to just try some widgets that are already and waiting for you. Search the playstore for clock widgets and try a few freebies, see what style you like. There are also weather widgets, battery widgets, well widgets for just about anything.

 

[mset]

No UCCW is an app you download from the playstore https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...ustomwidget&feature=nav_result&token=co6geeTc

Right, got it. I'll try the simple stuff first for sure, but I sure would like to get my phone looking like that link in post #3 above.

I actually think I have a widget working right now - I have my personal calendar displaying in a small scrollable window on my main home screen. It was one of the built-in widgets that came with the phone.

 

[ChromeJob]

Try HD Widgets.... Really nice assortment of items, and superbly useful switches too. AND a selection of lockscreen widgets too.

// Tapatalk HD for Android - Nexus 7 //

 

[joshtrader]

i just installed this too but im a little lost about this
so there will be an external launcher? cause when i press home button it shows the launcher, or nova launcher. Launcher is default android correct and Nova launcher is external launcher. and i heard somewhere how can i enable extended desktop on here?

 

[Michael Morris2]

I'm in the same boat having downloaded nova recently (first android phone), you can check out my screen shot from this link. I didn?t stray too far from the stock layout, but changed icons, changed the search bar and put in the weather widget. Look through all the screen shots and you can find plenty of ideas.

http://forums.androidcentral.com/go...reenshots-share-them-here-38.html#post2698019

 

[Jennifer Stough]

I suggest, if you aren't experienced in creating launcher homepages and would like to just "search through themes you like and click apply," that you try buzz launcher. They have a theme store of sorts that allows you to search through their themes or themes that other buzz users create, and click apply. Some tinkering is to be done upon applying the themes, but its pretty straight forward.

Sent from my Verizon Droid DNA

 

[mset]

Thanks everyone. I spent quite a while researching this last night and I watched a couple of YouTube videos. It's the type of thing that I'd love to get into but just don't have the time. I'll have a look at Buzz Launcher as a sort of one-click solution.

 

[ChromeJob]

Hmm. Ive got some new video tutorial topics swimming in my head, maybe I'll do one on home screen mods....

// Tapatalk HD for Android - Nexus 7 //

 

[Rizy7]

Buzz Launcher is a very good option but last time I checked it was still in beta and it killed my battery. If you find uccw then they are quite easy to apply to your phone. All you have to do is download the file to your phone, have uccw installed and open the uzip file through the uccw app. All you have to do is choose your hotspots and then apply it onto your homescreen like any other widget.

 

[mset]

Hmm. Ive got some new video tutorial topics swimming in my head, maybe I'll do one on home screen mods....

I strongly encourage you to go with that : )

If you find uccw then they are quite easy to apply to your phone. All you have to do is download the file to your phone, have uccw installed and open the uzip file through the uccw app. All you have to do is choose your hotspots and then apply it onto your homescreen like any other widget.

I went to a client's home today and was chatting with his kid, and I pulled out my phone. He goes "Oh, a Nexus 4, how do you like it?" and I say 'I like it a lot, check this out' and I show him my homescreen icons and how they now sort of 'revolve' around the faces of a cube whenever I swipe. He kind of looks at me and goes "Oh, yeah. Is that Nova Launcher?" I say 'Ummm, yes!' and he pulls out his phone... and shows me his custom desktop!! Looked so cool, nice icon set and everything.

Anyhow, point is that I need to just give it a try, as you said. I'll try late tonight. I did install UCCW.