Question 're: alternative launchers and touchwiz features

[dianehelen]

If you install Nova, or any of the alternative launchers, how does that impact some if the cool features on this tablet that are part of touchwiz? Do you lose access to things like s pen, multi view, etc.

 

[laika]

With Nova everything works except for the new magazine "flipbook" "home" hotkey which if I used it I am sure there is a icon someplace. There is a non pay version that one could try and uninstall if they don't like Nova, can't comment on other launchers but I have 4 tablets laying around and first thing that goes on them is Nova, small memory footprint, easy to use from the start but enough customization a hardcore could really tweak it.

 

[dianehelen]

With Nova everything works except for the new magazine "flipbook" "home" hotkey which if I used it I am sure there is a icon someplace. There is a non pay version that one could try and uninstall if they don't like Nova, can't comment on other launchers but I have 4 tablets laying around and first thing that goes on them is Nova, small memory footprint, easy to use from the start but enough customization a hardcore could really tweak it.

So s pen and multi view work with nova? Losing flipbook is no great loss, it's cute, but buggy

 

[laika]

So s pen and multi view work with nova? Losing flipbook is no great loss, it's cute, but buggy

Exactly and I have the same opinion on the flipbook thing. I use the actually flipbooks app from an Icon and I expect you could use the Samsnung version the same way, you could even put it in the tray so you can get it on every screen.

S pen and mulit view work fine.

 

[laika]

So s pen and multi view work with nova? Losing flipbook is no great loss, it's cute, but buggy

Take a look at this thread, Nova also take away much of the lag that you sometimes get, when (if) you install Nova it gives you the choice of Touchwiz or Nova, It's sounds backwards but pick Nova, other than flipbooks you won't lose any function.

http://forums.androidcentral.com/sa...opers-options-nova-launcher-demo-youtube.html

 

[dianehelen]

SOLD! thank you, just what I needed to know

 

[laika]

SOLD! thank you, just what I needed to know

I would be shocked if you don't like it, it's very easy to use, one thing that is cool is you can re-size icons, on my pages I have a few extra rows each way so I can fit way more on the screen, also there is a great folder feature the lets you even put folders in the bottom tray.

On of the first things I did on the Note 2014 (and 8) since they have a physical home button that I fear will wear out is set a gesture in Nova to take me to the "main" home screen. I just flick upward on any page and I am back to my home page. I never need to hit the home button, that an auto turn on case and I can avoid most of the physical buttons.

Nova is very easy to set up and play with.


PS: Cool photo and story!

 

[ddavtian]

You also lose S Calendar widget, which is a nice one. But there are many calendar widgets in market you can use.

 

[ChuckeeDroid]

I highly recommend nova prime. I think it gives you more gesture controls.
Here are some of the gesture mappings I enjoy.

Flick up - main home screen
Flick down - recent apps. I don't like holding down the button for this from the home screen.
Two finger down - I've mapped this gesture to a screen-off app


Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4

 

[dllrogers55]

I highly recommend nova prime. I think it gives you more gesture controls.
Here are some of the gesture mappings I enjoy.

Flick up - main home screen
Flick down - recent apps. I don't like holding down the button for this from the home screen.
Two finger down - I've mapped this gesture to a screen-off app


Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4

I want to change mine to swipe up for the home screen instead of what I have. I can't find it in any of the choices! I must not be fully awake. What is it called in the lists?

Aha! Is it called default? How does flicking up work on any page when that usually scrolls the page?

Thanks!

 

[dianehelen]

Thanks for some great info on Nova, and anternative launchers in general. One last question. If I install Nova and make it my default launcher, how, would I go back to the stock launcher, if for whatever reason I wanted to, once I choose Nova for the default?

 

[laika]

Thanks for some great info on Nova, and anternative launchers in general. One last question. If I install Nova and make it my default launcher, how, would I go back to the stock launcher, if for whatever reason I wanted to, once I choose Nova for the default?

The paid version is worth it if you like it but try the free and uninstall. That's all it takes to get back to where you were before, the free version is crippled a hair, on the bottom icon bar you want I THINK you can only have it a page long but perhaps on every page, with the paid I know it can be many pages long so you can flick it and see more bottom icons without changing the page you are on.

Could be wrong on what is left off the free version, it took me about a hour playing with it before I bought it and never looked back.

TIP: Keep in mind to pick NOVA, not touchwiz if it asks you when you install.

COOL TIP I DISCOVERED: (I resized Icons, have about 8 pages and many folders, and gestures) I have it on my Note NON 2014 and Note 2014, to set it up manually on the new 2014 would have taken hours, one of the first thing I did on my 2014 is backup Nova settings on my NON 2014, put them on a SD card and transfer the backup to my 2014. I did this before much 2014 setup in case if failed and I needed to factory reset.

Well IT WORKED, I restored my NON 2014 Nova Prime backup to my 2014 tablet and everything was where it should be, no the programs where not there yet but all folders and everything else was, even some passwords. It just put placeholders where the Icons should be (the green android dude) with the program name, even those nested in folders.

All I needed to do to clone my NON 2014 was DL the program and put it where the placeholder was.

So if you have a NON 2014 10.1 and really like the setup, save yourself some time, get that backup on the 2014 and restore it.

 

[laika]

I think if you hit the menu next to the hard home button you get a choice of Nova settings, I think it's under Gestures.

I want to change mine to swipe up for the home screen instead of what I have. I can't find it in any of the choices! I must not be fully awake. What is it called in the lists?

Aha! Is it called default? How does flicking up work on any page when that usually scrolls the page?

Thanks!

 

[Cobravision]

Thanks for some great info on Nova, and anternative launchers in general. One last question. If I install Nova and make it my default launcher, how, would I go back to the stock launcher, if for whatever reason I wanted to, once I choose Nova for the default?

The same process to clear any default program -- go to Settings|More|Application Manager (I'm working off of my S4, so this path may be a little different), scroll down and find Nova Launcher on the Downloaded list, and then tap on the Clear Defaults button.

Trust me, there is ZERO reason to go back to Touchwiz. And the paid version is worth it just for the Swipe feature -- you can map a secondary function to an icon if you swipe up instead of just tapping. Like, if I tap my Maps icon, it opens Maps, but if I swipe up, it opens Navigation. Or if you have a folder for certain types of programs, a tap opens the folder, but a swipe up opens a specific program. So my Social Media folder opens with those apps, but if I swipe it it opens Facebook directly.

 

[SwaggerJacker]

Thanks for some great info on Nova, and anternative launchers in general. One last question. If I install Nova and make it my default launcher, how, would I go back to the stock launcher, if for whatever reason I wanted to, once I choose Nova for the default?

Go to Application manager and scroll down to "Launch by default" then choose "Cear defaults"
The next time you hit the home button, you'll have your choice of launchers again.

Oops. Someone beat me to it.