Stock or different launcher, root or not

[rchusid]

I immediately rooted and added Nova launcher (although this was partially because it was easier to copy my old configuration than to set up a new phone launcher from scratch). You can easily switch back and forth between launchers so it is easy to check out both to see which you prefer as Nova does allow for a lot of useful customizations which I'm sure they list on their page so I won't bother to list them all here.

Only root if you have reason to as others have said but I note that very little specific was said about benefits of rooting. Here are some of the benefits--

It is easy to back up data as well as apps, along with transferring data (including app configuration) from one phone (or tablet) to another

Blocking ads

Custom roms--not available yet for this phone. The older a phone becomes the more important this becomes, especially if you keep a phone beyond the point where they are releasing updated. Thanks to this, I ran Kit Kat on my old Galaxy Nexus until I bought the LG G3.

While custom roms aren't available yet, there are plenty of applications available which make it easy to change how the phone works. So far I've done things such as enable writing to the SD card beyond what Kit Kat allows, turn on the bright light by long pressing on the back button, enable using additional programs in the split screen, disable the battery full indicator, enable recording of phone calls, and make some changes to the built-in theme. Note that I know nothing about programming these phones. This is all done with apps which are downloaded and easy to run on rooted phones.

Note that if you allow the phone to install an update, the current way to root will no longer work. I would bet that in the future this will change.

 

[doggy2965]

There is an app called icon changer free you can change any single icon using any theme. Also let's you choose icons for web links or bookmarks works well

Posted via Android Central App

 

[dvdmon]

I've yet to root, but just put Nova Launcher on today. I'm monitoring closely whether responsiveness takes a hit.

The only real reason for me to root has been to gain tethering functionality. If there's a way to do this without rooting with Sprint, I'm all for it, but so far haven't had such luck. I could care less about fonts and icons as long as they are readable. That's just my own perspective of course, as you see many people are very particular about how their phone looks. For me it's all about how quickly I can get to the app I need. So widgets like Circle Launcher, Swaps, WaveLauncher and others have all been a part of that effort, in addition to a custom lock screen (Widget Locker, which is made by the same company as Nova). Optimally I'm spending veruy little time looking at my Android screens and 99% looking at an app screen. Except in the case of a widget, and that's where Widget Locker comes in for me moreso than screens that I have to swipe around or even the stock lockscreen that only allows one widget per "screen"...

 

[xocomaox]

Optimally I'm spending very little time looking at my Android screens and 99% looking at an app screen.

This makes sense on the surface, but seeing things isn't always about the percentage of time you are looking at it. I want my lock-screen and home screen to look good because I see it ALL THE TIME, even if for only a second or two. Since I see it before launching things or going into app folders or swiping over to my to-do list, etc, I need it to look good.

 

[welle wexetemovski]

I would say experiment with the phone, find what you enjoy with or without, and become one of the greeny robots!

 

[JaiMento]

Two top reasons I rooted was to gain full access to the SD card and to clean up the status bar. Those 2 were actually reason enough, for me.