Which launcher?

[SteelGator]

I ran the stock launcher until the update. Since then I have tried Aviate (but the home key bug makes that too much of a pain), Action Launcher and now Nova Launcher (since upgraded to Prime) and I am sticking with Nova. I've only had one issue: some of my widgets stop displaying temporarily, including the Google search box at the top of the display (unlike many, I like that so I kept it with Nova). It's very infrequent, though.

I have played with them all as well. I burned out on Aviate pretty quickly, the home button issue was a biggie, but it did not really show that it was going to 'learn' from my usage. The contextual home screen is a nice thought, but Aviate is not there yet.

Since I have switched over to GEL, and I really like it. Still getting used to the home screen placement, but love Google Now being a swipe away. I also like the look and feel.

 

[adamhudson]

Isn't Google now the same as long pressing/swiping up on the home button on any non-nexus 5? How is it advantageous having it as a home screen?

Posted via Android Central App

 

[drvier8]

Isn't Google now the same as long pressing/swiping up on the home button on any non-nexus 5? How is it advantageous having it as a home screen?

Posted via Android Central App

Google Now as the left-most home page is only one feature. It has a different look (icons are a bit bigger) and the notification bar is transparent (like other non-Verizon versions). The default is only the main home screen and the Google Now home screen. You can add screens as needed, but you're not set on five whether you need them or not like the stock launcher. It also adds the (again non-Verizon-ized) widgets being added from a long press on the home screen instead through the app drawer.

 

[SteelGator]

Isn't Google now the same as long pressing/swiping up on the home button on any non-nexus 5? How is it advantageous having it as a home screen?

Posted via Android Central App

Yes, it is the same. Really pretty equal to the Google Now widget that I used, and exactly the same as what you get with long press and swipe up on the stock launcher. For some reason I really like left swiping to have it slide over. As another poster says, the visuals are a little different too. More transparencies, larger icons. I like the app drawer button better, and long press on home screen to add widgets is back -- love that! Long press also allows wall paper selection and you can change screens too.

In short, it is a lot of little things that adds up to a nice package. The only thing I miss is the Droid Command Center.

 

[newbeginning828]

In short, it is a lot of little things that adds up to a nice package. The only thing I miss is the Droid Command Center.

This exactly. It may sound silly but I really miss being able to just flip through different cities to check on the weather (use the feature a lot). I haven't been able to find a widget that can do that.

As much as I enjoy GEL I think I might go back to stock.


Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

 

[phathands]

Isn't Google now the same as long pressing/swiping up on the home button on any non-nexus 5? How is it advantageous having it as a home screen?

Posted via Android Central App

This is my main issue with the GEL. I simply cannot understand the utility of Google Now taking up valuable space just next to the home screen that can be used for other apps and widgets that are harder to access otherwise.

It's not like GN is hard to access as is, you just swipe up, and if you use launchers you can assign nearly any gesture to it. Heck if you're really wanting easy access, just put the Google app icon on the home screen then its one tap away.

Nova Prime beta lets you get the transparency and look of the GEL without forcing the main home screen to be the all the way to the left. It's the best option for me.

Sent from my DROID MAXX

 

[Jdalton1111]

I see a lot of people using nova. I'm using Smart Launcher Pro and it's a big jump from go launcher that I was using before.
Has anyone used both nova and smart launcher, what do you think?
What is the fastest launcher? For me so far it's smart launcher

Posted via Android Central App

 

[gdmin]

I see a lot of people using nova. I'm using Smart Launcher Pro and it's a big jump from go launcher that I was using before.
Has anyone used both nova and smart launcher, what do you think?
What is the fastest launcher? For me so far it's smart launcher

Posted via Android Central App

I think smart launcher because its uses small memory footprint around 16 - 20mb.

Sent from multiple devices using Tapatalk

 

[DOOG9517]

Yeah I tried that. When the home button is not used to toggle the quick drawer, on Action Launcher the only way to open the drawer is to touch the top button on the screen. Very hard to do with one hand.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[Jdalton1111]

Has anyone noticed that flicking the home button up to activate Google is not working as well as it did before kit kat? I use it all the time as A Tasker command to activate apps by saying "open" whatever app and now it's kind of annoying because I have to keep my thumb on the home button longer to activate it! Any comments or answers is appreciated!

Posted via Android Central App

 

[aspot72]

I am using 2. AVIATE (by Yahoo) and Launcher3(native Nexus launcher).
Keep changing every 3 days (when battery runs out and charged) on my Moto G, so have "different" phone twice a week

 

[Oofa]

Stock kit kat 4.4 update what the ride more appealing aesthetic changes then it does to my droid Maxx. Accordingly looking to buy the purchased version of one of the Watchers. Go Launcher seems okay but also has a lot of clutter installed with it nova launcher seems nice though wondering if there are any suggestions by experience. Thanks in advance!

Sent from My MAXX

Sent from My MAXX

I've tried just about all of them and found that stock Android is the best. Everything else is a cluttered mess. Try all the free versions of all launchers that you possibly can. Remove the ones you don't like. You know you're going to try them all at least once anyway, right? That's the beauty of Android. Lots of options to play with.
Some are too loaded with junk but only you know what is "junk" to you so try them all.

 

[Westiemom]

I've never used a different launcher. I have some questions. If I try one and I don't like it, can I go back to the original? Will a different launcher use more battery? Will it hurt my phone in any way?

Yes, you can definitely go back to the stock launcher anytime.
No, it definitely won't hurt your phone.

And you can have multiple launchers and switch between them.

 

[wizzrah]

Nova Launcher!

 

[Series335]

This exactly. It may sound silly but I really miss being able to just flip through different cities to check on the weather (use the feature a lot). I haven't been able to find a widget that can do that.

As much as I enjoy GEL I think I might go back to stock.


Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

I purchased Prime, but have gone back to stock Moto Launcher for The Command Center!

Sent from My MAXX

 

[LinuxWeather]

Its obviously a matter of preference but my own opinion is after using GEL the MotoHome seems outdated to me. GEL transparent app drawer, larger icons, look & feel just to me seems slicker. I like how using GEL I still get the vzw indication icons, that is the blue/white radio indicators, that was one thing I didn't like with nexus aosp home on 4.4

I tried various other homes over the past years ... I really think they go a bit overboard with animations and eye candy ala Compiz-Fusion/Beryl days of composite WM on Linux. Just because you can, doesn't mean you should sometimes.

But its all an opinion and try a whole bunch of things since its so easy and go with what you like.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[rlmesq]

I used to use adw ex on my Bionic but found it a little laggy, however I kept it for the whole 2 yr period I had the phone because I liked the customization. I love the smoothness of this phone and would not want to give it up for anything.

Since you've already purchased ADW EX, give it a try. (There's also a free version if somebody else wants to test drive it.)

I don't notice any lag or lack of smoothness on my Maxx, and, like you, I really like the degree of customization. If anything, ADW is better on the Maxx than the Bionic, probably due to the upgraded hardware.

I also have ADW EX installed on a Xoom running CM11 (4.4.2, thanks to some clever devs who just won't let the old tablet die!) and it's still my favorite launcher there, too.