Skip to main content

Favorite Android Launcher

Part of buying an Android smartphone is, at least partially, accepting whatever modifications the manufacturer has made to the Android operating system.  However, if you don't care for their modified version, you can change a lot of the appearance through different launchers.  A launcher on Android is the homescreen(s) and app drawer as well as theme capability and included widgets.

After reading an article about doing some spring cleanup on my phone, I decided to really trim it down with a different launcher.  I own an HTC Droid Incredible 2 and the HTC Sense UI is a bit plain.  I had tried different launchers on my old Droid 2 Global and thought I'd try them again.  I was glad I did.

After looking through the numerous options (I've estimated at least three or four dozen different launchers), I settled on Go Launcher Ex.  Why?  Customization.  I wanted to select how many home screens I truly need, I like the ability to delete apps from the app drawer (iPhone style) and the ability to create folders on the home screen by putting one app on another.  Go Launcher also has available numerous different themes, some even free.

There are numerous other reasons to like Go Launcher as well.  I'm a big fan of the iPhone style app folders that open inline with the other apps.  It makes it quicker and easier to open the app you want as well as close the folder.  It truly is as simple as dragging on app onto another on any homescreen.

While I am on a widget diet, there are some helpful widgets made by Go that matches the Go Launcher quite well.  I installed the Go Power Master app and widget to watch my battery life.  It also makes it easy to kill running apps and switch between power modes to extend your battery life.

You can go to the Go Dev Team homepage or their blog to see more and download the apk files to install Go Launcher, Go Power Master, or any of their other great useful tools.  Google Play Store also has the apps, of course.

I want to know, what's your favorite Android launcher?  Leave me a note in the comments.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Comparing Oil Prices

I'm a sucker for spreadsheets.  Its so convenient to lay out the data, compare, and make an informed decision.  Okay.  I probably get carried away with it.  Did I really need to make one to compare oil prices?  Um no.  But I didn't anyway.  My Grand Oil Price Comparison Spreadsheet This comparison includes motor oil, gear oil, and transmission fluid prices I compiled from Amazon, Autozone, Meijer, Menards, Tractor Supply, and Walmart.  These prices are generally for the West Central Indiana market so they may vary. As I have time, I will add other local retailers (Advance Auto, Napa, and O'Reilly).  This is mostly centered around my fleet of Fords.  In our household, we're driving a 1998 F-150 XLT 4.6L 4x4, 2004 Expedition XLT 4.6L 4x4, and a 2010 Expedition EL Eddie Bauer 5.4L 4x4.  I never meant to be a Ford fanboy but its pretty convenient keeping all the same fluids and filters around.  Some oils are marked specifically as ...

Drolet HT-2000 Extra Large Wood Stove

Drolet HT-2000 Since our old Blaze King bit the dust, we replaced it with the Drolet HT-2000.  It was a special order from Menards for $1099.  Wait and watch carefully, you can grab it with the 11% rebate.  Its free shipping to the store.  Otherwise, you're looking at a couple hundred in shipping fees to your home.  I also ordered the blower for $100.  Drolet will send a 25% off coupon after registering the warranty so it might be worthwhile waiting to order the blower.

Avoiding Vendor Lock In

Black Friday (read: Month) brought about all kinds of ridiculously cheap MacBook deals.  These were the Arm  Apple Silicon models with the formidable M1 and M2 chips.  $600 for the M1 at Walmart was tempting.  So very tempting.   Let's back up.  I'm a long time Android user.  After Palm's failed attempt to enter a renewed smartphone market, I switched to a Moto Droid 2 Global (Walmart still sells a dummy version for unknown reasons).  Looking back, that phone was terrible yet it started a nearly 15 year stretch of Android phones.   I had one brief encounter with iPhone.  My ex-wife was a big fan while I stayed on Android.  I ended up with an iPhone 7 in rose gold.  What a color.  I gave Apple a real shot.  I swapped the SIM from the OG Pixel Really Blue into the iPhone 7 for a month.  A very long month.  There were a few things I enjoyed on it.  Apple had more apps at the time.  Most ap...