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Very
good
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ADWLauncher EX - So many options!
Tested version: 1.2.1
Latest version: 1.3.3.8
Requires Android: from 1.6
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Summary
Android rules: not only is it possible to add all sorts of widgets and icons to your homescreen, you can even decide which launcher you want to use. Not an easy choice to make, considering how many home replacements there are nowadays. ADWLauncher EX has been considered to be one of the best replacements since a while now, and when it launched a new version which promises lots of new features and settings we decided to take a closer look.
Features & Use
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The free ADWLauncher has been chosen as the Standard Home Replacement on some ROMs because of its excellent functions and general performance. So the question is: will the EX manage to turn the previous version into an “ex”?
ADWLauncher Ex comes with Presets, and iPhone fans will be pleased to note that there’s an iPhone-like preset. Homescreen and controls have completely changed. The icons now come with a colorful background and scrolling has gone from vertical to horizontal. You can pick between the Nexuish (3D Nexus look) and the Fast variants.
In order to enlarge your homescreen go to UI Settings in the Settings options. You can also change the settings so that more icons fit onto the same spot; in order to do so simply change both the icon and text size. Select the number of columns/rows under Screen Preferences; these settings are useful if you’re the type of person who likes to have a lot of apps on your homescreen.
Your dock bar can harbor whatever amount of apps you need. You can use 1, 3, or 5 icons as shortcuts. If having a dock is as useful to you as a hole in a bucket you can banish it from your homescreen. The app launcher can also be accessed via icon on the homescreen—and, again, you can set the icon size and color. There’s also a Hidden Dock option (on top of the normal dock), which can harbor even more apps. You can decide how this hidden dock is accessed: via icon on the homescreen or gesture controls. Gestures, you ask? Yup, another great function under ASWLauncher EX’s belt.
Gesture controls has only been available for a short time for this app. In order to appoint gestures to specific actions go to ADW/Settings/General Behaviour/Gestures. The app comes with pre-established gestures: swyping from top to bottom and bottom to top. You can assign these gestures to controls that influence the homescreen, such as accessing the Hidden Dock or starting the app.
The app comes with a great feature that will help you save time when it comes to uninstalling: rather than having to comb through the app on the lookout for the uninstall-manager it’s possible to do the uninstalling via the context menu on the homescreen. Long tap on the icon and the option for uninstalling pops opens. And for all you individualists out there: there’s also an option that lets you change the app name and icon on the homescreen so that you can really make it your own.
Like the homescreen, the App Drawer can also change the size of icons, which means that more icons fit on my screen and I don’t have to scroll down the display. If you find the indicator that shows you which homescreen page you’re currently on too boring you can switch things up and go for the Sliding Paginator (top or bottom).
When installing the widget you have your say in how much space it should occupy. If you opt for a small amount of space the widget will be cut down. My advice: the standard settings are really the way to go—unless you’re planning on scaling the Widget… yes, that too is possible!
ADWLauncher EX is currently available in English only.
You just can’t get enough action(s) (sleazy pun, sorry!)? Don’t miss out on Launcher Actions which make it really easy to put icons on the homescreen and display the Hidden Dockbar, or else make the status bar disappear.
The Market description sounds pretty promising:
• 5 different app drawer styles/behaviors
• 3D Nexus One like application drawer
• 2 different plain vertical drawer styles, the "old one" and a new fast and smooth one
• 2 different Iphone-like horizontal application drawers, a traditional paginated one and a new one with continuous fling
• Different desktop transitions: new animations while navigating through your desktop screens. Try them all, they're crazy!!!
• New Icons configurations/look and feel: Tweak your desktop icons, change its sizes, add coloured backgrounds, change font size, color, etc!
• New fast presets mode: Quickly change the whole desktop configuration by 1 click!
• Editable desktop icons for applications, shortcuts and folders!
• Lots of code improvements
• More, more more to come!!
Advantages
• Very adaptable
• More icons fit onto homescreen
• Use standard settings if you don’t feel like experimenting
• Icons and text size can be altered
• Effective Hidden Dock Bar
• Can be completely individualized to suit your needs
Drawbacks
• Personalized presets not possible
• English only
Bottom line:
Presets are ideal for Android users who don’t feel like racking their brains to come up with own ideas but do enjoy fun gimmicks. Unfortunately, it isn’t – yet – possible to create your own presets. In short: ADWLauncher EX provides almost all the functions that other launchers come with, as well as a few that no one else has got. We recommend it!
Screen & Controls
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You’re the master of the homescreen! You can make almost any adaption, depending on your preferences. One of the app’s highlights is all the nice animations between the screens. Hats off to the developers!
ADWLauncher EX is also Full Themeable which means that you can pick out of more than 400 themes in the Market in order to change icons and backgrounds. The selection ranges from iPhone themes, Ubuntu, and themes which ADW community members have come up with. Sense themes are also available.
Controls are a dream: swyping, scrolling, and gestures—what more could you ask for?
Speed & Stability
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ADWLauncher EX’s performance is excellent. We were especially impressed by the app’s speed and smoothness.
Price/Performance Ratio
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ADWLauncher EX can be downloaded for € 2,50 in the App Center or Android Market.
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Market Comments
A Google User, Jun 18, 2013
Not staying as default lancher This home launcher worked great with 4.0.4 icecream sandwich. Since i updated to jellybean 4.1.2 on my galaxy s2 hd lte it does not stay as default home launcher.have to choose it after every start up or reboot.
A Google User, Jun 17, 2013
Doesn't work well at all on my rooted kindle, screen doesn't flip properly and cannot change background
A Google User, Jun 17, 2013
Amazing and then some! I had been using the free version of this since I got my HTC One about a week ago. I really loved it. It was a no brainer to buy this! This is by far, THE BEST launcher you can get! Thank you guys for making my phone my perfect phone! One thing though........ It keeps crashing.. Like, all the time.
A Google User, Jun 16, 2013
AcerA500 & Samsung Galaxy player 3.6 I have to go 5 star because adw launcher has made both of my devices go from plain stock to semi tricked out. My a500 won't ever get official jellybean from Acer, and my Galaxy player is stuck on Gingerbread. This has really kicked Em up a huge step. Haven't run into any trouble so far.
A Google User, Jun 14, 2013
Its ok now was better before Every time you restart your phone you have to select it over Please fix needs a new update
A Google User, Jun 14, 2013
I love it just one thing... When I use folders in my dock, even though I use a custom icon on a disabled folder preview, it shows a rectangular outer highlight when pressed. Just a little thing.. I've had this launcher since gingerbread and I can never change away.
A Google User, Jun 14, 2013
Almost It would be perfect if you changed one thing. Let me lock the desktop and still access the settings. I hate having to unlock desktop just to access settings, then have to relock it, or forget. My screen is too sensitive, & goes crazy in my pocket, so U must lock the desktop.
A Google User, Jun 13, 2013
Love it but.... How do I get the global notifications to work. The box is checked but it doesn't work on GN 2
A Google User, Jun 12, 2013
Oh boy, here we go again... First, I gave it 5 stars that eventually dwindled down to 2 stars. Then came the big update. Back to 5 stars. Now starting to lose stars again. The developer waits to long to update anything. Now the 3d launchers are going free. If you (developer) are reading this, you should incorporate the folder system from Yandex. Also some nice effects like nextlauncher3d would be nice.
A Google User, Jun 10, 2013
What a waste Paid full version but it keeps crashing and slowed my phone tremendously...the free version was better...rip off Will uninstall
A Google User, Jun 10, 2013
Still no Scatter transition! Desktop icons randomly disappear. Dock flickering and garbage video with Jelly Bean 4.2, can workaround by turning off dock icon tint. Dock Icon Scale sliders only provide 10% increments, should be 1% instead.
pll
everytime i have an app open and hit the home key it doesnt bring up fc it just reboots. please fix this its horrible right now.
I thought about getting the free version of ADW, but there are rumors going around within the Nexus S community that some apps (like ADW) might be causing instability issues on the latest Gingerbread build.
I haven't gotten the issues yet, so I'll be staying away from home replacements in general until we get some clarifications on what is causing the issues in Gingerbread.