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Folder Organizer – Tidy smartphone, tidy mind!
Tested version: 3.5.0.1
Latest version: 3.6.5
Requires Android: from 2.1
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Summary
Users who tend to download a steady flow of applications and have an address book that's jam packed with contacts know that a tidy house, er, smartphone, equals a tidy mind. And this goes double for users for whom surfing the web is second nature, especially when icons and links are threatening to permanently take over the homescreen.
Luckily, there are a few dependable apps available that will help you keep your Android device tidy and easy to navigate. Folder Organizer is one of them, so let's take a look.
Features & Use
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Test device: Samsung Galaxy Note
Android version: 2.3.6
Root: No
It doesn't take long before the 2,06 MB file is installed and an introduction manual flashes across the display.
Here's an overview of the app's key functions:
- Change folder icon, icon pack support
- Sort folder items any way you like
- Make app shortcuts with custom icons and names
- conFinder support: search for new icons on the web
- Put items in notification bar
- Scrollable widgets
With the 3.5 version of Folder Organizer you now also have an option of downloading labels for already installed apps, making it fast and easy to reorganise your application repertoire.
In theory:
The main screen lets you access the following sub-categories:
Labels: This is where you can see which labels have been assigned to which folders and apps. Hit the drop down menu on the left to display the apps contained within a given folder. The drop down menu on the right hand side lets you manage the folder, select another icon for it, rearrange the apps it contains, share the folder, add new labels, change the layout or simply delete the folder altogether. Use the + symbol on the top right to add a new label; to rearrange a label, look to the right of the + symbol.
Search: Use this feature to search for apps, contacts, etc.
Apps: All available applications are listed here. Again, there are drop down labels with which you can change the labels or icons associated with an application, rename an app, share it, deinstall it or have it displayed in Google Play. A cool feature: all labels associated with a given application are displayed beneath the app.
Bookmarks: Again, use the drop down menu to manage your bookmarks, share them or change their icons.
Contacts: Manage your contacts and add labels to them.
Links: Create and manage links.
Six icons let you access even more features:
- New label: Whenever you create a label you may select how it is added to apps (i.e. manually or automatically)
- Reload: Updates your app list
- Download labels: Downloads labels for previously installed apps
- Settings: In regards to widgets, UI, labels, folders, notifications, app list and contacts
- About: Infos regarding the app
- Import: Import data from the SD card
Phew, now let's take a look at how the theory pans out in praxis.
Screen & Controls
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New widgets can be attached to the homescreen in a jiffy. These widgets act as folders for your apps. There are several options for organising your folders: widgets come in several sizes (4x1 – 4x4) and entries and links can also be added.
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Folder Organizer widgets
Once you've selected a widget, use the labels to select which app is to be displayed. Check out the widget settings should you wish to make changes to the appearance. Change the theme colour, make changes to the layout, and more. All of these changes can also be made after a widget has been installed, via an icon in the folder or toolbar, depending on where you opt to place it. Another option is to create sub-folders within the widgets, thus maximising your organisational potential.
The fact that the widgets can all have a distinct look really helps you keep a good eye on the state of your homescreen.
Alternative launcher users (e.g. ADWLauncher EX or GoLauncher EX) may select whether widgets be scrollable.
Folder Organizer entries
should you wish to make an entry, select from the following options: apps, bookmarks, contacts, cirect call, direct text, direct e-mail and link.
Folder Organizer folder link
Use this option should you not wish to create a widget but are looking to link a particular folder that was previously created using Folder Organizer to your homescreen. Icon packs can also be used at this point. Folder Organizer can also be used to find new icon packs.
Bottom line:
Folder Organizer packs a punch when it comes to helpful features, so much so that it may feel a bit overwhelming for some users when they first start navigating the functions. Fortunately there are some great tutorials available on the developers' website, and the intuitive controls (once you've understood how to use them) make navigating the app relatively easy.
We love that it is possible to access the settings at different stages and from lots of different positions.
Speed & Stability
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I've been using Folder Organizer for a good while now, and its never let me down so far. I can't detect any negative effects on the battery or system software.
Price/Performance Ratio
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Folder Organizer costs only 99 Cents which, to my mind, is more than a fair price, considering just how much this application has to offer. Then again, a few very good free apps are equally available, which is worth bearing in mind. A free version of Folder Organizer that comes with less features can also be tested.
As our app of the week, Folder Organizer is available for only EUR 0,49.
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Folder Organizer
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Market Comments
A Google User, May 4, 2013
Buggy Crashes all day with Jelly Bean 4.1 while running google maps. I don't want to lose this app, please fix.
A Google User, May 4, 2013
Bugs Menus are missing, no delete option for categories? This app used to be good but now it's basically unless since I have to clear ALL data just to change something like an icon
A Google User, May 1, 2013
Seriously needs refresh Used to be a great app. Now just crashes a lot. I have since moved to another paid app called "Application Folder Pro" & so far so good - has more options & visually more polished. I wish the dev here well & hope his planned overhaul of this app is coming soon, I'll be back to check it out when that happens.
A Google User, Apr 30, 2013
If only If I could set the colour when you select an app instead of the default orange it would be perfect and 5 stars
A Google User, Apr 25, 2013
Could easily be 5 stars! I have been using this app for almost a year. It has allowed me to minimize the number of icons on my home screens, and group them by function, giving a very esthetically pleasing and useful, result. I completely cleared 2 of the 5 home screens on my Samsung Galaxy Tab 7 Plus, though I have about 400 apps within Folder Organizer. However, the last couple of updates of Folder Organizer have introduced frequent crashes of the app (several per day), and more seriously, the font size on apps within folders has become too small for my vision.
A Google User, Apr 19, 2013
Used to be a good application, but not now, it only sees about 80 percent of apps, no response from dev, error after error on my brand new HTC ONE Used to be a good application, but not now, it only sees about 80 percent of apps, no response from dev, error after error on my brand new HTC
A Google User, Apr 18, 2013
What happened? Had given 5 stars, now 3 because although the app is still functioning, I get constant errors and no response from developer. So sad! I want my old version of Folder Organizer back that worked perfectly! Old review: My 100+ apps, bookmarks, & shortcuts are sooooo organized and the backup worked when I had to restore my phone. Everything is back in order!
A Google User, Apr 15, 2013
Update just crashed it Lost my customized folder icons and labels. UPDATE: You can remove the app, download version 3.6.4 from the web and you'll be good to go. Of course you'll have to set everything up again but it's worth it.
A Google User, Apr 15, 2013
Also Buggy for Me Same bug for myself. It at least kept the default icons. But for some reason you cannot use the folder config settings to change it to what I previous setup. Hope a solution is in the works.
A Google User, Apr 13, 2013
NO RESPONSE! I emailed this"human beung 2×,NO RESPONSE!Used to have respect & LOVE this app but will NOT PURCHASE OVER & OVER &.....
A Google User, Apr 9, 2013
Fantastic App. Here's work-around for recent bug. Extremely useful app with a recent & presumably very temporary bug. BUG WORKAROUND: If you're losing the custom names and/or icons after a reboot, open each folder to see its name in the title bar, close the folder & remove it from your homescreen, then re-add it to your homescreen. It will retain the contents & restore the name/icon. Time consuming, & hoprfully the dev will fix soon. Anybody have a quicker work-around?
A Google User, Apr 1, 2013
Just bought the app, but..... Can I have a setting where I can change the size of the text under the icons, just too small right now...thank you
A Google User, Mar 28, 2013
Uninstall problems When I uninstall an app, Folder Organizer doesn't recognize it as uninstalled and continues to leave list it in my folders.
A Google User, Mar 25, 2013
Great but.. I can't change the widgets theme. And is it possible to get rid of that orange frame whenever you start an app out of a folder? Any help? Otherwise a great app!!
A Google User, Mar 25, 2013
Gs3 - icons gone Icons are gone after phone restart. Happened 3-4 times in last 6 months, very annoying!
A Google User, Mar 23, 2013
Icons Great for NY large amount of apps. But icons are not centered on my HTC EVO 4g LTE Home.
A Google User, Mar 22, 2013
Really great but a little slow at times. I've been with FO since the beginning. No other app gets near what this app offers in term of organising your apps. The great advantage is its ability to launch folders as a shortcut.I've got used to the new interface which is more standard android. I have two issues which are long standing that I've been looking to the updates to address. Firstly even on very fast devices the folders can be slow to load. Also I've wished for folder background images and more modern graphics for a long time.
A Google User, Mar 22, 2013
Was Great - Suddenly Problems Was working great for 4 months. Woke up after a version update and all of my folder icons changed to the default folder and the folder names changed to Label Folder. Really disappointing. Under the settings for each folder, it seems the name and label choice are saved but the actual widget or home screen folder remains broken.
@mandi phillips: There is no voucher code, the app is available for only 49 Cents all week, but only from the AndroidPIT App Center. There's also a free version that has less features.
@Günter Zöchbauer: Thanks for commenting! Interesting idea...