Why I hate the stock TW launcher (& looking for a custom open-source launcher)

[MirceaKitsune]

After getting my SGS3 less than two weeks ago, there's almost nothing I can say I hate about it. The is one exception to this, and that's the default launcher (TouchWiz).

Apart from having removed wallpaper scrolling as you move through desktops (partly understandable since you can now loop through them) and still having no configuration settings, almost half of the screen is taken up by the dock bar. There's a very small portion containing widgets which the user can configure, and this looks and feels very wrong.



I know this happened because the SGS3 has a much wider / taller screen than the SGS and SGS2, so the difference between height and width is bigger, making it hard to maintain a 4 x 4 desktop grid. I don't see why they couldn't make it a 4 x 5 desktop however, so all this space wouldn't be wasted instead.

Anyway, although TW has some nice features as well (such as a better Apps menu and folder support) I'm clearly not using it due to this. Since I prefer using only open-source software, I'm sticking to ADW launcher, which I've nicely set up with a 4 x 5 widget space (the tall screen allowing this without widgets even getting close to each other vertically). ADW is however pretty old, but I couldn't find any open-source launcher for Android 4.

I'd like to see something based on SGS3's TouchWiz, but with wallpaper scrolling added back and the ability to resize your dock bar (and have 5 widgets in height). A fork of ADW that's still under development would also be nice. Anyone know of a good FOSS launcher other than ADW I could use?

[Jejoma]

Apart from having removed wallpaper scrolling as you move through desktops (partly understandable since you can now loop through them)

I haven't used TW for quite while but thought this was an option under settings - as long as you have picked a wallpaper that scrolls! Certainly when I used TW I had scrolling wallpaper.

still having no configuration settings

Although limited, there are some such as the number of screens you can view.

Almost half of the screen is taken up by the dock bar.

I think you are mistaking the row of folders for part of the dock bar. Only the very bottom row of icons is part of the dock bar. Likewise, the clock is a widget that can be removed.

I don't see why they couldn't make it a 4 x 5 desktop however, so all this space wouldn't be wasted instead.

Samsung stuck with this grid for standardisation but there are numerous launchers available in the App Store that give this option. Personally I use Apex which is available free or paid for if you want additional features.

ADW is however pretty old, but I couldn't find any open-source launcher for Android 4.

Apex was written specifically for Android 4.0 .

the ability to resize your dock bar (and have 5 widgets in height).

Apex again

[RichH]

I use Nova. I think very similar to APex and is fully customisable.

[greenman]

Go Launcher and Nova also have options to modify the number and size of dock bar - amongst many other options.
If you want to give your S3 a completely new look have a look on Play Store and give them a try.
You have the choice of which to use, so install all that you want and give them a try, then delete the ones you don't ant.

[Jejoma]

Nova - I knew there was another recent one but just couldn't think of the name!

[Marshmallow]

The only bits of the screen that are fixed are the black bar at the top and the 5 icons under the dots (and even then you can change the icons to whatever is most useful to you). The whole of the rest of the screen is yours to set up how you wish. If you don't want the weather or the Google search bar, hold and drag them onto the trash can to delete from the screen.

[MirceaKitsune]

The only bits of the screen that are fixed are the black bar at the top and the 5 icons under the dots (and even then you can change the icons to whatever is most useful to you). The whole of the rest of the screen is yours to set up how you wish. If you don't want the weather or the Google search bar, hold and drag them onto the trash can to delete from the screen.

Yeah. But the 5 icons are huge, and take up nearly half of the screen. Makes the configurable desktop look like a little window.

As for the other launchers mentioned here, I know some of them. But many are free while NOT open-source. Which are also open-sourced from those mentioned?

[CarlB]

I use Apex, it has loads of options, re-sizeable widgets,hide notification bar, page layout, disable wallpaper scroll etc.

A screenie...