Widgets? I'm not using any on my homescreen. If you're talking about the folders above the dock they're customized folder icons and layout from Nova launcher. Great launcher, fast and extremely customizable.
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Should Apple change the home screen for their iOS devices?
- Thread starter Joel Was Right
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Marty Chinn
Member
Stock Android let's you change the launcher to what you want where as stock iOS doesn't. I think it's a reasonable fair comparison. It shows the limitations.
Joel Was Right
If you smell burning, it's probably the generators acting up. Report it anyway.
Since we're all posting our home screens;
I just use Emoji icons for the folder titles (no JB tweak). I do use a JB tweak to turn the newsstand into something useful, an actual bookstand for quick access to books i'm reading etc.
As well as changing the background of NC. Other than that i'm pretty pure, don't use JB for visual tweaks and whatnot much at all.
I should have used this as my example in the OP!
The Albatross
Member
Coincidentally, I asked myself today: Why is there a lock screen on the iPad (and all tablets for that matter)? Pocket dialing? THem must be some giant ass pockets.
Sure, but it's trivial to jailbreak iOS. I think the more relevant comparison would be either to compare stock with stock, or non-stock with non-stock.
Just to be clear, I think iOS is pretty hideous and in serious need of an overhaul ... I'm just saying the comparison seems pointless.
Auron_Kale
Member
Cool thing with the emoji Sentry. I personally use a few from glyphboard but at the same time, seeing your screens remind me of when I used to have tons of apps.
Then folders came along and simplified everything. So now, all I want are transparent icons and I'd be really happy.
Posting once more:
Then folders came along and simplified everything. So now, all I want are transparent icons and I'd be really happy.
Posting once more:
Home Screen:
Main Apps Screen:
MarkMclovin
Member
'Main Screen':
Icons in your icons! Where's Xzibit when you need him.
Auron_Kale
Member
I keep my brightness to probably 25% throughout the day and being able to identify everything just like that can be a godsend actually.
If directed at me, it was to keep my wallpaper visible (think of it as my lock screen if you will) and to also keep all of my apps to one pages. I don't really care for scrolling through pages and pages if I don't have to.
No I understand that, just that huge amount of mini icons looks crazy to me, but whatever whatever works for you.
Nice
Auron_Kale
Member
Dunno, with the retina screen, I never had any problems identifying exactly what app I need especially since I can see them in the folder. I used to do this on my 3GS too, so I've just gotten used to it I guess.
Damon Bennet
Member
he is not talking about functionality. it just is not pleasing to the eye
Nicktendo86
Member
Okay I need to know what skyline wallpaper is that and how do you get those weather things etc on the lock screen? I am running default ICS on Galaxy Nexus.This is what I'm rocking:
I do kinda wish that there was more than just static icons, but at the same time, I do love my phone's home screen anyways.
'Home Screen':
'Main Screen':
Aesthetically, I think the Apple folders are one of the most hideous things to ever come out of Cupertino. I seriously can't understand how Apple is constantly lauded for their UI design yet have this monstrosity.
It looks likes Columns for the Sega Genesis threw up on the screen.
Auron_Kale
Member
And I understand that complaint too, which is why I have a second page that have all of my apps. I don't usually care to show all of my apps, which is why they're in folders in the first place, and they're kept on a second page so that when anyone looks at my phone, they'll just see the wallpaper and icon rows on the bottom. I have to swipe right to get to anything else, but then again, my most used apps are on the front page anyways.
Again, it's not elegant (which is why I'd love transparent icons/folders) in looks, but I care more about the usability really.
Agreed agreed agreed. If the folders themselves looked like regular folders, I wouldn't care too much but what we're stuck with right now... I shouldn't have to jailbreak for better looking folders really.
The home screen on iOS is functional when you have few apps but it starts to fall apart and ugly when you have many, the good thing about Android and WP is that you can only have whats relevant there AND at the same time having it giving the information you need with Widgets or Live Tiles (especially live tiles, I'm on anndroid right now but widgets are not the same, I miss my tiles), but in iOS if you have many apps there is absolutely no way to avoid this horrible and not useful thing, unless scrolling endless pages is your thing:
Less ugly I can understand, but how can the iOS home screen possibly get any simpler? You tap on the app you want to launch and it launches.
What widgets are you using?
And what icon pack?
Also, seems that you have good taste in music.
wp clock for the clock
go launcher for launcher/row of icons below
ubermusic for the music widget
and yes one of my favorite albums of the year
That's literally the case for everything Android. Double clock? Turn one off. Bad icons? Use your own or go download some and use them. Want a grid of apps? Use a grid of apps. Not having that is easier to deal with if you never had it. But damn, its hard to live without it once you have had it.
One size has never, and never will fit all. More options the better.
The weather widget thing on the notification bar comes from the AOKP Rom (and I'm using the Nova Launcher rather than stock - you can get it for free off the market). I linked that weather icon so that when I touch it, opens up weather part of beautiful widgets. AOKP is ridiculously customizable.
I'm running on AOKP build 36 (old). The newest version of AOKP, which is build 39 allows you to do this crazy stuff now:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDghRI0ysq0
Official AOKP website: http://aokp.co/index.php/news
If you haven't rooted yet, that's what you would need to do to be able to run this. I would suggest unlocking your bootloader FIRST, then rooting. After you do those two, you can not only install any rom you would like, but also be able to install any kernel, which affects the performance of your phone.
Guide here: http://www.droid-life.com/2011/12/1...extended-batteries-day-one-thoughts-and-more/
As for the wallpaper, here you go: http://i.imgur.com/DzSIG.jpg
Depends on how you define 'simple'. There's simplicity in mechanics, and simplicity in conveying the information a user desires. With iOS ostensibly being a 1:1 tap/launch app scenario, the mechanics are simple but it's not necessarily efficient in conveying results.
From a high level, WP7 is basically tapping a tile to launch something like the above. However many argue its use of live information, data aggregation into hubs, etc ... is a more efficient, simpler user interface.
Marty Chinn
Member
Even if you accept the mini icons as a view of what's in the folder, the biggest sin is the fact that you can't even see everything in the folder so you only get 9 of the 12 possible apps. So that becomes dumb too. Don't get me started on the 12 app limitation per folder either. Apple's implementation of folders has always been half assed to me.
In use, iOS reminds me of an ugly XMB. It works great for a limited set of items. As you add more items though, it just gets totally unwieldy.
I imagine the app count limitations in folders are to limit how much you need to drill down, though I'm not sure that really helps efficiency all that much in use. Either way, the current design is just not good looking or particularly efficient in an app-centric UI.
IMO of course.
Auron_Kale
Member
For me, it does help with the efficiency, as I already know where certain apps are due to training myself (or can obviously see them thanks to the mini icons in the folders). My most used stuff remains on the dock while everything else is on the second page.
Drilling down does help me get rid of what apps I don't need (which is many of them) but aesthetically? There's a reason why I have a separate page - so I don't have to see all of those folders everytime I unlock my phone.
Again, I like the simplicity but am hating the current presentation of it. My mom has a WP7 phone and I love the look of it while Android's customization as far as appearance is my thing - don't care for live widgets really.
Marty Chinn
Member
Do you turn off badges in iOS? Do you not like the day and date in the Calendar icon?
Auron_Kale
Member
Only certain badges run for me and I do like calendar but usually only check it on my lock screen really.
Okay, I need to know-of all the 13250923580235 apps in your last 2 pages, have you used at least 15 of them in the past month?Since we're all posting our home screens;
I just use Emoji icons for the folder titles (no JB tweak). I do use a JB tweak to turn the newsstand into something useful, an actual bookstand for quick access to books i'm reading etc.
As well as changing the background of NC. Other than that i'm pretty pure, don't use JB for visual tweaks and whatnot much at all.
I feel like having that many apps is the electronic equivalent of a mom who hoards everything possible and clutters the entire house, but more power to you if you think it works. At least you have everything organized properly instead of just 9 pages of fuck to find an app
Marty Chinn
Member
Those are essentially live tiles.
Deadly Cyclone
Pride of Iowa State
Auron_Kale
Member
I know they are, I just don't really care for too many of them because they clutter up my usability. I did say I like WP7, so I have no problems with it when it's presented in an efficient manner.
Live data is fine for things I think should be updating live, but not everything and anything.
I have never badmouthed any of the other OS's and I like what they bring to the table and appreciate them for what they do. The main crux is that I shouldn't have to fight for what I want but at the same time, I like what iOS offers me more than others.
Sorry I should have explained it better.
The alternative of the folder size limitation would be to allow multiple pages inside of the folder instead of being forced to create another top-level folder. When I said 'drilling down', I was referring to page swiping in your folder (which is functionally the same thing as drilling down, though not embedded - what I mean is takes extra time).
If you have a fair amount of apps but not an insane amount, I suppose the current method would be faster (though the problem becomes you have to memorize which folder has which apps since they aren't all shown) ... but once you get a ton of apps ... you're replacing page swiping in the folder for page swiping at the top level ... and having to memorize more. I don't think that ends up working as well. Either way, adding page swiping in folders wouldn't actually hurt anything, since if you want, you could still configure it the current way.
Regardless the point is the either system just isn't well suited to tons of apps, and that's before considering the uggs of the current visual elements.
It can get worse?
Since it does exactly what I want it to do now, of course it can get worse. You guys have fun with your phones that look like shitty MySpace pages. I want my simple, clean interface.
It can be worse, they might actually remove folders and hide under the guise of not being able to display 16 items unless you have the taller screen.
the_painted_bird
Member
Hahaha! Yes!!
To clarify, I'm not averse to change completely. It just better be good and serve a purpose i want. I like the way they've added complexity up to know. Notifications tucked out of the way, the app switcher tucked out of the way, and the main home screen still simple to navigate. I want that strategy to continue.
Yeah. This is why I went to Android a few years ago. I got tired of the modal boxes, not having background wallpaper and having to go app to app just to see bits of information. Overall, I really wanted customization and with Android, I finally have it.
Right now I am thinking that I may move from my iPad to Android. The notification bar is useless as it is hidden...I forget the damn thing is even there. I want widgets and I want to organize my home and lock screen to see the information I want to see.
Right now I am thinking that I may move from my iPad to Android. The notification bar is useless as it is hidden...I forget the damn thing is even there. I want widgets and I want to organize my home and lock screen to see the information I want to see.
Ignatz Mouse
Banned
Eh, I meant visually simpler. That's a very busy screen moat of the time. Wall of icons, more at the bottom.
As an Android tablet owner, I personally wouldn't recommend it.
I'd at least wait to see how the the Windows RT launch goes. I'm likely switching.
It could easily get functionally simpler as well.
Ignatz Mouse
Banned
My home screen in 100x cleaner and simpler than yours, I'll bet.
Jayayess1190
Member
I love Android and iOS, but I just can't use iOS as my phone. So here is my HTC Incredible (HTC's fault for the ugly status bar):
Yeah, after that announcement, I found myself pumped for that thing...so I could be making a switch to it if everything shakes out.
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