Needing A Change

[entropy26]

Hey Guys,
I was thinking of changing my eris around a little bit as far as the look. I don't want to root my phone though (not yet anyway). Is there an app or a way that I can install a theme set for my icons or at least change them all myself without having to root my phone? I'm also wondering what the best app is for a new lockscreen.
Thoughts!?

 

[Flyphoenix]

For the icons I have better cut and for the lockscreen I've tried lockbot free version.

 

[entropy26]

Yea I've heard better cut is good. I don't think lockbot free version is going to cut it. I'd really like music controls to still work with whatever lock screen I end up using too... I don't mind spending a couple bucks on a good paid app.

 

[Flyphoenix]

You can lockbot pro or lock 2.0 search the market.

 

[entropy26]

yea, I know about those too. Which do you think is better?!

Also, where are you guys getting some of these awesome icon themes from!?

 

[DDustiNN]

I know this isn't quite what you asked for, but I really love the look of ADWLauncher... it replaces the bar at the bottom with shortcuts that are actually useful (you can set them yourself). It's free in the Market and doesn't require root. You can set it for 2 or 4 shortcuts, background on or off, set the number of home screens... it's cool.

 

[xx_bishop_xx]

+1 for ADW lanucher.

 

[SyDTRaKKeD]

-1 ADW

+100 Launcher Pro

 

[DDustiNN]

-1 ADW

+100 Launcher Pro

What are the major differences? I haven't used LauncherPro but I love ADW so far.

 

[entropy26]

Yea, Dustin does speak truth. I've been using ADW for maybe 3 weeks now and it's been pretty damn nice. Though I have been meaning to look into Launcher pro...

 

[SyDTRaKKeD]

welll... i havent tired ADW lately so I guess I couldn't really say... i just love Launcher pro so much that I'm highly recommending it

Some of my favorite features of it:
-Custom dock icons and backgrounds
-Very smooth and peppy
-3d app drawer
-Dock is scrollable and holds up to 15 apps/shortcuts/people/etc.
-Sense preview (pinch to preview all screens)
-lots of customization options

im sure theres more but i think those are my main reasons.... definitely would recommend giving it a test run... you can always switch back if its not to your liking

 

[DDustiNN]

Sounds pretty much the same, though I'm not sure what "3d app drawer" does. In ADW, the app drawer "flies in" similar to iPhone. Is that what you mean?

 

[Podivin]

-1 ADW

+100 Launcher Pro

+ (pick a number)

To the OP, try using different launchers, you can have multiple ones installed on your phone and bounce back and forth until you find the one that suits you - I'm a Launcher Pro guy myself.
If you going to do the 'bounce' thing then I'd suggest 2 things.

1) Save your current scene in Sense, that way it will always be there waiting for you.

2) Install Home Switcher from the market, it's makes changing launchers virtually painless.

You have to 'personalize' each launcher when you first install it, the way you did Sense when you first got your phone. After that they'll retain your settings as you switch among them. When you find the one thats work for you delete all the others just to make space on your phone.

 

[Podivin]

Sounds pretty much the same, though I'm not sure what "3d app drawer" does. In ADW, the app drawer "flies in" similar to iPhone. Is that what you mean?

Imagine the credits screen in the original Star Wars movie. Apps icons fade away at the top and bottom of the screen as your scroll up and down through the apps. It took about 2 seconds for me to decide I didn't like it (though I love Star Wars), it would give me a headache to look at it - like it was giving me vertigo...

 

[Shnuddy]

Imagine the credits screen in the original Star Wars movie. Apps icons fade away at the top and bottom of the screen as your scroll up and down through the apps. It took about 2 seconds for me to decide I didn't like it (though I love Star Wars), it would give me a headache to look at it - like it was giving me vertigo...

lol

I love the 3d app drawer. I like most everything about Launcher Pro. I like ADW too, but I have too many force closes, it starts to drive me crazy. I was having problems with LP too, but found the widget that was causing it and now it is almost perfect.

 

[LexusBrian400]

Honestly, just root your phone. You can customize it for eternity. AND get better performance. Its a win win.

 

[Podivin]

:
I love the 3d app drawer. I like most everything about Launcher Pro. I like ADW too, but I have too many force closes, it starts to drive me crazy. I was having problems with LP too, but found the widget that was causing it and now it is almost perfect.

I admit that it's a cool effect, and I'm sure the dev worked long and hard to make it work - but it really does mess with my head.

Almost perfect? What's missing for you?

 

[Shnuddy]

I admit that it's a cool effect, and I'm sure the dev worked long and hard to make it work - but it really does mess with my head.

Almost perfect? What's missing for you?

Well, nothing's perfect

I'd say mostly Sense things that are hard to replace: I miss the bookmarks widget (though the dolphin one is pretty good), I miss the mail count on the mail shortcuts, although LP now has the count on messages (even handcent!), gmail and calls. Now that Android Agenda is scrollable, it is an excellent replacement for the sense one. I miss the contacts widget, even though I have a pretty good one.

 

[DDustiNN]

The only things I miss from Sense are the Calendar widget (full month view) and the bookmarks widget. I also liked the radio-button selection menu when you plugged your phone into your computer via USB (vs. having to do Mount). That one was just more easily understandable, but really no change in functionality. Everything else was easily replaced/upgraded.

 

[razorclose]

+100^2(492) for ADW.
it ran so much smoother than launcherpro, and felt so much more natural

 

[entropy26]

I just started using launcher pro and I like it alot. I'm going to see how it works for a while. All I want to do now is use one of these custom icon sets I keep seeing around. I can do that with better cut or whatever it's called, right!?

 

[Demache]

+100^2(492) for ADW.
it ran so much smoother than launcherpro, and felt so much more natural

I'm the exact opposite. ADW felt kind of slow and choppy, though it did have a metric ****ton of customization. LauncherPro runs very fluidly and smooth with very little problems, even when I ran stock. Even more so with root.

 

[entropy26]

Both ADW and LauncherPro have worked equally as well for me. I'd recommend them both. Though currently I prefer the dock on LauncherPro more.

I started using bettercut and some themes for my icons and absolutely love it!

The only other thing I'm looking for is a new lock screen. I want the "froyo" lock screen and I'm guessing teh only way to get that with with lockbot, but besides the fact that its 3.50(which I feel is just a bit pricey for what it is) The reviews are less than stellar and voice quite a few complaints.

Anybody using it now and can vouch for it? I know I could just get a refund if I were to buy it but I do love a little word of mouth.

 

[SyDTRaKKeD]

Both ADW and LauncherPro have worked equally as well for me. I'd recommend them both. Though currently I prefer the dock on LauncherPro more.

I started using bettercut and some themes for my icons and absolutely love it!

The only other thing I'm looking for is a new lock screen. I want the "froyo" lock screen and I'm guessing teh only way to get that with with lockbot, but besides the fact that its 3.50(which I feel is just a bit pricey for what it is) The reviews are less than stellar and voice quite a few complaints.

Anybody using it now and can vouch for it? I know I could just get a refund if I were to buy it but I do love a little word of mouth.

i now use it but only because im now rooted with OC...

when i was on leak it was completely laggy and wouldn't work consistently...

now that i have OC it works way better and much smoother (still gets a little laggy at times though...)

 

[entropy26]

oh ok, thanks SyD.

Also, is there no way to use better cut to replace a widget and/or folder icon?!