Home screen clock - I don't get it.

[jfoust]

It seems like everyone uses a home screen clock of some sorts, so I figured I was missing out...

I tried a few, but can't get over how much screen real estate you lose! What's the point of losing 4 icons just to see the time, which is plainly displayed on the top of the screen already??? I have the stock Moto power bar up there, which is very helpful, but it takes up 4 spots too. Am I missing something, or do people just need to have the clock that big in their face all the time?

BTW, I went from a Palm OS Treo to a WinMo Treo (and iPod touch) and then finally got the Droid back in January and I couldn't be happier!! Android is everything I thought it would be and then some

 

[CriticalCritic]

It seems like everyone uses a home screen clock of some sorts, so I figured I was missing out...

I tried a few, but can't get over how much screen real estate you lose! What's the point of losing 4 icons just to see the time, which is plainly displayed on the top of the screen already??? I have the stock Moto power bar up there, which is very helpful, but it takes up 4 spots too. Am I missing something, or do people just need to have the clock that big in their face all the time?

It sounds like you just have different preferences.

Though keep in mind that not everyone uses a clock. Most people that post their screen shots use a clock widget because it looks cool and works well with their overall theme. How great would a screenshot of a home screen look if it was just plain with 16icons?

If find one you like, use it. If you prefer efficiency, then don't use it. However, keep in mind that some of those clock widgets also include the instant current weather viewing, a 1-touch 3-day forecast, 1-touch alarm clock setting access, and 1-touch calendar access. So those widgets may not be as much of a waste of space as they look.

 

[jfoust]

Which one has one touch access to all that? I would be down for something like that, but the ones I've looked at are just big clunky clocks that seem like a waste of space... Something with some additional function to it would be great. Right now I have a weather widget, calendar link, etc, so if all that could be rolled into something cool looking and functional, I'd be all for it!

 

[CriticalCritic]

Which one has one touch access to all that? I would be down for something like that, but the ones I've looked at are just big clunky clocks that seem like a waste of space... Something with some additional function to it would be great. Right now I have a weather widget, calendar link, etc, so if all that could be rolled into something cool looking and functional, I'd be all for it!

Beautiful widgets. There are many different skins to choose from, and they all display current weather, date, and time, and I think they all have options for 4x1 or 4x2 viewing.

If you touch the clock image part, it will open the alarm clock access. If you touch the weather pic of the sun/moon/clouds/whatever, it will pop of your 3-day forecast. And if you touch the date it will open the calendar.

 

[i VTAK]

I just love the look of my homescreen clock. Plus it has an alarm, countdown timer, and weather integrated in it.

 

[jfoust]

Thanks CriticalCritic! I looked at that one once upon a time, but they didn't have a trial and I wasn't sure I would like it. I guess at $1.50 it's not that big of a deal to take that hit if I absolutely hate it!

 

[CriticalCritic]

Thanks CriticalCritic! I looked at that one once upon a time, but they didn't have a trial and I wasn't sure I would like it. I guess at $1.50 it's not that big of a deal to take that hit if I absolutely hate it!

NP. Keep in mind that all purchases on the Market have a 24hr trial period in which you can return it for a full refund.

 

[CriticalCritic]

I just love the look of my homescreen clock. Plus it has an alarm, countdown timer, and weather integrated in it.

A countdown timer? That's awesome! What are you using

 

[jfoust]

Just bought it - ended up being about two bucks with the crappy exchange rate. Still not bad. I like it so far.. Not so much for the clock, but for the weather display, date, and quick access to alarm, forecast, calendar, etc, all from within.

I added the brightness widget too, which was the main thing I used on the old Power Center or whatever it's called, and I still had a free space on my Home Screen to add AK Notepad, which I seem to use a good bit, so I actually gained space from what I thought was a "waste of real estate"!

 

[jfoust]

BTW, is there a way to change settings/skins without having to trash the widget and then put it back on the hone screen? Doing that every time I want to try out a new skin or something kind of sucks!

Edit - google is my friend! "Tap on the weather icon on the widget... the animation will pop up.... then just press the menu button. Settings/Skins/Refresh will all be right there".

 

[macprv]

It seems like everyone uses a home screen clock of some sorts, so I figured I was missing out...

I tried a few, but can't get over how much screen real estate you lose! What's the point of losing 4 icons just to see the time, which is plainly displayed on the top of the screen already??? I have the stock Moto power bar up there, which is very helpful, but it takes up 4 spots too. Am I missing something, or do people just need to have the clock that big in their face all the time?

BTW, I went from a Palm OS Treo to a WinMo Treo (and iPod touch) and then finally got the Droid back in January and I couldn't be happier!! Android is everything I thought it would be and then some

Seem like im not alone... i do too think you loose to much of space for the clock widget (yeah it looks cool tough), and since i dont like to unlock my phone to just look at the time, i do not use a clock widget.. besides theres a clock on the noti-bar

 

[CriticalCritic]

Edit: nvm, you got it

 

[bluenova]

It seems like everyone uses a home screen clock of some sorts, so I figured I was missing out...

I tried a few, but can't get over how much screen real estate you lose! What's the point of losing 4 icons just to see the time, which is plainly displayed on the top of the screen already??? I have the stock Moto power bar up there, which is very helpful, but it takes up 4 spots too. Am I missing something, or do people just need to have the clock that big in their face all the time?

Funny I was just thinking the same thing this morning and got rid of my home screen clock. As you say there is already on on the notification bar and on the lock screen.

 

[bluenova]

A countdown timer? That's awesome! What are you using

HTC Clock

If you click on the clock it brings up options for Alarms, Countdown, Timer and world time.

 

[i VTAK]

A countdown timer? That's awesome! What are you using

Yup, stock Sense. It's the clock that came preinstalled.

 

[TheSultan]

I don't have a clock on my home screen...but I do have one all the way over on my 7th screen. That way I can get to my alarm easily.

 

[bluenova]

I don't have a clock on my home screen...but I do have one all the way over on my 7th screen. That way I can get to my alarm easily.

Why not just have a shortcut to the app 'Clock', it takes you to the same place but won't use the resources that the Clock widget does.

 

[takeshi]

It seems like everyone uses a home screen clock of some sorts

I don't.

I tried a few, but can't get over how much screen real estate you lose! What's the point of losing 4 icons just to see the time, which is plainly displayed on the top of the screen already??? I have the stock Moto power bar up there, which is very helpful, but it takes up 4 spots too. Am I missing something, or do people just need to have the clock that big in their face all the time?

It's like anything else -- if you don't get the point then why fret over it? Don't use it. Easy.

Life's too short to worry about every single thing out there that you don't get IMO.

 

[fuss]

HTC Clock

If you click on the clock it brings up options for Alarms, Countdown, Timer and world time.

I really like that clock - is there a way to get that on the devour?

If not, can anybody point out a good, large homescreen clock in a digital format, or one like pictures above?

 

[grainysand]

You're looking for Beautiful Widgets or Weather Widget Donate. The HTC clock widget is not portable to any other UI or even stock Android, since it's got dependencies on HTC's rosie framework.

 

[IOWA]

You're looking for Beautiful Widgets or Weather Widget Donate. The HTC clock widget is not portable to any other UI or even stock Android, since it's got dependencies on HTC's rosie framework.

I have sense ui on my moment >.>

 

[grainysand]

Try clearing defaults and switching back to vanilla Android launcher; you'll suddenly find you can't use HTC's widgets anymore.

 

[jimdroid]

...Am I missing something, or do people just need to have the clock that big in their face all the time?
...

Two words: Reading Glasses

 

[IOWA]

Ok ok I admit! Its a sense ui ripoff! Waahhhh

 

[vlgolf]

How can I get back that original clock on the home screen? I lost it somehow