Help App Drawer?

[enduser2941]

Hey guys, I have a very quick question. What exactly is considered the app drawer? Is it the icons on the bottom of the home screen? Also is there any place that gives an overview of the Android OS with a list of terms and their definitions? I know that this is a fairly newbie set of questions, but I never fully got an understanding of what terms refer to in the Droid world.

On top of that I don't mind the default Launcher in ICS4.x but what I really want to change are the icons that are displayed at the bottom of the home page as they all point to the default apps which for the most part I do not use so I would like to be able to customize them to the apps that I use, for example rather then using the default email app, I use gmail, the browser, rather then the default I use either Chrome or Dolphin, so I would like to change those as well, which you can't do with the default launcher so I was curious as to whether there is an app that would allow the customization of these icons or do you have to replace the entire launcher. I was using GO Launcher EX which allows you to modify them as well you can customize the amount of home panes (What is the appropriate name for these?) you can have which is nice but I don't mind the default of 6 or 7. I would appreciate any help you can give and I apologize for the newbie questions.

Thanks!

 

[Unforgiven]

Hey guys, I have a very quick question. What exactly is considered the app drawer? Is it the icons on the bottom of the home screen? Also is there any place that gives an overview of the Android OS with a list of terms and their definitions? I know that this is a fairly newbie set of questions, but I never fully got an understanding of what terms refer to in the Droid world.

On top of that I don't mind the default Launcher in ICS4.x but what I really want to change are the icons that are displayed at the bottom of the home page as they all point to the default apps which for the most part I do not use so I would like to be able to customize them to the apps that I use, for example rather then using the default email app, I use gmail, the browser, rather then the default I use either Chrome or Dolphin, so I would like to change those as well, which you can't do with the default launcher so I was curious as to whether there is an app that would allow the customization of these icons or do you have to replace the entire launcher. I was using GO Launcher EX which allows you to modify them as well you can customize the amount of home panes (What is the appropriate name for these?) you can have which is nice but I don't mind the default of 6 or 7. I would appreciate any help you can give and I apologize for the newbie questions.

Thanks!

Wow, lot to cover, if I miss anything, let me know.

App drawer is the open d by the icon on the bottom of the screen and shows all of your installed apps and widgets.

I would need to know what terms you would like to know about, so if any are confusing you, just ask.

I believe (works on stock, not sure about skinned) you can long press an icon at the bottom and drag it off the bar. You can then drag an app icon there that you want to replace it with.

Home panes or screens it good enough, everyone will know what you are talking about.

I hope this helps and don't worry about newbie questions, we were all new users once. We are just paying forward the help we got in the past.

 

[Bodestone]

I believe (works on stock, not sure about skinned) you can long press an icon at the bottom and drag it off the bar. You can then drag an app icon there that you want to replace it with.

To change the bottom bar (called the Dock most of the time I believe) icons in the default Samsung launcher you need to be in the App Draw. Use the Menu button and Edit. This lets you pull apps to and from the bar.

 

[enduser2941]

I really appreciate the help here guys, again sorry for such n00bish questions, but I thank you for responding!

 

[Unforgiven]

I really appreciate the help here guys, again sorry for such n00bish questions, but I thank you for responding!

No worries. Ask away if you need anything else.

 

[enduser2941]

Thanks Unforgiven, infact I do have one more question if I root my Note, does installing anything such as a new launcher ect, but I keep my stock ROM, will anything cause my root to be removed? My assumption is no, however, I am not sure what the file system structure is of a Droid, but I am quite familiar with Linux. If I should open a new thread I can do so, just let me know. Thanks!

I hope to one day be able to pass this knowledge along to someone else who may wind up with the same questions I have encountered

 

[Unforgiven]

You don't need to root in order to install a custom launcher. An OTA will normally break root, but there are ways to keep it or get it back. So long as your bootloader, radios, rom, and recovery are stock, the OTA will still take in my experience. Android is built on Linux, so when you get into the file structure you should be familiar.

At this point you are stretching the limits of my knowledge. Rooting is different for each device, so if you choose to do it, it would be best to check the All Things Root subforum and read some threads in there. When you are ready to try, fire up a new thread in there and I am sure you will get the help you need.

 

[enduser2941]

You don't need to root in order to install a custom launcher. An OTA will normally break root, but there are ways to keep it or get it back. So long as your bootloader, radios, rom, and recovery are stock, the OTA will still take in my experience. Android is built on Linux, so when you get into the file structure you should be familiar.

At this point you are stretching the limits of my knowledge. Rooting is different for each device, so if you choose to do it, it would be best to check the All Things Root subforum and read some threads in there. When you are ready to try, fire up a new thread in there and I am sure you will get the help you need.

Very helpful as always! I know that I don't need to root to install the launcher, I want to root to get rid of bloatware as well there are a few apps I want to get but require root. I know I mixed topics and that was my fault which probably lead to this confusion however having said that, looking up the definition of OTA has lead me to have to start a new thread. Had you not, I may have rooted and screwed myself if what I just read is true! I think for now this thread is good!

 

[Unforgiven]

In ICS you can freeze the bloat without rooting. Go into Settings | Apps | All | Bloat and there is a button there to disable it. It will be gone from the app drawer and won't update.


I'm not trying to convince you not to root, I swear, just many of the reasons folks rooted in the past have been addressed as Android evolved.