Best Launcher?

[fnm]

I just started to configure my NX and am putting many apps in the memory stick which I received yesterday. My problem is accessing all the apps from the memory stick which with the default launcher is a mess. I hadn't been able to categorize my apps since everything is in the launcher directory from the card.

I am exploring the alternative of getting a third party launcher. Can anyone tell me which one is the best for OS5?

Thanks.

[plawing]

I am in the same boat you are.
I have tryed LauncherX and PowerRun
Both seem to work good.
Thinking of purchasing

[AndyMillson]

I use the LauncherX/PowerRun combination and am VERY happy with it

Would definitely recomend both products

Check out the other launchers if you want backgrounds to the launcher (not something I needed)

ZLauncher
YiShow

[ShellyBelly]

I use ZLauncher and LOVE it, espically since I can do what you are asking which is to access programs that the standard launcher won't recoginze from the MS and to be able to categorize the programs I have on my MS just as I can with the programs that are on my Clie:)

[fnm]

1. Do I need PowerRun with LauncherX? Anyway What the PowerRun does?

2. With all those launcher out there, I would be able to move apps from the launcher directory and categorized in any directory I want in the MS.

Thanks

[jbarr]

For me, after a lot of trying of different launchers, I narrowed it down to three options:

1. LauncherX
2. LauncherX
3. LauncherX

My choice was obvious! ;)

[ShellyBelly]

With ZLauncher you can move the programs into any directory on the MS VERY easily:) Also you can move programs and DB's are the MS very easily! No more have to use MS Import/Export to pull things out and move them to the right directory or I suppose you could transfer the file to the handheld and then to the correct MS directory provided you have the available memory on the handheld, in any case you don't need ot go through all that:)

[jbarr]

Originally posted by fnm
1. Do I need PowerRun with LauncherX? Anyway What the PowerRun does?No, you don't NEED it, but it can definatly help. I currently don't use PowerRun because I have the "Uninstall Manager" installed, and there seems to be some sort of conflict. So, I just create shortcuts in LauncherX. I have a TON of apps installed, and if it weren't for the shortcut feature, I could never use most of them.

2. With all those launcher out there, I would be able to move apps from the launcher directory and categorized in any directory I want in the MS.Pretty much. LauncherX lets you set up "paths" that it will auto-search in, and you can also create a shortcut to an app in any directory on the MS.

[ShellyBelly]

ZLauncher updated so you don't need to create the shortcuts anymore-YEAH! This saves you memory (small though it may be) AND it makes it so the programs appear and disappear with the MS, very helpful to me as I sometimes forget which MS I have in so I look and if the programs icon shows up I know it's in and therefore accessable:)

[spradlinb]

Here are a few pages that can help you out with the launchers out there:

http://www.LaunchPlug.com/VFSenabled.html
Explains the different ways to store programs on your MS, including PowerRun.

http://www.LaunchPlug.com/Launcher_chart.html
A simple chart comparing the "big five" launchers out there right now.

http://www.LaunchPlug.com/Launcher_setup.html
Once you pick a launcher to try, these pages will show you how to start putting your programs onto your MS directly (without PowerRun). Just pick a launcher from the list on the left of that page.

http://www.LaunchPlug.com/Tips.html
More tips for using the launcher you end up with, from working with memory cards to applying themes and backgrounds.

Hope that helps you make your decision!

Cheers.

[JoCoWash]

LoL. I find it quite amusing that no one is paying attention to Shelly. I like ZLauncher too Shelly.

[Dxomas]

ZLauncher and loving it. Three upgrades since December...... Got to love that

[spradlinb]

Yeah, definitely give ZLauncher a try. Give YiShow a try too, and if you haven't yet, be sure to try out LauncherX. In short, there are people on this forum that love each one of the above, and will back them completely. However, the choice should be made by you after you test them out for a while. Personally, I use YiShow and haven't started LauncherX on my T665C for over a week, just because I prefer the way YiShow looks and works. Not everyone feels the same though, so you really need to test out the major launchers out there and see which one suits you best. It's actually pretty fun to see how they compare and contrast to one another :).

Cheers.

[ShellyBelly]

Originally posted by JoCoWash
LoL. I find it quite amusing that no one is paying attention to Shelly. I like ZLauncher too Shelly.


Well, thank-you:)

Makes you wonder how thick I really am, talking to walls and all???:)

[ClieMarty]

spradlinb, great chart now, your problem will be, that the zzguys will make you update your chart as often as they update their software ;-) we are already at 2.21

[*Jive Turkey*]

Originally posted by jbarr
For me, after a lot of trying of different launchers, I narrowed it down to three options:

1. LauncherX
2. LauncherX
3. LauncherX

My choice was obvious! ;)

Couldn't have said it better myself!

[n2ifp]

Originally posted by jbarr
For me, after a lot of trying of different launchers, I narrowed it down to three options:

1. LauncherX
2. LauncherX
3. LauncherX

My choice was obvious! ;)

Maybe for you it was, but my brother and I didn't like LauncherX. I think it's a matter of personal preference. That's why the chart was created for comparison. LauncherX has it's short comings. I can't page it with my Jog Wheel, there is no 'all' category, and some other stuff that I can't remember. The whole point is what is best for you is not necessarily what's best for me. This is applicable to other apps too, like which browser or email program is best. They all have their good and bad points. My passion is for ZLauncher and I have tried them all! I think most of us can agree that the OEM launcher stinks! :)

[*Jive Turkey*]

I agree, it is personal preference, I would reccomend trying what's out there. They all have demos so see what works best for you!
Here are some links
Launcher X
http://www.palmgear.com/software/showsoftware.cfm?sid&prodID=1284
ZLauncher
http://www.palmgear.com/software/showsoftware.cfm?sid&prodID=43812
Everyone is different and if we were all the same wouldn't it be boring?

[bigcatlian]

I am using Facer 1.56. It has the Today page plus the categorize tab too.

[Baloo]

Originally posted by n2ifp


<snip>...didn't like LauncherX. I think it's a matter of personal preference. That's why the chart was created for comparison. LauncherX has it's short comings. I can't page it with my Jog Wheel, there is no 'all' category, and some other stuff that I can't remember.<snip>

I tried it when I read your post and the jog wheel works in LauncherX on mine. Like was pointed out earlier, the ALL or UNFILEd category is a feature or bug depending on the person.

[jbarr]

Originally posted by n2ifp
...I can't page it with my Jog Wheel...No, you can't page through a category, only scroll, but you can work around that in several ways. For example...

Get all your aps in a tab on one screen:
Try to eliminate the need to page at all. Try keeping all a tab's apps on one screen.
1. You can adjust the number of icon columns, the icon size, or how they are listed (icons or a list). This helps put more apps on one screen.

2. You can adjust the fonts used on the tabs as well as the fonts used for the icon titles. I selected "Small Bold" for both, and it is VERY readable, and it makes the titles shorter. Again, this helps you get fit the icons onto one screen.

3. Create additional tabs. Grouping your apps in logical groups makes finding them later much easier, especially if you have lots of apps.

Manage you tabs:
If you keep your tabs on the top, selecting "Detault" on the "Cat. Title Show" dropdown in Preferences will hide the tab title for all except the seleted tabs, Icons will display for non-selected tabs. If you keep the tab names short and use a small font like Small Bold, you can fit 7 or 8 tabs on the screen without having to deal with the left/right scroller that pops up if there are too many tabs to display. Likewise, if you keep your tabs on the side (left or right), there is pleanty of room to have many more tabs.

Once you design your tabs the way you want them, you can use the Jog wheel to page from tab-to-tab by pressing the Jog wheel. The only thing to watch out for is to make sure an app is not highlighted otherwise it will launch. You can also use the "Back" button to move from tab-to-tab. On the NX series, pressing it advances you one tab. Holding it for a couple seconds moves you back one tab. This behavior is different on my Wife's SJ30: Pressing Back moves you one tab back. I'm not sure what holding the back button does on hers.

Don't discount the Hidden Tabs feature:
Some don't like the idea of hiding tabs, but I think it's very handy. There are a number of built-in apps that I never use. (For example: ClieMemo (I use BugMe!), Memo Pad (I prefer to use MemoSafe), Graffiti, Welcome, etc.) I just create a tab for these unused apps and hide the tab. This keeps the clutter off the other tabs. Also, if you define one of your gadget slots to be the "Tools" gadget, the selection to hide and unhide tabs is just a single tap away.

Anyway, my point in all this is that all of the new launchers are SO flexible that you can really tailor then to you needs. None is perfect, and probably never will be because peoples tastes and desires are so different.

[cepler]

LauncherX and PowerRun here.

PowerRun will let you copy databases required for a database to/from memory as needed which the OS can't seem to do. (This is braindead functionality in my book, this was a lot easier on PocketPC)

I didn't really want backgrounds on my launcher but I did like the tabs and icon abilities so that is why I went with LauncherX, it's smaller in RAM usage too.

[fnm]

I installed LauncherX and Zlauncher and so far I am liking launcherx more. Can I move launcherx to the memory stick?