Desktop VisualizeR – Ultimate Android App for Personalizing your homescreen

by Paul Wilks May 18, 2012 9:53 AM – Leave your thoughts

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Desktop VisualizeR, for the uninitiated, is a tool which allows you to create customised shortcuts on your Android homescreen. It comes with a variety of widget sizes and options. If you’re into tinkering with the look and feel of your Android experience, this is definitely one to check out, if you haven’t already.

Price: Free

Tested on: HTC One X
Content Rating: Everyone

AndroidTapp.com Android App Review:

Pros & Cons:

Pros

Huge selection of widget sizes and lots of configuration options!
Supports third party icons and other images!
Quite easy to use!

Cons

Some elements of the app are looking a bit dated.

Features:

Desktop Visualizer is another app that has been around for quite some time, embedding itself as a firm favourite among Android modders. In a nutshell it’s an app that lets you create (heavily) customised shortcuts on your homescreen. Without it, you’re kind of limited to the preset widgets or 1×1 shortcuts every Android user enjoys.

For testing purposes, I didn’t create anything too elaborate, instead concentrating on basic functionality. If you check out the pictures below for example, I created some larger shortcuts for news apps to demonstrate the different widgets. I also used a wallpaper I found on Wallbase to create basic 4×2 music app shortcut. However, if you want to see some of the really cool things it can be used for, check out MyColorScreen for lots of examples.

To get started, here’s a very simple guide:

First select a widget size (you can choose from 1×1 SS, 1×1, 1×2, 1×3, 1×4, 2×1, 2×2, 2×3, 2×4, 3×1, 3×2, 3×3, 3×4, 4×1, 4×2, 4×3 and 4×4. This then gets placed on your screen with a configuration icon on it. Tap it to proceed.
Now select an icon. You can either use an image file you already have in your gallery, an application icon, an icon from a specifically downloaded icon pack (of which there are plenty in the Google Play Store and elsewhere) or via one of Desktop Visualizers add-ons (see in-app link for details)
Once you have selected your chosen icon, select what app or function you want the widget to launch; this could be any of your apps, settings, or even a direct call to one of your contacts (you’ll need this add-on).
Then you can customise the label (the title beneath the widget). This again can be anything you like. If you’re making a Gmail shortcut, you could put Gmail, Google Mail, Email, Mail and so on. You can change the colour and background of the text too if you wish.
Touch effect lets you choose which colour is displayed when you touch the widget, you can choose from Orange, Light Blue, Green, Red or none at all.
Lastly you can choose whether or not to receive haptic feedback vibration when you press the shortcut.
Finally, click OK to finish.

As I mentioned, this is the extremely basic way to use the app, which is how I created the widgets in the pictures below. Things tend to get more exciting when you use other apps in conjuction with Desktop Visualizer. For example, with apps like Simple Text you can create icons with basic text on them. You can download and use a wide variety of icon packs, many of which are available for free in the Google Play Store. Beyond this, icons packs can be found online or, if you have the know-how, you can create them yourself.

: Desktop Visualizer – Widget created, now to configure

: Desktop Visualizer – 2×2, 2×2 and 4×2

: Desktop Visualizer – Created

: Desktop Visualizer – Various sizes

: Desktop Visualizer – Huge variety of widget sizes

: Desktop Visualizer – Touch effect colour

: Desktop Visualizer – Select icon

: Desktop Visualizer – Select destination

: Desktop Visualizer – Widget configuration

Usefulness:

Desktop Visualizer is perhaps the most powerful tool available in the Google Play Store in terms of being able to customise your homescreen set up. It really provides the ideal platform to craft whatever look you like. It’s incredibly flexible, works really well alongside other applications and can look awesome when used right.

Ease of Use:

I wouldn’t say Desktop Visualizer is for beginners, you perhaps need to spend a little bit of time getting used to the functionality at first. Once you know your way around, however, it’s relatively straightforward.

Frequently Used:

I know some people that use this kind of app all the time, seeing Android as a virtual blank canvas to create all kinds of incredible interfaces. Definitely give MyColorscreen a look, it’s very addictive!

Saying that, I think many users will use the app from time to time, whenever they want to change the look of their device.

Interface:

The app has been around for a while now and, while it still looks functional, it’s perhaps not the best example of UI in the Google Play Store. Overall it works well, but appears a little dated if I’m being honest.

AndroidTapp.com Rating

(4.8 out of 5)

Should you Download Desktop VisualizeR? Desktop Visualizer is a very powerful and flexible tool that lets you customise your homescreen in a variety of ways. It’s quite a simple idea but, at the hands of someone who really wants to change the look and overall feel of their device, is pretty impressive. It’s an app you play with and get used to, understanding all the different implications and uses. It’s free in the Google Play Store so definitely check it out. It lets you completely personalise your Android and works perfectly.

Developer: Bii, Inc.

Tags: Android App, Android Apps, AndroidTapp.com App Review, Custom Android Home Screen, Customisation, Customize Home Screen, Desktop Visualizer, Homescreen, Launcher, Modding, MyColourscreen, Personalisation, Widget

Categorised in: Tools