Hi Launcher – check out this cool New app to Customize your Android home screen

by Paul Wilks Mar 2, 2012 9:49 AM – Leave your thoughts

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Hi Launcher is a homescreen replacement app for Android. Boasting lots of customizability and functionality, the app should definitely be of interest to those who like to tinker with the look and feel of their Android device. It has a slightly GO Launcher EX feel about it but with differing themes and other options. Need a change? Want to make your homescreen look totally different? This could be what you are looking for.

Price: Free

Tested on: HTC Desire HD
Content Rating: Everyone

AndroidTapp.com Android App Review:

Pros & Cons:

Pros

Lots of customizability!
Plenty of quirky and novel features!
Attached shop for wallpapers, themes and widget skins!

Cons

Takes a little time to get used to, not as intuitive as other launchers.

Features:

An important and key element of the Android environment is the way you can customise the look and feel of your experience. It has got to the point now where an entire social network has sprung up where people can show off their carefully designed and modded homescreens in addition to sharing ideas and techniques. A simple way of getting into this is utilising the various preferences and options normally contained in your launcher. Dozens of launchers have been released into the Market and we try to keep up with most of them, reviewing GO Launcher EX, Launcher Pro, SPB Shell 3D and ADW Launcher EX. One of the newest kids on this block is Hi Launcher.

Hi Launcher has a lot under its bonnet. Immediately it felt a little like GO Launcher EX but with different options. The most stand out being that it principally works on the premise of slitting your screen into apps and widgets, either by segregating the top and bottom half of your device, or left and right. It’s a little curious and not immediately intuitive, but it certainly makes for some good combinations and, configured correctly, could easily create a unique environment with very fast app accessibility.

Like GO Launcher EX and ADW Launcher EX, there is quite a number of easily applied themes. You can even access the Hi Launcher Shop which lets you download wallpapers, widget skins and themes. There’s a high level of integration with these kind of options and the native widgets are a pretty cool addition. Not dislike ADW you can edit individual icons and such tweaks are easy to perform. There are also a slew of novelty effects- like having icons tilt with your device. Strange little effect but it’ll certainly make your device stand out!

I enjoy playing with new launchers but one thing I have learnt is that, with personalisation apps, there’s no point saying this is really good or really bad because people have different tastes. I think the app provides a truly alternative look and feel that people will like, although the split-screen effect for me felt restrictive. However, being an app that is being regularly added to with new themes, wallpapers and skins means that like, GO Launcher EX, the environment will continue to grow and improve. I would recommend to anyone interested in customisation to check it out. It’s a free app and offers a rich and reliable homescreen experience with a number of funky little effects that make it stand out. Definitely give it a go.

: Hi Launcher – Alternative themes 1

: Hi Launcher – Alternative themes 2

: Hi Launcher – Alternative themes 3

: Hi Launcher – Change homescreen preferences, this is a tilted view where icons move with your device

: Hi Launcher – Split panel, Apps

: Hi Launcher – Split panel, favourites

: Hi Launcher – Install widgets in the top-half

: Hi launcher – Games view

: Hi Launcher – Wide choice of themes

: Hi Launcher – Downloadable items such as clocks

: Hi Launcher – Option to download Dolphin browser

: Hi Launcher – Shop

: Hi Launcher – Tutorial

: Hi Launcher – Settings toggles

: Hi Launcher – Settings

Usefulness:

Personalisation is what makes Android stand out above other devices, most notably the restrictive iOS operating system. It’s great then to see development of apps like Hi Launcher and the high level of customizability it allows. If you want something new, fresh and different definitely give it a try.

Ease of Use:

I didn’t think it was perhaps as easy to use as other launchers and certainly not as intuitive as the launcher I use the most- ADW Launcher EX. I felt the split-screen was fun for a while but felt a little limiting after prolonged use. Again, this is down to personal preference- this might well suit other users perfectly.

Frequently Used:

If you like Hi Launcher, it would be something you interact with all the time, daily, hourly, very regular use…

Interface:

While I thought the design was sound, and certainly different, I don’t think it was ‘for me’ personally. I’m happy to try new concepts, certainly with Android, but I’m not sure split-screen is the way. There are other options and this can be minimised somewhat, but some might feel it’s too different. That said, this could be exactly what many users want. There’s something to be said about the way the apps and widgets are separated and the way in which you can group many apps together on your homescreen.

AndroidTapp.com Rating

AndroidTapp.com Rating! (4.2 out of 5)

Should you Download Hi Launcher? Definitely give Hi Launcher a look and with patience, it’s a solid and cool little custom homescreen replacement. It might not be for everyone, but it offers high levels of customisation and lots of nifty little features.

Developer: Hi Launcher Dev

Tags: ADW Launcher EX, Android App, Android Apps, AndroidTapp.com App Review, Custom Android Home Screen, Custom Home Screen, go launcher ex, Homescreen, Launcher, LauncherPro, SPB Shell 3D

Categorised in: Productivity