LauncherPro

by Antonio Wells May 31, 2010 8:00 AM – 22 Comments

Install

Based on the stock Android Launcher (Home app), LauncherPro adds some new and exciting features: Super-smooth scrolling, Animated screen previews (like Exposé or HTC Sense), Up to 7 home screens, App drawer with a fly-in effect and smooth scrolling, Shortcut dock, You can see the change log at my website listed below. (For Android version 2.0 and higher)

Price: Free

AndroidTapp.com Android App Review:

Pros & Cons:

Pros

Experience up to 7 home screens for widgets, shortcuts, bookmarks, and apps
Pinch to see all home screens at a glance
Faster/smoother scroll in list of Android Apps
Numbered notification icons for new text messages, missed calls and new emails

Features:

LauncherPro Android App in a home screen replacement app that is a fork from the stock launcher from Android 2.1 (Eclair). By default you have 3 home screens which is configurable to up to 7 in the Settings menu. Along the lower section are convenient icons with quick links to Phone, Contacts, Android Apps Launcher Drawer, Messaging, and Browser apps. The latest release added numbered notification icons for new text messages, missed calls and new emails. When you open the Android Apps launcher drawer, apps are presented similar to Android 2.1 launcher only difference is the cool 3D roll effect is missing however LauncherPro features a faster and much smoother scroll… convenient when you have a lot of apps like myself!

: LauncherPro Missed Call, Missed Text, and Missed Email Notifications

: LauncherPro Home Screen

: LauncherPro Pinch for Quick Glance at All Home Screens

: LauncherPro Android Apps List

: LauncherPro Settings Menu

Usefulness:

For those who like the effects of HTC Sense UI or need more home screens than 3 or 5 as some stock Android versions offer, then this app is for you. Plus it provides an alternative way to customize your Droid.

I personally didn’t realize how useful this app was until I recommended it to a buddy with an updated Samsung Moment running Android 2.1. If you’re not familiar, this update does not give the Launcher like Nexus One nor does it come with 5 default home screens. So LauncherPro was able to give him the goodies he was missing.

Android Advice™: How do I make this app my default home screen app?

Whenever you install a new home app Android presets all home screen apps every time you press the Home button. Click the checkbox “Use by default for this action” then select your desired home screen app.

Android Advice™: No popup prompting default choice shows, how do I make this my default home screen app?

If you want to change your default home app (or any default app), go to Settings Menu » Applications » Manage applications » find the default app and select it » click “Clear defaults” button. The next time you press the Home button you will be prompted which app to use… follow the steps above.

Frequently Used:

If used, every time you tap the Home button.

Interface:

Your organization or imagination determines the final UI, however the app is all about giving users freedom to customize their home screen.

AndroidTapp.com Rating

AndroidTapp.com Rating! (4.45 out of 5)

Should you Download LauncherPro? Yes! Definitely Worth Checking Out!

Developer: Federico Carnales

Tags: Android App, Android Apps, AndroidTapp.com App Review, Custom Android Home Screen, Customize Home Screen, Home Screen Replacement App, LauncherPro, LauncherPro Beta

Categorised in: Productivity

22 Comments

By Soor on May 31, 2010 at 4:01 pm:

What do you use, and why, what is better:

LauncherPro vs. HelixLauncher

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- By Android Tapp on May 31, 2010 at 7:15 pm:
  
  Call me Plain Jane but I actually like the default Launcher from 2.1 and now 2.2. I’d personally choose LauncherPro over HelixLauncher though.
  
  Reply
- By Jason Moore on January 20, 2011 at 11:24 am:
  
  I discovered LauncerPro Plus a few days ago and quickly bought it. However, this morning I found ADW and must say I am more impressed with this, given the fact I can change my icons! I have a myTouch 4G which is bundled with a HORRENDOUS UI.
  
  Hope that helps. Both are good with ADW slightly ahead IMO.
  
  Reply
By The_Omega_Man on June 1, 2010 at 2:43 am:

I am currently using HelixLauncher…but I will certainly check this one out as I experience quite a few FC and really slow screen responses sometimes with HelixLauncher on my Moto-Droid. Open Home FC, on my Droid, way too much to be usable for me..

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By Jimbo on June 6, 2010 at 11:26 am:

This app has improved even further in terms of customization. The dev has added options for dock backgrounds and home screen indicator dots.

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By Mike on June 13, 2010 at 8:03 pm:

How do you add / remove / change app on the dock at the bottom of the screen?

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- By TucknDar on June 17, 2010 at 5:17 am:
  
  Just do a long press, or long tap as it’s also called, then you get the option to change application and icon.
  
  Reply
By MikeAdamsPhotos on July 19, 2010 at 11:31 am:

I bought this a couple days ago and love it! No issues at all.

HTC Evo 4G | twitter @ MikeAdamsPhotos

Reply
By WRXChris on July 22, 2010 at 3:16 am:

I just switched to LauncherPro and am absolutely loving it. I was using GDE on my Droid 2.1Update1, and it was TERRIBLE, hangs and FCs all day long. I also just installed the Droid X multitouch keyboard, and it is also phenomenal, instant 50% gains in typing speed!

Had been thinking about an upgrade to the Droid X (the screen is still enticing), but now that I have these apps, and am awaiting the launch of Froyo and it’s purported 2.5x speed increases, I’m feeling really good about my OG Droid!!

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By ANdy MacGregor on July 23, 2010 at 6:30 am:

I decided to try Launcherpro and although have paid and downloaded the lastest version, the download comes thro as a zip folder. How do I get from the zip folder to an Apk file. (My android device is an archos 5 IMT 500gb)
Andy help appreciated

Andy

Reply
- By Antonio Wells on July 23, 2010 at 6:53 am:
  
  Download an Android File Manager app called Astro File Manager to find the Zip and extract the APK file. From that same app you can launch the app installer.
  
  Please let me know if that works.
  
  Reply
By Dan Callaghan on August 4, 2010 at 7:06 am:

I must be an idiot. I have the new HTC EVO 4G and just installed LauncherPro, but on any screen I can’t find a way to add Apps, only Shortcuts, Widgets, LauncherPro Widgets, Folders, and Wallpapers. At the top it says, “Add to Home Screen” and appears to have a drop down button, but tapping there does nothing. I love the look and the ability to configure this app, but without the ability to add Apps to screens I won’t be able to use it. Is this because I didn’t buy LauncherPro Plus?

Ha, ha… Never mind, I guess persistence pays off. I knew you could see all apps by tapping the ‘grid’ icon at the bottom center of any screen, but didn’t have instructions that told me to then tap and hold on the App icon to add it to the currently displayed home screen. I will go ahead and post this in case anyone else has the same problem. I wonder if there are any other ‘hidden’ configuration methods that I’m not aware of? Wish this came with a ‘help’ option.

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By Kevin on August 6, 2010 at 9:47 am:

Why the need to read emails/SMS/etc? Seems like it has too many rights to the phone… uninstalled until I understand this better.

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- By Antonio Wells on August 6, 2010 at 10:02 am:
  
  The latest version of LauncherPro places unread call, email and SMS notifications on the bottom row of icons on the top right of your call, email and text message icons. (See this image). So it needs the permissions to read to in order to tell you how many are unread. But if you’re uncomfortable with that, I would recommend not installing.
  
  Reply
By Cathbad on August 8, 2010 at 12:38 pm:

I like what I read, but I think I’m going to wait until Froyo is installed. I have the Droid X, my first Droid ,so I want to see the new OS and then I’ll decide.
The various comments have been helpful and I’ll come back them in September.

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By Scott on August 16, 2010 at 2:28 pm:

I used to have HelixLauncher on my phone because I needed more than the stock 3 screens on my Moto Droid from Verizon. This app makes Helix look like an alpha. I love all of the customizations and the scrolling dock is awesome. Give it a try!

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By Henrik Sørensen on August 28, 2010 at 8:10 pm:

Jeg er rigtig glad for denne launcher, den virker faktisk bedre end sense. Det er bare meget vigtigt at huske at fritage den i jeres task manager, ellers vil den FC hele tiden.

I’m just glad this launcher, it works actually better than sense. It’s just very important to remember to release it in your Task Manager, otherwise the FC all the time.

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By Big Will on September 29, 2010 at 9:08 am:

I tried to download LauncherPro and it froze mid process. I can’t “cancel download”. I’ve removed the battery several times. How can I stop & restart the download?

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By Jade on November 6, 2010 at 1:15 pm:

how do you put pictures on the homescreen ?
iCant seem to qet the pictures to go on there .

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By jo on January 6, 2011 at 1:14 am:

I downloaded launcherpro about 2 months ago and now on my phone it comes up with “this version of launcherpro has expired. please go to http:/www.launcherpro.com/to get the lastest version” but when i did this it comes up “forbidden you don’t have permission to access/index.php on this server.
i can’t do anything with it no home screen, no menu button, nothing. please help.

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By RUNDJDHP on February 16, 2011 at 9:57 am:

GO Launcher works better and does more. I dont know why Launcher Pro is so popular.

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