SwipePad: Hyperspace Jump – clever launcher app provides quick shortcuts to apps, bookmarks & actions
by Paul Wilks
Aug 2, 2012 12:41 PM –
Install
Swipepad: Hyperspace Jump is a clever and discreet launcher application that responds to gesture controls. It’s simple to use, looks good and works very well. Performing in a similar way to Wave Launcher, users simply have to swipe inwards from a corner of the screen to bring up a grid of apps and/or actions. Just hover over a shortcut and release to open.
Price: Free, plus optional purchases for additional functionality
Tested on: HTC One X
Content Rating: Everyone
Pros & Cons:
Pros
- Ability to create shortcuts for various actions and tasks by simply swiping from the corners!
- Can bring up the Swipepad overlay while in any application!
- Nice user interface!
- Easy to set up and use!
- Great solution for users who like a minimalist homescreen!
Cons
- Occasionally awkward to launch, depending on placement of homescreen apps.
Features:
SwipePad is a neat launcher app that give you gesture access to any number of apps, shortcuts, bookmarks and actions. Once set up, all you have to do is swipe your finger from a predetermined position on the screen, for example; top right or bottom left. This automatically presents a grid containing all the relevant shortcuts. Release your finger over the icon you want to select and the app will open (or action will start, etc.)
Setting up the app is very straightforward. First you have to enable it. The default position to swipe from is top right, so drag your finger inwards from that part of your screen and a full-screen grid will pop up with empty slots. Hover over a slot until the square turns orange. This will launch a menu which lets you choose an app, shortcut or action. Continue until the grid contains all the shortcuts you want. One very cool feature here is the ability to ‘Quickpost’ a status update to either Twitter or Facebook- brilliant for social media butterflies. 
There is additional functionality which you can purchase from the Google Play Store. These include the ability to launch widgets with WidgetPad, plus there are enhanced features with AppLauncher and DynamicPads. You can also make additional space available with MoreSpace. Once all set up you can enable swipe pads from other areas of these screen and select from recently used apps, favourite contacts and recent tasks. This means you are able to bring up several useful shortcuts and make you Android experience more productive.
The app perhaps takes a short while to get used to but, if you work with it, it becomes intuitive and definitely speeds up access to your favourite apps. Very occasionally, especially when using he app from your homescreen, it can be a little awkward to bring up as you inadvertently launch the app shortcut that happens to be in the corner you swipe from. It can take a little practice to do effectively, but it shouldn’t put users off.
Watch on Mobile
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SwipePad – Select app to launch
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SwipePad – Create shortcut
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SwipePad – Add-ons
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SwipePad – Notification
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SwipePad – Basic tutorial
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SwipePad – General settings
Usefulness:
SwipePad is very useful for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it permits fast access to a number of actions- certainly more than you could fit on your homescreen. Secondly, if you value a nice clean homescreen free of clutter, it means you can easily draw upon any number of shortcuts from anywhere. It also increases productivity and multi-tasking capabilitties in that you can use the app as an overlay from any running app.
Ease of Use:
SwipePad is very easy to use. Simply drag your finger from a pre-set position and the app does the rest. Apps and other shortcuts launch quickly and the whole app feels very responsive.
Frequently Used:
This is a great app but I did feel that it’s something you have to get used to, certainly if you’re unfamiliar with the gesture control ability of your Android device. However, with some practice, it becomes very intuitive and something you will use very frequently.
Interface:
The UI is nice without being revolutionary. It looks good but, as it’s something that is generally hidden, it’s not something you pay much attention to. I guess you could perhaps suggest that the UI is clever, but relatively simple-looking.