Invest additional than three minutes with any Android fanboy, and you are going to promptly study that the genuine beauty of Google's operating program lies in the prospective to customise it.
Any issue can be solved by downloading adequate apps. Nowhere is that far more correct than for Android's homescreen &ndash so we've rounded up the greatest alternative Android launchers for your modding pleasure.
On an Android phone, the launcher is the app accountable for the home screen, the app 'grid', and launching the aforementioned apps. Phones generally come with either the stock Google launcher, or additional typically, a launcher whacked on leading by a hardware manufacturer like Samsung.
But, if you don't get on with your phone's default launcher, installing a new one particular just requires a swift go to to the Google Play Shop.
1. Google Now Launcher
Google's quite personal stock Android launcher is now up for grabs &ndash but just since it is the Android regular, doesn't imply it's boring. For your money ( properly, really, it is free of charge ), you get effortless access to Google Now, button- absolutely free voice controls, and adequate transparent window-bars to make you assume you're back in Windows Vista.
It is compatible straight out of the box with all Nexus and Google Play Edition devices, and two minutes with a personal computer will get it running on all Android four.x handsets. Just be cautious what you say around it &ndash the Major G's constantly listening, in all probability.
2. Nova Launcher
Nova and Apex ( under ) are the two standout Android launchers &ndash each strike an excellent balance in between having enough characteristics to customise items, without having bogging you down with unfeasibly long selections lists and 17 levels of sub-menu hell.
Nova's arguably the greater of the two, with a couple of far more choices available in the cost-free version (there is also a Prime version), and slightly superior functionality &ndash but actually, we're splitting tiny Android hairs trying to discover a distinction involving the two.
3. Apex
Apex Launcher, just like Nova, blends smooth performance and ease-of-use with a great level of customisation to develop a genuinely appealing option to most typical Android launchers.
Standout features on Apex include a superb tablet mode ( ultimately allowing Nexus 7 owners to rotate the property screen) and the Pro version has the amazing Apex Notifier service, which pushes notifications to a widget on your property screen. ( Though, Notifier requires operating an added app in the background, which is a small drain on battery life.) When once more, the Pro version does expense money, so it is worth downloading the cost-free version 1st.
4. Launcher Pro
Launcher Pro is aimed at customers with phones that are yet to taste the frozen goodness of Android four., Ice Cream Sandwich, and are still stuck with Gingerbread.
Even though it lacks some of the bells and whistles of its much more advanced stablemates, Launcher Pro is a strong upgrade from the stock launcher, with a lot quicker scrolling and additional customisation possibilities, and even some sleek tricks like limitless widget resizing in the full -fat, paid-for version.
five. Buzz Launcher
Buzz Launcher packs the regular set of customisation options, but with a killer benefit : a user- designed library of thousands of themes and widgets you can browse, download and tinker with. Whereas other launchers feel like masterpieces of efficiency &ndash trying to locate you the app you want, with minimum hassle &ndash Buzz is all about the aesthetics.
There are undoubtedly a lot more powerful launchers out there, but if you're all about matching the colour of your shoelaces to your cravat (and never have an iPhone), then this is in all probability the launcher for you.
