Finally Gave In and Customized my Homescreen - Gotta Love Android

[PollyK]

So after much consideration and looking at others customize their homescreens, I finally gave it a go myself. I couldn't be more happy with the result.

First off, my screen is 5 inches. That means I could easily have 5 row of icons. I tried 6 rows, but decided that 5 was perfect for me. Six rows looked too cluttered to me. Mind you, 6 rows on a 5 inch screen looked less cluttered than 5 rows on the iP5.
Secondly, changed my icons to a very simple look without all the fancy shine.
Lastly, decided I didn't like the divider above the dock and got rid of it.

The result to me is an extremely clean and simple looking interface that I can honestly say is better than anything out there. Yes I like it that much.

I now fully understand the first hand why all the Android users go on and on about customizing. It is truly refreshing. All this was done without rooting my phone and voiding my warranty.

The first pic is with the dock divider, and the second without. To me, the divider was just more clutter.

 

[mattopotamus]

Overall I think it is nice. For me personally there are too many icons. I only put the dock and 1 row of my most used apps. Will you upload that background?

edit: and I like the one with the divider better

 

[PollyK]

edit: and I like the one with the divider better

I knew somebody would prefer the divider. lol

Here's the background.

 

[mattopotamus]

Thanks!

 

[Fireblade]

Thanks for the wallpaper!

Like your homescreen btw.

 

[blitzer09x87]

awesome screen...that's what i call flat and simple.
i totally agree with you, android is way superior to iOS7 because it can be customized in every way you don't have to stay with one boring UI for the smartphone's whole lifetime. i think that i should also start using these awesome launchers, thanks.

 

[Dontazemebro]

Overall I think it is nice. For me personally there are too many icons. I only put the dock and 1 row of my most used apps. Will you upload that background?

edit: and I like the one with the divider better

Same here, I always group my icons into folders (favs, games, tools etc) with mainly just my common stock apps on the home screen (phone, mail, messages etc)

Here's what my S4 looks like now

 

[mattopotamus]

The good thing about folders is that they actually look good on jelly bean.

 

[mattopotamus]

Same here, I always group my icons into folders (favs, games, tools etc) with mainly just my common stock apps on the home screen (phone, mail, messages etc)

Here's what my S4 looks like now


Image


Image

Mine is pretty simple too.

 

[otismotive77]

I knew somebody would prefer the divider. lol

Here's the background.

nice wallpaper, btw the screen looks awesome, clean and smooth, icons are also really appealing. i agree, you gotta love android!

 

[onthecouchagain]

Same here, I always group my icons into folders (favs, games, tools etc) with mainly just my common stock apps on the home screen (phone, mail, messages etc)

Here's what my S4 looks like now


Image


Image

What weather widget is that? Quite nice.

 

[Dontazemebro]

What weather widget is that? Quite nice.

Thanks, that's the dash clock widget with weather extension

 

[onthecouchagain]

Thanks, that's pthe dash clock widget with weather extension

Aw snap.

When HTC decides to give us 4.2.2, I'll try it.

Ahem, HTC.

 

[Dontazemebro]

Aw snap.

When HTC decides to give us 4.2.2, I'll try it.

Ahem, HTC.

Hehe gotta love Samsung

 

[Stuntman06]

First off, my screen is 5 inches. That means I could easily have 5 row of icons. I tried 6 rows, but decided that 5 was perfect for me. Six rows looked too cluttered to me.

I use six rows. I removed the dock on my home screen. For me, it doesn't make sense to have a dock. I see no need to have the same app icons on all of my home screens.

 

[maximus96]

OP, which launcher and icon pack did you use? thanks

 

[torana355]

Here is mine, its on a Nexus 4 btw.

 

[PollyK]

OP, which launcher and icon pack did you use? thanks

It is Nova Launcher Prime, which is the paid version as it gives you the unread count badges for your emails, calls, and sms.
And the theme pack is the MiUi X5 HD.
In my opinion, it is by far the most polished and professional looking theme pack I have seen. There is a free version, but it's not HD like this set. I honestly think a few of the OEMs out there should hire the MiUi team to do Icons for them.

 

[kdarling]

Okay, I know about:

http://mycolorscreen.com/

and its huge collection of homescreens.

I also liked the few I saw here:

http://android.appstorm.net/roundup...esome-homescreen-setups-for-your-inspiration/

Anybody else got favorite sites to look through?

Thanks!

 

[KentuckyHouse]

Okay, I know about:

http://mycolorscreen.com/

and its huge collection of homescreens.

I also liked the few I saw here:

http://android.appstorm.net/roundup...esome-homescreen-setups-for-your-inspiration/

Anybody else got favorite sites to look through?

Thanks!

I absolutely love looking through those sites (I didn't know about the second one so thanks for posting that!) I'm a huge fan of minimalist setups, so mycolorscreen is like crack for me.

My problems begin whenever a setup mentions using UCCW. I've messed with it a hundred times and no matter what I do, I can't seem to figure out exactly how to use it. It's maddening. I've also searched and searched for a good, straightforward tutorial on how to use it but I keep coming up empty. I've been using both iOS and Android for a while now, so I'm not a novice (when it comes to jailbreaking or rooting/ROMs), but for some reason, UCCW just confounds me.

Any links to a good, easy to understand tutorial would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Borealis]

http://android.appstorm.net/roundup...esome-homescreen-setups-for-your-inspiration/

Damn, those are some nice themes. I particularly like the Rounded Tiles and We Are One Earth...very imaginative.

 

[AppleRobert]

For whatever reason as I am not really bored so more for fun than anything else, I have been trying different launchers, themes, and icon packs.

A question I have is how does one incorporate a replacement icon? I have an option when I press down on one I would like to change but do not know what the next step is and where do I find a replacement.

Thanks

 

[Fireblade]

For whatever reason as I am not really bored so more for fun than anything else, I have been trying different launchers, themes, and icon packs.

A question I have is how does one incorporate a replacement icon? I have an option when I press down on one I would like to change but do not know what the next step is and where do I find a replacement.

Thanks

Which launcher are you using?

 

[AppleRobert]

Apex. I guess not all icons have custom replacements? I for example am trying to do one for bing. The current one is fugly.

I am using the same theme as the OP.

 

[Fireblade]

Then you have to do it manually.

Over on XDA are lots of icons, for example here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=8932706