32 replies to this topic

[Mark]

So I managed to get this nice Samsung S2 ripoff for my daughter for Christmas:
http://www.amazon.co...ils_o00_s00_i00

Comes with vanilla android and it seems to have been a total bargain. Much better than my ancient iPhone 3GS!

Only thing is, she really doesn't like the launcher. She didn't say it in those words as such, it was more like "I'll never figure that out!". (She knows she's getting it btw because there was a big debate as to whether we should get her a smart phone or not)

Of course she could just learn how to use it, and I guess she could in the long run but I was hoping to find something a little easier for her to figure out. She's really used to my iPhone and her sister's iPod touch so I guess something more like iOS would suit her. As far as I can see, any iOS clones are pretty poor.

I've tried launcher pro but it's oddly laggy compared to the vanilla launcher which is strange because it used to run great on my old ZTE Blade, much better than the default.

So, anyone have Launcher suggestions?

Thanks.

Oh - side question... with this being basically a generic phone with no support as such, is there ever any chance of being able to update android to a later version? I'd love to get google now on there for her!

[sanctified]

I'd suggest Holo Launcher. Simplicity at its best.

[+Brando212]

Mark, on 20 December 2012 - 19:23, said:

Oh - side question... with this being basically a generic phone with no support as such, is there ever any chance of being able to update android to a later version? I'd love to get google now on there for her!

you could check xda, but seeing as it's a no name phone, i doubt the modding community will do anything with it

[Draconian Guppy]

maybe with customs roms?
check out
www.xda-developers.com/

[+djdanster]

If it comes pre-rooted then there is a project over at XDA regarding Google Now on ICS, I use it and it works nicely with a slight rendering issue once in a blue moon. Unless you can find a website that supports the n800 (possibly Modaco? XDA only support major phone manufactures) then you're going to be out of luck updating to Jelly Bean.

I'm using the free version of Apex Launcher. It runs flawlessly and is similar in design to the stock launcher but with Jelly Bean features (such as widget movements).

[Mark]

Brando212, on 20 December 2012 - 19:29, said:

you could check xda, but seeing as it's a no name phone, i doubt the modding community will do anything with it

Draconian Guppy, on 20 December 2012 - 19:32, said:

maybe with customs roms?
check out
www.xda-developers.com/

Couldn't see anything for the company "Star" who make this phone, should I be looking in a particular part of the forum for this?

[bman]

Go Launcher Ex is my favorite and the one I used most of the time, if not it's Nova Launcher.

[firey]

Check out Zeam it's easy to use.

[sanctified]

The problem with Zeam is that is hasnt been updated over a year and feels clunky. I would love for zeam to have folder ability and to hide the horrid settings black bottom bar.

[DJ-Light]

Go Launcher Ex

[Mark]

I think go launcher is sort of on the right track with the expanding folders.

I guess the main thing that confuses her is that you can pin apps to the home screen and that there's a drawer with everything else, plus the widgets, which is new to her.

[AJerman]

I'll add another vote for Holo Launcher, though most android launchers aren't much different. A desktop of widgets, icons and a dock and a drawer of icons. The main differences in most are certain customizations. I like Holo Launcher though because it's not overly heavy on configuration options, but it has about all I want. Aside from that, there's a phone icon to call someone, a message bubble for texting, a globe for the internet, it's really can't get too much easier.

I'm guessing there's not much third party support for that phone since it's a knock off, as you say. Otherwise custom ROMs like MIUI can bring a experience similar to the iPhone.

[Draconian Guppy]

<p>

Quote

<br />
Couldn&#39;t see anything for the company &quot;Star&quot; who make this phone, should I be looking in a particular part of the forum for this?<br />

</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>You should join the forum.</p>
<p> </p>
<div>Most knock offs have &quot;vanilla specifications&quot; eg. they adhere to a certain spec from a certain phone, I highly doubt it was the S2 though. What i&#39;m saying is, most ROMS work with almost any device albeit &quot;unsopported&quot; Eg. if the dev didn&#39;t have any test input from X device, then don&#39;t expect him/her to have a specific answer.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>All in all, from my little android experience, it&#39;s pretty hard to brick a phone with an open bootloader.</div>
<div>Anyway, JOIN TEH forum!</div>

[Som]

Mark, on 20 December 2012 - 19:23, said:

So I managed to get this nice Samsung S2 ripoff for my daughter for Christmas:
http://www.amazon.co...ils_o00_s00_i00

Comes with vanilla android and it seems to have been a total bargain. Much better than my ancient iPhone 3GS!

Only thing is, she really doesn't like the launcher. She didn't say it in those words as such, it was more like "I'll never figure that out!". (She knows she's getting it btw because there was a big debate as to whether we should get her a smart phone or not)

Of course she could just learn how to use it, and I guess she could in the long run but I was hoping to find something a little easier for her to figure out. She's really used to my iPhone and her sister's iPod touch so I guess something more like iOS would suit her. As far as I can see, any iOS clones are pretty poor.

I've tried launcher pro but it's oddly laggy compared to the vanilla launcher which is strange because it used to run great on my old ZTE Blade, much better than the default.

So, anyone have Launcher suggestions?

Thanks.

Oh - side question... with this being basically a generic phone with no support as such, is there ever any chance of being able to update android to a later version? I'd love to get google now on there for her!

I'm using Apex Launcher, I find it great personally

[AJerman]

Draconian Guppy, on 20 December 2012 - 20:46, said:

<p></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>You should join the forum.</p>
<p> </p>
<div>Most knock offs have &quot;vanilla specifications&quot; eg. they adhere to a certain spec from a certain phone, I highly doubt it was the S2 though. What i&#39;m saying is, most ROMS work with almost any device albeit &quot;unsopported&quot; Eg. if the dev didn&#39;t have any test input from X device, then don&#39;t expect him/her to have a specific answer.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>All in all, from my little android experience, it&#39;s pretty hard to brick a phone with an open bootloader.</div>
<div>Anyway, JOIN TEH forum!</div>

Please be careful what you suggest. This is all very wrong. Most knock offs don't have any relation to any specific phone. They are typically made by very very cheap components, and rarely have support of many custom ROMs, if for no other reason than a lack of interest from developers.

And ROMs certainly do NOT work on just any device. ROMs are custom built for a specific device, and flashing them on a difference device is a good way to do your best at bricking your phone, though that usually is pretty hard because you can usually get in and reflash the right software again.