Elliot B. Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 If you don't use widgets, there's no point in having a "desktop" with a few apps and a "drawer" with more apps. How can I make Android boot to the app drawer and never show the desktop, even when the Home button etc. are pressed? Will make the phone much easier to understand for my parents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick H. Supervisor Posted December 16, 2014 Supervisor Share Posted December 16, 2014 If you don't use widgets, there's no point in having a "desktop" with a few apps and a "drawer" with more apps. ... Will make the phone much easier to understand for my parents. I would have thought that pinning some most-used apps to the homescreen and then telling your parents that other apps can be found in the app drawer would be quite useful and understandable to them. It plays out exactly like the desktop on a computer, that way. However, to answer your question I don't know of anything. You could set up something like Tasker, and perhaps with some programming have it so that when Tasker starts it launches the app drawer. Not sure how possible that is though, I've not thought about looking in to it. EDIT: Just done a quick check under tasker, and the option is almost certainly there. You could then set another profile that when the lock screen is unlocked, tasker will take you back in to the app drawer. The next part is seeing if tasker can disable the home button somehow... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buttus Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 and add the 'add installed apps icon to the home screen' setting in the play store (or whatever it's called) that way if they install stuff it's right there for them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elliot B. Posted December 16, 2014 Author Share Posted December 16, 2014 and add the 'add installed apps icon to the home screen' setting in the play store (or whatever it's called) that way if they install stuff it's right there for them Not in alphabetical order. And it's effort dragging all the existing apps to the various desktops.I'm looking for a solution, not an explanation of why they should still use the desktop + app drawer combination to be honest mate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAZMINATOR Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 Pin apps to the homescreen. Ask her what apps she likes then pin them on the homescreen for her.. then she will remember next time she wants more apps in case. And make sure to check the option like Buttus suggested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elliot B. Posted December 16, 2014 Author Share Posted December 16, 2014 Pin apps to the homescreen. Ask her what apps she likes then pin them on the homescreen for her.. then she will remember next time she wants more apps in case. And make sure to check the option like Buttus suggested. Read above as-to why this is not a solution for what I asked in the first place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ambroos Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 Try throwing this on the phone and setting it as launcher: http://en.miui.com/thread-39149-1-1.html It's the MIUI launcher, which is a bit like the iPhone one. No difference between app drawer and homescreen, it's all just one thing. It's safe to install. (Mirror you don't need an account for: http://www.mediafire.com/download/rw6bik313owhof9/MIUI+Lite+MIUI+6+Version.apk ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick H. Supervisor Posted December 16, 2014 Supervisor Share Posted December 16, 2014 I'm looking for a solution, not an explanation of why they should still use the desktop + app drawer combination to be honest mate.My suggestion of using Tasker will provide the functionality (or lack thereof) that you're looking for. I've just gone in and checked the options available, and you can pretty much "disable" the homescreen. As I said, I'm just looking for a way to disable the home button and then we've checked all the boxes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAZMINATOR Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 Not in alphabetical order. And it's effort dragging all the existing apps to the various desktops. I'm looking for a solution, not an explanation of why they should still use the desktop + app drawer combination to be honest mate. Oh you want sort, then you will get alternative launcher for that which they have sort option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seahorsepip Veteran Posted December 16, 2014 Veteran Share Posted December 16, 2014 There are multiple launchers you might be interested in, https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.oadigital.launcher (very simple) https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.baquis.masilhome (also simple and crashes on android lollipop) http://www.espier.org/en/ (espier launcher i7, ios ripoff launcher) https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.snot.fasterpicker (very simple alphabetical app drawer list) https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=JakedUp.AppDrawer (another simple list drawer) Personally I would go for the 4th option(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.snot.fasterpicker) since it's very simple and clean and also has the option to add shortcuts to locations, phone numbers etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anibal P Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 So instead of educating them on a simple concept you rather use marginally decent launchers instead? Don't think the problem is with them here, it's not that hard a concept, but Seahorsepip gave you some alternatives,. nothing a simple search int the Play store could have given you in seconds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seahorsepip Veteran Posted December 16, 2014 Veteran Share Posted December 16, 2014 So instead of educating them on a simple concept you rather use marginally decent launchers instead? Don't think the problem is with them here, it's not that hard a concept, but Seahorsepip gave you some alternatives,. nothing a simple search int the Play store could have given you in seconds Play store is a mess , when I first searched for senior launchers I ended up with very bright square star trek like interface launchers which are for me even worse then the stock launcher lol. So I searched a bit further and looked for some older launchers(old launchers from the gingerbread era are simple list launcher) and for a decent ios ripoff launcher since he might be just looking for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragontology Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 Espier really is the best choice. My wife really doesn't like iPhone, for reasons she has chosen not to disclose with me, beyond, "I just don't [expletive] like them, is that a [expletive] problem?" At which point I back away slowly and offer chocolate, because I'm not a fan, either. But, as relevant to your problem, to be a punk, I threw Espier's launcher and lock screen on my wife's phone. Took all of two minutes to set up. And she hit the roof. Her rage was of epic proportions. And it tripled when I told her I actually replaced Android with iOS. It was April 1st, I had to do it. Espier did a good job... but you'll pay to keep all the features. It isn't cheap. But it's a unique look and if you want to complete the illusion, I think it's the best way to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MS Bob 11 Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 Try this app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.ligi.fast&hl=en It is a simple app drawer+home screen replacement with a search box which lets you type to launch like the Windows Start Menu to launch apps insanely fast. Your device can "boot to it" since it can act as the home screen and it's just like the app drawer plus added search! It can show apps sorted by name, by usage or freely sort. It has "Open in Google Play"/"App Details" item too if you press and hold to uninstall installed apps superfast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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