Today we will look at how our Android system desktop can look like on communicators and how it can be customized for you to work comfortably and pleasantly with your device.
Appearance Android
In fact, the appearance of the Google Android operating system can be anything, since there are no strict restrictions on the part of the developer, unlike Apple iOS and Microsoft Windows Phone 7-8. Therefore, each manufacturer of mobile devices running the Android OS tries to bring its own zest to the interface and its functionality, but sometimes it also adds a “fly in the ointment”
Vivid examples of third-party system shells are such popular interfaces as HTC Sense from HTC, TouchWiz from Samsung, Flyme OS on Meizu devices (well, a very beautiful shell!) and many others. The Android system itself, without third-party shells from Google, looks rather ascetic, but some people really like it. You can meet such a minimalistic design only on Nexus series devices.
I will not go into all these things now and comparing system versions, because they are also different. This is a completely different topic and depends on the software installed by the manufacturers on the phones, so just changing everything and everything with regular means will not work. However, a fairly large number of individual elements can be flexibly configured in terms of appearance and convenience. In fact, all these parts of the interface do not require any configuration, since everything works just fine out of the box.
But, for example, not all users like the desktop of the system as it is initially. But how to expand its functionality and improve the convenience of working on your device? All kinds of additional applications that you can download from install will help us with this: widgets, folders, icons, alternative desktops and lock screens, all kinds of “tweaks” ... you can talk about this topic endlessly.
Trebuchet Launcher
So, what does the basic desktop of the Android 4.0.4 - 4.2.2 system look like, the latest versions to date.
Here is the standard and simplest desktop based on Trebuchet Launcher, installed initially in Cyanogenmod 10.1 Android 4.2.2 firmware. It looks exactly the same as it does on the Nexus 4, only without the bottom bar with on-screen keys at the bottom (depending on whether the particular phone has physical keys or not). For the curious, I will answer: “If you wish, you can turn on this strip yourself, but this is already interference in the software of the device.”
Launchers for Android
And what are the alternatives to the standard desktop, including from the manufacturer? There are a lot of them and in each device they are different. We will not talk about everyone now, as there are dozens of them, you can see for yourself on Google Play. Let's dwell on the most popular ones, among which it is worth highlighting, first of all, absolutely free (but with ads!) And with a huge number of settings, GO Launcher EX. There are also shareware: Launcher Pro, ADW Launcher EX, Nova Launcher, Apex Launcher, MiHome Launcher, Espier Launcher, Launcher 8, Launcher 7, Regina Launcher 3D and others. For these applications, it is possible to purchase a PRO version with advanced functionality and a complete lack of ads. And for all these programs there are hundreds and even thousands of various themes.
We will now take a closer look at just a few of them. It makes no sense to watch all of the above because of their great similarity. Let's take a better look at the most interesting and most different from each other.
Espier Launcher
So, we have the first desktop (launcher) in front of us ... No, this is not an iPhone, we have Espier Launcher in front of us - the dream of those who like the look of iOS, but do not like the system itself ... Or maybe it's just a pity for money or not enough to buy Apple products, because we have it is quite expensive, like all the latest news on Android and Windows Phone.
Espier Locker
It's also possible to install Espier Locker, which will look and behave like a standard iPhone lock screen, including an animated battery when charging. Even the famous "slide to unlock" was not forgotten! :-D Unlike many low-quality DIY programs, here the animation works like in the original iOS blocker.
P.S.: I couldn’t check how much system resources it consumes, because I haven’t used it for a long time - it’s just not mine. Although I might have left the lock screen, it will not work without a launcher.
launcher 8
If I replaced the upper system status bar with a line from this launcher (and this can be done, unlike the previous one), and also chose the same color for all tiles, then you would probably think that I am showing you the interface of the device on Windows Phone 8. Again, we have Launcher 8. Unlike the real WP8, here you can easily create folders and hide applications there without turning the desktop into an endless tablecloth of applications.
Launcher 8 lock screen
And this is a lock screen, it does not need to be downloaded separately, it is already present in the launcher itself. It is also a copy of the original and is good in its own way, there is nothing superfluous here (the picture can be changed).
P.S.: This launcher is the newest of all the above, although it has already gained immense popularity. Unfortunately, after the latest updates, it began to consume a large amount of system resources, so even on medium-sized devices, periodic brakes and even freezing of the entire interface can be observed, which was not the case before. Maybe they'll fix it over time. By and large, you can use tiles, but then you can forget about calendar widgets and others, since they won’t look normal here. A lock screen without a launcher, since this is its integral part, will naturally not work.
GO Launcher EX
And this is perhaps the most famous of all launchers. Before us is GO Launcher EX, which is rightfully considered one of the best to date. Its main advantage is not even that it costs nothing. This is a kind of combine, in which, if you wish, you can add a bunch of additional modules and programs, even have your own media file manager. For this launcher in the app store, you will find thousands of various themes. Let's take two themes as an example.
iOS Extreme Theme
This theme is called iOS Extreme. As you can see, in its device it is somewhat similar to iOS.
Sorting applications here is possible both by folders and within folders.
GO Locker
And here is the lock screen of this launcher, called GO Locker, there are also a huge number of themes for it. And don't be surprised by the date on the blocker, it's not Back to the Future :-D , it's just that the Chinese developers decided to swap the day and month. In the version I used a couple of months ago, this was not configured in any way. It may have been corrected now.
metal
And here is the next theme for a change - Metal. I think now you understand how much we change the appearance of this launcher.
Nova Launcher Pro
Here is today's leader! Nova Launcher Pro is my absolute favorite desktop. It allows you not only to organize all applications into folders as in GO Launcher EX for your convenience, but also to simultaneously display all your applications in a general list without sorting, as in Trebuchet. It is impossible to lose any application with such a launcher or just quickly not find it in the list.
There is only one limitation: the applications here cannot be arranged in the folder itself as you wish, they are all automatically sorted strictly alphabetically. Also in this launcher, in addition to folders, you can also create tabs, which further increases the flexibility of the interface and ease of use. In general, today it is the fastest and most stable desktop, which, oddly enough, works even better than the native system desktop. I don’t remember when it had the last crashes or freezes, the developers did their best this time. For me this is the best Launcher, I recommend it (sorry I don't get paid for its ads yet :-D). The only restriction: Requires Android 4.0 and above!
The same Metal theme, but on Nova Launcher.
Widget Locker
Here you can also see the Widget Locker lock screen, which simply has no equal in terms of its customization, because it can look anything at all! This blocker is generally a completely different application that has nothing to do with the launcher itself, but the developer company is the same.
And here is the next minimalistic TRON LEGACY style theme - the Neon theme installed by me.
I understand, it's too ascetic, but I've already played enough at one time with all kinds of shells and the appearance of the system :-D I settled on this one - that's it for work.
The lock screen is just as minimalist, nothing more. After all, this is a phone, not a toy. The lock screen here is a system one, the default one for Android 4.2.2. The background of the lock screen, like the picture on the desktop, changes at the request of the user.
This concludes our review, I hope you enjoyed it :-) Customize and use your mobile assistant as you please. Just please do not download any "left" programs, otherwise you can catch viruses. Whatever they tell you on the Internet, unfortunately they are still available on Android even in the Google Play app store itself! I will definitely tell you about how to protect yourself from them and what you should pay attention to when installing programs on your device in the next topics.
There are several desktops in Android, and switching between them is carried out horizontally (swiping) in any direction. Desktops can be from 5 to 7, depending on the version of the operating system and the proprietary user interface from the device manufacturer.
Dock bar on the desktop in Android
Regardless of which desktop is currently open, there are always dock icons at the bottom of the screen.
As a rule, by default, the dock bar contains an icon for a program for working with phone calls, an application for receiving / sending SMS, an icon for turning on the camera, and a contact book. In the center is an icon that opens a list of all installed programs on the device.
Status bar on the desktop in Android
At the top of the desktop is the status bar. Here are the battery status indicator, the mobile operator network status indicator, the time is shown, and notifications appear.
To open the status bar, you need to make a vertical swipe - swipe down from the top of the desktop.
When expanded, the status bar shows more detailed information about the notification, in contrast to the collapsed view, when only icons of active notifications are shown. Those. in expanded form, you can, for example, find out from whom exactly the SMS came. Notifications are deleted with a simple horizontal swipe or in another way - “swipe”.
For the convenience of the user, the last notification is located at the top of the expanded status bar and takes up more space, because it shows additional information, for example, part of the text of the received SMS. The last notification is assumed to be the most relevant to the user.
Using the expanded status bar, you can access some device mode switches: enable / disable WI-FI or Internet from a mobile operator, mute or set the phone to vibrate when a call comes in, adjust the screen brightness, enable / disable the airplane mode ( disable SIM card) and so on. In some smartphones and tablets on Android, access to the switches and the necessary functions can be done not by opening the status bar, but by tapping (clicking) on the icon in the right corner of the desktop.
Icons, wallpapers and widgets on the Android desktop
In addition to icons, the Android desktop may contain widgets, which are an informational element of the operating system interface. Widgets usually form installed programs. The widget allows you to display the necessary information on the desktop, without launching the corresponding application. For example, by placing a weather widget on the Android desktop, you can quickly find out the weather forecast without launching the application.
Android allows you to customize the appearance of the desktop very flexibly, by setting wallpaper and optimal placement of icons or widgets. To set / change wallpapers and place widgets, you need to enter edit mode by making a long tap on an empty spot on the desktop. To put the icon of the desired application on the desktop, you need to enter the application menu by pressing the central icon in the dock bar, and then make a long tap on the desired icon. To transfer an application icon to another desktop, simply click on the desired icon and, without releasing it, simply move it to the very edge of the desktop in a horizontal plane until it fits on the next desktop.
Flexible and intuitive customization of the appearance of the desktop is one of the strongest points of the Android OS.
One of the main features of Google Android OS is the possibility of free user personalization. No other mobile platform of our time can change the interface as much as Android. Changes require only some skills in working with the system and desire. If you are new to Android, this guide will teach you the basics of changing the look of Android.
Ways to customize an Android device
Sometimes installing a custom visual installer, also referred to as a launcher or launcher (from the English Launcher), is not difficult. And sometimes, in order to change the standard interface of the entire system, you have to resort to root (administrative rights), that is, you can replace and delete any wallpaper, icons and images by default. Don't like how the settings look because of the icons? Don't worry, they can be easily cut if the device is popular enough and has custom firmware.
Before you start
Any changes to the appearance and original settings of Android lead to a change in performance. Things like built-in live wallpapers, clocks, weather widgets and others will have a very negative impact on the speed of Android in general and on battery consumption. It depends on the number of additional features and animations, so be careful when choosing a visual shell. Think twice before installing live wallpapers, widgets and more. The more beautiful and cool visual effects on live wallpapers, the more they "eat off" the resources of the smartphone and waste battery power.
Also, do not forget that free applications of this kind often come with intrusive advertising. This is a necessary evil, since developers need something to live on. However, it is quite possible to get rid of it using our instructions.
Change the background on Android
Changing the background image is very easy. It is enough to open the context menu through the launcher menu or with a long tap on the display, select the picture you like from the list of default wallpapers or use your own photos or pictures from the gallery.
In addition, you can use free programs - online or offline wallpaper catalogs, specially optimized in terms of form factor / image volume for mobile devices. It is also recommended to use the following applications:
- Coveroid Wallpaper HD.
- Bless Wallpaper HD.
- HD Wallpapers.
- Wallpaper application.
- Zedge.
In some of them, in addition to the usual static wallpapers, there are also live wallpapers, Android games and ringtones.
We put live wallpapers for Android
Live wallpapers are the most beautiful way to change the look of your Android smartphone. Our site has a fairly extensive catalog of live wallpapers for Android.
- Material Design is great for styling under a clean version of Android.
- Circulux LWP will appeal to lovers of round shapes.
- Sky Islands LWP will make the background of your smartphone meditative, offering to admire the islands floating in the clouds.
- Weatherback Weather Wallpaper offers live, right on your desktop, to watch the weather outside the window.
- Awesome-Land Live wallpaper HD will appeal to wildlife lovers.
How to install live wallpapers on Android for different OS versions and launchers, read the link.
Customizing the lock screen
The lock screen is also an important part of the interface. And it is not only possible, but also necessary to be configured in such a way as to make the empty space as informative and useful as possible. To do this, there is a lot of software that allows you to display a huge number of useful things on the screen of a locked device - from displaying a news feed using Simple RSS, to an unlimited number of informative widgets when using the Extended Controls application.
Changing Icons on Android
An app icon pack that matches all desktop and menu icons to a single visual style can be a great way to transform your smartphone interface. For example, you can use these:
- Rondo transforms over 3,500 app icons into a stylish Material Design counterpart, along with background wallpapers.
- TAY will add shaded 3D icons to 1,800 apps to match dark themes.
- MIUI 5, as the name suggests, converts icons to those used in the shell from Xiaomi.
- Soul contains 2300 icons and is perfect for those who like to combine bright colors with dark frames.
At the same time, unlike full-fledged launchers, even the largest package of icons for programs will not use a large amount of system resources.
Installing widgets on the Android desktop
5) Deep interface change
Now the rest of the Android interface or themes. To completely change the graphical interface, you will need a custom firmware, root rights and a pre-installed theme changer (it can be found both in the applications section and in the main settings).
Samsung's interface is in great demand, the original interfaceMIUI And touchwizwhich will not be difficult to find. They are not in the Android store, but these themes are available for most popular devices. They are ported by fairly experienced users.
This issue is too broad to be covered in this article. In addition, the firmware methods depend on the device. You can find popular firmware and skins on Internet forums related to your device.
Attention!
Any changes to the appearance of "stock" and the original settings of Android lead to a change in performance. Things like built-in live wallpapers, clocks, weather widgets and others will have a very negative impact on the speed of Android in general and on battery consumption. It depends on the number of additional features and animations, so be careful when choosing a visual skin and think several times before installing live wallpapers, widgets, etc. The more beautiful and cool visual effects on live wallpapers, the more they "eat off" the resources of the smartphone and waste battery power.
The exception is live wallpapers without animation, which simply change the static background daily (this is what I use), for example
A fantastic number of all kinds of tablets and phones are based on the Android OS. Despite the fact that they are built around one operating system, the latter can be changed, and often beyond recognition. Why are we telling you all this? Since today we will talk about creating desktops, I would like to say right away that the process of adding desktops to Android can vary even on different devices of the same manufacturer. And it doesn’t even always matter which operating system you have installed, for example, 4.4.2 or 5.0.
Well, let's start. On stock Android 4.2.2, there is no feature to add tables at all, so you end up with five desktops that cannot be deleted.
To be honest, it's not very convenient, so companies that create their own launchers allow the user to choose how many desktops he can have.
If you are using, for example, a device from Samsung, then to add a desktop you need to pinch the screen and then you will be able to add / remove desktops. To add, click on the + (plus) icon, and to remove the desktop, drag it to the trash with the inscription "Delete".
On many launchers, such as Kcin Launcher, to create a desktop, you need to move the application icon to the side where the desktop has not yet been created. After that, the desktop will be created automatically.
Video instruction
Some launchers have a different system: in order to add a desktop, you need to tap on the desktop and hold until a menu appears. It will be possible to add a desktop to it.
As you can see, there is no single solution, it all depends on the launcher you are using.
