Android 2.0+ Let’s face it people, the stock Android launcher is straight up boring. You can’t configure it, and on most phones, you can’t have more than 3 home screens. Luckily, LauncherPro [Market link] has arrived, and although it’s very similar to Helix, it’s got some strengths of its own. The first thing I noticed was the speed – this thing is blazing fast. Everything from sliding through the screens to pulling up the app drawer is much faster than stock. Let’s check it out after the break.
For all you dock bar fanatics, fear not; it’s there, complete with phone, contact, e-mail, and web shortcuts. Unfortunately, you can’t customize it with your own apps, but it will open whatever software you have set as default. Before you grunt and immediately dismiss this as a contender for your phone, realize that it’s still in beta, and you can bet that more customizations are on the way.
If you’re a widget freak like myself, then a mere three screens just ain’t gonna cut it. LauncherPro lets you have three, five or seven home screens, and also lets you choose which one out of the seven will be your default home. To adjust the screen settings, simply hit menu and go to preferences where you can adjust it to your liking. Another useful gimmick this launcher has is when you hit the “home” key at your default home screen, all of your screens will appear, just like the “Leap” feature in HTC’s Sense UI.
The app drawer produces a slick “fly-in” effect which is a copycat version of the N1, except without the 3D. You’ll notice that the scrolling is very responsive and produces virtually zero lag.
The bottom line is that this launcher is probably the fastest on the market, however, its current lack of customization (if you’re using Google Voice for text messages, you’re out of luck here) is holding it back from taking the number-one spot. Be sure to keep your ear to the street, because this home replacement has potential.