I notice that e/OSs’ own Blisslauncher annoys quite a few people, and several threads has been made with a negative approach to Bliss. For former android users, alternative launchers may be well known, but for former iphone users, such as myself, the idea may be new. It took me a few months to realize that there were other launchers available, and to settle for a setup I felt comfortable with.
Therefore I’d like to turn the topic of launchers around with a positive spin: show off your customized launcher setups to show the vast possibilities of launchers on e/OS!
I’ll start first: I use Lawnchair, a black wallpaper, with white Arcticons icons pack, privacy/trackers widget, calendar widget, date/media player widget, app drawer.
What are your solutions, and what are your favourite widgets?
Screenshots are nice for inspiration, but descriptions are interesting too if you don’t want to share your homescreen.
the home screen is the second from the left in the top row showing my most used apps and a dock on the right with my five “communication apps”
on the left I have a dynamic widget (RecentApp) with the latest used apps (currently it’s fullscreen, of course I don’t need such a long list, ten items would be enough, I’m still testing with that)
the first on the right is a fullscreen calendar widget (Todo Agenda, compatible with the stock Calendar) showing the next events, birthdays and also days with no events (I find this important to see how many time is still available until a concrete event happens), this fullscreen agenda is one of my most productive things, every event just a swipe away, I can suggest this
the second on the right contains a weather widget (Prognoza) and a wifi widget (WiFi Widget)
the fifth on the bottom is the app drawer provided by the launcher containing all installed apps
Since productivity doesn’t come from pages full of icons I’m interested in proper widgets, each doing something which supports a typical task of daily life.
Yesterday I found Bluetooth Widget (in App Lounge) …
… which finally allows switching Bluetooth ON and OFF again with just one simple tap. The Quick Settings tile on A15 brings up an idiotic dialog which is rather thought for finding and coupling new devices, not respecting the fact that you hundred times more often just want to switch it ON or OFF instead of searching new devices. Because of that you need now three taps instead of one, also for switching OFF.
I’m using Be nice to have a “clean” UI, many options but still not perfect from my POV. At least it seems well maintained, with extra features added from time to time.
In my case, I use only two panels and the second one is full with my weather (Breezy Weather, best widgets ever), music player (Musicolet) and calendar widgets (Proton Calendar and Todo Agenda for the native one).
On my main panel I have my most used icons and a Date/Time widget (Seven Time, very configurable). I use Lawnchair and Arcticons Material You in combination with a wallpaper changer app called Paperize, which also means the icons get their accent color following the current wallpaper. I use a local folder with more than 160 images, no online shit. I love this setup, have had it for years.
