[Android General] ronbo76:
ICS Holo Launcher threads here on xda with links for direct downloads

I may not be the Master on the launcher issue, but yesterday I got a working man's knowledge on it. And, when I say that, I mean I could probably teach holo launchers as an entry level college class. Basically, it appears that are several Holo Launchers available on google play. There is a user, mobint, here on xda who seems to be a Master on developing them. Here is what I learn after scanning several pages both here and on google play (if you visit the xda pages, thank the author and perhaps subscribe to it via the thread button at the top):

Holo Launcher Plus

http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=25693967&postcount=1

Holo Launcher HD

http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=29434334&postcount=1

Holo Launcher installation

Note:

The widgets tab can only work on rooted devices (install as system app) or Jelly Bean devices (root not required).

Or you may also move the APK file to the /system/app directory manually and reboot the device.

How to install it as system app:

adb remount

adb push HoloLauncherHD.apk /system/app

Maybe someone smarter on adb can tell me how to do those commands???

ronbo's Thoughts:

There are least four holo launchers out there. The only ones I will speak are the ones we have seen with ICS 4.0 and the ROMs I am familiar with. If you take a look at the attached pictures you will see the homescreen and apps screen that is commonly distributed with ICS. The pictures are courtesy of mobint and his Holo Launcher installaton apks can be downloaded directly from the xda linked threads above.

If you look at the homescreen, it has the familiar five apps on the home row that will appear on all screens. The second picture shows a common apps screen page.

Now, for a key difference my friend's launcher was vastly different.

1. Its home row only had four apps and the rightmost one could not be removed/replaced as it is apps screen launcher on the homescreen and homescreen return app on the apps screens.

2. At the top of each screen was a number which indicated other than indicating one, two, three, etc did not tell the user much.

3. On the Holo Launcer available here and my ROM, that info on the apps screen takes the form of these labels at the top of the screen - APPS and WIDGETS.

4. It appears that launcher included with my friend's June 19 either was crippled, modified or possibly installed wrong. There was no widget screen with the ability to move/copy widgets to one of the homescreens.

5. The app icons were different and reminded me of old school apple icons.

6. Apps did not remain in alphabethically order when the System button was depressed and the sort choice made.

7. Apps would disappear from each apps screen after leaving the apps screen and discovering missing upon a return to the apps screen. The rightmost app in the lower corner (not the homerow) would be missing.

8. While it appears that this holo launcher was installed as a system app, either it is modified, crippled or not fully developed. It might have been initially flashed on a non-rooted ROM.

FINAL THOUGHTS

After seeing my friend's launcher and the problems it had in terms of not having a widget screen and apps disappearing, for lack of better words - it blows big chunks and is not liked.

Bottom line - I would download mobint's apks from his xda pages and install them as system apps on rooted phones.

@Tony - If you see a thread on unclemobile concerning this, could you read it please? I wonder if any users there have identified the problems I saw and which might have been what forever1212 saw. Could you please comment there on these problems/issues and you are free to paste my thoughts there as yours.