Android App Review - LauncherPro

LauncherPro
Android home screen replacement app

Developer:  Federico Carnales

Download:  AppBrain

I have a certain affinity for any piece of hardware or software that allows for customization, making something your own by streamlining it into a well-oiled machine.  A perfect example would be your computer's operating system.  You can change your wallpaper, move your icons around, or completely change the overall appearance of the interface.  The same holds true for your Android phone.

For most standard Android users, your phone usually comes with at least three, and up to five, home screens, easily flipped through by swiping your finger left or right.  These screens allow you to add, subtract, and rearrange all the apps and widgets you have installed on your device.  If customization is your bag, you've probably adorned your home screens with all your favorite apps and widgets, and have probably filled the available space to its capacity among all the screens.  This is just about the time you need LauncherPro.  The first big advantage to the app is that you can increase your screen count to seven.  With seven screens, you've suddenly got an immense amount of real estate to populate your apps and widgets.  Even some widgets that could take up an entire screen now can have their place without hindering screen space.  The app also allows for up to three separate, scrollable docks, with an increase in the icons available on each dock.  The icons that come with LauncherPro can even include notification capabilities (for instance, the Gmail icon can show the number of unread emails).

Another advantage is its very smooth scrolling between screens, docks, and within the replacement app drawer.  This is much improved over Android itself.  And if you're like me, and you have a lot of apps installed, this makes things much nicer.  Also, one of its many preference settings allows for a thumbnail view of all your screens at once.  Very handy.

Screenshots