[APP][2.2+][3 SEP 2012] FTL Launcher V3.1.3 - All resolutions - ICS compatible -

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lowveld

Inactive Recognized Developer
Nov 13, 2008
2,185
4,757
The Faster Than Light Launcher


Make no mistake, this is the fastest launcher you'll ever run. Small, light, configurable. The Gingerbread launcher as it should have been. No useless stuff, no compromises. Performance and usability are the driving forces here.


On version 3.0, most of the limitations on the Lite versions 2.x.x were removed. 3.0 Lite users have almost the full 2.x.x Pro specifications. 3.0 Pro users have a all new game to play now: The Pro version can use existing ADW, GoLauncher and LauncherPro Icon and Dock themes, giving FTL and unprecedented array of possible theming. You can even mix Dock and Icon themes from different launchers. Google Play is yours for the take.

The Lite version still has some of the configurable options pre-loaded that cannot be changed. A lot more stuff is configurable on the full version, check the Pro Version Extras feature list below. Performance or user experience are in no way impaired on the Lite version.

Important: FTL supports all resolutions and ICS, but only 800x480, 854x480, 960x540 and 480x320 devices have 3D drawer enabled! Also ICS has no 3D drawer because it does not contain the "old" opengl interface. But as it is natively accelerated anyway, 2D drawer should be very fast.


Lite Version Features:

- Tweaked for extreme speed and smoothness
- Fully accelerated 3D Waterfall app drawer
- Option to use "normal" 2D app drawer
- Choice between 3 and 5 icon Dock
- Configurable Support for launcher auto-rotation
- Configurable Infinite looping of homescreens
- Configurable support for scrollable widgets
- Configurable number of homescreens: from 1 to 9
- Configurable bounce effect on homescreen transitions
- Configurable wallpaper scrolling
- Configurable transition speed of homescreens
- Configurable default homescreen
- Configurable "swipe up" to one of the following:
*show homescreen previews
*open app drawer
*hide status bar
*show and hide status bar
*open and close dock bar
- Configurable Homescreen grid: From 4 to 6 rows


Pro Version Extras:

- Theming support: The Pro version can use existing ADW, GoLauncher and LauncherPro Icon and Dock themes, giving FTL and unprecedented array of possible theming.
- Configurable support for resizeable widgets: only when adding them to the homescreen, you cannot edit them later.
- Configurable Homescreen grid: From 4 to 6 rows, and 4 to 6 columns
- Configurable Dock icons size
- Configurable "swipe down" and "swipe down" independently to any of the following:
*show homescreen previews
*open app drawer
*hide status bar
*show and hide status bar
*open and close dock bar
- Includes anim speed: precise control over core Android windows/transition animation speed​


Basic Instructions:

- On first boot, homescreens will be empty. Long-press anywhere and start adding stuff!
- You can add/change the shortcuts on the dock bar: Long-press the place you want, and wait for the a popup to show, allowing you to choose what activity you want there.
- You can uninstall apps directly from the homescreen: long press the shortcut (even in the app drawer), drag it to the trash can that appears where the dock was. If you drop it immediately FTL will only remove the shortcut, but if you wait a bit before droping, FTL will offer to uninstall the app.


Download link from Google Play:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lowveld.ftllauncherlite

Try it, you won't regret it!
 

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Last edited:

bondx99

Senior Member
Aug 17, 2011
119
34
Navi Mumbai
fast is an understatement for homescreen switching of this launcher :)..can u make the app drawer with grid view as fast as the home screen transitions? that would be legendary!..n ya add screen previews for homescreens, we are on android not ios :D
 
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lowveld

Inactive Recognized Developer
Nov 13, 2008
2,185
4,757
it does not work well on my xperia mini st15i..:mad:i am not able to access all apps in app drawer...:eek:
is this for higher resolution device...??:confused:

Sorry mate,

Currently it is for HDPI devices, 480x800 screens. It should be filtered by the market, I'll check it out.

But I'll try to add MDPI support in the future! Thanks for the heads up!

Cheers
 
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lowveld

Inactive Recognized Developer
Nov 13, 2008
2,185
4,757
fast is an understatement for homescreen switching of this launcher :)..can u make the app drawer with grid view as fast as the home screen transitions? that would be legendary!..n ya add screen previews for homescreens, we are on android not ios :D

Longpress the appdrawer icon on the dock for screen previews. :)

Cheers
 

apx@dwx

Senior Member
Nov 10, 2011
235
156
Ulm
good work, but can u explain why FLT need rights to call numbers / read personal contacts?
 

lowveld

Inactive Recognized Developer
Nov 13, 2008
2,185
4,757
good work, but can u explain why FLT need rights to call numbers / read personal contacts?

The permissions are the standard one from the stock launcher, plus the WRITE_SETTINGS for configurations.

Those you are asking about is to be able to add contact shortcuts to the homescreens and calling from there.

Cheer!
 
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crescal

Senior Member
Oct 6, 2010
579
106
Hong Kong
lowveld thanks for developing this for us:D
don't mean to put you down, but i think there will be countless requests about new features and AFAIK merging new features might bring the speen down... so it'll be a hard way to develop a new launcher (given that there are many counterparts in market)
 

lowveld

Inactive Recognized Developer
Nov 13, 2008
2,185
4,757
lowveld thanks for developing this for us:D
don't mean to put you down, but i think there will be countless requests about new features and AFAIK merging new features might bring the speen down... so it'll be a hard way to develop a new launcher (given that there are many counterparts in market)

Don't worry mate:

No compromises!

I will not add stuff that brings performance down, nor will I turn this on some GoLauncher clone or such.

This is my personal vision of what a launcher should be like. Of course there's still some stuff missing that I really want to get working.

Cheers
 
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eyahl

Senior Member
Jan 11, 2012
1,070
336
berlin
good work, but can u explain why FLT need rights to call numbers / read personal contacts?

Because of that you have the possibility to call numbers and read personal contacts. For me those are necessary functions :)

@lowveld: great work, but for me it's useless without widgets. What about calendar, weather, messages, email? I know everyone is telling you what's still missing, and I don't want you to implement this right now. But did you even thought about any widgets? :)


Sent from my HTC Desire S using XDA App
 

lowveld

Inactive Recognized Developer
Nov 13, 2008
2,185
4,757
FTL - widget support

Because of that you have the possibility to call numbers and read personal contacts. For me those are necessary functions :)

@lowveld: great work, but for me it's useless without widgets. What about calendar, weather, messages, email? I know everyone is telling you what's still missing, and I don't want you to implement this right now. But did you even thought about any widgets? :)


Sent from my HTC Desire S using XDA App

Ok guys,

This can be hard, specially when you're used to Sense, but FTL, or any other non-sense launcher, does not support Sense widgets.

So you can only use standard android widgets with this. Anything out of the market, not written specifically for a given launcher (hint, go Launcher widgets) will work.

Personally, I use Android Pro Widgets for contacts, calendar, facebook and etc, check it out, it's really good. Also, FTL supports native widget scrolling, which makes APW even better!

Cheers
 

eyahl

Senior Member
Jan 11, 2012
1,070
336
berlin
Ok guys,

This can be hard, specially when you're used to Sense, but FTL, or any other non-sense launcher, does not support Sense widgets.

So you can only use standard android widgets with this. Anything out of the market, not written specifically for a given launcher (hint, go Launcher widgets) will work.

Personally, I use Android Pro Widgets for contacts, calendar, facebook and etc, check it out, it's really good. Also, FTL supports native widget scrolling, which makes APW even better!

Cheers

Okay however :)
problem solved
http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=22344069&postcount=2344


Sent from my HTC Desire S using XDA App
 

Tom.K

Senior Member
Dec 22, 2011
342
97
I would rather like to have this launcher for X10 mini pro, which is QVGA 320x240... I still didn't saw any kind of "smooth" launcher just for that small screen...
 

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  • 49
    The Faster Than Light Launcher


    Make no mistake, this is the fastest launcher you'll ever run. Small, light, configurable. The Gingerbread launcher as it should have been. No useless stuff, no compromises. Performance and usability are the driving forces here.


    On version 3.0, most of the limitations on the Lite versions 2.x.x were removed. 3.0 Lite users have almost the full 2.x.x Pro specifications. 3.0 Pro users have a all new game to play now: The Pro version can use existing ADW, GoLauncher and LauncherPro Icon and Dock themes, giving FTL and unprecedented array of possible theming. You can even mix Dock and Icon themes from different launchers. Google Play is yours for the take.

    The Lite version still has some of the configurable options pre-loaded that cannot be changed. A lot more stuff is configurable on the full version, check the Pro Version Extras feature list below. Performance or user experience are in no way impaired on the Lite version.

    Important: FTL supports all resolutions and ICS, but only 800x480, 854x480, 960x540 and 480x320 devices have 3D drawer enabled! Also ICS has no 3D drawer because it does not contain the "old" opengl interface. But as it is natively accelerated anyway, 2D drawer should be very fast.


    Lite Version Features:

    - Tweaked for extreme speed and smoothness
    - Fully accelerated 3D Waterfall app drawer
    - Option to use "normal" 2D app drawer
    - Choice between 3 and 5 icon Dock
    - Configurable Support for launcher auto-rotation
    - Configurable Infinite looping of homescreens
    - Configurable support for scrollable widgets
    - Configurable number of homescreens: from 1 to 9
    - Configurable bounce effect on homescreen transitions
    - Configurable wallpaper scrolling
    - Configurable transition speed of homescreens
    - Configurable default homescreen
    - Configurable "swipe up" to one of the following:
    *show homescreen previews
    *open app drawer
    *hide status bar
    *show and hide status bar
    *open and close dock bar
    - Configurable Homescreen grid: From 4 to 6 rows


    Pro Version Extras:

    - Theming support: The Pro version can use existing ADW, GoLauncher and LauncherPro Icon and Dock themes, giving FTL and unprecedented array of possible theming.
    - Configurable support for resizeable widgets: only when adding them to the homescreen, you cannot edit them later.
    - Configurable Homescreen grid: From 4 to 6 rows, and 4 to 6 columns
    - Configurable Dock icons size
    - Configurable "swipe down" and "swipe down" independently to any of the following:
    *show homescreen previews
    *open app drawer
    *hide status bar
    *show and hide status bar
    *open and close dock bar
    - Includes anim speed: precise control over core Android windows/transition animation speed​


    Basic Instructions:

    - On first boot, homescreens will be empty. Long-press anywhere and start adding stuff!
    - You can add/change the shortcuts on the dock bar: Long-press the place you want, and wait for the a popup to show, allowing you to choose what activity you want there.
    - You can uninstall apps directly from the homescreen: long press the shortcut (even in the app drawer), drag it to the trash can that appears where the dock was. If you drop it immediately FTL will only remove the shortcut, but if you wait a bit before droping, FTL will offer to uninstall the app.


    Download link from Google Play:

    https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lowveld.ftllauncherlite

    Try it, you won't regret it!
    4
    more and more features included, im worried this will turn into a GO LAUNCHER alike

    so many features requested, from people from GO LAUNCHER? :D

    No need to get offensive... :p

    Now seriously, up to now every feature added as no impact on performance, and that's my main concern. I don't mind adding stuff, as long as it is useful and does not bloat.

    Even the theming was done in a way that it has no impact whatsoever on runtime performance.

    But for full disclosure, here are my intended next steps for FTL, in no particular importance order, and definitely with no timeline or ETA associated:

    - Fix the drawer always starting at "A". There's a guy always *****ing about this :)
    - Improve the swipe up and down actions to be more configurable (like launching apps and whatnot)
    - On the theming side, find a way to change individual icons
    - completely re-do the dock code to allow more stuff
    - Add a configurable app filter, or some sort of means to build personalized app lists to use on the drawers

    Notice that stuff like "horizontal scrolling drawers" is not on the list. Not that it won't be on the future, but I honestly don't consider it a priority. Also over-the-top effects are not, and will probably never be on the list.

    Bottom line, apart from the items I mentioned, I'm very much pleased with FTL V3.

    Cheers
    4
    New release V1.4.0 is out

    So, new version is out, but for now only full version. Sorry guys, I will of course update the Lite version also during the weekend, but I have to get some sleep...

    Also the drawer starting always at the top of the list is still there, won't be that easy to change that.

    Changelog:
    - Configurable Homescreen grid: From 4 to 6 rows, and 4 to 6 columns (must restart FTL for changes to take effect!)
    - Configurable size of Dock icons
    - Confirmed Froyo support

    Cheers
    4
    This launcher is much faster, and works better on my Infuse 4g than adw ex. Will enjoy seeing it's progress! Thank you for a great product.

    Thanks!

    hi,

    Immediately bought it! What a nice app! Is it ok that i make a request?

    - folders in app drawer
    - resizing of widgets

    regards

    Sure it's ok to make requests, it's the all point of this thread: Listen to users and what they want.

    Unfortunately what you are asking will not be in next version. But resizable dock icons and configurable desktop grid will.

    Cheers
    4
    Version 3.0.0 is out

    Ok guys,

    This has been a long time in the oven. On version 3.0, most of the limitations on the Lite versions 2.x.x were removed. 3.0 Lite users have almost the full 2.x.x Pro specifications.
    3.0 Pro users have a all new game to play now: The Pro version can use existing ADW, GoLauncher and LauncherPro Icon and Dock themes, giving FTL and unprecedented array of possible theming. You can even mix Dock and Icon themes from different launchers. Google Play is yours for the take., just download the themes and apply.


    Here's the current feature list:


    Lite Version Features:

    - Tweaked for extreme speed and smoothness
    - Fully accelerated 3D Waterfall app drawer
    - Option to use "normal" 2D app drawer
    - Choice between 3 and 5 icon Dock
    - Configurable Support for launcher auto-rotation
    - Configurable Infinite looping of homescreens
    - Configurable support for scrollable widgets
    - Configurable number of homescreens: from 1 to 9
    - Configurable bounce effect on homescreen transitions
    - Configurable wallpaper scrolling
    - Configurable transition speed of homescreens
    - Configurable default homescreen
    - Configurable "swipe up" to open app drawer
    - Configurable Homescreen grid: From 4 to 6 rows


    Pro Version Extras:

    - Theming support: The Pro version can use existing ADW, GoLauncher and LauncherPro Icon and Dock themes, giving FTL and unprecedented array of possible theming.
    - Configurable support for resizeable widgets: only when adding them to the homescreen, you cannot edit them later.
    - Configurable Homescreen grid: From 4 to 6 rows, and 4 to 6 columns
    - Configurable Dock icons size
    - Configurable "swipe down" to pull notification bar
    - Includes anim speed: precise control over core Android windows/transition animation speed​

    Hope you enjoy!

    Cheers