TouchWiz irradication

Christo

Christo

Christo

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Hi,
I am about to buy an S7 but dislike touchwiz and the Samsung settings menu/pull down window. I don't want to install a custom rom etc (I just want a stable easy to use phone). Anyway my plan is to install novalauncher however this doesnt take care of the horrible white pulldown window and settings menu. Anyone know of an app/way of modifying/using alternatives?

Thanks!
Chris
 
Christo said:
What a great suggestion ;)
Click to expand...

While you may take it as being sarcastic, I was being serious. TouchWiz is the reason I don't buy Samsung phones, and HTC Sense got tedious too.

I shifted to stock Android on a few Nexus devices and now I steer my choices towards as pure an Android as I can find. I'm on an OPX now which is pretty much pure Android with some tweaks (not all of them good, mind).

Perhaps see what else there is available that isn't Samsung? I doubt the S7 has much in it that you can't get elsewhere. I'd always shunt a device with an annoying UI quite a long way down my desireable phones list, regardless of hardware specs.
 
It's very easy to just install Nova Launcher from the app store and never have to worry about Touchwiz ever again. :) It's as close as you will get to a stock Google experience and vastly improved performance.
 
Muska said:
It's very easy to just install Nova Launcher from the app store and never have to worry about Touchwiz ever again. :) It's as close as you will get to a stock Google experience and vastly improved performance.
Click to expand...
That's not the case though... There are plenty parts of the ui Nova cannot adjust which leaves touchwiz lurking underneath.
Custom ROM is the only way to be free of it. Or don't buy a Samsung.
 
Its the pull down menu, how ofen do you actually use it? its functional and it works - dont even worry about it. Stick nova on there by all means but you are doing something wrong if you're finding you spend most of your time in the settings or pull down menus.
 
I'm an android dev, you can't change that unless you flash another rom (which includes unlocking the bootlader and flashing a different recovery mode).

Touchwiz is ok, it's not a resource hog anymore and has some nice features. That said, if you don't physically like the look you'll have to buy another phone.

My main issue with Samsung is they are very slow at releasing android updates. If you care about the latest software, buy a Nexus.

The only thing I could perhaps suggest, is using the samsung themes. I think there used to be a material design theme but can't remember if it changed everything or just the icons.
 
Good Lock by Samsung replaces the pulldown with a condensed and default android 2 finger pull down which is more functional than default android alone. There's light / dark 6.x themes in the theme app, Do nova for the rest.
 
james.miller said:
Its the pull down menu, how ofen do you actually use it? its functional and it works - dont even worry about it. Stick nova on there by all means but you are doing something wrong if you're finding you spend most of your time in the settings or pull down menus.
Click to expand...

Android is moving to feature rich notifications allowing a lot of actions from within the notification shade, so people are going to spend more and more time there.
 
TW and Samsung have been improving with each iteration of flagship device. TW (5.1.1) is bearable and smooth as hell on my Note4 and equal to my 6P which can throw a laggy fit at random moments. Updates wise, I can't see anything changing really.

Nova helps greatly though you could root the S7 and installed Xposed and various modules to enhance your control over the OS - if Xposed is available that is. I used it to completely tweak the ugly notification shade colours on my Note4. Installing a custom rom means you lose access to that superb camera so I've no idea if that's something you want to sacrifice.

There is a neat, small app called AC Display on the playstore that offers quite a neat lockscreen. Can't remember if root is required or not though.
 
Skeeter said:
While you may take it as being sarcastic, I was being serious. TouchWiz is the reason I don't buy Samsung phones, and HTC Sense got tedious too.

I shifted to stock Android on a few Nexus devices and now I steer my choices towards as pure an Android as I can find. I'm on an OPX now which is pretty much pure Android with some tweaks (not all of them good, mind).

Perhaps see what else there is available that isn't Samsung? I doubt the S7 has much in it that you can't get elsewhere. I'd always shunt a device with an annoying UI quite a long way down my desireable phones list, regardless of hardware specs.
Click to expand...

To be fair it is quite an anal way to look at things, But I am exactly the same! :)

Software is what I look for in a phone. Especially appearance & the way it flows together.

Maybe just try the dark theme from the Samsung store if it is only the white you don't like.
 
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You can change the colour of the pull down menu and settings menu by picking a different theme, mine is grey (material dark theme), so that's a non-issue.

TouchWiz was the reason I've always avoided Samsung and stuck with Nexus devices, but I was pleasantly surprised, I didn't put Nova on for a few weeks and was very happy with it.
 
Skeeter said:
While you may take it as being sarcastic, I was being serious. TouchWiz is the reason I don't buy Samsung phones, and HTC Sense got tedious too.

I shifted to stock Android on a few Nexus devices and now I steer my choices towards as pure an Android as I can find. I'm on an OPX now which is pretty much pure Android with some tweaks (not all of them good, mind).

Perhaps see what else there is available that isn't Samsung? I doubt the S7 has much in it that you can't get elsewhere. I'd always shunt a device with an annoying UI quite a long way down my desireable phones list, regardless of hardware specs.
Click to expand...

And that is one of the reasons I haven't bought a Samsung phone previously. Yet I specifically mentioned I am buying an S7 hence my not massively helpful ;). (I have heavily researched phones - the S7 simply is the best phone around at the moment - this from someone that hates large phones). I get your Touchwiz hatred!
 
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glen8 said:
I'm an android dev, you can't change that unless you flash another rom (which includes unlocking the bootlader and flashing a different recovery mode).

Touchwiz is ok, it's not a resource hog anymore and has some nice features. That said, if you don't physically like the look you'll have to buy another phone.

My main issue with Samsung is they are very slow at releasing android updates. If you care about the latest software, buy a Nexus.

The only thing I could perhaps suggest, is using the samsung themes. I think there used to be a material design theme but can't remember if it changed everything or just the icons.
Click to expand...

Thanks Glen, I think the trade off of the functionality and look of the phone itself outweighs the UI. Deffo not up for flashing, I am done with that sort of tinkering these days - theme it is. Appreciate the advice!
 
"Material Dark" for... dark, "Android 6.0" for light.

Dark is nicer really, especially on AMOLED.

Or install Good Lock from the Galaxy Store, which gives a more feature rich than stock pulldown, but looking like an evolved stock UI.
 
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