Until the new Dell Stage made its custom ROM debut on StreakDroid 1.9.0 for the Dell Streak last month, I wasn't a big fan of the company's widget-based user interface and home launcher. I use the new version now because it's been greatly improved since the original, but ADW.Launcher was previously a permanent fixture on my Streak, and I still use ADWLauncher EX on my Streak 7.
Even though I'm happy with my current choices, I still like to try new launchers because there could always be something better out there. The recently released VTL.Launcher ($2.99) by VT Labs may not be categorically better, but it's based on ADW.Launcher (it even supports most ADW themes) so it's already got a rock-solid foundation and many of the same features.
What makes VTL.Launcher particularly unique—other than that it was specifically designed with landscape tablets like our Streaks in mind—is that it includes three individually customizable docks (bottom, left, right).
Overkill? Maybe, but the depth of customization is excellent (background, reflection, icon size, etc.) and there's enough space to dock all of your favorite apps, keeping them off to the side so there's plenty of room in the middle of your home screens for widgets, widgets, and more widgets.
Other highlights include:
- Elastic scrolling
- Customizable dock sizes according to screen orientation
- Add/Remove bottom dock
- User folders for shortcuts
- Custom icons for folders and apps
- 1 to 7 home screen with Sense-like previews
- Catalogs for organizing apps in app drawers
- Long-press uninstall on trashcan
- Hide icon labels on home screens
- Widget size spanning
- Home screen orientation lock
You can get VTL.Launcher (version 1.6.2) free from XDA or for $2.99 in the Market.
[xda-developers]
