launcher

I'm a big fan of any program that saves me time. And because I spend most of my day in front of a PC, the best time-savers are those that cut down on keystrokes and mouse clicks.

ActiveWords Plus cuts them down considerably. This insanely handy Windows utility performs a variety of time-saving functions, including substituting text, opening files and programs, loading favorite Web sites, and more.

It normally sells for $49.95 (which should tell you something about how robust this tool is), but for a limited time, as part of a Cheapskate exclusive, you can get ActiveWords Plus for $29.95.… Read more

Book publishers offer large-print editions for elderly readers and people with vision problems.

Now there's a "large-print" interface for Android: Big Launcher.

This ingenious app replaces the stock home screen with one that's large, easy to read, and easy to operate. That makes it a good choice not just for seniors, the eyesight-challenged, and the tech-unsavvy, but also folks who like to mount their phones on their car dashboards.

True to its name, Big Launcher provides an interface that's, well, big. In place of Android's usual assortment of small icons and even smaller icon … Read more

Looking for a way to access your favorite Windows applications and files quickly? Well, Qsel from Horst Schaeffer's Software Pages just might be the app for you. The simple tool, which is both free and portable, is capable of creating an unlimited number of categories with individualized launcher window settings.

Qsel, which can also be used for documents and other file types, needs no installation. Just extract it and it's ready to go. The tool has a very simple interface that is easy to understand. All you need to do is drag and drop apps or files to … Read more

Sprint and HTC are gearing up for a big announcement. Linux and Android's not-so-secret affair goes public, and the Galaxy S II plus one equals Galaxy S III. We will check out the latest rumors surrounding what could be the next big phone on this week's episode of Android Atlas Weekly.

NEWS:

-Samsung Galaxy S III image could be the real thing

-Samsung-Galaxy-SIII-to-allow-for-wireless-charging-up-to-2-meters-away/

-Sprint and HTC hosting big event April 4

-Linux and Android together at last… Read more

Pin It

At this point, you might be tired of waiting for an ICS update for your Android. Or worse, your device might not be on the list of phones receiving the update. In either case, you can now snag some of that ICS awesomeness by using Phoenix Launcher on your phone. This app will add the ICS launcher to your Gingerbread device, giving you the look and (possibly) feel of using Android's newest flavor.

Note: Launchers on Android will allow you to change the way you interact with the Home screens of your device. The arrangement of docked … Read more

Creating an NFC tag that allows customers, friends, or even yourself to quickly check in to a venue on Foursquare is easy.

To begin, you will need an NFC-capable device, some blank NFC tags, and an app to write to the tags. In a previous post, I went over where to find the tags and what app to use if you are on Android.

Today, I will be using the same app, NFC Task Launcher, on the Galaxy Nexus to program the tag for a Foursquare check-in.

Before we can program the tag to initiate a check-in, we will need … Read more

It's starting to look like NFC tags are going to be all the rage soon.

Between Sony and rumors of Apple working with MasterCard, NFC is going to go mainstream. So why wait? If you already have an NFC-capable device, you can start using NFC around your home or office, and have fun with it while you're at it.

To program an NFC tag, you will need an Android device with NFC capabilities. You will also need some NFC tags, which appear to be nothing more than a sticker on the outside, as well as an app that … Read more

Not sure what an application launcher does? It's basically a tool to organize shortcuts to applications, and some can even disable the appearance of your Start menu and Taskbar. 

Below are three launcher programs, each providing a different experience and list of functions but all acting as alternatives to what Windows has to offer.

The first alternative on the list is a small, open-source launcher. Some degree of customization is built into the program in the form of skins and icon packs. While only two skins are available with the installation, several more are available for download … Read more

A launcher for Android handles the way you interact with your phone. It decides where you can put your app icons, and how the touch menus interact with the user. Basically, it's what decides that your App Drawer button should look like a group of dots, or that your browser icon should be a round globe.

If you've had an Android phone for a long time you might want to try different launcher applications to switch things up. Alternatively, if you're converting from a Windows Phone 7, one app can make the transition quite a bit easier. … Read more