Andy Walker / Android Authority
I’ve had a blast using One UI 7 on my Galaxy phone. Now Bar has changed the way I juggle through playlists and monitor dishes in the oven, while its expanded Routines actions offers even more inventive ways of using its built-in automation feature. But one thing I’ve largely avoided until now was One UI Home. I’ve never been partial to stock launchers, but since I gave Pixel Launcher a fair chance and built a fairly productivity-minded home screen with it, it’s only right that I give One UI Home its spotlight.
I decided to use One UI Home as my primary launcher for a week, leaving behind the comfort of Kvaesitso for the wild west of Home Up and widget stacks. I soon learned that these features helped me build a sensible, efficient home screen environment.
Which do you prefer: One UI Home or a third-party launcher? 176 votes One UI Home. 76 % A third-party launcher (mention your favorite in the comments). 24 %
Turning my insane Samsung home screen into something sensible
Andy Walker / Android Authority
With the rollout of One UI 7, One UI Home has seen welcome changes. Finally, I have access to a vertically scrolling app list, which makes all the difference for someone like me. I’ve also embraced Home Up, a Good Lock module that removes more boundaries for those who love an everything-everywhere-all-at-once home screen experience. Unlike my colleague Ryan Haines, who experimented with this feature’s choice elements, I wanted to use it to bring more order to my home screen.
So, how did I accomplish this? Or at least, how did I plan to achieve this? Unlike my Pixel Launcher experiment, which sought to simplify the first screen I see on my phone to reduce distractions, my One UI Home main screen crams as much information as possible. I wanted to minimize procrastination by hiding social apps from the home screen and reducing my desire to constantly tinker. As a result, I limited myself to important widgets only, while frequently accessed apps are set in folders on the home screen.
This setup is widget-heavy, but the use of stacks brings thoughtful order to the madness.
I also ensured I maximized the gaps between various elements, giving each widget as much room as possible. This was somewhat possible through Home Up’s DIY Home feature. Beware, it’s in beta, so be prepared to encounter bugs. I sure did. I’ll mention my issues later. Nevertheless, I continued to embrace One UI Home’s features, particularly widget stacking. I used this feature to make the most of the available space without cluttering my view.
... continue reading