Free and inexpensive launchers help you get the user experience you want on an Android mobile phone.
Google’s mobile phone platform, Android, can be customized in a number of ways so users get the experience they want.
One way to customize your Android mobile phone is to change the Launcher — the part of the Android user interface that lets you customize the home screen (e.g. the phone s desktop). Launcher is built into Android but you can replace the default Launcher to change the way you launch mobile apps, make phone calls, and perform other tasks on Android mobile phones.
There are a number of Launchers available for download in the Android Market. Most Launchers are inexpensive or completely free to use. Here are five free Android Launchers you can download from the Android Market.
5 Free Android Launchers to Try
1. Launcher Pro
Developed by Federico Carnales, the app offers many different options for customization and smooth scrolling. The app supports icon packs, skinnable widget, homescreen transition effects and more. If you like Launcher Pro, this developer also offers LauncherPro Plus Unlocker. This app unlocks the Plus features in LauncherPro.
2. ADWLauncher
Developed by AnderWeb, ADWLauncher is a free app lets you tweak your Andoid desktop with a customizable application drawer (old one or iphone/galaxy one), customizable drag & drop action buttons and Dockbar app-drawer button and more.
3. Sketch Theme GO Launcher EX
Designed by the GO Launcher Dev Team, this Launcher is a sketch theme with a papery look, Childhood and simple style, covers icons, wallpaper, folders interface and app drawer. Fourteen lucid icons, covers the main apps of the phone such as dial, SMS, email and so on.
4. Launcher 7
Developed by Timo Kujala, Launcher 7 is designed to make your Android phone look like Winphone 7. This app lets you modify your start screen with a simple long press on a tile and drag where you want. Features include 1×1, 2×1 and 1×2 tiles with configurable colors, animated contacts, pinnable contact tile, folder tiles and more. There is also an ad-free version of Launcher 7 available.
5. Crazy Home Lite
Developed by CrazyDude Productions, this Android Launcher is a screen replacement with 3 separate desktops with up to 5 screens available for each. Some features include icon customization, Live Wallpapers, app dock, Hide apps from your app drawer and backup/restore settings.
This article was originally published on January 11, 2012
