flashing stock Android onto Note 4

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nathan

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#161726 17-Jan-2015 18:27

I got a Note 4. I'm hating TouchWiz etc, its laggy, its ugly, I don't know why they ship it on this device.

Is there a way for me to remove that and just run stock without tripping Knox blah blah

Sorry if this is a FAQ I'm no expert on flashing Android ROMs

Thx

jeffnz

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#1216637 17-Jan-2015 18:31

Try Nova Launcher you don't need root. I've been on it for years.

PS. I won't say anything about you have a Note Nathan

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nathan

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#1216643 17-Jan-2015 18:40

thanks!

research purposes :P

jeffnz

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#1216648 17-Jan-2015 18:44

nathan: thanks!

research purposes :P

plenty of other launchers available but try that one first then have a look at others if it does what you want. Failing that any stock Sammy Rom will have TW, there are custom roms available that you can flash without tripping knox but if its just the launcher I try that avenue first.

Research, of course silly me

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Dairyxox

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#1216655 17-Jan-2015 18:53

Related Question:
Does installing google launcher 'deactivate' or remove touchwiz? Because this is a piece of cake.

OR

Is touchwiz more than just the launcher?

Andib

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#1216678 17-Jan-2015 19:32

Unfortantly you will lose the best features of the pen if you do flash stock android. Your best option is to install a seperate launcher such as Nova

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richms

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#1216684 17-Jan-2015 19:51

I never use the pen. I only have a note because its big and has decentish specs.

In saying that I havent had any speed problems with the stock launcher, its the app switcher that is craptasticly slow on the note, and I dont think changing the launcher will do anything to solve that.

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#1216699 17-Jan-2015 20:38

I used to used Apex Launcher as it had a few features I liked. Whether Nova is smoother / less laggy / less buggy I cannot advise ...

nzgeek

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#1216844 18-Jan-2015 10:20

Dairyxox: Is touchwiz more than just the launcher?

It is more than just the launcher. TouchWiz is the name given to Samsung's skin for the Android operating system. It changes the look of pretty much every core system component and most of the standard apps. That's assuming they haven't taken a standard app and replaced it with an arguably inferior version (e.g calendar > S-Planner).

Personally, I am not a fan of TouchWiz. For some aspects of the design, it seems like the designers were given a box of crayons instead of proper design tools. Other bits have been heavily influenced by other products. From a design standpoint, it's inconsistent and a bit of a mess. I haven't seen the S5's version of TouchWiz yet, and it may have improved slightly, but the S4's version was pretty bad.

@nathan: If warranty is a concern for you, stick with TouchWiz. Use a custom launcher, and check the Play Store to see which of the stock apps Google have made available. This will reduce the amount of TouchWiz you're exposed to. There will still be some bits you can't change, like the lock screen and task switcher, so you may need to live with those for now. Either that, or just forego your warranty and make the jump.

jeffnz

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#1217074 18-Jan-2015 19:19

any news on the launchers or still not what you are after Nathan

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NZtechfreak

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#1217110 18-Jan-2015 20:27

Personally I think stock Android would make the Note worse. TouchWiz and Samsung's additions have issues, but also adds value in a lot of areas.

I'm on Nova, Swiftkey with the Lollipop theme, exDialler also with the teal Lollipop theme (covering dialer and contacts apps), Sliding Messaging for text app (I think the same dev now devotes more time to EvolveSMS, so I'd get that now), PowerAMP instead of stock music player, Timely for alarms etc... With a lot of Google's own apps updated to material design (maps, inbox) as well it barely feels like I'm on TouchWiz at all apart from the bits I actually like.

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nathan

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#1217112 18-Jan-2015 20:30

jeffnz: any news on the launchers or still not what you are after Nathan

haven't had a chance yet, too busy playing with Windows "Threshold" on my WP phones this weekend, will try in next couple of days ;)

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#1217119 18-Jan-2015 20:37

Much the same as NZtechfreak here, but use Action Launcher Pro 2 for a launcher with my Note 3. Nova Prime went on the day I got the Note, but AL Pro 2 has been my preference for quite some time now.

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NZtechfreak

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#1217865 19-Jan-2015 20:41

BigHammer: Much the same as NZtechfreak here, but use Action Launcher Pro 2 for a launcher with my Note 3. Nova Prime went on the day I got the Note, but AL Pro 2 has been my preference for quite some time now.

For me this is one of the things I like about Android, pick the hardware I want and then bring the software experience I want with me.

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