Gear: Samsung Series 7 Slate.
The Touch Launcher application/software allows you to easily open programs by pressing those big icons. It's going to be better than trying to navigate through small menus with your fingers.
Methods of opening and closing Touch Launcher:
- Press the button on the tablet's bezel button
- Two finger gesture down
Pressing the button is my least favorite way of doing this. The two finger gesture works well. Although the two finger gesture can conflict with Windows Journal's two finger scrolling (forgot to mention that on the video).
Left Side Panel
Besides the big icons there are a few extras on the left side of the Touch Launcher. These are: Power modes, Wifi connection, Clock and calendar, and Weather. They can be customized of course... or hidden if you dislike them.
Default Apps
Youtube, Videos, Photos, Music, Camera, Internet Explorer, Live Mail, Calendar, ToDo, Windows Journal, Notes, Bing Map, RSS Reader, Twitter, Social Dashboard, Live Messenger, Yahoo! Finance, Interactive Guide, Weather, Recipe, Clock, Easy Settings, Touch logon Options, Amazon Kindle.
I will begin making videos about those apps in the following days.
Customizing Apps and Groups
There's a tiny pencil shaped button on the bottom which if you press can give you the power of customization. You will be able to add, delete, and move icons. There's also a new panel on the left side which gives you three options: Add group, Add app from Desktop, Change Wallpaper.
Panels
Each panel has a collection of app icons. If you drag an icon to the side you can create a brand new panel.
Add group
You can create groups. Within these groups you can now add apps. In a way if you like to organize your apps this is one way of doing it. (ie entertainment, productivity, social stuff, etc).
Add app from Desktop
With this button you can add new programs from the Start Menu and Explorer. Just drag and drop them to the Touch Launcher.
Change Wallpaper
You can add your own witty images as the Launcher's background.
Conclusion
The Touch Launcher is definitely a nice program that will make things a bit easier. Of course you have to customize it to fit your needs. Samsung did a good job with Touch Launcher.
Hi jessy - really cool and intresting vids about the samsung slate!
ReplyDeleteDo u know if the launcher u described is running e.g. on ur fujitsu livebook too? - or is it limited on the samsung device?
Greetings tobi
Hi Jesse,
ReplyDeleteNice review.
How does Samsung's touch launcher compare to the SimpleTap utility on the Lenovo tablets? Can you install the Samsung launcher on a Lenovo tablet, or SimpleTap on the Samsung?
- I'm not sure if it can run on the lifebook. As of lately I have noticed an increase of "checks" by the software to make sure it's running on the specific computer model and brand.
ReplyDeleteTry it and let me know how it works for you:
http://org.downloadcenter.samsung.com/downloadfile/ContentsFile.aspx?CDSite=US&CttFileID=4590943&CDCttType=SW&ModelType=C&ModelName=XE700T1A-A01US&VPath=SW/201110/20111014145350193/Play_Touch_Launcher_1.2.0.20.ZIP
- SimpleTap is different because it allows you to do some adjustments (brightness, volume, etc) to your system. The Touch Launcher doesn't have those features, although you can add apps/programs to do that.
Jesse,
ReplyDeleteThe Touch Launcher does work on the T580 but the widgets didn't install completely. The folder has all of the .dll files but it seems like there should be other files that are missing. I wish there was a way to see what should be in a functional widget folder to see how this works.
Thanks,
Jason
Jason,
ReplyDeleteSome of the apps have a system check which will not allow the Apps to work on non Samsung systems.
If you install the Easy Software Manager app you can have access to some XML files which point to the download URLs.
For more info - http://www.jessebandersen.com/2011/12/samsung-series-7-slate-reaching-23-ghz.html
Jesse,
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for the reference to the Easy Software Manager.
Unfortunately this program is a non-starter on a non Samsung machine. It is too bad about the checks as the UI is pretty slick and much more attractive then what came with the T580.
Don't get me wrong, I love the machine but...the interface isn't anywhere near as slick.
Thanks again. This is a great resource you are developing.
Jason
Jason,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that the T580 didn't have as interesting software as the Series 7 Slate.
I'm trying to make a few good pages before returning the Samsung slate. (blogging budget is very low).
Hi Jesse
ReplyDeleteI have enjoyed watching your videos about the Samsung Series 7 Slate, they have been very helpful and informative. Just a few questions. With the 2 finger swipe going downwards thats used to launch the Samsung interface, can this be changed to go to the previous program/application that was viewed? ie: a forward and backward control. Also with the groups when icons are placed into a group, the group folder is coloured black, can these be changed to add your own folder picture?.
Thanks in advance
Daniel
Daniel,
ReplyDeleteWith the right scripting you can do it. Since we figured out how to modify the touch gestures we can now launch programs that may perform the previous/next application.
Check http://www.jessebandersen.com/2011/12/samsung-series-7-slate-modify-add-multi.html
I don't think you can change the background of the folder to your own folder picture. I haven't confirmed, but I don't recall seeing an option to modify this.
Can you post the xml files found in your own C:\Program Files\Samsung\Play Touch\Touch Launcher folder into a zip file?
ReplyDeleteNo. I returned the Series 7 Slate because I couldn't afford to keep it. I don't have access to those files anymore. Your best bet is to try some forums.
ReplyDeleteHI YOUR VIDEOS AND INFO ARE GREAT
ReplyDeleteMY TOUCH LAUNCHER IS NOT WORKING, SO IF I WANT TO USE TOUCH APPS SCREEN I HAVE TO LAUNCH IT WITH THE TWO FINGER GESTURE
IS THERE A PLACE TO CONFIGURE THE LAUNCH BUTTON THAT I MAY HAVE DISCONFIGURED?
Check "1. Buttons" at:
Deletehttp://forum.tabletpcreview.com/samsung/47328-tips-tweaks-slate-button-actions-touch-gestures.html
Hope that helps. (2m)
hey jesse, just wondering how do i install widgets onto my samsung series 7 slate?????
ReplyDeleteI am not sure which "widgets" you are talking about. When I hear the term widgets I think of those small apps that are active on the desktop. I know Microsoft, Yahoo, and Google have these widgets. Search on google for these widgets and you will find them.
Delete