Google recently released its latest Android OS, the Jelly Bean. It has a lot of great features and improvements compared to its predecessor, Ice Cream Sandwich. But according to statistics, many of the end-users are, significantly, still on Android Gingerbread OS. There are still many Android devices that do not have an ICS update yet. Like for example the popular Samsung Galaxy Y, it’s still running on Gingerbread.
I know many of the Samsung Galaxy Y users would want to upgrade their current OS to ICS or Jelly Bean. Unfortunately, we are not sure yet whether Samsung will be rolling out an OS update for Galaxy Y anytime soon. Well, there are ways on how you can run your Galaxy Y on ICS, but it requires rooting and installing custom ROMs to your phone.
Alternatively, if you do not want to root your phone or go through the complicated process of installing a custom ROM to your phone, you could use an ICS Launcher or a Jelly Bean Launcher for Android 2.2 / Gingerbread devices. I’m currently using Holo Launcher, and so far so good.
With Holo Launcher, you could make your phone look like you’re running on ICS or Jelly Bean. Below are their respective features:
Holo Launcher (ICS Launcher):
- Full ICS Style: ICS Icons, Folders, Outlines, Drawer Tabs, etc.
- Custom Desktop Pages/Grid: Up to 9 desktop pages and 10 x 10 grid.
- Custom Drawer Portrait/landscape Grid
- Scrollable Dock: Up to 7 icons per page and up to 3 pages.
- Infinite Scrolling
- Gestures: Swipe up/down on desktop to launch apps quickly.
- Customizable shortcut/folder icons
- Customizable icon label color
- Apply icon packs, support ADW icon pack and Launcherpro icon pack.
- Desktop Previews: Pinch to access desktop previews.
- Backup and Restore: Backup and restore your settings and shortcuts.
- Other Customization Options: Keep in memory, home key action, hide apps in drawer, hide labels, etc.
Holo Launcher HD (Jelly Bean Launcher):
- Full Jelly Bean Launcher Features
- Custom Desktop Pages/Grid: Up to 9 desktop pages and 10 x 10 grid
- Custom Drawer Portrait/landscape Grid
- Scrollable Dock: Up to 7 icons per page and up to 3 pages
- Infinite Scrolling
- Gestures: Swipe up/down on desktop to launch apps quickly
- Customizable shortcut/folder icons
- Customizable icon label color
- Apply icon packs, support ADW icon pack and Launcherpro icon pack
- Desktop Previews: Pinch to access desktop previews
- Backup and Restore: Backup and restore your settings and shortcuts
- Other Customization Options: Keep in memory, home key action, hide apps in drawer, hide labels, etc
You can download the following files below:
Holo Launcher ICS
Holo Launcher Jelly Bean
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