We have covered a variety of home replacements here on the SPIN. Some have been better than others, some have been utter garbage. We have even seen some concept launchers that looked amazing but never got developed. One launcher app that I have been keeping an eye on though is Claystone. It had a lot of potential when it was first introduced but had some issues. The developing team behind it has been constantly making the application better and more user-friendly.
As with any home replacement, this style of launcher might not be for you. It is drastically different from what you are use to using and might take a day or so to get the hang of it.
A New Way to Navigate Android
Claystone’s home screen experience is designed around panels of content that are grouped and organized into stacks. By tapping the stack icon in the middle of the launch bar, you’re presented a 3D overview of your open panels that allows you to easily navigate amidst a wealth of integrated media, including: photos, videos, news feeds, and more.
With Claystone, we’ve done our best to ensure Android users spend less time switching being apps and more time enjoying their content.
I spent about 30 minutes messing around with this launcher and was fairly surprised by how well it worked. It started out a little slow at first but that is a given when your device is converting everything over. It also auto sets up the feeds and various sync panels. So be patient. In the settings of the launcher there are quite a few things you can alter. There is performance section where you alter the stack speed, panel speed and swipe speed. Under display settings you can adjust various 3D settings and visual effects. They even have a themes section which gives you direct access to the market to download and install the various themes they have created.
It is a rather cool launcher to mess around with and definitely takes a bit of getting used too. If you have checked it out in the past, you may want to revisit it now and see how it performs for you. As with most custom launchers, various devices and set ups might not function as well as others. Feel free to click or scan the QR code below to give it a whirl.
Application: Claystone Launcher
Developer: Claystone Labs Inc.
Cost: FREE
