Transform your home screen with Action Launcher Pro

I’ll never forget when ADW Launcher was first released. Discovering the power that a replacement launcher could have on Android was exciting. From themes and gestures, to action icons and in-depth widget customization, using a custom launcher like ADW felt like using a totally different OS at times. It seemed like every week, home screen replacement type apps were coming out with bigger and better features. And then things hit a wall.

For the longest time, real innovation, in practically any area with replacement launchers, was virtually nonexistent. Sure, apps like Nova Launcher and Apex are incredible, and have improved on the legacy developers like Ander Webbs have built, but I don’t feel like a whole lot has changed in terms of features and functionality.

If you want real innovation, with real productivity tweaks and adjustments, look no further than Chris Lacy’s Action Launcher. My new home screen replacement.

Action Launcher does away with themes and gaudy transition animations, and instead focuses on a few dramatic changes that change the way you use your device. The three main focal points of Action Launcher fall in the quick search bar, quick drawer and folders.

The quick search bar is essentially the Google search bar on steroids. While the Google search bar does allow you to search for things like apps and contacts, the quick search bar on Action Launcher has improved upon this ten fold. The first thing you’ll notice is that no longer does Google Now need to open to look for things. Simply touch the quick search bar, and start typing. Google Now results will always be your first option, but access to apps, contacts and shortcuts are readily available in a scrollable list with immediate access. It ends up being much faster than the default Google search, and just as reliable.

The quick search bar also includes other default shortcuts, like a voice search icon, quick access to the Play Store, a quick drawer button and a menu key. Recent apps will also appear in the quick search bar before any text is inputed.

The quick drawer is the second focus point of Action Launcher, and it’s amazing. Accessible by either tapping the quick drawer icon in the quick search bar, pressing the home button from the default home screen or with a swiping gesture from the left to right side of your display, the Action Launcher is a vertical alphabetized list of all your apps.

I love that with the quick drawer, you can easily touch a letter on the side of the list to skip to that letter, which is insanely fast. I have experienced zero lag or stutter anywhere throughout Action Launcher, but the quick drawer really exemplifies this. It makes the default app drawer on Android 4.2 feel clunky and slow. It doesn’t feature immediate access to widgets, but those are available by either choosing “customize” in the main menu, or long pressing on any home screen.

The last feature that totally changed how I access apps and information on my phone are the new folders, and covers. Traditionally, folders simply house apps. Action Launcher allows you to not only create folders, but use a specific app as a cover icon that allows you to access that app, without opening the folder.

For example, You can create a folder for messaging, with the stock messaging app, Facebook Messenger and a few 1×1 sms shortcuts. You can then set the stock messaging app as the cover, so that if you click on the folder, the messaging app automatically opens. If you want to use something else inside the folder, either swipe up on the folder, or double tap. Folders and cover icons are absolutely genius. I was skeptical of their use at first, and they took a minute to get used to, but now I can’t live without them.

At $3.99, I highly recommend Action Launcher for anyone who is looking for more productivity out of their home screen. Right now, Action Launcher is actually on sale for fifty percent off, only $1.99, for Google Play’s birthday. So if you were or are on the fence about it, don’t miss out.

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'Bling Ring' Teaser: Emma Watson Gone Wild

FROM MTV NEWS: What would Hermione Granger say?

The teaser trailer for Sofia Coppola's upcoming caper "The Bling Ring" hit the web today, proving once and for all that starlet Emma Watson has left Hogwarts far behind.

The film, inspired by actual events, centers around a group of young burglars who bust into the posh homes of the rich and famous. It's slated for a June 14 release.

Watch the "Bling Ring" teaser at MTV News!

Tags Bling Ring, Emma Watson

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'Girls' Recap: 'On All Fours'

Despite a seemingly successful intervention on the part of her parents last week, Hannah continued to spiral into darkness (see: picking her wedgie eight times in an elevator) during the penultimate season two episode of "Girls."

The would-be e-book author went to meet with her editor, who hadn't even finished reading her pages—not because he didn't have time but because he didn't want to. "I just felt like I didn't know who was writing them," he said, suggesting that if she wasn't having sex, she should just start making stuff up and rejigger the work as a novel. Hannah promised to dust off the other 200 pages or so of material she had on her laptop and send it off to him.

At her apartment (which she is affording by herself how?), Hannah sat on the floor working in her undies, periodically scooting around like a toddler to reach jars of olives and other necessities...until she got a big, fat splinter embedded in her butt cheek. She removed the offending sliver then moved on to her ears, swabbing one with such force that part of the Q-Tip broke off inside her ear. Really, Hannah?! She went to the hospital, where the attending physician treated her with not a little disdain. "What were you digging for, gold?" he asked. Nonetheless, he let her take the bloody swab home as a souvenir.

As Hannah floundered, it seemed ex Adam was finally getting his footing again. He and Natalia had been dating for a whole week, and she was ready for sex (albeit with several caveats). "I like how clear you are with me," he said. (A dig to ex Hannah who had a hard time vocalizing her feelings for him?) Natalia invited Adam to be her date to her friend's engaged party, and as you may have guessed, he didn't exactly fit in. "He has the face of an old-timey criminal," the newly affianced told Natalia. Wandering outside for some air, Adam bumped into a recently released-from-the-hospital Hannah, whom he chatted with awkwardly from a distance. For a brief moment, it seemed the life returned to Hannah's eyes, but it quickly vanished when he vanished back into the bar.

Perhaps undone by his run-in with Hannah, the long-sober Adam ordered a drink to show Natalia a good time. Or something. He finally took his new girlfriend to see his apartment, which she deemed as darker than him. But it didn't take long for her to find out just how dark Adam could get. He ordered her on all fours to crawl to his room, which she did, hesitantly. The two had sex, and it wasn't at all how Natalia wanted it. "I really didn't like that," she said. "Is this it? Are you done with me?" Adam replied, having showed her all the ugliness inside him. (If next week's preview of Adam tearing down his apartment is any indication, he and Natalia are indeed done.)

And then there was Marnie, who continued to make a fool of herself. She appeared at Charlie's Chelsea office once again, but this time for good reason: He stood her up for lunch. (Did he and his GF break up?) To make amends, Charlie invited her to the office party that night in celebration of 20,000 MAUs (monthly average users, duh). At the fete, Marnie co-opted the DJ booth, plugging in her own iPod to perform a slowed-down version of Kanye West's "Stronger." The room was not impressed. Charlie dragged her into his office, where he decided once again that the best way to solve Marnie's problem was to kiss her. And this time she kissed him back.

Guilt-ridden thanks to her brief entanglement with a doorman, Shoshanna kept her distance from Ray at the party, talking up any man who seemed gainfully employed. When Ray finally confronted her about it, she broke down and admitted to "holding hands" with the doorman—a very 4th grade sort of half-truth. To his credit, Ray said it was okay as long as she still wanted to be with him, which she agreed she did. For how long, is now the question.

What did you think of last night's "Girls"? Do you want Marnie and Charlie to get back together? How will Hannah get out of her funk? Should Shoshanna just break up with Ray already? Tell us everything in the comments and on Twitter!

Tags Girls

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Mila Kunis Spills The Deets On Her Emerald City Makeover

If you haven't seen "Oz the Great and Powerful" yet—and if you've also somehow managed to stay away from the spoilerrific buzz surrounding Mila Kunis's, ahem, wicked acting skills in the film—then you may want to steer clear of this video in which the actress spills the beans on her character's emotional and physical journey to the dark side. Because really, the cat's pretty much out of the bag as soon as our interviewer notes that it takes a heck of a lot of makeup to make Mila look ugly.

"Aww, I don't know," the actress replied. "Come to my house at like 6:30 a.m., and then let's have a conversation... but thank you."

We're referring, of course, to Mila's on-screen evolution from her usual gorgeous self into the sneering, avocado-colored Wicked Witch—a process that involved numerous facial prosthetics and a whole lot of paint. (Asked if she'd taken advantage of her on-set getup to send freaky texts to her friends, Mila exclaimed, "Oh god, yeah. OH, yeah. While this makeup may not be the most attractive, when it's coming off, and peeling off in pieces, it's even less attractive!") And the actress said that as significant as the physical transformation was, her character's emotional journey was just as intense.

"This is the first time I've had a character that goes through such a strong arc, emotionally and physically," she explained. But while Mila does an impeccable job as Theodora, she doesn't think much of her character's choices.

"[She] took the easy way out and bit into an apple, instead of dealing with her emotions like an adult," she said. (Or in other words, in the land of Oz, it actually is easy being green. Who knew!) And when asked to describe how Theodora might handle herself in modern-day real life... well, Mila's not going to speculate on the character's likely issues with chemical dependency? But only because she's got to watch her tongue out of respect to a certain family-friendly studio. ("The mouse would come in and get me!")

Have you seen "Oz"? What did you think of Mila's wicked look? Tell us in the comments and on Twitter!

Tags Mila Kunis, Oz: The Great And Powerful, Video

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5 Things To Do Before Seeing 'Oz The Great And Powerful'

by Jessica Marshall

Disney's "Oz the Great and Powerful" hits theaters this week and we are so off to see the wizard.

"Spider-Man" director Sam Raimi helms this "Wizard of Oz" prequel in which James Franco plays a younger, hotter version of Oz, the powerful man behind the curtain, back in the days when he was just a womanizing circus magician from Kansas. When he gets swept away in a tornado to a mystical world whose inhabitants are convinced he's a wizard sent to save them from ruin, he has to prove that he's more than just a two-bit huckster. Michelle Williams, Rachel Weisz and Mila Kunis co-star as the witches of Oz, who by turns help, thwart and woo him.

But before you check out of Kansas for that somewhere over the rainbow, here are five things you should do to prepare yourself for "Oz the Great and Powerful."

Watch "The Wizard of Oz"
The 1939 technicolor tale of the plucky gingham-wearing girl who gets swept away to a magical land of munchkins, flying monkeys and yellow brick roads has captivated audiences for more than 70 years. "Oz the Great and Powerful" is meant to be a prequel to this beloved film, so prime yourself for some more primate aviation and more ogling of Oscar "Oz" Diggs with a viewing. And if you're feeling brave, follow it up with a screening of the irrationally terrifying 1985 sequel, "Return to Oz." (Or don't.)

Go see "Wicked"
This hit Broadway musical is still making the rounds after almost 10 years on stage. Its catchy music and fun plot detail the life and times of the Wicked Witch of the West in the land of Oz before Dorothy and her little dog come along. If you can't make it to the theater, read the book it was based on (Gregory Maguire's "Wicked") or listen to the soundtrack, featuring the vocal stylings of Kristin Chenoweth and "Glee" alum Idina Menzel.

Go "Gingham Style"
Channel your inner Dorothy Gale and don some blue gingham when you head to the theater. The iconic fabric makes a cameo in "Oz the Great and Powerful" too, proving that it still hasn't gone out of style. And while you're at it, throw on a pair of ruby slippers. You know, for the trip home after the movie.

Learn a magic trick
Practical magic and sleight-of-hand come in very handy for the would-be wizard in "Oz." While you probably won't need to outwit any wicked witches anytime soon, you can certainly impress your friends with a little card trick—or if that fails to impress, a disappearing act.

Go for a hot air balloon ride
Oz narrowly escapes a serious beat-down by jumping into a hot air balloon during the film, only to get caught in the tornado that transports him to Oz. Despite major turbulence during the storm, the view is breathtaking. This is definitely a bucket-list-worthy activity—even though the real world doesn't quite have the same glitter as the computer-generated landscape of Oz, a view from the basket of a hot air balloon will be well worth it. Just make sure you check the weather before taking flight.

Related:
+ The Wonderful Witches Of 'Oz': Get The Look
+ The 8 Creepiest Moments From 'Return To Oz'

Do you plan to see "Oz the Great and Powerful" this weekend? Tell us in the comments and on Twitter!

Tags Oz: The Great And Powerful

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'Delirium' Pilot Gets A Smokin' Senator

Yes, okay, so the government officials of "Delirium" are hateful, horrible fascist freaks who want to scalpel out our Feelings Lobe and make the world a loveless place. We know this! But hey, if they all look like Senator Hargrove, then...well, at least we understand how their brutal policies might have become popular in the first place.

Lauren Oliver, who penned the books that the show is based on, announced on her blog today that the gorgeous Michael Michele has been cast in the role of the Senator.

For the uninitiated, "Delirium" is a dystopian tale of a society in which love, rechristened amor deliria nervosa, has been declared a disease. All citizens undergo a lobotomy-like procedure to "cure" the illness on their 18th birthday. The story centers on Lena, a young woman who's never questioned the righteousness of the government policy, until she has the shocking bad luck to fall in love only weeks before she's set to be cured.

Unlike the other roles we've been hearing about, Senator Hargrove isn't a familiar character from the novel—but she might be the TV take on the book's Mayor Hargrove, whose son is among the teens bound for the lobotomy table. And more importantly, if they're getting this far down the list of characters to be cast, shooting on this bad boy is going to start super soon, right?!

What's your take on the latest news from the "Delirium" casting couch?

Tags Delirium, Michael Michele

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Style Superstar: Zoe Saldana Legs It Out In Leather

After weeks of awards season haute couture, all those glamorous evening gowns are starting to blur together into one giant, indiscriminate blob of chiffon-satin-organza-whatever. So this week, we're giving ourselves a break from the dress parade, and the Style Superstar props to a pair of ladies who went for fresh, sleek, sophisticated looks that involve...pants. Pants! Imagine!

This week's best? It's Zoe Saldana, who wins all of the awards for her chic look at the Miu Miu show during Paris Fashion Week. Skinny leather leggings, sophisticated stilettos, a pop of bright lipstick and the perfect cozy camel coat to finish it off. This outfit, with its clean lines and contrasting textures, is Exhibit A in the case for Zoe as the reigning queen of casual style. Well played, Superstar.

Meanwhile, Abigail Breslin took a pair of wide-leg trousers to their dressy limit, with a dramatic all-black ensemble at the premiere of her new film, "The Call." With her long blonde hair in a 1940s-style sweep, a big bow, and just a peek of midriff above her high-waisted pants, this is a daring look that paid off for the young actress—except for the part where her pants are so long that there's no sign of her feet anywhere. Here's hoping she finds her way to a tailor before she wears them again, because denying the public a peek at her undoubtedly-fabulous shoes is just not fair.

What do you think of our pants-wearing style picks?

Tags Abigail Breslin, Zoe Saldana

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Victoria Justice Wishes You A Happy International Women's Day

In case you weren't aware, Lady Crushes, today is International Women's Day. So...happy day to you!

The holiday dates back to the early 1900s, and is meant to highlight women's progress over the last century-plus and the issues we continue to face.

Happy International Women's Day! Us women have achieved SO much over the years & I'm so proud of all of us.Let's keep dominating ladies!

— Victoria Justice (@VictoriaJustice) March 8, 2013

A slew of celebrities took to Twitter today to offer their comments and congratulations, including "Victorious" starlet Victoria Justice, who gave a cute rallying cry via the social network.

We're right behind you, Victoria! Lead the way.

Are you doing anything to recognize International Women's Day? Tell us in the comments and on Twitter!

Tags Tweet Dreams, Victoria Justice

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Olivia Wilde Didn't Think She Was 'Beautiful Enough' For Jason Sudeikis

Olivia Wilde couldn't help but be charmed by her fiancé, "Saturday Night Live" funnyman Jason Sudeikis. We must say, we don't blame her.

She immediately had a crush on him, telling Marie Claire in their April issue that she didn’t think she had a shot with him.

"I thought, 'He won’t be interested in me; I’m not a contender.' He was so cool, so funny—I was such a fan of his and had always fancied his speed and his intelligence," she said. "He's a brilliant actor with a brain like lightening... I felt like fresh meat at the market... I thought, ‘I’m not beautiful enough or his type.’ I couldn’t wait to sit down and hear him talk. On our first date, in New York City, we closed the restaurant down at 2 a.m.! He didn’t kiss me, and I was madly in love. I was overwhelmed."

While we have yet to meet a human man who could not be charmed by Olivia, she broke down what drew her to him when they met in 2011. "I was just learning to be by myself," she explained. "We were both seeing people but were single. He seemed to really see me, see through the bullshit. He said very few words and couldn’t keep eye contact. He was so handsome, and he could dance."

And, as the story goes, first comes love, then comes marriage (the couple announced their engagement earlier this year), then comes the baby carriage. And she’s totally down for that.

"We’ve discussed all our ideals and hopes. I can’t wait for children. I’m open-minded about how many, but three, which I love, is like a little party. I am not trying to have kids now—there’s no strict plan for anything in my life,” she told the mag. “What happens, happens. He’s so good with kids... I’ve never before experienced looking at someone and thinking, ‘That’s who I want to raise a child with.'"

What do you think of Olivia's cover?

Tags Jason Sudeikis, Marie Claire, Olivia Wilde

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