[TUTORIAL] "Hubs" Layout - Make your home screen look IMBA

Hubs layout for your Android device

The Hubs layout utilizes a combination of Android Apps aimed at maintaining organization on your home screen without compensating the cleanliness and aesthetics of your wallpaper/s.

Maximize efficiency, minimize clutter!

Sample Hubs Layout


My version of the Hubs layout on a Transformer Prime Tablet (Screenshots):

Left Panel: Clock Widget, Navigation Icons (White), and Screen label (Gold)











Other Hubs Layouts
Phone - 5.3" - Landscape by bratboo
Phone - 4.0" - Portrait by badbadbad
For a more in-depth guide on the Hubs layout you can check the original link for the Hubs layout



How does it work?
Using ADW launcher EX, you can remove the status bar (top part on phones/tablets), and Enable Widget Overlapping (used to overlap the Black Bar Panel)
Using Minimalistic Text you can use a Custom setting from Preset Layout > Custom.. to make a text box (or empty box) for your Icon/Panel
Using Simple Text you can make a 1 x 1 custom text icon for navigation
Using Multipicture Live Wallpaper you can maintain a static wallpaper (picture does not shift per screen), or have different wallpapers (even albums) per screen

UPDATE: Newer launchers are also available to use with the Hubs Layout! See here.

Basic apps you will need:
1. ADW Launcher EX (Android 2.1+)
2. Minimalistic Text (Android 2.1+)
3. Simple Text (Android 2.1+)
4. Multipicture Live Wallpaper (Android 2.1+)

The last two apps are optional. Apps work for both phones and tablets!



Easy Step-by-Step Guide to Creating the Hubs layout:
1. Choose your number of desired homescreens. 5-7 is good.
2. Adjust your ADW Settings to give you enough workspace.


a.) UI Settings>Main Dock - Modify the appearance of your dock. I usually check Dock as Overlay

b.) UI Settings>Screen Preferences 
- Modify the number of Rows and Columns for proper icon spacing, I usually use 6 x 6
- Check Overlap widgets and Hide Statusbar



c.) UI Settings>Folders - Keep Show contents unchecked for invisible folders



d.) General Behavior>Animation and Effects
- Adjust scrolling speeds to your liking
- Check Wallpaper Scrolling for use with Multipicture Wallpaper



3. Make a Launcher Actions shortcut to each of the different screens
- Long press on the homescreen
- Launcher Actions>Screen 1 (Icon created)
- Repeat for shortcut to other screens



4. Edit the shortcut icon by either using:
a) Simple Text
- Long press icon, Edit, tap on icon, ADWTheme Iconpacks)
- Create your own icon and save it



b.) Invisible icons with Minimalistic Text Box

Invisible Icons
- Long press on a Screen X icon, Edit, tap on icon, Select Picture> ADW docks catalog, choose any dock icon and select ok



Note: You can remove the label of your invisible icons in case you want to use the Labels for other items

Minimalistic Text Box
- Create a widget from Minimalistic Text
- Preset Layout> Custom.., Custom Layout
- Remove all items in the workspace
- Misc>Static Text - Drag the static text item to the workspace 





(If you chose Normal Style, Edit Normal Style)

Choose a widget size that will fit the screen momentarily.
Resize the Widget later to your liking


Overlapping the Box
- Place the textbox adjacent to the target area
- Long press then Edit the box
- Drag borders over to the area and adjust



Note: If you plan to make a large text box, I suggest placing multiple invisible shortcut icons underneath it
Note2: You can use a plain box to create a panel background


3. MultiPicture Live Wallpaper settings
- Select Multipicture Live Wallpaper and go to its Settings
- Choose Add individual settings based on the number of screens you have
- Under one of the Screen X settings, select Picture Source and choose the wallpaper/s you want



(You can even set your entire album of photos as a slideshow in the background)


Note: You can go to Use lock screen settings if you want to have a different background for your lockscreen also
Note2: If the wallpapers still do not work, try one of the settings in Workaround for some home application
Note3: Make sure the Wallpaper scrolling is working in ADW Launcher (Solves most problems)


Hope this helps! Please give some feedback and thanks if you wish.