Apex Launcher Pro

Apex Launcher is an alternative launcher for ICS

Pro version unlocks the following features:

- Multiple configurable drawer tabs

- Unread count notifications

- Dock swipe gestures

- Two finger gestures

- More transition effects

- Batch add option for folders

- Option to merge folder contents

- Widgets in dock (1x1 only)

- Overlapping widgets...

Actually, regarding appearance, Apex Launcher is quite similar to stock ICS-launcher. However, if you take a look at its guts, you'll find enough reasons to make it your default launcher. Let's focus on them.

Thus, it's set in HOLO-layout, like ICS stock launcher. We realized at first sight that it runs smoothly: transitions between screens, launching app drawer, placing shortcuts on the home screen or launching apps. Everything seems to be boosted.

Besides its enviable performance, its strongest point is that it's high customizable. From Apex settings, you can adjust home screen, drawers, dock, folder, behaviour and advanced parameters at your whim. Likewise, once done you can backup your preset and restore it whenever you want.

Thus, you'll be able to set up to 9 homescreens and a customizable homescreen grid size. Likewise, it includes a customizable scrollable dock with up to 7 icons per page and up to 5 pages. You can set inifinite and elastic scrolling, fancy transitions effects (there are not too many though), hide apps or enable gestures. Actually it brings some interesting gestures like pinch, swipe up/down and double tap on homescreen and icons.

In a nutshell, lots and lots of options: it's even hard to write them all down here. We can only recommend you to give a go and see it for yourself. Highly recommendable.