Whats the difference between Launchpad

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Level 1

56 points

Whats the difference between Launchpad

I don't really understand if there's a difference between the new Launchpad feature and the Applications folder on the dock? Some people have told me it's the same thing and just a different way of looking at it (more like the ipad or iphone I guess). Others say something different. People have told me that everything in my Applications Folder should be easily seen in Launchpad. But as far as I can see, it's not. For example, my Lexmark printer files/folders icon is in the Applications Dock Folder, but is not in Launchpad. Skype is in my Applications Folder and Dock but no where to be found in Launchpad. Neither is Microsoft Silverlight (which I think is a way to view videos online)....Nor is my Coupons printing application (although that seemed to stop working with Lion although the Coupons.com people say it should still work)

So Im confused. One person told me they are probably in folders...But I haven't created any folders...and I don't see where they could be. These things also are not in Utilities. So what goes into Launchpad & what doesn't...and what is the purpose of Launchpad except for a bunch of pretty icons...or maybe it's useful to people who have a lot more apps since I've only had the computer for a month and haven't really used the App store because I don't understand what most of those things do, and I havent really downloaded too many third party software at this point.

Or am I supposed to put things in Launchpad by dragging icons from Applications Folder on the Dock to Launchpad? I haven't tried that because Im afraid to do anything because my experience so far is everytime I follow an Apple employee's suggestions, I end up with hours and hours of work trying to fix it. But I haven't read anything that said you need to create Launchpad; It just says it should be.

Apple's website says Launchpad is a place for your apps so I could see if Lexmark printer files are not considered an app (but it is in the App folder on the Dock) but what about something like Skype?

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7)

Posted on Jul 23, 2011 6:25 PM

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Answer 1

sajam Author

Level 1

56 points

Jul 23, 2011 6:45 PM in response to applefandan

ok I see you can drag them to page one if you're good with your fingers and it automatically will alphebitze them. Maybe there's an initial setup process and the non-Apple ones were on the second page on purpose. I'll see if I can find all of them - there's still a couple that seem missing. But thanks for the answer...you explained that better than the Applecare person I was talking to.

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Answer 2

etresoft

Level 9

57,098 points

Jul 23, 2011 6:30 PM in response to sajam

By default, all 3rd party applications are on page 2 in LaunchPad. Look for them there.

The biggest difference between LaunchPad and the Dock applications folder is that the applications folder has to stay organized the way Apple and various 3rd party installers set it up. You can setup LaunchPad however you want. Since LaunchPad is fullscreen, you don't get a scrolling window like in the Dock folder.

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Answer 3

Jul 23, 2011 6:35 PM in response to sajam

Put simply, launchpad is just an alternative way to view your apps. It does nothing else except display your apps in an iOS-style view. It also will only show you the apps that work with Lion so if your app in the Applications folder has a while circle with a line through it displayed on the icon, it will not appear in launchpad. As for why some of your apps do not appear in launchpad, that I do not know because all of mine appear. As far as I know you do not drag things to launchpad (but that doesn't mean it is not possible), but new apps you download from the mac app store automatically appear in launchpad. I hope this helps clear things up.

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Answer 4

sajam Author

Level 1

56 points

Jul 23, 2011 6:42 PM in response to etresoft

Ok thanks, that helps a lot - and better than the response I got from Applecare. First off, I didn't know (and they didn't tell me) that there was a second page. Then, I found some of the files were spread out and needed to be merged...so for example, the Lexmark files (which were on the second page) were not grouped under Lexmark. I was able to go into the Finder and find the individual file names and then group them together in a Lexmark folder - which I guess is the intention. So check one, check two...my only other question is you said that you can move them...how do you do that? How do I move the ones on page two to page one...There seems to be plenty of room left on page one of Launchpad...It seemed to group some of them on page two for some other reason (maybe they were new or non-Apple) Thanks

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Answer 5

Jul 23, 2011 6:56 PM in response to sajam

One really nice feature of Launch Pad as opposed to the Dock/Applicaton folder is LP shows the APPS themselves even if they are buried in a folder. So less navigaton to get to the app you want to run.

CS5 for example -- every app is in it's own folder when you open the Applicaton Folder from the doc.

Launch Pad has much less clutter.

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Answer 6

sajam Author

Level 1

56 points

Jul 23, 2011 7:04 PM in response to applefandan

Thanks, I figured it out.

I dont have an iphone or ipad so not familiar with Ios. Im a bit behind the technology curve as I just updated from a 10 year old PC desktop with WindowsXP and 512MB to a MacbookPro laptop

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Answer 7

sajam Author

Level 1

56 points

Jul 30, 2011 7:53 AM in response to DjFIL

The one thing for new people to realize is that

a) There apparently is a second page of Launchpad created by default so if things are missing swipe to get to the next page

and

b) The non-Apple apps (at least for me) - things like my printer or my security programs were on that second page and were listed as individual files...so I had to go into Finder and find out what the files are and then group them into folders - for example > Lexmark or Norton

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Answer 8

koyeung

Level 1

0 points

Jul 23, 2011 7:36 PM in response to sajam

hope in future, it could introduce more customization/features:

32 or 40 most recent app on 1st tab of launchpad.
Similar to Safari Top Sites, but for app => u may reorder or 'pin' the app

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Answer 9

Jul 23, 2011 6:46 PM in response to sajam

Click and hold any icon on page 2 and you will see they start to jiggle (just like in iOS). Then drag them to the left of your screen until page 1 appears. Then you can place it whereever you want.

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Answer 10

DjFIL

Level 2

195 points

Jul 30, 2011 7:25 AM in response to sajam

Way that I see it currently... the dock is my top used apps, things that I access on a very regular basis. Launch pad is a quicker way for me to find the rest of the apps when I need them.

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