Just got a new work phone: Galaxy S22. Wanted a pixel but it was out of stock in our internal allocation. Already tired of samsung’s UI and interested in something new.
So what do you like? Bonus points if it works with android enterprise’s profile mode dual app drawers.
I absolutely love Nova Launcher Pro. Easy to get to what I need. Also integrates with sesame and Delta icon pack.
I’ve been using nova launcher prime since forever. Make a backup on my old phone when getting a new one, and import it on the new phone.
How do you feel about nova launcher being bought out by that data collection company?
:(
Wait you don’t think Samsung is collecting your data?
Yes, I do think they are, but by choosing a Samsung smartphone, I’ve already decided to be OK with that on some level. I turn off features that connect to outside companies for the most part, and I’ve chosen to believe that Samsung does what it claims with the settings that users have available to them on the phone. It doesn’t mean that I’m just fine with handing everything over to any other random company. Samsung states that they use Branch for searches inside their Galaxy Store. Some claims have been made that Branch powers the Finder (search) function on Samsung phones (althugh I can’t find confirmation), but this Finder Customization Service is a feature you can disable on a Samsung Galaxy phone. You can also turn off search suggestions for Finder and disable it’s ability to open links. You can disable Google and Samsung’s browsers and Internet searches as well.I am the sort of user who checks permissions of apps before downloading them (and disables everything I don’t use), and I don’t want my launcher (which I paid for) on a device I paid a not small sum of money for, to send every single tap back to a marketing firm directly.
Ok, but with even a little bit of research and looking around in Nova launcher itself, you would’ve found that you can opt out of usage analytics and all permissions. Branch even says this themselves on their discord.
Wait. What happened?
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Use Lawn Chair
Long time user of lawnchair (4+ years), never felt like changing it to anything else, it works amazingly well.
Been using Lawn Chair for the past year or so. Looks good, does what I want and stays out of my way the rest of the time. Top marks for me.
It’s also FOSS and respects your privacy. Also very lightweight.
NOVA. Every single time I’ve tried an alternate launcher, I always return to NOVA within 24 hours.
Nova Launcher Prime. The only one I stuck too, and never managed to leave.
I’ve been using Nova for years and I have no complaints.
I use Niagara Launcher mostly for the minimalist look. But also because Nova was bought by an analytics company a bit ago.
Just switched to Niagara after seeing other comments about Nova being sold. Rip Nova, I only use like 8 apps anyway.
KISS Launcher for me. Minimal UI so you can see your wallpaper, decent search and open source. I’m surprised there aren’t more mentions of it here actually.
Same here, fast, clean and simple.
I second this
Gave it a try and I can see the appeal, but for me the lackluster widget support/customization is a bummer.
I like having a clock widget with two other wildly different timezone clocks shown on my home screen beneath my timezone (makes it easier to know when things in those places are happening in my timezone), and it doesn’t support displaying the clock widget that way so far as I could tell.
Giving it a try now - seems great so far!
OLauncher, it’s FOSS, minimalist, simple and available on F-Droid.
Finally a launcher that won’t be bought by a data telemetry company
Neo launcher for me. it’s on fdroid.
it’s not perfect and can get buggy, but once you set it up, and don’t mess with the settings too much. it’s acceptable replacement for Nova launcher.
Had nova prime, but switched after the buyout
… what buyout?
Branch, an analytics company.
Yeah… What buyout? I have it in Graphene, with no permissions granted and only as a secondary launcher while i was considering my options, since Neo sometimes doesn’t update new installed apps for a while…
https://www.androidpolice.com/nova-launcher-acquired-by-branch/
It was bought by a data analytics company last summer, unfortunately.
Branch, an analytics company.
I like the look of Neo but it seems to crash once or twice a month for me, and resets my home home screen layout every time.
Since i bought Niagara Launcher my phone(s) feel very fluent and contemporary. I’d say the best piece of software I bought for Android.
Niagara is the best! Never needed any other launcher
Second this. Niagara Launcher allows me so much easier access to apps. Cleaner home page and all apps in an easy to navigate alphabetical list. Super easy
yep Totally, I used to swap launchers frequently but since I tried and then bought Niagara… I just can’t use anything else, now a stock phone makes no sense to me anymore.
I’ve been using smart-launcher for years now, and it’s what I’m used to, gestures and a nice app menu that automtically categorises applications is nice.
Seconding Smart Launcher. Automatic categorization beats pretty much every other feature I can think of in a launcher.
I try to treat my devices as commitments as far as spending but disposable as far as usage habits and not having invent my own categories helps me just USE my phone instead of playing with it.
I used Niagara Launcher, but it’s not free, so I moved to Lawnchair 12.1. I also really like Kvaesitso launcher
I’m using Niagara, it’s not free but it’s only like 10€ yearly. I like it because it stops my muscle Memory from mindlessly opening stuff
I had the chance to buy a “life long” licence and I really dont regret it.
Wow, seems to be 30 bucks now, really glad I went lifetime pro last year
Nova launcher, made this with it
You’re on a fediverse app, you should know that Nova was the center of some controversy when they sold to a company that is likely harvesting and selling user data. Many have left Nova.
I appreciate you sharing this. I had no idea. Time to find an alternative.
Also Nova. I’m pretty sure that Google and Samsung copied features from it for their official UI over the years. It’s always been forward thinking and extremely customizable for the use experience.
Nova too, nice homepage, I have the same icon pack but on a boring 4x4 grid :)
Smart launcher for me. The automatic app sorting along with its ambient theme is super awesome. Highly recommend it.
Switched to it after Nova sold their guts to satan. Been pretty happy ever since