Nova Launcher has been acquired by analytics company Branch
www.androidpolice.com
Hopefully, this isn’t the end of an era for Android launchers

Since a few folks seem unaware of this, I’m posting anew for visibility.

  • passepartout@feddit.deEnglish
    461·
    2 months ago

    Lawnchair is a fork of the original pixel launcher that gives some quality of life upgrades to an already good piece of software, like being able to remove the search bar, resizable / reshapable icons and fonts usw. Its also open source, so feel free to check out the github.

    There is no app store release right now but they are working on it. I’ve used the alpha versions for two years now and it has worked fine so far.

    https://lawnchair.app/downloads/

    • Godort
      English
      8·
      2 months ago

      I just made the switch after seeing this article.

      Is there a way to get an icon to open the app drawer? Or am i forced to live with a gesture?

      • passepartout@feddit.deEnglish
        7·
        2 months ago

        The choice gesture vs. nav button is usually part of android itself. In my case (pixel with therefor nearly stock android) its in settings -> system -> navigation mode (or something similar since its in german in my case). If you can’t find it, search for “navigation button your phone model”.

        Edit: sorry, i just realized you meant the app drawer, not the overview of currently opened apps. I don’t know the answer to that.

        Edit edit: ok i found something in lawnchairs settings. The last setting is called gestures. If you have navigation buttons enabled instead of nav gestures (see above) you could bind the home button to open the app drawer.

        • deweydecibel@lemmy.worldEnglish
          2·
          2 months ago

          The last setting is called gestures. If you have navigation buttons enabled instead of nav gestures (see above) you could bind the home button to open the app drawer.

          That would mean unbinding it from another feature. It feels kind of ridiculous that I have to devote my home button to something that should just be tappable on screen if three button navigation is being used.

      • deweydecibel@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        2 months ago

        Yeah I tried it too and that’s a major no go right there. The fact it’s based off pixel launcher is killing my interest out of the gate, but I at least hoped that it would provide the same degree of customization options and tools as Nova. Doesn’t look like it, and no ability to call the app drawer without swiping.

        Frankly any app that pushes gestures as the default navigation method without respecting people that just want to use buttons and taps, I can’t say I’m interested.

        Guess I’m sticking with Nova 7 until it just stops working.

    • FutileRecipe@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      2 months ago

      I’ve used the alpha versions for two years now and it has worked fine so far.

      They released a beta about a month ago.

      https://lemmy.world/post/13864258

      Edit: which your download link has. Just wanted to make sure you and others don’t use a 2 year old alpha instead.