Android
DROID DOES
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I used to love Nova Launcher, but I just can't trust it anymore. There are too many open source options that are getting close enough without having to worry about them spying on your behavior.
As someone still using Nova, got a suggestion for me?
My top customizable FOSS launchers:
Kvaesisto
Search-based with native-themed widgets and app drawer. Lots of integrations, reliable, and my personal daily driver.
Lawnchair
Drop-in replacement for Pixel launcher with some friendly features. Very active development.
Ion Launcher
Automatic app folders by category and decent customization options.
Einstein Launcher
Highly customizable and built from scratch. It's under 3MB and already pretty capable, although it's a young project and still in alpha
Hyperion or Lawnchair are ones that I see people switching to. I just went back to stock.
I like Lawnchair.
Agreed - I switched to lawn chair after being on nova for 10 or so years.
Same, just made the switch. Nova has been on every phone for the last decade. For my use case I'm surprisingly not missing much from switching, mostly just home screen icons max on Lawnchair at 10 per row and I used Nova at 12.
I've been using Niagara Launcher, it's a completely different style of launcher that I think fits more in line with how we hold and interact with smartphones. I don't think I can ever go back to the traditional app icon grid layout style launcher.
Second on Niagara. Great integration and flow, I paid for the lifetime version. Moved back to regular android for now but it's waiting in my app drawer for my inevitable return
I tried it for a half day, and really struggled with how different it is. Any thoughts on that? I don't always search for an app by name in Nova, often I go by the autopilot of where it lies on my home screen
I've used Nova for many years, then I switched to Niagara. Like you know where your apps are on grid style launchers, you know which letter locates which app on Niagara. You dont need to search for an app, just draw with your thumb across the letters.
Niagara is great. I need to buy a full license one of these days.
Revert to a version of nova launcher from a few years back.
All the features I needed from it were finalised years ago, so why update?
The usual nebulous comments like "bug fixes and performance improvements" in the changelogs isn't really a strong reason for me.
That's one of my long running pet peeves, actually. Having your changelog be the exact same bullshit, alongside updates every two days for as long as i've used the product, really don't inspire any sort confidence in a product.
If you're using Graphene, you can disable network access entirely. I'm still in the market for something new, though.
I don't like Lawnchair, unfortunately. I'll check out KISS as someone suggested. I bought Pro Launcher years ago, but didn't use it... Maybe I can stay this time.
Octopi is what I landed on after Nova
i switched to KISS launcher and i like it a lot
I was recommended Lawnchair for my use case, but I’m not sure it’ll fit. It’s completely free so worth a shot.
Octopi is the closest one to Nova and is being very actively developed.