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PSA: Nova Launcher is owned by an analytics company
(www.androidpolice.com)
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this post was submitted on 23 Apr 2024
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Imagine not using Lawnchair or Neo Launcher in 2024
Niagara launcher user here. Dont forget us!
And Kvaesitso Users!
(FDroid only)
Yes!! It takes a bit to get used to, but it can have a very clean look. Been using it for a while now.
It's extremely easy to when neither has all the features that Nova does.
My nova install has been frozen at the last version before the analytics company took over was. Since then I try to check out lots of launchers but none have the features of Nova.
Maybe one day, but I'm not holding my breath anymore.
If you are rooted you can use afwall+ to deny internet access for nova
I use NetGuard and root is not necessary there. I never gave internet access to any launcher to this day.
Which version was that, and is it still possible to swap to it?
Edit: by the power of actually researching it instead of bothering someone else, I found it. They were bought by an analytics company in July of 2022, and the last full release version of the app before that on APK mirror was 7.0.57
Great job. Yee, I'm running 7.0.57
Imagine if it didn't work on your device. Lawnchair apparently isn't available on Android 12 without sideloading.
In the list of available apps I see "Neo Launcher Hyperion SciFi" (no plain "Neo Launcher") and the first thing that I notice with that is the "contains ads" flag.
Nova, meanwhile, comes up consistently among searches for launchers, and up until when I stopped using it provided a good mix of functionality and customization (ad-free, and without sideloading). It's disappointing to learn it's run by a company that may be likely to harvest data
Check F-Droid
Genuine question from someone with Nova launcher since like Android 6: do these alternatives have all the same features?
No, but as someone who just dumped Nova after realising I've been given some company free reign of my device (because I've had it so long) I feel Neo is closer to being a more comparable feature set... though still not as much as Nova
Agreed, I haven't been able to find one launcher that has all the features that Nova has. Neo is close, but still doesn't have swipe on dock icons, you have to choose either tabs or folders in the app drawer, you can't do both like you can in Nova.
Thanks for the recommendation. I'll have to check it out after work
Shit I've been using Android phones since version 2 and never needed any replacement launcher. The apps and files are right there where I need them already, easy to access with a couple of taps.
Nova gives you a lot more control over your desktop and other options, including a bunch of cool gestures. But, I didn't realize that it's owned by an analytics company. :(
The only gesture I don't have that I would like to add back to my android is the old Motorola hatchet-chopping motion. You'd hold the phone sideways and chop the air like a hatchet 2-3 times and your desired action would execute. I used mine for the flashlight and it was constantly useful.
Literally the only thing I miss switching to a custom ROM Xiaomi
I used to use those Moto Gestures on LineageOS BTW. There were many good Motorola phones supported by custom ROMs.
It also made it a lot easier to migrate between devices, and I'm the earlier data had features that are common now but not so much then.
I dropped it due to crashing issues with a new phone. Seems a good thing that I did