Nova Launcher Search gets better with more app integrations (www.androidpolice.com)

submitted 1 year ago by Hydrogen to c/android

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[-] cyberpunk007@lemmy.ca 61 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Didn't this get purchased by some conglomerate recently? I know there was a reason I held it back from updates.

Edit:

Ah yes, it's in the article of course:

"If you haven’t heard from nova in a while, it could be because they were in the news over a year ago when analytics company Branch acquired the brand from its creators Kevin Barry and Cliff Wade."

[-] henchman2019@lemmy.world 19 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I stopped using it because of that for a while. I have not found another launcher that has the swipe up and down on home screen icons to open other apps, put 9 icons in the dock and a few other things I can't remember right now...

I blocked all Internet access to nova to circumvent analytics. Not sure if it's working but until I find a different launcher...

[-] JetpackJackson@feddit.de 9 points 1 year ago

I'm currently using Kvaesitso. It's different, but it's worth a try There's also discreet launcher

[-] darcmage@lemm.ee 9 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

It's doesn't have anywhere near the same feature set or polish but I think neolauncher probably comes the closest to replacing nova as far as open source solutions go.

[-] JetpackJackson@feddit.de 1 points 1 year ago

Oh I think I tried that at some point. I see your point, it is closest to nova rn

[-] glimse@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago

Man I'm so with you. I love my 6 icon home screen with swipe actions and "secret" menus (with Tasker)

[-] henchman2019@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

Tell me about "secret menus"

[-] glimse@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

I have a couple invisible buttons that don't do anything when clicked but swiping opens up a Tasker window for a couple of home automation things. It's overkill but I love it

[-] henchman2019@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Nice idea

[-] AnonStoleMyPants@sopuli.xyz 5 points 1 year ago

Have been using Niagara launcher for a while. Quite a different feeling than normal launcher but really great. You can swipe up from any app icon to either open a folder of more apps or attach widgets to a small pop up screen. Super handy and I love it.

[-] janguv@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 1 year ago

I have not found another launcher that has the swipe up and down on home screen icons to open other apps

Do you mean using folder icons as app list covers, so that a tap opens the app and a swipe opens the folder? If so, Action Launcher does that (if I'm not mistaken it was the first to do so, and it's swipe up or down). Neo Launcher also has it (swipe up only).

[-] F0l11k@feddit.cl 2 points 1 year ago

I use Evie Launcher. It does some of the things you say. You need to find the apk somewhere, bc it's no longer available on play/aurora store

[-] herbh@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago

This is the main feature keeping me on Nova.

[-] coffee_poops@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 year ago

Some of that is supported by Action Launcher

[-] Ryan213@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

I hope they don't fuck it up... It's been my launcher for years!

[-] Hyrulian@lemmy.world 17 points 1 year ago

Used to be a big Nova user, but since I found Niagra I've never gone back. It's just way too clean and simple. It drastically reduces the amount of time I spend opening apps on my phone and I don't have to think about how to do the optimal home screen layout or set up app drawer categories.

[-] fixmycode@feddit.cl 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

*Niagara Launcher

[-] Hyrulian@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Thanks for linking! Didn't even think!

[-] Waluigis_Talking_Buttplug@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Oh hey I started the subreddit for Niagara Launcher

[-] flop_leash_973@lemmy.world 16 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

It is gonna be a rough time for Android whenever Nova’s new owners get around to trying to come up with ways to “monetize “ Nova further. I wonder how many people would pay $10/month for a launcher.

[-] henchman2019@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

Subscriptions SUCK

[-] Teknikal@lemm.ee 12 points 1 year ago

I've already bought sesame and all it's pay walls specifically because of Nova. I actually bought sesame at the first Nova integration and have found it very disappointing I'm pretty damn bitter at them actually because after promising to support various apps for shortcuts on my first review they still haven't about 3 years later on fact they've took away working features to charge for them a second time.

I'm still happy enough with Nova I've tried various launchers but it's still the best but mentioning search and nova together triggers me due to sesame and their outright lies and double charging.

[-] loki@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago

I still use sesame. Tasker is set as assistant app and it will launch sesame when assistant is triggered. It has served me well, but integrations are breaking so will have to see how long it will last. I also have Nova Prime but switched after the buyout.

Sesame was also bought out by the same company, so Nova and Sesame developers are working together with Branch.

[-] dnu@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 1 year ago

Why switch nova but not sesame?

[-] loki@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago

Sesame basically stopped updating their app even before they got acquired, so they hadn't added any analytics or trackers. There were some updates after but they were just bug fixes. Exodus tells me there are no known trackers, I also haven't seen any suspicious traffic from it yet so I still use them.

Nova, however will be integrated with Branch and will likely phoning home.

[-] jacktherippah@lemmy.world 9 points 1 year ago

Sold to an analytics company a while ago though. Thanks but no thanks.

[-] Catman51@lemm.ee 9 points 1 year ago

I used Nova prime for years, but with the Fold 5 it makes no sense.

[-] zettajon 2 points 1 year ago

I'm going to get one when the Black Friday deals (hopefully) come out. The taskbar only shows up if you use the Samsung launcher right?

[-] Catman51@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago

Taskbar works with Novs, but Nova isn't good on foldables.

[-] deven@kerala.party 5 points 1 year ago

Which is the phone shown in the picture ? a sony?

[-] smallfry 1 points 1 year ago

Yes, that is one of the clocks for Sony. Looks like the Sony Xperia V or Sony Xperia 1 V.

[-] southsamurai@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 year ago

Fuck their shitty ad blocker wall

[-] cyberpunk007@lemmy.ca 8 points 1 year ago

There was a wall?

[-] Encode1307@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago

Yeah I ran into it too

[-] lud@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago

What adblocker do you use?

[-] Encode1307@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago

Windscribe vpn's built in one

[-] lud@lemm.ee 3 points 1 year ago

Try Ublock origin. It's the absolute best adblocker and it's also available on mobile (Firefox)

[-] Encode1307@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago

Yeah it's not system wide though is it? Just browser based? The vpn blocks ads in apps too.

[-] lud@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago

Sure, but you wouldn't see the adblocker blocker with a good browser adblocker

[-] Onurtag@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

15 years and still no custom sorting. I'll pass.

this post was submitted on 27 Oct 2023

76 points (90.4% liked)

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