submitted 1 year ago by Kevin11@lemdro.id to c/askandroid@lemdro.id

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Hey all, newbie to the Lemmy, signed up recently.

Also a relative android newbie, I've had a pixel 6 for about a year and a half.

I've played around with tasker, KWGT, KLWP, and all kinds of other power-user techie apps, so I'm reasonably confident in my ability to tinker with my phone.

I've been experimenting with my launcher, having gone with stock pixel launcher for my first half, and then using Lawnchair 12 for the second half, I wanted to try something new.

So, I open the floor up to you guys! What launcher are you using, what do you enjoy, and most importantly, why do you enjoy it? What sets your launcher apart?

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[-] SatyrSack@lemmy.one 9 points 1 year ago

KISS operates on a totally different paradigm than most launchers. Instead of having a grid of rearrangeable app icons, your home screen is simply a list of your most recently used applications (icon, name, and keywords). You also have a search bar where you can type to search for your application. This keyboard-focused launcher is very similar to how I open programs on desktop, so it is very welcome on mobile as well.

[-] Socket462@feddit.it 4 points 1 year ago

I can't live without KISS launcher anymore. It has just the right number of options and allows me to find and launch the app I want very quickly. Also, it resemble the way I am used to launch program on my desktop.

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[-] Kevin11@lemdro.id 3 points 1 year ago

Thanks for the tip! I think I'll give KISS launcher a second try, because the first time I set it up, I found it annoying. Probably because I only used it for 5 minutes and then dropped it. :)

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[-] ijeff@lemdro.id 3 points 1 year ago

Niagara Launcher is also similar. I really like it so far, including the notification rollups. But I'm not sure it's worth $30 to me. Maybe...

[-] worsedoughnut@lemdro.id 2 points 1 year ago

I can't imagine using my phone without Niagara's pop-up menus anymore, it's become my favorite launcher for sure.

[-] spaduf@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 1 year ago

I just wish there were better appearance customization options.

[-] mikestevens@lemdro.id 8 points 1 year ago

Nova. I actually really like the One UI launcher anyway, but I'm just used to Nova. Mostly just the extra gestures and the bigger home grid. Not interested much in the cosmetic tweaks it's able to make.

But yeah, One UI is quite good too. I got used to it back when Android gesture nav didn't play nice with 3p launchers.

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

I second this. I've tried quite a few launchers, but Nova is on the face of my phone for several years

[-] spaduf@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 points 1 year ago

Kvaesitso is gorgeous

[-] ijeff@lemdro.id 3 points 1 year ago

Nice, another FOSS option! I'm going to give it a try.

[-] Kevin11@lemdro.id 3 points 1 year ago

It really is. It's super clean and I love the gestures. I just wish I could put some widgets or shortcuts on the home screen, it feels kind of empty to me. Definitely at the top of my list.

[-] ChrV@kbin.social 2 points 1 year ago

Found it a couple of days ago, it's gorgeous indeed.
But I switched back to Niagara because the animations felt a bit luggy, especially when the keyboard was showing up. Can't wait to try it again in the future.

[-] ijeff@lemdro.id 6 points 1 year ago

Thanks for posting this! It's super timely as I'm a long-time Nova Launcher Pro user but been experimenting with the Niagara Pro unlock. I think I like it, but I'm not sure I like it enough to spend $30 on it.

[-] PreciousDeclaration@lemdro.id 5 points 1 year ago

I have been using Smart Launcher 6 for quite a while. Some of its features that I really like are:
*categorized app drawer
*Smart widgets developed by the Smart Launcher team, such as the widget stack, music widget, notes, calendar events, icon group widgets…
*Smart Launcher has a fine positioning tool that allows you to move the widgets with very precise positioning so that you can put them exactly where you want them, it also allows you to resize them
*The news page, which you can either use Microsoft News or Google Feed
*Great search function, it will search for apps, web, contacts, calendar, settings, shortcuts, and Play store

[-] acrobaticpenguin23@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Thanks for the nice rundown. I shall try it on my tablet.

[-] limecool@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago

You forget one. Dynamic theme. The launcher changes theme colors based on wallpaper color.

[-] PreciousDeclaration@lemdro.id 2 points 1 year ago

Yes, you're right! The launcher has so many great features, it's hard to name them all.

[-] d3Xt3r@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

AIO Launcher. This launcher bucks the minimalist "less is more" trend, and brings back the old-skool, information-heavy paradigm, which is great for folks who want to see their news, mails, notifications, calender etc all on one screen, instead of having to opening a dozen different apps. I mean, sure you could use a regular launcher and a bunch of different widgets, but then they wouldn't look consistent and it'll make a mess of your home screen.

AIO is also foldable-friendly. This is how it looks like, on my Galaxy Fold 4.

[-] shbhmnk@fosstodon.org 4 points 1 year ago

@Kevin11 I have been using https://apt.izzysoft.de/fdroid/index/apk/app.lawnchair and it is small amd clean launcher.

[-] Kevin11@lemdro.id 4 points 1 year ago

I love Lawnchair! I've been using it for a while and if I don't find another alternative launcher, I'll probably just return to it. Or stock pixel launcher.

[-] ijeff@lemdro.id 2 points 1 year ago

Any issues with the alpha build from 2022?

[-] UKFilmNerd@feddit.uk 1 points 1 year ago

I initially tried the Play Store version and it almost replaced Nova but not quite. I think my autism and OCD makes these things harder for me.

I then tried the alpha build which was closer still but not quite. I want the dock icons to sit on the bottom of the screen, not one row up.

But thanks for the link, I'll keep an eye on any further developments.

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

If you really like customization, I haven't found any options that have as many useful settings as nova launcher. Frustratingly no option to change fonts though.

I'd love to switch to an open source option, but need options for overlapping widgets/app shortcuts, padding options for the home screen, widgets, dock, subgrid positioning, and the ability to use a custom widget for the search bar I keep at the bottom of my home screen, and probably some other settings I'm not remembering. I haven't found any open source launchers that would allow my current setup- maybe I'll switch to an FOSS option when I eventually blow it all away and make something new for my home screen

[-] Kevin11@lemdro.id 4 points 1 year ago

Wow, Nova can do all that?? I had no idea, that's super cool! I've been avoiding Nova since I learned that it'd been bought by some data company, classic internet rumour, but I might have to give that a shot!

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

It is true that nova and sesame search were acquired by a company whose businesses is related to android app analytics. If you're concerned about it, it might be worth going and reading the devs post about privacy and what the acquisition means. I think you can find it on the nova launcher twitter

[-] DarkSirrush@lemmy.ca 5 points 1 year ago

I have been using Neo launcher since that acquisition, though it does have some problems it's at least FOSS, and sounds like an update is coming "soon".

Formerly known as Omega Launcher, and I think used to be lawn chair based but is not anymore.

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

Neo launcher looks pretty cool, I just wish they had more options for customization. Someone opened a feature request for custom fonts and the devs seemed pretty disinterested and said folks should look for font options through their ROM instead of wanting it in their launcher, so I'm expecting customization isn't really a priority for them unfortunately :(

[-] DarkSirrush@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 year ago

While that's understandable, I just checked and on a stock Samsung flip 4 I can change my font in the system settings - though admittedly it looks like it requires an APK from the Galaxy app store, which I have disabled, but still, it is an option for changing fonts.

Though I am not really one to worry about fonts, so I could be wrong about how important they are.

Other than that, I can customize pretty much anything I have wanted to a similar degree to Nova launcher, though there are a few bugs related to saving widget layouts.

[-] Cris_Color@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

Samsung in particular I think does have font settings but many others don't. I'm on a pixel 3, and will probably get a zenphone 10 or fariphone next, and I don't believe any of them have a ROM that supports custom fonts. But certain launchers support them, like lawnchair. I mostly just meant that in regard to their likeliness to add the other niche customization features I need. It seems like a genuinely fantastic launcher, I just really like making stuff and wouldn't be able to recreate my current setup, which would such given how much time and energy I've put into it

This is page 1 of my current home screen

Technically there isn't a launcher that has all of what I want, even ignoring my desire for it to be open source, since nova doesn't have font options. But it's definitely a bit of a bummer I just wouldn't be able to make the same kinds of stuff if I switched to a FOSS launcher. Which is why I say maybe I'll switch when I decide to make a totally new setup, but I think I'll be on this one for a long time, it has a massive number of helpful functional elements that make it easier to manage things like my sleep disorder, and building up all the same functionality again in a totally new design would take ages

[-] HidingCat@kbin.social 2 points 1 year ago

Yea, it's really hard to beat Nova launcher. While I don't use Nova's features like you do, there's always one or two things missing from the other launchers that make me stay on Nova.

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

Using Niagara for the last 4-5 years.

[-] anowhere@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 year ago

+1 for Niagara. It smoothly combines simplicity of layout with under the hood features such as popup folders that can hold apps / shortcuts / widgets, and notifications that display next to the associated app.

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

The default pixel like launcher that comes with my custom rom. If not niagra. The launcher scene is drying up nowadays

[-] Kevin11@lemdro.id 2 points 1 year ago

What ROM are you using?

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

crDroid

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

NeoLauncher needs a top level comment here! It's a lifesaver after Nova was sold off to a marketing company!

So many FOSS launchers are trying this search based or text oriented thing and sorry, I can't stand it. I just need to be able to unlock my phone and hit an app icon from a grid of selected apps and web shortcuts on my home screen.

[-] filgas08@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

shade launcher

[-] ijeff@lemdro.id 5 points 1 year ago

Interestingly, it's telling me this:

[-] 6daemonbag@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 year ago

Did you ever find a resolution for this? I'm encountering this same issue with KWGT packs

[-] ijeff@lemdro.id 2 points 1 year ago

No resolution, but it seems to just be too out of date.

[-] Kevin11@lemdro.id 3 points 1 year ago

What do you like about it?

[-] filgas08@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Mainly how smooth and polished it feels

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

I use the default launcher on my Sony because it's actually quite good.

But if I had to use a 3rd party launcher like I did on my V30, I'd use Nova Launcher Prime. It's the best one out there

[-] worsedoughnut@lemdro.id 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I got so sick of the generic grids and app drawers, but then I found Niagara Launcher and it's just the single coolest thing I've ever used.

I love the completely unique home screen, and I insanely love that each app icon can be swiped on and opened as a folder/access in-app shortcuts.

I really can't recommend it enough for anyone looking for something super far from the average cookie-cutter launcher templates.

[-] Im28xwa@lemdro.id 1 points 1 year ago

Currently pixel launcher cause I am not interested enough to try new launchers, pixel launcher is good BUT I'm interested in trying out those "minimalistic" ones, some of them look really nice as I'm all in for minimalistic designs

[-] mintycactus@exploding-heads.com 1 points 1 year ago

I was a long time Smart Launcher user. I used a lot of other launchers than and always coming back to SL. Now Im using KISS for more than a year and I believe it is most convenient and good one.

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

https://github.com/tanujnotes/Olauncher (also on Fdroid or Play stores).

It's just up to 8 slots of text only for favorite apps on the home screen. Swipe up to search apps, again, text only. Swipe left/right to open an assigned app (calendar and weather for me).

I wanted something without trackers on my GrapheneOS install. No more widgets and no more sorting, organizing, or looking for icons.

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

Lawnchair. It's FOSS and like the old Nova launcher, before they were acquired.

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this post was submitted on 24 Jul 2023

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