this post was submitted on 23 Apr 2024
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Android

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

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[–] atomWood@lemm.ee 85 points 6 months ago (18 children)

Are there comparable alternatives? I never found another launcher that I like as much.

[–] Hubi@lemmy.world 58 points 6 months ago (7 children)

I switched to Lawnchair 2. It's free, open source and quite versatile. Probably not as much as Nova, though it's been a few years since I last used it.

[–] deweydecibel@lemmy.world 30 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

It is significantly less than Nova. People keep suggesting it but it's not a true replacement for those that were actually using Nova to its full potential. They're frankly isn't a replacement right now that goes all out on providing users customization options. That's not in vogue anymore, apparently.

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[–] aleph@lemm.ee 35 points 6 months ago (13 children)

Free - Lawnchair | Kvaesisto
Paid - Niagara Launcher

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[–] lemmyng@lemmy.ca 15 points 6 months ago (1 children)

For me Hyperion ended up giving me the closest out of the box experience to what I wanted.

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[–] fmstrat@lemmy.nowsci.com 14 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Neo Launcher is really close, and FOSS.

Edit: Closer than Lawnchair IMO

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[–] RootBeerGuy@discuss.tchncs.de 67 points 6 months ago (9 children)

Anyone here not using an open source launcher after this announcement is seriously learning nothing from this. You are just trusting the next company that either already or eventually will go the same way. Like the dude mentioning Microsoft launcher as alternative, that one has branch analytics baked in as well as far as I remember.

[–] ammonium@lemmy.world 37 points 6 months ago (4 children)

Be aware that using open source doesn't protect you completely from this, look at what happened to Simple Mobile tools, best install your open source applications from f-droid.

Do you have any good open source alternatives for Nova Launcher?

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[–] Snapz@lemmy.world 48 points 6 months ago (13 children)

Lawn chair is the main FOSS alternative.

Be aware that there is a play store version that is not updated (version 2) and a beta that is actively maintained (version14.2 now)

They are quite different.

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[–] passepartout@feddit.de 43 points 6 months ago (6 children)

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/

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[–] Magnetic_dud@discuss.tchncs.de 39 points 6 months ago (2 children)

But they promised that they won't use the data for it 😜

They paid millions for it just for charity

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[–] exanime@lemmy.today 35 points 6 months ago (19 children)

Switched to Niagara Launcher a few years back... it's awesome... clean, fast and actually different (most other launchers are just icon packs)

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[–] HidingCat@kbin.social 34 points 6 months ago (11 children)

Honestly, don't care. Until it gets shitty (which it still has a good chance of doing so), I'll continue to use it.

[–] trafficnab@lemmy.ca 59 points 6 months ago (2 children)

A launcher owned by an analytics company? In my OS owned by an ad company?

[–] dan@upvote.au 14 points 6 months ago

It's more likely than you think!

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[–] wagoner@infosec.pub 21 points 6 months ago

2 points for brutal honesty.

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[–] nul9o9@lemmy.world 28 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (3 children)

Well damn. I've been on Nova launcher for years. Even bought prime and all that.

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[–] Copernican@lemmy.world 24 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Niagara is what I moved to from Nova. Less widget focused layout, but any app is literally 2 presses and one swipe away from the home screen.

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[–] viking@infosec.pub 23 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Doesn't matter, as long as you restrict internet access for it.

Since there are no alternatives coming even close, I refuse to switch just because.

[–] CeeBee@lemmy.world 15 points 6 months ago (6 children)

How are you restricting internet access for it?

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[–] vodkasolution@feddit.it 22 points 6 months ago (1 children)

it was JULY 2022 and almost nothing seems to be changed

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[–] LordCrom@lemmy.world 21 points 6 months ago (3 children)

Fuck. Using nova kept me sane. Even though they say, nothing changes....it will. With an analytics company, if they spend that much on nova, they are either going to go behind a paywall, or start data mining the shit from every user.

Remember, if the product is free, then you're the product

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[–] kandoh@reddthat.com 20 points 6 months ago

Lol fuck me why even try anymore

[–] strawberry@kbin.run 19 points 6 months ago (4 children)

can't analyze my data if I dont let you connect to the internet

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[–] Predator@feddit.uk 19 points 6 months ago

You can switch off Error & Usage option in advanced setting in Nova.

[–] pro_grammer@programming.dev 18 points 6 months ago
[–] xyguy@startrek.website 18 points 6 months ago (5 children)

When that first happened I switched to KISS Launcher. Fully search based. really simple and really fast.

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[–] Anticorp@lemmy.world 17 points 6 months ago

Well this fuckin sucks! I guess I'm switching back to the lame default launcher.

[–] Crafter72@lemmy.world 17 points 6 months ago

Woah, seeing Nova launcher name with enshittification makes me trip down memory lane.

I remember using one of these launcher apps on my Jelly Bean 2013 lenovo phone, Nova Launcher app being one of them that felt good to me, though as time passes and more I delve into rooting and custom roms, I just stick to whatever launcher is included in the rom or just use stock launcher. Maybe I'm becoming old timer that need "it just functions, simple, and no bs" guy. Been using stock launcher on android since 2016.

[–] DAMunzy@lemmy.dbzer0.com 16 points 6 months ago (8 children)

If you aren't paying, you're the product.

Microsoft Windows addendum: even when you pay, you're the product.

PS: I know this goes for more than M$. They're just the easy target here on Lems.

[–] Covenant@sh.itjust.works 39 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (3 children)
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[–] normalexit@lemmy.world 13 points 6 months ago (1 children)

They have a paid version of the Nova launcher. I am certainly not a lawyer, but it also looks like they have a pretty clear privacy policy https://novalauncher.com/privacy/

I don't currently use it, but it is a nice alternative if they aren't doing anything fishy.

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[–] chrundle@lemmy.world 16 points 6 months ago (10 children)

Switched to Niagara launcher (Pro version) about a year ago and now I cannot imagine using a phone with an traditional app drawer.

[–] Buddahriffic@lemmy.world 16 points 6 months ago (2 children)

On the Google Play page data safety section, they seem to share and collect about as much data as Nova.

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[–] penquin@lemm.ee 16 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Begone, bitch. Removed from my phone. I even had prime.

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[–] menixator@lemmy.dbzer0.com 15 points 6 months ago

Thank you. I was not aware of it. Uninstalling now

[–] WashedOver@lemmy.ca 15 points 6 months ago (12 children)

I use Smart Launcher. I'm surprised there aren't more users of it.

I've been using it on all my phones and tablets for years now. Doesn't matter what type of Android phone I use, they mostly end up being the same feel with Smart Launcher

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[–] rossome@lemmy.ml 15 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

They discuss the acquisition and analytics concerns here: https://novalauncher.com/branch

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[–] stebo02@lemmy.dbzer0.com 14 points 6 months ago

Ah man I've been using this app for years... It's really convenient!

[–] uzay@infosec.pub 14 points 6 months ago

Thanks for the info, as a long-time Nova Launcher user, I was not aware. Good thing I didn't give it any internet access.

[–] NutWrench@lemmy.world 14 points 6 months ago (3 children)

I switched from Nova Launcher to Lawnchair (GitHub) over a year ago. I think it's great. https://github.com/LawnchairLauncher/lawnchair

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[–] khannie@lemmy.world 13 points 6 months ago (16 children)

To remove internet access from Nova, in android go to:

Settings->mobile network->data usage->network access

Go to Nova and select "disable network access"

Nova will complain after but functions just fine.

[–] Railcar8095@lemm.ee 21 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Someone correct me, but I think they can still send and receive data if using the Google services.

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[–] 5h17h34d@lemmy.world 12 points 6 months ago

Adguard seems to do a good job blocking the Nova calls to home. Thing is, it's like an AV or VPN, you can only guess that it's working over time, you really don't know for sure.

[–] all4one@lemmy.zip 12 points 6 months ago (8 children)

I've been looking since this was first announced forever ago but can't find a comparable alternative. My two main requirements are being able to create folders for apps in the app drawer and being able to assign "swiping up" on my home screen icon for the to open hidden apps or actions. I would love if anyone had a suggestion that included those two features.

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