Android

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

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.

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.

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/

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

They paid millions for it just for charity

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

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

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

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.

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.

it was JULY 2022 and almost nothing seems to be changed

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

Lol fuck me why even try anymore

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

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

oh crap

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

I switched to Kvaesitso (https://github.com/MM2-0/Kvaesitso) and Lawnchair (https://lawnchair.app/downloads/).

Not quite the same customization, but worth it. Kvaesitso is my primary and I love it.

Well this sucks because I love Nova :(

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.