There are lots of good FOSS options.
I would strongly recommend checking this site for the trackers in an app if you’re at all concerned about privacy. Links to each app’s exodus privacy report is also at the end of the table linked above.
FYI, Nova has been owned by a data mining company for many years and it is worth moving away from even if you think it is good enough now and doesn’t need updates.
i’ve been using android since 2007… and the home screen paradigm for me has always been a customizable dock at the bottom with an app drawer button in the middle, and multiple home screens with whatever widgets you want…
i’ve tried almost all the suggestions for a nova replacement and almost all of them break my workflow i’ve used for almost 20 years. it’s very frustrating. it seems like the latest launchers fall into two camps…
“minimalist”, no widgets, have to search everything with keyboard
“modern”, takes a lot of cues from iOS on the home screenthat’s the problem with finding a “nova replacement”… almost everyone’s “nova” is completely different from each other… does anyone have a suggestion for a launcher that carries on the old school android layout, but also FOSS? (GO launcher still maintains the old-school paradigm, but not FOSS)
https://30p87.de/the_definitive_android_launcher_comparison_table/
Mirrored the site. Pro: No direct access to shitty “AI” site, it not a living hell for NoScript users (original site immediately redirects to a static “JS Disabled” site which is not on the main domain, therefore you don’t know for which domains you have to enable JS), does not fuck with CTRL+C and does not fuck over your current browser history.
the biggest thing i want that i love in nova is the ability for multiple drawers but also the ability to put apps in multiple folders, folders in folders, and hide them from one drawer and i’ve never found anything close to nova like that :(
Try Pear launcher.
If Neo launcher gets forked or revived then that would have the features you want, but it was left unfinished and undeveloped.
The Exodus Report is really good, I would also recommend https://f-droid.org/packages/io.github.muntashirakon.AppManager/ . you can install an app, then check it with App Manager, before first run, which will often find more trackers than Exodus will
Edit: and https://themarkup.org/blacklight for finding trackers in websites
tbh I’d say using Nova as long as possible is also not a bad choice. I still use ADW Launcher 1. Works perfectly under Android 11.
Check out kvaesito
Its something new, but not that New that you need to learn everything again
I’m on Nova, what’s the thoughts on LawnChair? Worth changing to?
I use lawnchair, I like it. It does what I want it to do. I can use a theme for icons, make an app drawer, and put apps in folders.
Its got other features as well, but those are the ones I care about and use. My favorite part is that its on fdroid which was a major plus for me. I’m using GrapheneOS, but I’m trying to limit what apps I download from google play just for more peace of mind and compatibility.
What is KLWP?
It’s a live wallpaper maker, it’s really good - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.kustom.wallpaper
Neat! Thanks for the link!
No problem 😁
I don’t know what I want out of a launcher but every launcher never does quite do it for me, currently I am using aio and have been for awhile its been nice but somehow I keep thinking something else should be interesting too but it never does seem to be.
For a time before aio I was using niagara. Maybe its just grass is greener or something
