Hi everyone, especially those of you who have tried launchers I’ve never tried…
Like a lot of people I dropped Nova a while back, following the beginning of the inevitable decline, which seems to be continuing as expected.
I’m back on a stock launcher for now, and it’s been fine but it lacks things… I miss the good days of Nova and being able to tweak everything!
The problem I’ve had with launchers I’ve tried is that they either don’t offer folders for the app draw, or if they do they don’t work right.
For example, lawn-chair would have an icon in and an icon out of the folder every time an app updated. 🤔
Also, I have a work profile on my device, courtesy of Shelter. Launchers seem to struggle with this, muddling up apps or missing them entirely sometimes.
Can anyone suggest a launcher which can handle folders well, and a work profile without issues?
Thanks! T
I’m still using paid nova as I’ve been for like 10 years. I’ve blocked internet access for it (running grapheneos), I’m not really seeing risks in using it?
Same here on LOS
Are you on a Samsung phone? If yes you can check out the good lock module home up. That enables a lot of customization options on the Samsung stock launcher.
Although I can’t vouch for it since I sometimes use either Niagara launcher or kvaesitso.
The former is a simple minimalist launcher of just having 8 quick apps and a list of apps that’s easily searchable or use alphabetical quick scroll. You can kind of make folders in it, but I don’t have the words to describe how. They do it differently than nova. I’m really just giving a quick summary; there’s a bit more to it if you want a change.
Sorry that I don’t have a close 1:1 nova replacement. I just didn’t use it since way back when I got it for a dollar or something stupidly low. Something just didn’t click.
Kvaesitso is also a semi change than nova launcher. No folders for apps though. But it has a dedicated infitine vertically scrolling page for widgets. The app drawer have a section separate for pinned apps and most used apps, before showing the whole app drawer (and doesn’t “hide” the pinned and most used apps like some launchers do).
I’ve used Hyperion for years and it’s been great. They have some features locked behind a couple bucks but it’s been worth it for me.
I don’t use folders in the list but it does appear to support them.
Maybe give the free one a spin and see?
I really like dragon launcher but it’s not traditional at all it uses a system of rings to quickly launch things and does feature profiles and folders
Have you tried octopi?
Like, it’s a launcher? Or as a Food? Coz either way the answer is no.
I love a niche item, I’ll check it out. Fdroid or play store?
It’s a launcher, that I find is very close to how I set up my Nova (my wife couldn’t tell the difference between my octopi and Nova setups). I got mine from the play store. It’s free with a couple of cosmetic pro features for a couple of bucks.
using lawnchair at the moment. folders work, work profile… works.
the only feature they don’t natively have that I miss from the stock launcher is frequent apps. I could install the plug-in, but I’m about to switch to graphene for the next phone so I’ll probably start from scratch and see how native graphene works.
Interesting… No weird bugs with the folders?
Maybe they fixed that since last time I checked
Perhaps the ‘add new apps to the homescreen’ option is a little buggy? Like maybe the launcher thinks an updated app is a new app? Try turning that off.
I had the issue appear when sliding apps into folders straight out of the appdrawer. If i add it to the homescreen first and then drag it into a folder, the issue is gone.
Hope any of this helps.
Thanks!
Things to try, much appreciated
I use lawnchair on grapheneos. No issues with folders. Haven’t tried plugins or profiles.
why not use nova till it breaks? i still use a 10yo launcher (adw launcher ex 1.3.4.0) and it still works fine for me.
Nah, I dropped it now.
Feels silly to go back to it only to have to drop it sooner or later.
I think it’s already doing data collection and finger printing, ads are close behind.
I’ve been using Hyperion for a while now, it’s pretty good. You can create custom folders for the drawer, though I’m not sure how well it handles work profiles.
Thanks. I think I tried that one. Maybe worth another go after a few years
Lawnchair is ok but I’ve been liking Poco. The thing is Nova is amazing at adapting icon packs to at least make stuff follow a motif. Nearly every other launcher just leaves icons looking out of place when there isn’t a themed one. I’m not talking about having an icon for all your apps within all your icon packs, but if the pack follows some shape or design, or maybe color affectation, Nova will generate for all others a complying effect. Hardly any other launchers will do this. I also use a widget called Launchy and the one thing it’s missing is it also won’t do this with some packs. Although some will. It’s weird.
But I’ve rambled. Yeah check out Poco AKA Global Launcher from Xiaomi I think.
Thanks!
Not tried that one.
Any Xiaomi concerns about data telemetry? Or am I being paranoid?
Well I don’t think it’d paranoid but I have been meaning to run a scan with some apps I have just to see. But is Xiaomi one of the banned brands?I know Huawei, ZTE, and some others I’ve heard. Not sure about Xiaomi.
Anyway it’s a fairly good quality launcher. And it has one feature I love that Nova never implemented which is icon packs as in multiple. In order of preference.
The waterfall scroll is one of my favourite features in Nova. I’m holding on until I come across a decent foss project or it breaks.
wdym by waterfall scroll?
You worried about the coming of the adverts?
Oh is that what’s going to happen?
Ugh thanks I guess I’ve been living under a rock.
