- cross-posted to:
- privacy@lemmy.world
- privacyguides@lemmy.one
- cross-posted to:
- privacy@lemmy.world
- privacyguides@lemmy.one
Since a few folks seem unaware of this, I’m posting anew for visibility.
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Are there comparable alternatives? I never found another launcher that I like as much.
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.
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.
Free - Lawnchair | Kvaesisto
Paid - Niagara Launcher
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.
I backed up the APK of the last “clean” version before the sale. I’m going to keep using it until some OS update breaks it.
You don’t have to do it! :)
One of the original maintainers of Simple Mobile Tools forked the project and he’s adding new features and fixing bugs.
The project is called Fossify and you can already download the apps from both Play store and F-Droid
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?
Of course, but when something like that happens to a popular app there will be an outcry. If you are not a tech person you might miss that, but I’d argue if you care about what launcher your phone has and you care about this issue to go foss you are probably the type of person who’d hear about it.
I use KISS launcher but there are many other options mentioned here that are also good. Yes, nothing is exactly like Nova. But lots of other stuff is good too.
Yes, nothing is exactly like Nova. But lots of other stuff is good too.
Then they aren’t good alternatives, they’re passable.
Seems crazy to me that the software that’s owned by an analytics company is also the one focused on giving the user the most customization options. None of the FOSS alternatives have the same mentality as Nova. They’re all focused more on minimalism, or evoking Pixel, or pushing a specific niche type of interface of their own design. None of them provide anywhere near as many tools to the user.
If I have to use a closed source app provided by an analytics company just to get a launcher that actually empowers the user, so be it. Maybe more of the FOSS alternatives could start taking note of why Nova is the most popular.
But they promised that they won’t use the data for it 😜
They paid millions for it just for charity
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.
Where is the beta and why isn’t it the main version?
I’ve been using KISS for I don’t know how many years at this point. I can’t imagine using anything else at this point. I’m sure that there’s plenty of other great FOSS launchers out there!
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.
Lol fuck me why even try anymore
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
Well damn. I’ve been on Nova launcher for years. Even bought prime and all that.
Honestly, don’t care. Until it gets shitty (which it still has a good chance of doing so), I’ll continue to use it.
When that first happened I switched to KISS Launcher. Fully search based. really simple and really fast.
Had an old, barely living phone. Tried very hard to die on sole fact it had to display icons. KISS actually made it usable once again. ^^
And I BOUGHT pro! Went to Neo launcher when I started GraphineOS. May move to launchair if/when it supports work profile.
I have lawnchair and it supports work profile. At least as far as I know. I can swipe left/right to see my work apps in the app drawer. Not sure if there’s something else.
I’m running 14 beta 2 https://github.com/LawnchairLauncher/lawnchair/releases
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
Imagine not using Lawnchair or Neo Launcher in 2024
It’s extremely easy to when neither has all the features that Nova does.
My nova install has been frozen at the last version before the analytics company took over was. Since then I try to check out lots of launchers but none have the features of Nova.
Maybe one day, but I’m not holding my breath anymore.
Which version was that, and is it still possible to swap to it?
Edit: by the power of actually researching it instead of bothering someone else, I found it. They were bought by an analytics company in July of 2022, and the last full release version of the app before that on APK mirror was 7.0.57
Great job. Yee, I’m running 7.0.57
