Lawnchair (FOSS) just released an update to allow imports of Nova Launcher backups.
yagni, after many name changes, is getting as good as lawnchair ☞ https://f-droid.org/packages/com.eblan.launcher/
it’s only 2.5mb!
Ive been keeping my eye on this project! I am a fan but its not quite there yet for me. Adding widgets/apps to the home screen is kinda funky still, theres no support for app drawer groups/folders and a want but not a need is neofeed integration.
theres no support for app drawer groups/folders
indeed. I can move from lawnchair to yagni
eblan einsteinthe day they add drawer tabs
According to the degooglers over on reddit this was one of the rare good proprietary apps
It was until it was bought by an analytics firm
It was until a few years ago. When Branch acquired it everyone sane enough jumped ship to something else.
No proprietary apps are good, I bought Niagara like 9 years ago and I still have my finger on the trigger ready for this one to fuck itself. This happens 100% of the time if the app jyst doesnt straight up die. At this point its brain dead to not use FOSS and just invest your time in learning those programs.
I think its more accurate to say proprietary apps can be good but they inherently carry a risk of turning to shit and there’s nothing you can do about it. Whereas the worst that could happen to you with FOSS is it stops getting updated and eventually stops being interoperable with the rest of the world, depending on what it is
Idk, I never trust a proprietary app. I assume they are always phoning everything home and setup my pihole accordingly. Windows is a great example. Blocked network traffic went down ~20% or so when I moved to linux.
The post title already says it all. Proactive AI in a launcher context means it watches your usage patterns constantly, and sucking up all your data is not hyperbole when you consider what a launcher can access on your device. Nova Launcher built its reputation on being lightweight and respectful of privacy, which makes this a stark departure from that identity. How long before this assistant starts suggesting apps based on your SMS messages or call logs?
Nova got sold to an ad firm years ago and so only the older versions are ok but people have switched to alternatives like lawnchair and Niagara. I’m still using an old version of Nova but I’m going to switch when I get a new phone
I ditched it when it changed hands recently, just using Octopi launcher it mostly ticks the same boxes for me. But yeah anyone still using Nova should really uninstall that thing.
More shit no one asked for
I am on an older version and I so not looking forward to moving to another launcher.
Nova just so many small useful things that all just work (folder/icon gestures, icon pack support is exemplary).
Give Niagara a try. It’s a bit different but I have been using it for a good while now and really like it.
I’m not leaving Nova. So I’ll install newest safe version and block updates. Fuck ai.
Man, I just wanna be able to set my own icons for folders, and for them to have the same functionality. Haven’t run across one that works close enough to satisfy my day to day preferences in that regard.
See, the real killer feature of nova in that regard is turning a folder (or any icon really) into multi function switch with swipe directions. Most of the launchers out there, even if they offer similar functionality, you’re stuck with whatever folders look like, which is usually just a stack of icons in various orders. And fuck me for Canyon wanting my shit to be pretty as well as smooth and functional.
There’s a few that do “covers”, which is nice for what it is, but afaik (and I semi regularly retry launchers) they locks your options for using the folder to a single tap and single swipe, with one opening the folder and the other opening the first app in the folder. With Nova, I can even select an app that isn’t in the folder to be opened with a swipe.
Hyperion gets closest of the ones I’ve test driven, and it’s likely what I’ll end up using once I can no longer use the older apk of nova from before it was sold. Assuming it lasts long enough lol
I’ve been pretty happy with Octopi in that respect
I was just checking it out. It really is nice, thank you!
This is a good reminder to finally uninstall it completely after I switched to a different one. I should have done that long ago.
There are two launchers I am currently using, one more testing.
The tried and true Lawnchair, and Yagni Launcher.
