If you’ve ever used a third-party launcher to replace the home screen on your Android device, you’ve probably at least...
  • EndlessNightmare@reddthat.comEnglish
    2·
    7 days ago

    Stupid question, but I’ve never used any of the Android launchers: what are people using them for? What do they do that makes them worth using over the stock interface?

    • Numuruzero@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
      2·
      6 days ago

      I can’t give a good answer but here’s my answer: I use Nova because it lets me set a custom image for folders. I made a custom background for my home screen and then set up folders with transparent images to make “hotspots”. It’s neat.

  • Cris@lemmy.worldEnglish
    121·
    8 days ago

    I’m still waiting for a FOSS launcher to add padding adjustments for the home screen, widgets, and dock, half grid snapping, allowing overlap, and setting any widget as a search bar

    And maybe other stuff. Still really sad Nova fell into this state, I genuinely depend on settings that are exclusive to it

    I’ll probably just be using Nova with network connectivity disabled for some time to come. Maybe when I blow up my home screen setup and start over I’ll try to work within the constraints of another launcher :/

  • jotaro__@lemmy.worldEnglish
    7·
    8 days ago

    Not FOSS, but the one that got me to let go of Nova was Octopi Launcher.

    Very close to a drop in replacement, brings most of the features and customizability that I got very used to.

  • hellmo_luciferrari@lemmy.zipEnglish
    61·
    8 days ago

    I am currently using Nova with internet access blocked. There is one feature no other launcher I have ever used has that Nova does: swiping on an icon on the homescreen up or down allows to launch a different app or activity.

    I want to find an open source replacement but no matter what launcher I find, they all lack this feature.

    • lemmy_get_my_coat@lemmy.worldEnglish
      3·
      8 days ago

      I just went launcher shopping recently - Total Launcher lets you assign different swipe shortcuts for four directions and a few other options IIRC. It’s very customisable so I’m giving it a go in parallel with my normal default of Kvaesitso.

      • hellmo_luciferrari@lemmy.zipEnglish
        2·
        7 days ago

        I’ll give this launcher a shot. It’s UI and setup is clunky comparatively to Nova. But I will play around with it more yet!

          • hellmo_luciferrari@lemmy.zipEnglish
            1·
            7 days ago

            I’ve been playing with it. And I can’t say I love it like I love Nova.

            It sure seems customizable, but the UI and wording about options could be better.

            I can’t seem to make my taskbar/dock have more than 4 icons.

            • lemmy_get_my_coat@lemmy.worldEnglish
              2·
              7 days ago

              Took me a while the get the place to long-hold just right, but if you do it on the edge of one of those app drawer/dock widgets it should pop up the top settings bar, there you hit the cog and there should be slides for row and column count.