What's your favorite alternate launcher? - eviltoast

Just got a new work phone: Galaxy S22. Wanted a pixel but it was out of stock in our internal allocation. Already tired of samsung’s UI and interested in something new.

So what do you like? Bonus points if it works with android enterprise’s profile mode dual app drawers.

  • wilberfan@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    NOVA. Every single time I’ve tried an alternate launcher, I always return to NOVA within 24 hours.

  • win98@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I’ve been using nova launcher prime since forever. Make a backup on my old phone when getting a new one, and import it on the new phone.

      • Someology@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        :( I used Nova Prime for many years, and I don’t like this one bit. I hope that the devs got a good payout, and best wishes to them, but it makes me uncomfortable. Luckily, while it’s definitely no Nova, Samsung’s launcher has finally on the most recent version gotten to a point of usability. Everything is more awkward to do, and you have to install extra Samsung apps (Good Lock with applets) for a lot of the customization, but most of my favorite features from Nova are finally there. So, for the first time in many years, I’m running the Samsung default OneUI 5.1.

          • Someology@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            Yes, I do think they are, but by choosing a Samsung smartphone, I’ve already decided to be OK with that on some level. I turn off features that connect to outside companies for the most part, and I’ve chosen to believe that Samsung does what it claims with the settings that users have available to them on the phone. It doesn’t mean that I’m just fine with handing everything over to any other random company. Samsung states that they use Branch for searches inside their Galaxy Store. Some claims have been made that Branch powers the Finder (search) function on Samsung phones (althugh I can’t find confirmation), but this Finder Customization Service is a feature you can disable on a Samsung Galaxy phone. You can also turn off search suggestions for Finder and disable it’s ability to open links. You can disable Google and Samsung’s browsers and Internet searches as well.I am the sort of user who checks permissions of apps before downloading them (and disables everything I don’t use), and I don’t want my launcher (which I paid for) on a device I paid a not small sum of money for, to send every single tap back to a marketing firm directly.

            • jjnjjlr@lemmy.world
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              1 year ago

              Ok, but with even a little bit of research and looking around in Nova launcher itself, you would’ve found that you can opt out of usage analytics and all permissions. Branch even says this themselves on their discord.

  • Gili@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Sadly 3rd party launchers don’t work well with widgets, at least on One UI. I found Nova Launcher to do well with gestures and animations, but it’s not there yet for me. The One UI launcher works as expected but lacks the ability to change stuff like the icon shape which I don’t like very much (Theme Park doesn’t do it well).

  • FrostKing@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Currently using and have used the Niagra launcher for years. To me, ease of use and getting to the apps I need quickly and efficiently is the most important thing about a launcher. I’ve tried many of the “minimalistic” launchers over time, and this is the only one that truly felt useful. I’d highly recommend it to people who just use their phone as an app launcher, as opposed to having a bunch of widgets on the homescreen or something.

  • On@kbin.social
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    1 year ago

    Neo launcher for me. it’s on fdroid.

    it’s not perfect and can get buggy, but once you set it up, and don’t mess with the settings too much. it’s acceptable replacement for Nova launcher.

    Had nova prime, but switched after the buyout

  • Armando3996@lemm.ee
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    1 year ago

    It used to be posidon launcher, but it was glitchy and laggy as hell, also used neo launcher, it was fine, but not really what I want. I use Lawnchair from the izzyondroid fdroid repo nowadays.

  • Classy@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I’ve been rocking OLauncher for a few months now, I love it. Cutting down the extra noise on my home screen felt good.

  • gila@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Got my Pixel 7 yesterday and love the stock launcher, but I just can’t stay away from Niagara. It’s just too efficient