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Nova Launcher's Sad End: Founder Says Development Is Over


in reply to fne8w2ah

It was already dead for a lot of users when they sold it to an analytics company in 2022.
in reply to Eager Eagle

I stopped using it then and I actually thought they went under, huh.
in reply to Eager Eagle

Yep - and I recall arguing at the time with one of the Nova people sent to Reddit to try and sell us on the idea that everything was just fine, and nothing would change, and hey, look over there, a huge distracting thing...

It was bullshit then, and so it's proved. What a waste of a truly exceptional launcher.

in reply to Eager Eagle

I've been using it for ages and didn't even know about all of this. What a shitshow, jesus christ.

I'm getting a new phone pretty soon anyway so after I stick Graphene on there I'll find something new instead for sure.

This entry was edited (1 day ago)
in reply to fne8w2ah

Anyone have any alternatives they like?
in reply to candyman337

I like Niagara. Simplistic. Minimalist.
in reply to not_that_guy05

For full features you need a subscription. For a phone launcher. Hard no.
in reply to ook

We all have our hard lines, and I don't fault yours.

However for the scrollers passing by, they have a lifetime membership of about ~$45 USD. I found it worth it. It was super easy to get used to, and I honestly can't stand any other launcher now.

I like it a lot and would hate to see it die out, so it was easy to justify for me.

in reply to candyman337

I've found Total Launcher to be an easy 1:1 replacement for Nova and has some useful, additional features
in reply to Praxinoscope

I use Total too - I wouldn't say it's quite 1:1 as it's not as intuitive, but in terms of customisability, it's amazing.
in reply to Praxinoscope

Not FOSS though.

I used it for a while and really liked it, but the not-FOSS aspect didn't sit well, especially since I'm starting to migrate off of proprietary services - including Play services.

This entry was edited (1 day ago)
in reply to candyman337

I had Nova Pro back in the day and decided to give KISS a try. It's a completely different philosophy but I ended up liking it and I've been using it for years now. I can't imagine a faster launcher nowadays, it just gets out of your way.
in reply to Interstellar_1

I tested a few launchers that were not to my liking, and then I settled on Lawnchair.

I might change at some stage, but so far it's working for me.

in reply to candyman337

I installed Lawnchair yesterday, so far, for my needs at least, I like it. It doesn't have a paged app drawer, but I just created folders instead and I'll get used to it.
This entry was edited (1 day ago)
in reply to candyman337

I moved to Nova because ADW stopped getting supported. I still prefer the latter, and I guess I have no reason to use the former now
in reply to sepiroth154

Last release 2022. There are a few bugs that I endured for more than a year, then I moved.

Lawnchair now is my best friend.

in reply to Railcar8095

Since the new release of Lawn Chair I have the bug (listed on Github issues) where I can't add widgets, so I'm stuck with Neo Launcher for now

But I can't wait to switch back

in reply to candyman337

I use Kvaesitso, highly recommended
in reply to ogeist

I second this, have been using it for years and can never go back
in reply to candyman337

I switched to Smart Launcher. Tried all the recommended launchers for some time but none met my needs. After some time getting used to it and changing the settings, Smart launcher is the one.
in reply to candyman337

I use Apex Launcher. It's not exactly the same but it works for me.
in reply to candyman337

I made a switch to Smart Launcher which has been quite fantastic. They don't rely on a subscription model like most other launchers which is a huge plus in my book. They offer quite a bit of options for customizing your screen. Not as much as Nova, but it's still good. I used Nova for a long time as well, but this has made it easier to transition to. Aside from that, Hyperion Launcher has plenty of options as well.
in reply to fne8w2ah

Deny network permissions and keep using Nova until it won't work.
in reply to ORbituary

I don't think you even can deny apps network permission on most Android builds anymore. Didn't Google kill that option years ago for the sake of ads? (I'm on GrapheneOS now, where it certainly is possible, but if I remember right I couldn't do it on the stock Pixel OS.)
in reply to GenderNeutralBro

GrapheneOS.

So, yes, you're right. But I don't fuck around with stock shit.

This entry was edited (1 day ago)
in reply to GenderNeutralBro

You can also force-deny network access via root; you don't necessairly need GrapheneOS and a Pixel.

(Why is everyone using GOS? You can achieve the same amount of privacy with rooting and using apps that respect your privacy, and contain the ones that don't. Also, you can do cool stuff with a rooted device.)

This entry was edited (1 day ago)
in reply to somerandomperson

Better security and easier to do (assuming you have a supported device)
in reply to GenderNeutralBro

You could use netguard, tracker control or rethinkdns for this. Surely there are other apps as well.

I didn't even know google gave this option, been using netguard since 2017.

in reply to GenderNeutralBro

I don't think you even can deny apps network permission on most Android builds anymore. Didn't Google kill that option years ago for the sake of ads?


The solution to this is rooting your phone. Root allows you to get around those arbitrary blocks.

in reply to GenderNeutralBro

I'm using firewall features from RethinkDNS to block internet connections per app. Still using Nova Launcher v7.0.58 with auto update disabled.
in reply to GenderNeutralBro

I use LineageOS and AFWall+ to block network permissions to Nova Launcher.
in reply to ORbituary

They can still communicate through Google services, even without network permission themselves. If i recall correctly gmaps doesn't really use the network permission, but uninstall Google Play Services and suddenly nothing loads.
in reply to iturnedintoanewt

Incorrect. I have been running it this way for years. GrapheneOS.
This entry was edited (1 day ago)
in reply to ORbituary

I would have just switched to another launcher at that point. There are plenty of Launchers (Lawnchair) that have all the features Nova had, if not more. Plus, it values privacy and consumer first.

Nova arguably died a long time ago. People only wanted to stick with it this long due to the nostalgia and the fear of letting it go. It's a bloated app full of bugs.

in reply to fne8w2ah

I’ve been a user of nova for quite a while now, and over time it’s become something I don’t really think about. My setup is minimalist and nova has always blended into that seamlessly. It doesn’t demand attention; it just works, letting me use my phone the way I want. For me, as long as this phone keeps on working, nova will stay right where it is, simple, reliable, and exactly what I need. Even if this phone gives up the ghost, I'll probably still consider using nova on whatever phone I get next....
in reply to Raccoonn

Nova is gonna be really hard to switch from. 🫤
This entry was edited (1 day ago)
in reply to nul9o9

well you can have the icon pack with any launcher and the time/calender widget too
in reply to fne8w2ah

KISS launcher (minimal mode). FOSS available on fdroid.
in reply to lemonySplit

I love KISS, its so simple yet has a decent amount of customization. It's all you need in a launcher.
in reply to lemonySplit

I tried KISS but unless I didn't find how to, it didn't have multiple home pages and widgets were limited. I also don't like to type to find an app, it feels like too many inputs :/
in reply to fne8w2ah

Niagara Launcher is a great, but different launcher.
A modern + minimalist Android home screen optimized for one-✋ access and staying focused. Designed by a German team who really cares, believe they group just went fulltime after having been done with university. They also allow you purchase the apk to avoid Google. They have a free version and a trial of the premium version.

niagaralauncher.com/

in reply to fne8w2ah

Kvaesitso from droidify. Different first but pretty solid.
in reply to Verax

I'm fairly new to Android, so have been using Nova on a friend's recommendation since I got my phone. I installed Kvaesitso and can't for the life of me figure out how to make it just look like what I'm used to.

I hate this shit. Why do people have to change my stuff!

in reply to fne8w2ah

So Branch straight up fucking lied about open sourcing it.

If they didn't lie they wouldn't have asked the founding developer to stop.

in reply to DoucheBagMcSwag

Mozilla promised to open-source Pocket and they closed it without doing so also. It's common. Google did open-source Pebble stuff a decade later, so it's never too late!
in reply to DoucheBagMcSwag

i wonder if they open source it after the end of Nova Launcher ngl
in reply to Mwa

Doesn't sound like it. They said about the whole open source thing to get weary eyes off of branch for acquiring Nova Launcher....the owner called their public bluff