- cross-posted to:
- privacyguides@lemmy.one
- cross-posted to:
- 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.
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.
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!
But they promised that they won’t use the data for it 😜
They paid millions for it just for charity
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.
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?
This literally doesn’t answer the question at all. It’s just a snarky remark from someone who seems to think everyone else should be as privy to how all this works as they are.
Well damn. I’ve been on Nova launcher for years. Even bought prime and all that.
it was JULY 2022 and almost nothing seems to be changed
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. ^^
sigh
Switched to Niagara Launcher a few years back… it’s awesome… clean, fast and actually different (most other launchers are just icon packs)
Same here, I was a big fan of Nova until I discovered Niagara about a year ago. It’s a totally different concept from the icon based launchers. I love the minimalist approach to widgets and the self optimizing app list. Tying it in with sesame has led me that product as well and I’m finding the whole solution to be really nice
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
To remove internet access from Nova, in android go to:
Settings->mobile network->data usage->network access
Go to Nova and select “disable network access”
Nova will complain after but functions just fine.
Someone correct me, but I think they can still send and receive data if using the Google services.
Correct
