Branch Metrics sucks. They fired almost of all people working for Nova.

  • Kokesh
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    3311 months ago

    What is the best replacement? I’ll hold on to Nova as long as possible, but if for some reason they screw it in some way…

      • Deconceptualist
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        2211 months ago

        I don’t understand why someone would want a “search-focused” launcher. You mean I have to bring up the on-screen keyboard and type out the name of an app instead of just scrolling & tapping an icon with 1-2 simple motions? Yuck. What am I missing?

        • @rescue_toaster@lemm.ee
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          711 months ago

          I too would be put off if it had to be used that way. But it can be used as a regular icon tapping launcher - it has a regular app drawer - which is how i use it. I don’t think it should market itself as a “search-focused” launcher.

        • @foreverunsure@pawb.social
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          511 months ago

          I’ve never heard of Kvaesitso in particular, but I like simple, search focused launchers as they force you to specify what you want to do on your phone instead of letting you mindlessly open e.g. a distracting social media app.

        • Celediel
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          311 months ago

          You mean I have to bring up the on-screen keyboard and type out the name of an app instead of just scrolling & tapping an icon with 1-2 simple motions?

          It just means you have the option to do both. Kvaesitsio has the app drawer one would expect, and a persistent search bar.

          • Deconceptualist
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            211 months ago

            Oh ok, thanks. Does it do homescreen icons and widgets? Last I tried it there was something I didn’t like but I can’t remember what.

            • @rescue_toaster@lemm.ee
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              311 months ago

              Can do homescreen icons. It has a widgets “pane”. You don’t place them on the home screen but put all widgets together than swipe to widgets. You can configure kvaesitso so it’s not too different from stock android experience.

              I have 5 “favorite” apps at bottom of screen, above the search bar, similar to stock android.

              I swipe left for my app drawer, which allows for more pinned favorites above full list.

              I swipe up for all my widgets.

              Swipe down for notifications, like stock.

              Swipe right for my camera app.

            • @reanimatejoker76@lemmy.ml
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              110 months ago

              There’s also a shortcut option to use the search. I use Total launcher with a swipe up gesture shortcut to open kvaesito’s search and app drawer.

        • @hcbxzz@lemmy.world
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          11 months ago

          If you have 100+ apps you’re going to need either a ton of organization or a search tool. Some people will meticulously organize their apps into folders, while others go for the search

    • DARbarian
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      1211 months ago

      I’ve been using Neo Launcher for a while, no complaints

      • @smeg@feddit.uk
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        110 months ago

        I’ve also been using it for a while but I do have complaints. They introduced a few minor bugs when it went from omega to neo and despite them being reported over a year ago they’ve not made any fixes since. I use it because it’s alright and not spying on me, but I’m always on the lookout for an improvement.

    • CubitOom
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      11 months ago

      I’m pretty happy with total launcher in combination with app search since I didn’t like totals app drawer.

      Edit: I just found OpenLauncher and I’m going to test that out.

      • mrddu3at2OP
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        511 months ago

        I use total launcher also.

        It’s cumbersome. It’s pain in the ass. But it works great with my pixel fold. I love it.

    • dinckel
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      711 months ago

      I used Smart Launcher for a couple years. Functionally, it was on par, if not better, from my perspective

    • @solsangraal@lemmy.zip
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      611 months ago

      commenting to watch for replies, because there’s about a million of them and i will probably never feel like doing research on launchers

    • @Haggunenons@lemmy.world
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      311 months ago

      I loved Nova, but a couple of years ago, I found AIO, and it just blew nova out of the water for me. I look around to see if anything better comes along, but so far, I’ve not seen anything that gets close to AIO for me. It is so customizable, everything on one vertical scrollable screen, email, notifications, calendar, apps, weather. I absolutely love it!

    • @BossDj@lemm.ee
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      211 months ago

      I’ve been using Microsoft launcher for about a year now. It’s surprisingly very customizable.

      • Kokesh
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        111 months ago

        I like that one, but I hate everything going through Bing/MS services

        • @BossDj@lemm.ee
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          111 months ago

          I use Firefox with duck duck go. Even the launcher’s default search bar lets you choose the engine.

          Is Branch better than Microsoft?

    • fmstrat
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      111 months ago

      Neo Launcher is the way. FOSS with all the same features as Nova.