this post was submitted on 06 Sep 2025
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[–] HulkSmashBurgers@reddthat.com 17 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] ilinamorato@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago

Oh, this is great news. I have Nova tweaked to work almost exactly like this. Excellent, thank you.

[–] jjlinux@lemmy.zip 14 points 1 day ago

These companies lack any sort of common sense. Nova is used (and suggested) by Android users that are at least minimally tech-savvy. What on earth would make them believe that news like this one would remain secret, and therefore allow them to keep the userbase to suck on their data?

[–] lechekaflan@lemmy.world 197 points 3 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (5 children)

I hate being hinted and asked to click on the link, so I save you a click:

It’s the end of an era: the founder and original developer of Nova Launcher — Kevin Barry — has stepped away from the development of the iconic custom launcher. This essentially marks the end of the road for the launcher, as it is unlikely to receive updates or new features. For years now, Nova Launcher has been the go-to launcher for power Android users, standing out for its plethora of customization options and features.

Now that Nova is in literal limbo, if not allegedly in the hands of some data miner, there should be talk about substitutes.

  • This app may share these data types with third parties
  • This app may collect these data types
[–] Kissaki@feddit.org 10 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I hate being hinted and asked to click on the link, so I save you a click:

Are you using a different client? Without teaser texts? The Lemmy website mentions Nova in the teaser.

[–] lechekaflan@lemmy.world 6 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I'm on the PC and using Firefox, viewing Lemmy directly rather than on mobile.

Android’s most beloved launcher may be done for good

I see only this.

[–] Kissaki@feddit.org 2 points 2 days ago

Seems like lemmy.world has the opengraph/teaser stuff disabled? When I open the post on lemmyworld, without an account, it doesn't have a teaser at all.

If you open this comment source link it may very well show.

The interoperability of ActivityPub is nice, but all these differences make it confusing and cumbersome too.

[–] dual_sport_dork@lemmy.world 75 points 2 days ago (4 children)

That talk about substitutes happened when it was initially handed over to said data miner, and anybody concerned should have switched back then. I did, moving to Lawnchair, and never looked back. Oodles of other options are doubtlessly available.

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[–] nshibj@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago

I hate clickbait too. Just downvote posts like this

[–] 0x0 12 points 2 days ago

I would be so happy if Kevin got accidentally 'hacked' and the source leaked, by now im so ingrained in nova that it just feels wrong switching.

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[–] Lileath@lemmy.blahaj.zone 9 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Am I the only person that uses KISS launcher on this site? Once I got used to how it functions switching to something different will be hard.

[–] AbsolutePain@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago

I love KISS launcher. I can't go back to normal launchers. Been using it for years.

[–] Demdaru@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

It's that vertical one aye? Used it for oldie backup phone and it was a blessing. But if you use more apps, it's not worth it imo

[–] Lifter@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Searching is way faster than trying to keep stuff organized in folders and screens. You get at least two clicks anyway and you keyboard is already there.

[–] Demdaru@lemmy.world 1 points 22 hours ago

Dunno, organised my shit once and done, I can now get to my shit faster than I type so yeah.

[–] glitchdx@lemmy.world 63 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

if it's nova launcher I'm gonna be pissed.

edit: it's nova launcher. fucking fuck.

[–] hansolo@lemmy.today 9 points 1 day ago

Seriously, one of the few apps I've ever paid for - and this is what I get?!

[–] thatradomguy@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago

I'm sorry, brother. My condolences. I actually get my launcher from Fdroid and so I'll probably also be fucked.

[–] cRazi_man@europe.pub 65 points 2 days ago (7 children)

For those coming looking for alternatives, this mega comparison chart is what I used to select an alternative launcher when I switched.

I would strongly recommend checking this site for the trackers in an app if you're at all concerned about privacy. Links to each app's exodus privacy report is also at the end of the table linked above.

[–] madcaesar@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Help a brother out, which one is closest to Nova? I don't mind paying for good work, I just want home screens and being able to place my icons where I want, also widgets!

[–] cRazi_man@europe.pub 1 points 23 hours ago* (last edited 23 hours ago)

There's no direct replacement. The features I use are in Pear launcher so I use that. You have to look through launcher comparisons to find the features you need.

I've made a post about this and some people are giving recommendations. Check out comments here: https://europe.pub/post/4256799

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[–] Tetsuo@jlai.lu 54 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I'm very thankful to Kevin for this amazing launcher that I'm still using to this day.

Also a bit disapointed he trusted Branch and gave them the opportunity to ruin it.

[–] arin@lemmy.world 38 points 2 days ago

It's always capitalism

[–] neclimdul@lemmy.world 14 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Man probably needed to eat. What a system we've got.

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[–] 9point6@lemmy.world 64 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I might be misremembering but wasn't it bought out by one of those data harvesting companies a while ago?

[–] Gaja0@lemmy.zip 22 points 2 days ago (1 children)
[–] AbsolutePain@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

KISS is so good. It's 100% the fastest way to get to where you wanna be when you pull up your phone.

[–] ripcord@lemmy.world 26 points 2 days ago (1 children)

God DAMMIT.

I don't know why, but this is some proverbial straw for me today. Motherfuck.

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[–] kaitco@lemmy.world 37 points 3 days ago (3 children)

I don’t even know how to use Android without Nova…

Why does nothing good ever last?

[–] Dran_Arcana@lemmy.world 18 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I switched to Niagara a few years back because Nova didn't have good support for foldables and tbh I haven't looked back. It's very different but once you get used to it it's much faster than a traditional launcher.

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[–] pulsewidth@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago

I just use the Fairphone 2 Launcher and it's fine 🤷🏻

I used Nova on my last phone and it worked great, I paid for pro. So I know what I'm missing, not worth it to get back in the Google Play Store system though. I like being anon with no Google account, especially considering Nova sold to a company that data mines user data?

[–] alecsargent@lemmy.zip 22 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Its Lawnchair or nothing for me.

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[–] gilokee@lemmy.world 32 points 3 days ago

Fuck, I've been using this since I got an android phone in 2008. RIP.

[–] ibot@feddit.org 1 points 1 day ago

Damn.I need to find an alternative. I also like the Microsoft Launcher, but it's Microsoft...

[–] cheers_queers@lemmy.zip 9 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Niagara is my favorite by far, i have been paying for pro for years

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[–] DrDystopia@lemy.lol 17 points 3 days ago

KISS has been the only reasonable launcher ever since Android ruined it's overview system.

[–] mr2meows@pawb.social 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] alekwithak@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] mr2meows@pawb.social 1 points 16 hours ago

pretty waves backgrounde,

[–] BlackEco@lemmy.blackeco.com 15 points 3 days ago (20 children)

Does anyone have recommendations to replace Nova?

[–] cRazi_man@europe.pub 33 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (5 children)

There's no direct replacement. The features I use are in Pear launcher so I use that. You have to look through launcher comparisons to find the features you need.

Also, I'm surprised purple are still using Nova. I thought most people abandoned it after it got sold.

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[–] chtk@sh.itjust.works 13 points 3 days ago (9 children)

It's very much not a classic launcher and takes some getting used to, but Kvaesitso is nice.

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[–] ScrotusMaximus@lemmy.zip 13 points 3 days ago (5 children)

Niagara launcher has been my go to for years now

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