Nova as far as I'm concerned became malware the second it was sold

Got rid of Nova with the last round of bullshit. No chance I'll be back

I'm using NOVA for almost (or more than, i can't quite recall) a decade, used to be my favorite investment on android beside with Minium Keyboard and PowerAmp.

I can't belive i just gonna look for a new launcher after that long.

Anyone know a lite and customizable FOSS launcher ?

To nobody's surprise....

Guess it's time to leave Nova. Any recommended alternatives?

This is the final nail in the coffin for an otherwise such a great product. Never going back I guess...

Nova Launcher has always been one of the few Android launchers worth paying for, but 'proactive AI' is just a rebranded data-harvesting feature. The moment a launcher starts predictive-SEO-ing your behavior behind a subscription paywall is the moment you switch to Niagara or Lawnfeed. How long before 'Nova AI' is just a wrapper around an LLM API with your app usage logs attached?

Still nothing bad for those of us who paid?

Still no alternative launcher that is 100% free (because if $4 15 years ago was too much… you’re not gonna pay now) that does what Nova users want?

So, I’m on an iPhone; my Android phone has a very specific use as a cosplay prop. (It’s also a functional smartphone and a backup for my music collection. I’m not dissing the platform. Also, Gboard on Android beats any keyboard on iOS, no contest.) I need big icons, custom icons with custom text, and I need a 3x3 icon grid with no dock. My Android phone is a NookPhone, like you get in Animal Crossing. Down to the case. If I were really smart I’d just make my own launcher, but I’m not. Still, my NookPhone is awesome. And I can’t use a half assed launcher.

The post title already says it all. Proactive AI in a launcher context means it watches your usage patterns constantly, and sucking up all your data is not hyperbole when you consider what a launcher can access on your device. Nova Launcher built its reputation on being lightweight and respectful of privacy, which makes this a stark departure from that identity. How long before this assistant starts suggesting apps based on your SMS messages or call logs?

I ditched it when it changed hands recently, just using Octopi launcher it mostly ticks the same boxes for me. But yeah anyone still using Nova should really uninstall that thing.

More shit no one asked for

According to the degooglers over on reddit this was one of the rare good proprietary apps

Give Niagara a try. It's a bit different but I have been using it for a good while now and really like it.

My recommendation:

https://f-droid.org/packages/de.mm20.launcher2.release/

Nothing like Nova but the best I've found.

Man, I just wanna be able to set my own icons for folders, and for them to have the same functionality. Haven't run across one that works close enough to satisfy my day to day preferences in that regard.

See, the real killer feature of nova in that regard is turning a folder (or any icon really) into multi function switch with swipe directions. Most of the launchers out there, even if they offer similar functionality, you're stuck with whatever folders look like, which is usually just a stack of icons in various orders. And fuck me for Canyon wanting my shit to be pretty as well as smooth and functional.

There's a few that do "covers", which is nice for what it is, but afaik (and I semi regularly retry launchers) they locks your options for using the folder to a single tap and single swipe, with one opening the folder and the other opening the first app in the folder. With Nova, I can even select an app that isn't in the folder to be opened with a swipe.

Hyperion gets closest of the ones I've test driven, and it's likely what I'll end up using once I can no longer use the older apk of nova from before it was sold. Assuming it lasts long enough lol

This is a good reminder to finally uninstall it completely after I switched to a different one. I should have done that long ago.

There are two launchers I am currently using, one more testing.

The tried and true Lawnchair, and Yagni Launcher.

I'm not leaving Nova. So I'll install newest safe version and block updates. Fuck ai.

I am on an older version and I so not looking forward to moving to another launcher.

Nova just so many small useful things that all just work (folder/icon gestures, icon pack support is exemplary).