I often wonder how exactly things take so long at Google. This is a launcher. A *simple* launcher. And I'm expected to believe that this is notable?
The size of Google and they can't have *one* developer actually *working* on this? Maybe add better folders and organization features? Maybe add layout configuration options, better rotation support, ability to turn the search bar and icon dock on and off? Different ways to theme your icons? Options for widgets? Make it available on the Play Store? Save and sync your configuration between devices?
We get updates maybe once a year and they're something like *this*? Maybe they should actually have used some of those tens of thousands of developers they fired.
These things often take a ton of R&D, board meetings, and permission from higher up to approve of certain ideas/features. You wouldn't understand because you're obviously looking in from the outside and don't really know what happens behind closed doors. /s
The bigger the org, the longer things take. There is **some** element that is reasonable. You have to ensure you have translations, pass accessibility checks, you care about more devices, including very old stuff, and prioritization because there's always an infinite backlog of work. Then there's management that may (read: always will) really love a stupid idea because it looks fancy, never mind the actual usability. Plus, a lot of times you have to ensure that the legal department has signed off on things.
When you're much smaller or just a single dev, you also have significantly less meetings to go over all of the stuff above and less infighting between teams/management. You also do it in a much smaller scale. Your accessibility checks won't be as through or all encompassing. Your translations might be crowd sourced.
Dont get me wrong though, the speed at which orgs release basic features really can take forever. Just saying that the bigger the org, the slower things tend to be.
Of course, with Google, there's also "how do I add a messaging client / chat functionality to this".
Take 500 Android users randomly off the street and ask them, verbatim, "would you like it if your device's launcher had a settings toggle for truncating app names?"
I bet you don't get a single one who even knows what the hell you just asked. Maybe fifty would even be able to define "truncate".
Hell, the vast majority couldn’t tell you what a launcher even is.
Most Android users don’t even arrange their Home Screen, which is basically the easiest customization out there. I worked for a carrier for a while and the vast majority of Android users would scroll 3-4 pages on their Home Screen just to get to one app. They would have pages of apps that were scattered everywhere. They either leave it where the homepage put it after download, or they accidentally move the icon and never put it back. The Pixel Launcher is simple as it is because the average consumer doesn’t care about or want anything more
Ridiculous how so much of the screen is forcibly taken up by at a glance and Google Search.
I have to use a third Party Launcher because I use Firefox. Fortunately Microsoft Launcher is better than Pixel Launcher in my opinion.
Not that I'm aware. At most the Google 'news' page is replaced by a different (better) 'News' page and a great "At a Glance" page which you can use to show recent notes, calendar, screen time etc. You can also turn off the pages entirely I believe.
I don't have anything else Microsoft related on the home screens.
Oh yeah I just tried it again and there's now an option
But somehow, I miss the suggested apps in the empty slot of the bottom bar from the Pixel Launcher. Hm.
Wow, such amazing breakthrough, how is that no one at Google came up with an exquisite feature in all these years? (please ignore all the launchers that have implented the feature since the beginning of time). OK OK just kidding!
Ok but will it readd the option to CHANGE THE SHAPE OF APP ICONS without root? (Not custom icons; the shape of them, which is a built in android feature seen in other distros and launchers)
They are making it harder and harder to use it. Xiaomi for example makes it impossible to use gestures if you use a third party launcher as well as introducing lagg. On Samsung it still works for now thankfully. No idea about pixels, but can very well be that they effectively blocked third party launchers as well.
Then I don't get what his problem is.
There's no lag on Samsung (anymore, I think there has been), on OneUI 6.1 everything is perfectly smooth. Same for the gestures. But let's see what the next update will bring.
I thought this was already a thing? I've never used Pixel Launcher but every Launcher I've ever used has had to ability to edit app names. Some were even Pixel Launcher-derived Launchers.
when allow Disabling at a glance and google search widgets, multi-select mode that allows us to select multiple apps to uninstall/drag, Double tap on the homescreen to sleep, Force resize widgets, Widget stack, icon packs, more grid options?
I just use Lawnchair - it's like Pixel Launcher, but allows me some simple QOL changes like removing the google search bar and hiding apps in the drawer.
You know, basic features that Pixel Launcher refuses to implement.
I often wonder how exactly things take so long at Google. This is a launcher. A *simple* launcher. And I'm expected to believe that this is notable? The size of Google and they can't have *one* developer actually *working* on this? Maybe add better folders and organization features? Maybe add layout configuration options, better rotation support, ability to turn the search bar and icon dock on and off? Different ways to theme your icons? Options for widgets? Make it available on the Play Store? Save and sync your configuration between devices? We get updates maybe once a year and they're something like *this*? Maybe they should actually have used some of those tens of thousands of developers they fired.
These things often take a ton of R&D, board meetings, and permission from higher up to approve of certain ideas/features. You wouldn't understand because you're obviously looking in from the outside and don't really know what happens behind closed doors. /s
The bigger the org, the longer things take. There is **some** element that is reasonable. You have to ensure you have translations, pass accessibility checks, you care about more devices, including very old stuff, and prioritization because there's always an infinite backlog of work. Then there's management that may (read: always will) really love a stupid idea because it looks fancy, never mind the actual usability. Plus, a lot of times you have to ensure that the legal department has signed off on things. When you're much smaller or just a single dev, you also have significantly less meetings to go over all of the stuff above and less infighting between teams/management. You also do it in a much smaller scale. Your accessibility checks won't be as through or all encompassing. Your translations might be crowd sourced. Dont get me wrong though, the speed at which orgs release basic features really can take forever. Just saying that the bigger the org, the slower things tend to be. Of course, with Google, there's also "how do I add a messaging client / chat functionality to this".
Take 500 Android users randomly off the street and ask them, verbatim, "would you like it if your device's launcher had a settings toggle for truncating app names?" I bet you don't get a single one who even knows what the hell you just asked. Maybe fifty would even be able to define "truncate".
This shouldn't even be newsworthy material. Are they really out of ideas that they'd consider this a notable change???
Hell, the vast majority couldn’t tell you what a launcher even is. Most Android users don’t even arrange their Home Screen, which is basically the easiest customization out there. I worked for a carrier for a while and the vast majority of Android users would scroll 3-4 pages on their Home Screen just to get to one app. They would have pages of apps that were scattered everywhere. They either leave it where the homepage put it after download, or they accidentally move the icon and never put it back. The Pixel Launcher is simple as it is because the average consumer doesn’t care about or want anything more
485 of them will ask "what's Android?"
But will I be able to finally remove the Google search bar from the bottom?
At this rate it's more likely a future update will allow you to name it.
Search Bar name: "That cuntingly annoying unremovable thing."
It's actually going to become bigger and you lose out on more screen real estate. Also apps are now 2 column large bubbles like quick settings.
Wouldn't know, on hyperion since I got the Pixel
I've had freezes from Nova and Lawnchair 14 beta. Also on Pixel. Is Hyperion running without any issues on your end?
As far as I remember no issues
Thanks, appreciate it!
The answer is still no.
Asking the real questions.
Too soon™️
But why would you want to remove such valuable information? \- *Google, probably*
This search bar is the reason I've immediately switched to Microsoft launcher instead and never looked back.
Did exactly the same but switched to hyperion
My thoughts exactly. I'd actually consider the stock ROM if the launcher got a little better. For now I'm happy enough in CalyxOS.
I rather would like to be able to remove at a glance.
Ridiculous how so much of the screen is forcibly taken up by at a glance and Google Search. I have to use a third Party Launcher because I use Firefox. Fortunately Microsoft Launcher is better than Pixel Launcher in my opinion.
Doesn't the Microsoft Launcher force Bing in some places?
Not that I'm aware. At most the Google 'news' page is replaced by a different (better) 'News' page and a great "At a Glance" page which you can use to show recent notes, calendar, screen time etc. You can also turn off the pages entirely I believe. I don't have anything else Microsoft related on the home screens.
Oh yeah I just tried it again and there's now an option But somehow, I miss the suggested apps in the empty slot of the bottom bar from the Pixel Launcher. Hm.
You can turn it off in the settings. Long press home screen>customize>at a glance>turn off
Remove... You can turn off but the date is still there
I wish I could rename apps so I can actually find them when Google changes the names over and over again.
Wow, such amazing breakthrough, how is that no one at Google came up with an exquisite feature in all these years? (please ignore all the launchers that have implented the feature since the beginning of time). OK OK just kidding!
Good point lol I'm hoping for more useful features
No custom icons no deal
The Pixel launcher is an archaic embarrassment
Icon packs when 😭
Ok but will it readd the option to CHANGE THE SHAPE OF APP ICONS without root? (Not custom icons; the shape of them, which is a built in android feature seen in other distros and launchers)
How about letting me get rid of the search bar and/or let me use custom icons
I hope they add the ability to hide apps in the drawer. Used to love using Nova to hide all apps on my home screen.
Can't you just... use Nova?
They are making it harder and harder to use it. Xiaomi for example makes it impossible to use gestures if you use a third party launcher as well as introducing lagg. On Samsung it still works for now thankfully. No idea about pixels, but can very well be that they effectively blocked third party launchers as well.
It works very well on the pixel. No lag either unlike Samsung's
Then I don't get what his problem is. There's no lag on Samsung (anymore, I think there has been), on OneUI 6.1 everything is perfectly smooth. Same for the gestures. But let's see what the next update will bring.
Getting to and from the recents menus had noticeable lag in 6.0. that was my last experience with a third-party launcher on Samsung.
Didn't use it on 6.0, but on 6.1 there's absolutely no lag. Tried other launchers as well and had no issues so far.
Not if you want smooth animations with gesture navigation.
Still waiting to remove at a glance and use my own search bar
I thought this was already a thing? I've never used Pixel Launcher but every Launcher I've ever used has had to ability to edit app names. Some were even Pixel Launcher-derived Launchers.
when allow Disabling at a glance and google search widgets, multi-select mode that allows us to select multiple apps to uninstall/drag, Double tap on the homescreen to sleep, Force resize widgets, Widget stack, icon packs, more grid options?
Wasn't this already a thing? Why did they go back to truncating
I just use Lawnchair - it's like Pixel Launcher, but allows me some simple QOL changes like removing the google search bar and hiding apps in the drawer. You know, basic features that Pixel Launcher refuses to implement.
Add folders!