- cross-posted to:
- privacy@lemmy.world
- privacyguides@lemmy.one
- cross-posted to:
- privacy@lemmy.world
- privacyguides@lemmy.one
Since a few folks seem unaware of this, I’m posting anew for visibility.
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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.
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.
Free - Lawnchair | Kvaesisto
Paid - Niagara Launcher
But they promised that they won’t use the data for it 😜
They paid millions for it just for charity
Lawnchair is a fork of the original pixel launcher that gives some quality of life upgrades to an already good piece of software, like being able to remove the search bar, resizable / reshapable icons and fonts usw. Its also open source, so feel free to check out the github.
There is no app store release right now but they are working on it. I’ve used the alpha versions for two years now and it has worked fine so far.
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.
sigh
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. ^^
I use Smart Launcher. I’m surprised there aren’t more users of it.
I’ve been using it on all my phones and tablets for years now. Doesn’t matter what type of Android phone I use, they mostly end up being the same feel with Smart Launcher
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
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
Thank you for this heads up
If you aren’t paying, you’re the product.
Microsoft Windows addendum: even when you pay, you’re the product.
PS: I know this goes for more than M$. They’re just the easy target here on Lems.
