Hello,
I was using Evie Launcher for years and now sadly cannot install it on my new P8P because the apk is abi v7 only :-(

The GOS stock launcher has fixed rows/columns so I am looking for an alternative where I can customize that, and with proper widget support. It's pretty frustrating, haven't found anything yet, tried a lot launchers from fdroid and izzy repos, searched on git...

Lawnchair (12 and 14 releases) and Neo Launcher (latest) don't work at all, as others already reported in this forum. They lag/freeze, and in my case, even the folders are completely broken, no folder name, no background, the icons are just "floating" on the screen, no more than 4 apps per folder, as more seem to get lost. And the terrible lag of 10-20s when swiping up from the bottom - there was an upstream issue with that, which is marked as solved, but not for me as of today. Futhermore, widget support/customization is missing/broken too.

To me the launcher is crucial to UX, how come that current android versions or whatever else causes launchers to be that broken? What did G change to completely break apps like lawnchair/neo launcher that way?

I'm really frustrated as I can't seem to find a launcher that works with custom row/column settings (and doesn't spy on you). I cannot proceed setting up my new phone without a proper launcher, too central to me.
Any hints? Much appreciated, thank you.

    TRInvictus

    I'm with you on this and it's a bit fruatrating, yes.

    I use Nova Prime (sans Network Permission, ofc) in my main user profile with no issues. Nothing comes even close to the robust options and customization available with this launcher. But I understand that a proprietary, closed-source app such as this will not be well-received (and rightfully so) by most here...network block, notwithstanding. I just can't quit those features, myself. (FWIW, I puchased N Prime 10yrs ago and sideload it in GOS.)

    However, on secondary profiles, I can only use the stock one because the App Switcher key/button fails with 100% of all other launchers. Nova, Lawnchair, Rooted Pixel Launcher...all of them. I've seen this issue mentioned before but no solutions.

    I'd like to have the option of uniformity between profiles. If only the stock launcher at least supported icon packs. If I could get the "OLED background/white line Arcticons" look everywhere, I'd happily drop Nova Prime.

      ezlover I use Nova Prime (sans Network Permission, ofc) in my main user profile with no issues. Nothing comes even close to the robust options and customization available with this launcher. But I understand that a proprietary, closed-source app such as this will not be well-received (and rightfully so) by most here...network block, notwithstanding. I just can't quit those features, myself. (FWIW, I puchased N Prime 10yrs ago and sideload it in GOS.)

      I've no issue buying software to support the dev's efforts. But there's the thing with trust, and apps being bought by companies that just want to make the most possible bucks $$$ without any respect. And 2nd, I do not want G involved (anymore) in stuff I buy. So probably 99% of any paid app isn't an option to me anymore.

      ezlover However, on secondary profiles, I can only use the stock one because the App Switcher key/button fails with 100% of all other launchers. Nova, Lawnchair, Rooted Pixel Launcher...all of them. I've seen this issue mentioned before but no solutions.

      That's not a non-owner issue only. I've been testing several 3rd party launchers the last days and I have the problem that app recents lag 10 to 20 seconds. I doesn't happen everytime I open recent apps, but quite a lot, too much. Today I found that swiping up from the bottom, sometimes several times, is the only way to interrupt that recents freeze. No other user input seems to processed.
      I've no clue what and were's the root cause, but to me it's a total show stopper. 20 seconds of freeze is an absolute no-go.

      ezlover If only the stock launcher at least supported icon packs

      If it at least would support more than 5 rows of apps icons. P8P has got a big screen, 5 rows is a waste of space.
      No clue what an effort it would be to fork AOSP Launcher3 and change some (hardcoded) column X row numbers....?
      I'm so badly frustrated atm, new phone, but spending days on evaluating launchers... d'oh!

      ezlover how are you using Nova prime without network, as they validate the license only through the net?

        alex_herrero IIRC you need to grand network permission while you registrer the license. After that you can revoke it again and everything will work just fine except you obviously can't use the build in search the web.

          trilogy6202 oh, so network permission to upgrade to prime, then no network. Yeap, that's what I thought. Thanks for confirming!

          But once in a while it tries to reconfirm your prime, isn't it?

            TRInvictus I'm really frustrated as I can't seem to find a launcher that works with custom row/column settings (and doesn't spy on you)

            Just get nova (free) and call it a day.

            Last year i tested a number of launchers and concluded that lawnchair and nova were the best. I stuck to nova for the ability to have no bottom bar. Another interesting option in case the above two don't work is Hyperion. Proprietary, but robust.

            alex_herrero Dunno, I only switched over to Nova Prime a few months back but I haven't been asked to reconfirm yet. Honestly I don't think you'll be asked to reconfirm unless you reinstall the app, and persnonally I wouldn't even worry too much if I had to grand network access for 2 min every half year or so.

            Nova I a great launcher and I haven't looked back since I switched over. You'll get 90% of the way the free version, Only paid features I really missed was notification badges and custom swipe shortcuts.

            • de0u replied to this.

              trilogy6202 Personally I wouldn't even worry too much if I had to grand network access for 2 min every half year or so.

              If one is worried about an app maybe leaking information, blocking the app from communicating most if the time is very different from really blocking it, because an app can buffer up whatever data it might want to leak and send it out whenever it can communicate.

                de0u fair point. For Nova Launcher I don't think it's necessary to provide network access again after initial registration of the Prime key.

                alex_herrero For what it's worth, I just updated to 8.0.14 (beta channel) and I didn't have to reapply the prime license.

                Personnaly, I use unlauncher (I tried Nova, Kiss and Niagara), reproduct a dumphone interface very well, satisfied overall.

                  • [deleted]

                  Murcielago clean launchers are nice, but only a small fraction of people is willing to put up with non-existence of widgets and shortcuts and thererefore most don't use them.

                    [deleted]

                    I agree with that. I finally changed the Laumcher because I love shortcuts. But I always like to switch to Olauncher from time to time.

                    a month later

                    Whenever I try to install it says installation failed because package appears to be invalid