Smart Launcher founder tells AP how he maintains the app without the help of AOSP
Smart Launcher founder tells AP how he maintains the app without the help of AOSP
Interview: Smart Launcher creator Vincenzo Colucci on keeping a project alive for over a decade
Of all the apps you can install on your new Android phone, a solid app launcher can be the biggest transformation in your user experience, unlocking depths of customization most OEM-provided solutions are only starting to fathom. Talk to any enthusiast who's watched the launcher scene, and they may point you to older, reliable options like Nova Launcher and Smart Launcher as a good starting point.
Smart Launcher is around 12 years old, and that's a long time to keep a passion project up and running. We blocked some quality time with the app's creator, Vincenzo Colucci, to understand his perspective on what it takes to stay relevant as an older Android launcher, especially since the app segment is more competitive now.
Of course!
Branch recently fired a bunch of their team, including all Nova support and all but one dev. (After raising hundreds of millions a few years ago.) Frankly Nova is still looking great, but Branch will strangle it eventually.
I just switched off of it last week! I landed on NeoLauncher to match how I used Nova, but its a bit buggy. Fossify Launcher just had its 1.0.0 release yesterday too! Ive also heard good things about Lawnchair, but for me it wasn't quite customizable enough. if anyone else has suggestions for Foss Launchers, share them here!
This launcher is not avaliable on fdroid and chock full if google's spyware telemetry.
Why cares if he used ASOP or not no one should be using this launcher.
i wish they put trebuchet on fdroid/gplay.
its a clean functional foss launcher.
Totally one of the best along with the one of crdroid
i've been using the paid version of smart launcher since Android 4. it's been slowly getting worse over the years. from multiple waves of advertising new paid features (that you don't get by having the paid version), to having to keep multiple versions installed due to the licensing being version dependent, to recently randomly locking up and having to be repeatedly force-closed. yet there's no other launcher i've tried that can be configured the way i want to have my phone set up. it's annoying.
You must've been using smart launcher since versions 3, 4 and 5. I have been using Smart Launcher since 2022 when it was on version 6, across 3 different smartphones. I had bought the lifetime license. I do not experience the locking up or force-closed issue you mention.
If its severe enough you can contact support for help. But, if you are on android 15 that's on google. You can follow the progress of the bug report here: https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/353538494.
Here's the reddit thread from smart launcher with possible workarounds like rotating your screen or turning on/off dark mode to force a view change
yeah i think 3 var the first version i used. bought the only version available at the time, which said it was a lifetime thing, but starting at v5 it's been trying to upsell me and it's frustrating.
did not know about the rotation thing, will try that next time it happens. i'm on 14 so no luck with it being google's fault
I use smart launcher, it's great.
Obligatory Nova Launcher is all but abandoned by it's parent company and shouldn't be recommended anymore. They fired all but one dev who is moreorless still there for trying to put out the fires. It's not a lasting project.
Its for these reasons launchers like Niagara, Smart launcher 6, Action launcher are not cheap.