Google app left of home screen - how do I replace it?

[Android Central Question]

When I first got my phone, it had an option in settings to have a favourite app that opens when I swipe to the right from my home screen.

The phone updated the other day, and this morning, I noticed that swiping right now opened some weird Google news feed thing. I managed to find the setting to turn that off, but it won't let me add my old favourite app back in instead.

How can I set a custom app there again?

 

[belodion]

What phone?

 

[EstragonHelmer]

(I was the original poster) - it's a Vodafone Smart N9

 

[Rukbat]

You probably can't with the stock launcher, but if you install something like Nova Launcher, you can set a "swipe left to right" gesture to open almost anything.

 

[EstragonHelmer]

Ah, I wonder if it came with some launcher preinstalled by Vodafone.

 

[EstragonHelmer]

Doesn't seem to be a special launcher installed, but found where I originally set the app. This is in the Vodafone 'tips' app which came preinstalled. The setting doesn't seem to work any more.

Can I ask - was the google news feed thing always there when you swipe right on the home screen, or is that a new thing? I'm just wondering if it's new, and it clashed with the Vodafone settings and broke them.