Can I get some help with a few questions about Nova Launcher?

[adoringAJLee]

Question about Nova Launcher

So, I want to install Nova Launcher on my LG G3 because I heard from tons of people on different sites that Nova is amazing on the G3. My question though is that for the permissions, it says "Phone: uses one or more of: phone, call log. Charges may apply." I also read somewhere that a person saw this permission when installing Nova "Directly call phone numbers: This may cost you money." What does this mean then? My provider is Verizon and my plan is the More Everything Plan with unlimited talk & text. Do I have to pay extra when I make a phone call on Nova? I'm confused. Please explain to me what this permission means. Thank you.

 

[SpookDroid]

Re: Question about Nova Launcher

Hi there,

These permissions are there because the launcher acts like a gateway to your phone's contents and functions. Some of Nova's features allow you to create 'call shortcuts', which if pressed, automatically place a call. THAT'S why it needs those permissions, because it needs to access the phone function of, well, your phone. The cost warning is Google's way of protecting itself so that you remember that making calls might cost you money (if you have limited minutes, or if you're placing a long distance call, etc.) Nova doesn't just call numbers, it's only a permission to work as intended when YOU want to make a call.

 

[adoringAJLee]

Re: Question about Nova Launcher

So, my Verizon plan has unlimited talk & text. So, that means I don't have to pay extra when I call someone on Nova's launcher, right? I don't make long distance calls so I don't need to worry about that.

 

[SpookDroid]

Re: Question about Nova Launcher

Nope, making a call with Nova is just the same as making a call using the stock launcher. No difference whatsoever.

 

[adoringAJLee]

Re: Question about Nova Launcher

Okay, thank you for your help. I appreciate it.

 

[SpookDroid]

Re: Question about Nova Launcher

No problem! Glad I could help clear it out

For future reference, although most of the permissions descriptions might sound scary, it helps if you think about what the app really does.

For instance, many people take out their pitchforks when they download 3rd party keyboards and they read that the app will be able to 'read' all user input, including passwords. But if you think about it, this is a KEYBOARD app. If you're using it to type, of course it needs access to everything you type! And of course this includes passwords since you're still using a keyboard to type those in! No, it doesn't mean it's storing them and sending them to someone else, but they need the permission to work as a keyboard.

If you download an SMS replacement app and you read that the app might send text messages that cost you money, that's scary. But then you remember: This is an SMS app. If YOU send an SMS to a paid service, it's gonna cost you money. If you don't have a texting plan, an SMS will cost money. Does it mean that the app will start sending SMS to their own paid services without your knowledge? Nope. But without those permissions, an SMS app couldn't work, could it?