Using Launchers on 6P

[Sullie714]

I use Nova Prime and really like it. I would however like to know, is one able to get rid of the google search bar on google launcher now? That was always my biggest peeve about it. On my Nova Prime setup, long press on home button gets me google on tap/google now and the google app so I am not missing anything.

 

[Trigati]

Nova Prime, but I do miss the google now left page from the stock launcher!

With Nova Prime, just set a gesture. swipe up or down, two finger swipe left or right. Then you can access Google Now from any page of Nova.

 

[gendo667]

Are many of you using Launchers on your 6P? I've used Nova on all of my previous phones and have loved it.

But I feel guilty using it on my 6P. This is my first Nexus phone so I don't want to interfere with the stock experience or lose access to Google now Page, which I find incredibly more useful than I thought I would.

Then again, there's so much I can do with Nova that I can do with stock.

I know the beauty of Android is customizability, but with another launcher I'm feeling like I'm just turning my stock phone into my Note 5, for instance.

Would love to hear thoughts and experiences. Thanks.

Posted via the Android Central App

I'm on a G5 and I run a Action Launcher 3/Google Now Launcher rotation.

I had a Nexus 5 a couple of phones ago and can't tare myself away from a stock experience so I run Google Now Launcher a lot. That being said, I'll be buying a Nexus this fall and when I get the urge to customize, I'll be running Action Launcher.

All this to say, I understand your dilemma.

 

[ansextra]

Do what works....

I used to use Nova but I found myself spending too much time fussing with some random option that didn't really add to my experience. At the same time, Now and the services that orbit the feature got better and better. And those services actually provided with with a ton of utility, so the fact that it was so tightly integrated into the Google Launcher... that integration was more beneficial to me than fussing with grid sizes. I've been on the Google launcher exclusively now and I have no need to change it.

Specifically what are these "utility" advantages that the Google Now launcher offers over Nova Launcher other than swiping left to get to Google Now?

 

[LeoRex]

Specifically what are these "utility" advantages that the Google Now launcher offers over Nova Launcher other than swiping left to get to Google Now?

Well, it's not just the swipe left I guess... even though I use that quite a lot. With the Google Launcher, Now isn't something that gets loaded up... Now IS the Launcher. The Google Launcher, Now, etc... that's all the Google app. The launcher app you download from the Play Store is just an extension. So even when you are launching Now via the On Tap gesture (or any other source mind you), it feels like it's part of the phone rather than just a slapped on application.

I dunno... it's just a speed and fluidity thing. I've tried Nova from time to time, to see where the development was going, and getting to all that info just wasn't as integrated. Now, if you don't use Now much, or just occasionally, that wouldn't be that much of a big deal. But it's one of the first things I check when I pick up my phone and go back to check those cards often.

 

[chezm]

I use Nova prime primarily due to changing font/icon size and gestures...otherwise I'd use goggle launcher.

{Nexus 6P}

 

[Trigati]

Well, it's not just the swipe left I guess... even though I use that quite a lot. With the Google Launcher, Now isn't something that gets loaded up... Now IS the Launcher. The Google Launcher, Now, etc... that's all the Google app. The launcher app you download from the Play Store is just an extension. So even when you are launching Now via the On Tap gesture (or any other source mind you), it feels like it's part of the phone rather than just a slapped on application.

I dunno... it's just a speed and fluidity thing. I've tried Nova from time to time, to see where the development was going, and getting to all that info just wasn't as integrated. Now, if you don't use Now much, or just occasionally, that wouldn't be that much of a big deal. But it's one of the first things I check when I pick up my phone and go back to check those cards often.

and what's the difference between swiping left (as in Google Launcher) or swiping up (as I have in Nova Launcher) to open the Google Cards page? Both are a single swipe, both get to the exact same place, but I also get changable home screen grid sizes, multiple docks with more (or less) icons each, resizable widgets, customizable transitions, icon packs, a calendar app icon that shows the actual date, etc.

 

[LeoRex]

and what's the difference between swiping left (as in Google Launcher) or swiping up (as I have in Nova Launcher) to open the Google Cards page?.

Speed.. I can get in and out of that left page with two quick flicks. The times I've tried Nova, that's the one main thing that I missed.

As for the settings... Like I mentioned earlier, I found that those ended up being noise. They were a distraction that didn't really add anything to my usage.

But hey, everyone has their own use case. That's why it's great to have all those launcher options.

 

[Mike Dee]

Speed.. I can get in and out of that left page with two quick flicks. The times I've tried Nova, that's the one main thing that I missed.

As for the settings... Like I mentioned earlier, I found that those ended up being noise. They were a distraction that didn't really add I brlieanything to my usage.

But hey, everyone has their own use case. That's why it's great to have all those launcher options.

I believe that if you create the swipe up in Nova to launch Google Now it should be just as fast

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[ansextra]

Well, it's not just the swipe left I guess... even though I use that quite a lot. With the Google Launcher, Now isn't something that gets loaded up... Now IS the Launcher. The Google Launcher, Now, etc... that's all the Google app. The launcher app you download from the Play Store is just an extension. So even when you are launching Now via the On Tap gesture (or any other source mind you), it feels like it's part of the phone rather than just a slapped on application.

I dunno... it's just a speed and fluidity thing. I've tried Nova from time to time, to see where the development was going, and getting to all that info just wasn't as integrated. Now, if you don't use Now much, or just occasionally, that wouldn't be that much of a big deal. But it's one of the first things I check when I pick up my phone and go back to check those cards often.

I would try the Google Now Launcher more thoroughly if it could import my Nova settings. I really don't have the patience to set up all my folders, etc. again.

 

[LeoRex]

I believe that if you create the swipe up in Nova to launch Google Now it should be just as fast

You know, it's been a bit since I ran Nova so I wanted to go back in and check to see. The launch delay to get to Now that used to be there in the earlier versions I've tried is gone. I supposed I'll take another look. I still spend zero time fussing with my launcher other than moving icons around and dropping in a couple of widgets so I'll most likely end up sticking to the Google launcher out of simplicity... I'll have to see if Nova is included the google app data backup API? I like not having to fuss with config files if I load a new ROM.

But I've been meaning to try out a few of the launchers (Nova, Action, etc) to see where they are going.... for reasons like this.

 

[Trigati]

I'll have to see if Nova is included the google app data backup API? I like not having to fuss with config files if I load a new ROM.

But I've been meaning to try out a few of the launchers (Nova, Action, etc) to see where they are going.... for reasons like this.

Nova and Smart Launcher 3 (my two favorites) have a manual back up, that saves to the device or online storage (Dropbox, Drive, Box, etc.). I honestly don't know if they save via Google's backup, but something tells me they don't. I have used the back up feature they contain many times in the past and they work well, though.

 

[bhatech]

Google launcher on Nexus, Nova prime on non Nexus

 

[LeoRex]

Nova and Smart Launcher 3 (my two favorites) have a manual back up, that saves to the device or online storage (Dropbox, Drive, Box, etc.). I honestly don't know if they save via Google's backup, but something tells me they don't. I have used the back up feature they contain many times in the past and they work well, though.

It's a shame if it doesn't. I don't get why more dev's aren't using the API. If they all did, on a restore after a reset you wouldn't have to touch a thing to get your phone's apps and config back to exactly where it was before the reset.

 

[ansextra]

It's a shame if it doesn't. I don't get why more dev's aren't using the API. If they all did, on a restore after a reset you wouldn't have to touch a thing to get your phone's apps and config back to exactly where it was before the reset.

I can say it was simple to get my screens on my Nexus 6P the way they were on my prior LG G4 thanks to Nova. The only time involved was redownloading my apps. So Google Now doesn't save screen layout anywhere? That's a dealbreaker for me.

 

[LeoRex]

I can say it was simple to get my screens on my Nexus 6P the way they were on my prior LG G4 thanks to Nova. The only time involved was redownloading my apps. So Google Now doesn't save screen layout anywhere? That's a dealbreaker for me.

The Google Launcher? Oh, it gets backed up on to your Google account. If I do a factory reset and then have it restore my apps, when it finally drops me into the homescreen, everything's all set... from the wallpaper to the icon and widgets.... granted, any app that hasn't been restored yet is showed by a gray icon that fills in slowly as the app gets installed. But the layout is backed up in its entirety.

 

[anon(27512)]

Are many of you using Launchers on your 6P? I've used Nova on all of my previous phones and have loved it.

But I feel guilty using it on my 6P. This is my first Nexus phone so I don't want to interfere with the stock experience or lose access to Google now Page, which I find incredibly more useful than I thought I would.

Then again, there's so much I can do with Nova that I can do with stock.

I know the beauty of Android is customizability, but with another launcher I'm feeling like I'm just turning my stock phone into my Note 5, for instance.

Would love to hear thoughts and experiences. Thanks.

Posted via the Android Central App

I use Nova. I like the Google launcher but get bored of it.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[trevagreene]

Nova Prime