8 ms·

Microsoft Unveils Its Arrow Launcher for Android

58 points by yinyinwu 11y ago

Someone1234 11y ago
It is surprising to me that Google hasn't made the top bar/tray customisable. You can replace your lock screen, home screen, and keyboard but you're always stuck on the OEM provided notifications tray regardless... I'd love to be able to install something and receive a completely different experience. Right now it is always just a piece meal of a potential experience. PS - I installed Arrow. So far I like it. I'll give it a spin for a week (or until it annoys me).
- Natanael_L 11y ago
  I want something like a Firefox for launchers, with the same kind of addon support - replace any UX element, any animation, any function, add new ones, disable what you don't want, inject hooks where you like them, etc... I'd love to see a notification tray that's customizable with widgets, search bar & voice control, custom toggles, context dependent adjustments (per-app or per-location quick settings and widgets, etc), IR remote control quick access, intelligent sharing menu (share screenshot / current open file / location / whatever), etc... So far nobody has really gone for the whole scriptable sandbox approach. Mostly just layout customization over anything else.
- ntkachov 11y ago
  Theres some stuff out there that will use SystemUI to layer over the status bar, but its just a layer over. Also, the OEMs constantly customize it, so theres that.
- exacube 11y ago
  I don't think it's possible to replace the lock screen in a native way. All "custom lockscreens" in existence today are basically hacks -- you will notice flickers when the lock screen activity is initialized, for example. It's necessarily not customizable for some security reasons (unlock code, etc.)
  - Natanael_L 11y ago
    WidgetLocker hasn't acted "hacky" for quite some while on my Samsung devices.
tmikaeld 11y ago
Looking at the permissions (Basically everything) - it seems like a good way for Microsoft to get access to both usage statistics and user data in one whole sweep.
- binarycrusader 11y ago
  I think that's more reflective of the limitations of the current Android security model than any implied ulterior motive. Yes, I'm sure they benefit to some extent, I just suspect that they need all of those permissions to be the launcher currently. Mind you that's a guess based on my understanding, not a verified statement.
  - tmikaeld 11y ago
    Agreed, but still, just saying that it's a good way to get the data if they'd want it.
  - on_and_off 11y ago
    They could target API 23 and ask for runtime permissions. Other launchers like Nova have already done this.
- on_and_off 11y ago
  yeah, I was going to try out the app, then I saw that they are not targeting Marshmallow and are asking for pretty much every permission. pass.
Mithaldu 11y ago
The pull-up drawer is nice, but i don't see how it is in any way better than nova launcher. In fact, it seems worse in most ways.
brogrammmer 11y ago
My bros at Microsoft did a sweet job but I'm not sure why they chose Android... Android's for poors.
DiabloD3 11y ago
What an interesting strategy: they eventually want to provide a Microsoft version of everything (they already have their own Google Now and Google Docs and email (Cortana, Office for Android, Outlook for Android)); all they have to do now is port Groove, their Camera/Photos app, and MSIE. Arrow also seems to have a matching lock screen (mentioned in the article, released before Arrow). What I don't get is Arrow doesn't look like MS Phone's launcher. I wonder why.
- neogodless 11y ago
  They want Android users... not Windows Phone fans. Also Groove is available for Android already.
  - prodmerc 11y ago
    > They want Android users... not Windows Phone fans. Making a good Modern UI launcher could help steer people towards Windows Phone and every other software that uses that UI...
    - neogodless 11y ago
      I think there are a few considerations. First - this is a Garage project, so it's (probably) not being directed by the marketing team. Instead, it's some engineers seeing what's possible Second - it has to feel normal to the Android Users that try it. If it changes what they are used to, they might be put off. But I agree that it would be interesting to see a Modern UI launcher. I actually rearranged the screens to be a bit more like Windows Phone - swipe left brings up the app list. Swipe right to return to widgets. Another swipe right will bring up "recent" stuff, which isn't on Windows Phone 8 - but there were design concepts and suggestions like that, as alternatives to swiping from the top to bring down the notification tray.
      - ascagnel_ 11y ago
        The last time I used Android (around 2011, in the Gingerbread days), there were a few home screen replacements that took heavy inspiration from WP7/8. They didn't fit in with the system as a whole, which was saying something considering how fragmented the UX was in Android (pre-Material) at the time. Good software should be part of a cohesive whole and maintain the system UX whenever possible, not bring it's own paradigm that overrides it's host. That said, I'd love it someone tried to revive the ideas behind SlideScreen[0]. Instead of a focus on surfacing apps, the home screen instead focuses on surfacing information (in more of a pull style vs push notifications) and letting the user go from there. [0] http://slidescreenhome.com/ http://slidescreenhome.com/
kozukumi 11y ago
I think it is pretty clear that Android is Microsoft's plan B in the mobile market. I know they have kind of said that already although not in so many words. I wouldn't be shocked to see a Microsoft Android phone at some point if Windows 10 Mobile fails to improve adoption of the platform (it will fail). Something similar to what Samsung do with a totally custom interface on top of an Android core. Not sure how things would go in regards to Google core services. I guess Microsoft could reimplement their own services framework that hooks things up to their services. I am not an Android dev though so perhaps one it chip in that could clear things up regarding this?
- blumkvist 11y ago
  No, it will most definitely not fail and they don't have Android as plan B. The mobile phone market (outside of Appleland) is overwhelmingly dominated by distribution. People go and get a smartphone, recommended by the sales employee. Which phone does the employee recommend? The one which his boss tells him to. Which one is that? The one HQ tells him to. Which one is that? The one with the best rebates. I will leave you to think about which one that might be. Android doesn't make money. Not for google, not for OEMs. Microsoft can turn OEMs from breakeven to profitable with a magic wand. Guess what? They already did that in the 90s! On top of that, it's a very good OS so it will get adoption by itself, especially in the corporate and mid-tier markets. And don't even try to say that developers will not get on board. They will. Remember the office365 in the beginning. "Can't win on the web, no integration, developers choose google apps". Yeah. Right. Windows is the most important platform in the world. Gradually developers will get on board.
  - petra 11y ago
    If that was true , why haven't we seen micrososft already win over android ?
    - blumkvist 11y ago
      Because the OS has to meet OEM and consumer expectations. There is a saying about "every other OS release" of Windows. You can wager with confidence on the accuracy of that heuristic.
AnimalMuppet 11y ago
Admiral Ackbar says... (Seriously, I wonder if it is in fact some sort of a trap. It's not the 1990s any more, but I still don't really trust Microsoft.)
- semi-extrinsic 11y ago
  Timeo Danaos, et dona ferentes.
currysausage 11y ago
It looks like iOS with all the Gaussian blur... but it is made by Microsoft... and it runs on Android.
- mathgeek 11y ago
  I hear Microsoft a history of taking Apple's UI and copying it for non-Apple devices.
ksenzee 11y ago
First thought: "Why is Microsoft building an Android app to launch arrows?" Ah, English. I headdesk in your general direction.
- nmc 11y ago
  Someone in charge of naming software at Microsoft found a good way to generate clickbait.
- danudey 11y ago
  Bluetooth longbows.
prodmerc 11y ago
I was excited for a new Modern UI launcher for Android... but this looks exactly the same as the other hundred or so launchers on Google Play. Wtf, Microsoft, what a wasted opportunity...
- SmellyGeekBoy 11y ago
  My thoughts exactly. The launcher is one of my favourite parts of Windows Mobile and I'd love to have it on Android. This is actually really nice (I've been using it for nearly a day now) but not at all what I was expecting when I read the announcement.

58 points by yinyinwu 11y ago

It is surprising to me that Google hasn't made the top bar/tray customisable. You can replace your lock screen, home screen, and keyboard but you're always stuck on the OEM provided notifications tray regardless... I'd love to be able to install something and receive a completely different experience. Right now it is always just a piece meal of a potential experience. PS - I installed Arrow. So far I like it. I'll give it a spin for a week (or until it annoys me).

Natanael_L 11y ago
I want something like a Firefox for launchers, with the same kind of addon support - replace any UX element, any animation, any function, add new ones, disable what you don't want, inject hooks where you like them, etc... I'd love to see a notification tray that's customizable with widgets, search bar & voice control, custom toggles, context dependent adjustments (per-app or per-location quick settings and widgets, etc), IR remote control quick access, intelligent sharing menu (share screenshot / current open file / location / whatever), etc... So far nobody has really gone for the whole scriptable sandbox approach. Mostly just layout customization over anything else.
ntkachov 11y ago
Theres some stuff out there that will use SystemUI to layer over the status bar, but its just a layer over. Also, the OEMs constantly customize it, so theres that.
exacube 11y ago
I don't think it's possible to replace the lock screen in a native way. All "custom lockscreens" in existence today are basically hacks -- you will notice flickers when the lock screen activity is initialized, for example. It's necessarily not customizable for some security reasons (unlock code, etc.)
- Natanael_L 11y ago
  WidgetLocker hasn't acted "hacky" for quite some while on my Samsung devices.

tmikaeld 11y ago

Looking at the permissions (Basically everything) - it seems like a good way for Microsoft to get access to both usage statistics and user data in one whole sweep.

binarycrusader 11y ago
I think that's more reflective of the limitations of the current Android security model than any implied ulterior motive. Yes, I'm sure they benefit to some extent, I just suspect that they need all of those permissions to be the launcher currently. Mind you that's a guess based on my understanding, not a verified statement.
- tmikaeld 11y ago
  Agreed, but still, just saying that it's a good way to get the data if they'd want it.
- on_and_off 11y ago
  They could target API 23 and ask for runtime permissions. Other launchers like Nova have already done this.
on_and_off 11y ago
yeah, I was going to try out the app, then I saw that they are not targeting Marshmallow and are asking for pretty much every permission. pass.

Mithaldu 11y ago

The pull-up drawer is nice, but i don't see how it is in any way better than nova launcher. In fact, it seems worse in most ways.

brogrammmer 11y ago

My bros at Microsoft did a sweet job but I'm not sure why they chose Android... Android's for poors.

DiabloD3 11y ago

What an interesting strategy: they eventually want to provide a Microsoft version of everything (they already have their own Google Now and Google Docs and email (Cortana, Office for Android, Outlook for Android)); all they have to do now is port Groove, their Camera/Photos app, and MSIE. Arrow also seems to have a matching lock screen (mentioned in the article, released before Arrow). What I don't get is Arrow doesn't look like MS Phone's launcher. I wonder why.

neogodless 11y ago
They want Android users... not Windows Phone fans. Also Groove is available for Android already.
- prodmerc 11y ago
  > They want Android users... not Windows Phone fans. Making a good Modern UI launcher could help steer people towards Windows Phone and every other software that uses that UI...
  - neogodless 11y ago
    I think there are a few considerations. First - this is a Garage project, so it's (probably) not being directed by the marketing team. Instead, it's some engineers seeing what's possible Second - it has to feel normal to the Android Users that try it. If it changes what they are used to, they might be put off. But I agree that it would be interesting to see a Modern UI launcher. I actually rearranged the screens to be a bit more like Windows Phone - swipe left brings up the app list. Swipe right to return to widgets. Another swipe right will bring up "recent" stuff, which isn't on Windows Phone 8 - but there were design concepts and suggestions like that, as alternatives to swiping from the top to bring down the notification tray.
    - ascagnel_ 11y ago
      The last time I used Android (around 2011, in the Gingerbread days), there were a few home screen replacements that took heavy inspiration from WP7/8. They didn't fit in with the system as a whole, which was saying something considering how fragmented the UX was in Android (pre-Material) at the time. Good software should be part of a cohesive whole and maintain the system UX whenever possible, not bring it's own paradigm that overrides it's host. That said, I'd love it someone tried to revive the ideas behind SlideScreen[0]. Instead of a focus on surfacing apps, the home screen instead focuses on surfacing information (in more of a pull style vs push notifications) and letting the user go from there. [0] http://slidescreenhome.com/ http://slidescreenhome.com/

kozukumi 11y ago

I think it is pretty clear that Android is Microsoft's plan B in the mobile market. I know they have kind of said that already although not in so many words. I wouldn't be shocked to see a Microsoft Android phone at some point if Windows 10 Mobile fails to improve adoption of the platform (it will fail). Something similar to what Samsung do with a totally custom interface on top of an Android core. Not sure how things would go in regards to Google core services. I guess Microsoft could reimplement their own services framework that hooks things up to their services. I am not an Android dev though so perhaps one it chip in that could clear things up regarding this?

blumkvist 11y ago
No, it will most definitely not fail and they don't have Android as plan B. The mobile phone market (outside of Appleland) is overwhelmingly dominated by distribution. People go and get a smartphone, recommended by the sales employee. Which phone does the employee recommend? The one which his boss tells him to. Which one is that? The one HQ tells him to. Which one is that? The one with the best rebates. I will leave you to think about which one that might be. Android doesn't make money. Not for google, not for OEMs. Microsoft can turn OEMs from breakeven to profitable with a magic wand. Guess what? They already did that in the 90s! On top of that, it's a very good OS so it will get adoption by itself, especially in the corporate and mid-tier markets. And don't even try to say that developers will not get on board. They will. Remember the office365 in the beginning. "Can't win on the web, no integration, developers choose google apps". Yeah. Right. Windows is the most important platform in the world. Gradually developers will get on board.
- petra 11y ago
  If that was true , why haven't we seen micrososft already win over android ?
  - blumkvist 11y ago
    Because the OS has to meet OEM and consumer expectations. There is a saying about "every other OS release" of Windows. You can wager with confidence on the accuracy of that heuristic.

AnimalMuppet 11y ago

Admiral Ackbar says... (Seriously, I wonder if it is in fact some sort of a trap. It's not the 1990s any more, but I still don't really trust Microsoft.)

semi-extrinsic 11y ago
Timeo Danaos, et dona ferentes.

currysausage 11y ago

It looks like iOS with all the Gaussian blur... but it is made by Microsoft... and it runs on Android.

mathgeek 11y ago
I hear Microsoft a history of taking Apple's UI and copying it for non-Apple devices.

ksenzee 11y ago

First thought: "Why is Microsoft building an Android app to launch arrows?" Ah, English. I headdesk in your general direction.

nmc 11y ago
Someone in charge of naming software at Microsoft found a good way to generate clickbait.
danudey 11y ago
Bluetooth longbows.

prodmerc 11y ago

I was excited for a new Modern UI launcher for Android... but this looks exactly the same as the other hundred or so launchers on Google Play. Wtf, Microsoft, what a wasted opportunity...

SmellyGeekBoy 11y ago
My thoughts exactly. The launcher is one of my favourite parts of Windows Mobile and I'd love to have it on Android. This is actually really nice (I've been using it for nearly a day now) but not at all what I was expecting when I read the announcement.