4 ms·

Does this mean that third-party launchers won't work, even on custom ROMs? If they do, will they simply sit "on top of" Google's launcher now? If so, I don't

Does this mean that third-party launchers won't work, even on custom ROMs? If they do, will they simply sit "on top of" Google's launcher now? If so, I don't like the idea of Google having that much level of access to data about my homescreen. Even if they're not accessing this data now, it seems that they're setting the stages for that a few versions from now.

magicalist 13y ago
> Does this mean that third-party launchers won't work, even on custom ROMs? No, this is just an app launcher. You can still install a different one. > I don't like the idea of Google having that much level of access to data about my homescreen. Even if they're not accessing this data now, it seems that they're setting the stages for that a few versions from now. If you're running the default app launcher today, I don't know who you thought wrote "GoogleHome.apk", even if you didn't know the name. If you're not, then just keep running the one you are.
- chimeracoder 13y ago
  > If you're running the default app launcher today, I don't know who you thought wrote "GoogleHome.apk" Well, that statement was in the case in which the third party launchers are no longer available (or simply a layer on top of the Google launcher, in which case Google still would collect the data either way). If Google's launcher is fully replaceable, then that's not an issue, as long as it stays that way.
- hrjet 13y ago
  That's good to know. Does anyone know good open-source launchers for Android?
  - kefs 13y ago
    https://android.googlesource.com/platform/packages/apps/Launcher3/ https://android.googlesource.com/platform/packages/apps/Laun...
chinpokomon 13y ago
Reading the developer release notes, it sounds like they are making it easier. I haven't played with it myself, so I don't know the details yet.
rryan 13y ago
Third-party launchers still work fine. As far as I can tell this is just making the Google search app the default launcher on Nexus 5 / Google Play edition phones and adding launcher functionality to the Google search app.
lcedp 13y ago
Don't panic. No changes to API related to launchers was announced. That means launcher is still an app.
notatoad 13y ago
It means that googles launcher now has the same status as any other third party launcher. It isn't a built in system component, but just another piece that can be swapped out (or in) at will by the end user. Remember that for the majority of android phones sold, Samsung is the company dictating what software is installed by default. This is a play to get users to replace Samsung's launcher with Google's launcher. They want nothing more than for you to use a third party launcher: theirs.

magicalist 13y ago

> Does this mean that third-party launchers won't work, even on custom ROMs? No, this is just an app launcher. You can still install a different one. > I don't like the idea of Google having that much level of access to data about my homescreen. Even if they're not accessing this data now, it seems that they're setting the stages for that a few versions from now. If you're running the default app launcher today, I don't know who you thought wrote "GoogleHome.apk", even if you didn't know the name. If you're not, then just keep running the one you are.

chimeracoder 13y ago
> If you're running the default app launcher today, I don't know who you thought wrote "GoogleHome.apk" Well, that statement was in the case in which the third party launchers are no longer available (or simply a layer on top of the Google launcher, in which case Google still would collect the data either way). If Google's launcher is fully replaceable, then that's not an issue, as long as it stays that way.
hrjet 13y ago
That's good to know. Does anyone know good open-source launchers for Android?
- kefs 13y ago
  https://android.googlesource.com/platform/packages/apps/Launcher3/ https://android.googlesource.com/platform/packages/apps/Laun...

chinpokomon 13y ago

Reading the developer release notes, it sounds like they are making it easier. I haven't played with it myself, so I don't know the details yet.

rryan 13y ago

Third-party launchers still work fine. As far as I can tell this is just making the Google search app the default launcher on Nexus 5 / Google Play edition phones and adding launcher functionality to the Google search app.

lcedp 13y ago

Don't panic. No changes to API related to launchers was announced. That means launcher is still an app.

notatoad 13y ago

It means that googles launcher now has the same status as any other third party launcher. It isn't a built in system component, but just another piece that can be swapped out (or in) at will by the end user. Remember that for the majority of android phones sold, Samsung is the company dictating what software is installed by default. This is a play to get users to replace Samsung's launcher with Google's launcher. They want nothing more than for you to use a third party launcher: theirs.