Smart Launcher founder tells AP how he maintains the app without the help of AOSP
Smart Launcher founder tells AP how he maintains the app without the help of AOSP
Interview: Smart Launcher creator Vincenzo Colucci on keeping a project alive for over a decade
Of all the apps you can install on your new Android phone, a solid app launcher can be the biggest transformation in your user experience, unlocking depths of customization most OEM-provided solutions are only starting to fathom. Talk to any enthusiast who's watched the launcher scene, and they may point you to older, reliable options like Nova Launcher and Smart Launcher as a good starting point.
Smart Launcher is around 12 years old, and that's a long time to keep a passion project up and running. We blocked some quality time with the app's creator, Vincenzo Colucci, to understand his perspective on what it takes to stay relevant as an older Android launcher, especially since the app segment is more competitive now.
This launcher is not avaliable on fdroid and chock full if google's spyware telemetry.
Why cares if he used ASOP or not no one should be using this launcher.
i've been using the paid version of smart launcher since Android 4. it's been slowly getting worse over the years. from multiple waves of advertising new paid features (that you don't get by having the paid version), to having to keep multiple versions installed due to the licensing being version dependent, to recently randomly locking up and having to be repeatedly force-closed. yet there's no other launcher i've tried that can be configured the way i want to have my phone set up. it's annoying.
You must've been using smart launcher since versions 3, 4 and 5. I have been using Smart Launcher since 2022 when it was on version 6, across 3 different smartphones. I had bought the lifetime license. I do not experience the locking up or force-closed issue you mention.
If its severe enough you can contact support for help. But, if you are on android 15 that's on google. You can follow the progress of the bug report here: https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/353538494.
Here's the reddit thread from smart launcher with possible workarounds like rotating your screen or turning on/off dark mode to force a view change
Branch recently fired a bunch of their team, including all Nova support and all but one dev. (After raising hundreds of millions a few years ago.) Frankly Nova is still looking great, but Branch will strangle it eventually.
Of course!
I use smart launcher, it's great.