At this time, Nothing made the Nothing Launcher out there to obtain. You’ll be able to strive it out if in case you have a Galaxy S21, Galaxy S22, Pixel 5/5a, or a Pixel 6/6 Professional. As of the writing of this text, compatibility with OnePlus telephones is coming quickly. I used to be capable of check out this launcher, so I’m going to offer you my first impressions.
The Nothing Launcher has the aesthetic of an older inventory Android cellphone
With all of the discuss Android 12 and Android 13, we’re forgetting concerning the Materials Design aesthetic established by Google a couple of years again. Fortunately, Nothing is right here to remind us. The general feel and appear of the software program is actually paying homage to Android between model 5 and model 11. The icons are massive and spherical. Additionally, the dimensions of the Google search bar additionally jogs my memory of older variations of Android.
Nothing does one thing attention-grabbing with the app grid settings
Utilizing my cellphone on the Android 13 beta, I can see that the icons on the Nothing Launcher are literally larger than these on the Pixel Launcher. By default, the app grid is about to 4×5, which permits the icons to take up fairly a little bit of house. Nonetheless, even altering the grid to five×5, the icons are nonetheless a bit huge.
What the software program does is maintain the icons mainly the identical dimension, however squeeze all the pieces collectively extra. The widgets, however, turn out to be noticeably smaller.
One factor that caught out to me is how the launcher handles the icons if you swap between grid sizes. It really saves the dimensions and place of all of your apps, folders, and widgets if you swap. By that, I imply this: Say, you might have your icons organized a method in 4×5. Then, you alter it to five×5 and prepare your apps differently. For those who swap again to 4×5, you’ll see that your entire app icons, folders, and widgets are again to the very same means as if you final had them in 4×5.
In a means, the launcher saves every grid dimension as a “profile” that is still the identical if you swap again. I discovered that fairly attention-grabbing.
The software program appears outdated, however what’s new?
For starters, Nothing noticed match to equip its launcher with probably one of many weirdest wallpapers launched by an organization. It appears like a hand behind a textured glass window. It’s fairly creepy, to be trustworthy; think about a horror film when the killer’s hand slams up in opposition to the window.
Wallpaper apart, the Nothing Launcher has some performance I used to be capable of strive throughout my hands-on. Holding down on the house display provides you with the Wallpaper & fashion, residence display, and widgets buttons. The Wallpaper & fashion button takes you to Google’s personal theme picker. There, you’ll be able to nonetheless apply the dynamic Colour theme. Not one of the app icons will change their colours, however the widgets are affected by the sunshine/darkish theme choices.
Whenever you dig into the widgets, you’ll lastly begin seeing Nothing’s personal distinctive aesthetic in play. There are three widgets that include the launcher. Two of them have the “dot” aesthetic that Nothing needs to pervade the software program. The primary one is a digital clock with the entire numbers product of dots. Whenever you place it, you might have the choice to offer it both a stable or clear background.
Subsequent up, there’s a climate widget with the clouds/solar introduced as dots. You’ll be able to’t alter the background for this one, however you’ll be able to change the models between Celsius and Fahrenheit. Additionally, you’ll be able to set it to both use a selected location or your present location. The final widget is an analog clock widget. The second hand is animated, so you’ll be able to watch it going round.
Opening apps has a barely completely different animation in comparison with the Pixel Launcher. Whenever you faucet on an app, the splash display would originate from the precise app on each launchers. Nonetheless, on the Nothing Launcher, the animation could be rectangular somewhat than a circle.
You’ll be able to enlarge app icons and folders
One distinctive factor concerning the Nothing Launcher is the power to enlarge app icons on the house display. Whenever you faucet and maintain on an app, you’ll see the extra capabilities. You’ll see what appears like two arrows dealing with away from each other. Taping that may quadruple the icon’s dimension. It can then take up 2×2 blocks of house as an alternative of 1×1.
Not solely are you able to improve the dimensions of apps, however you may also improve the dimensions of folders. I’m undecided why anybody would want app icons and folders that huge, however somebody is sure to seek out it helpful.
set up and use this launcher
Once more, you’ll be able to solely use this launcher if in case you have one of many eligible telephones. The beta needs to be straightforward to get, because it’s out there to obtain from the Google Play Retailer. Comply with this link, and also you’ll be dropped at the web page. Faucet the inexperienced Set up button and anticipate it to obtain. It’s solely 15MB, so it shouldn’t take lengthy in any respect.
In older variations of Android, proper after putting in a launcher, you’ll have the power to change when urgent the house button, however not with newer variations. It’s important to go into the settings and set the launcher.
In case you have the Pixel 5 or 6, then you’ll want to go to your system settings. From there, faucet on the Apps button. Scroll down and faucet the Default apps button. Then, scroll all the way down to the House app possibility. Faucet on that button (however, don’t faucet on the gear icon). There, it is best to see the Nothing Launcher possibility proper above the Pixel Launcher possibility.
For those who’re utilizing a Galaxy Telephone, then the method is just about the identical. Whenever you go to your settings, the App button will probably be nearer to the underside, however you’ll faucet the entire similar buttons as with the Pixel cellphone.
Last ideas
The Nothing Launcher falls into the identical lure that the Important cellphone’s launcher fell into: it’s just about simply inventory Android. Nothing is aiming to make a streamlined and trimmed-down model of Android to maintain issues light-weight. It’s a pleasant and clear interface, however there’s not a lot to distinguish it from what we’ve seen earlier than. If an individual confirmed me this pores and skin, I’d assume that it was simply Android 11 with some attention-grabbing (however nice-looking, for my part) widgets.
That is the place the dilemma lies. It’s onerous creating a really distinctive Android pores and skin with out making it heavy. Thus, the corporate had to decide on between weighing down the software program with a heavy pores and skin or sticking to a near-stock Android expertise.
I personally don’t have a lot of a difficulty with the software program, however there’s simply not sufficient to essentially get me excited concerning the Nothing Telephone (1). 50% of the smartphone expertise is software program. Regardless of how thrilling the cellphone’s {hardware} is, you’re interacting with the software program if you use it. Hopefully, Nothing provides some new and thrilling additions to the software program earlier than the cellphone launches this summer season.
