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Nova Launcher added Facebook and Google Ads tracking

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Re: Nova Launcher added Facebook and Google Ads tracking

#151

Post by AdmiralAsshat »

So, frustratingly, I can't seem to get the launcher to downgrade after it automatically updated last night.

Someone on the thread linked to the previous version APK from a site called uptodown (glanced at it, didn't seem to be malware, but didn't do any real forensic analysis). I enabled sideloading on my phone, tried to "update" the app, but the OS then refused to install it, claiming it was invalid.

Can't tell if it's an OS level safeguard or an app-level one. Very frustrating, either way. I had my version of Nova launcher locked for years on both my phone and tablet after the acquisition, but when I got a new phone I obviously had to install the latest-greatest, and at that point I forgot to disable the auto-update flag...

Re: Nova Launcher added Facebook and Google Ads tracking

#152

Post by rpdillon »

dugite-code wrote: post #83
kenrick95 wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I switched to KISS Launcher several years back and had been loving it. I like the philosophy of search-based launcher. This way, if I don't actively search for an app, I won't be distracted into opening one

I always find myself missing widgets with KISS. But then when I use a launcher like lawnchair with widgets I rarely end up actually using them. Wish there was something like widget drawer that was FOSS tbh

KISS supports widgets though. Tap the right side of the input box in the launcher to open settings, and the third item down on the menu is "add widget".

Re: Nova Launcher added Facebook and Google Ads tracking

#153

Post by rpdillon »

kenrick95 wrote: post #17
fireflash38 wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Any good alternatives people are using? I've used Nova for absolutely ages

I switched to KISS Launcher several years back and had been loving it. I like the philosophy of search-based launcher. This way, if I don't actively search for an app, I won't be distracted into opening one

Yep, I was doing a lot of launcher hopping back in the day, but ever since I moved to KISS, I haven't felt the need. It brings a level of intentionality by forcing you to search for the app you want to use. For my most commonly usef apps, binding them to swipe gestures makes using the phone very fast and easy.

Re: Nova Launcher added Facebook and Google Ads tracking

#154

Post by phreack »

I would honestly have stayed in version 6 of Nova because of the as yet unrecreated magical feature of allowing unread count badges on the home screen for many popular apps, that are not tied to notifications, via TeslaUnread. I've been trying to reverse engineer it a bit to see if I can recreate the functionality somehow, but all I've managed to figure out is that the icons are really widgets that look like icons and run _something_.

Features like that one, and browser text reflow, are such must haves to me that we used to have a decade ago and lost along the way for no good reason, it's frustrating.

Re: Nova Launcher added Facebook and Google Ads tracking

#155

Post by Wurdan »

breput wrote: post #63

I was a 10+ year long Nova Launcher user and knew this day was coming after the sale and layoffs[0][1]... This evening I at looked several replacement launchers, such as Lawnchair and even the stock Pixel launcher again, but Octopi Launcher[2] is the more modern, more refined Nova replacement that you are looking for. It was a very easy, natural transition process from Nova - all of the Nova features that I used were…

I've spent about 10 mins seeing if I can replicate my Nova setup with Octopi. My only missing feature so far is more extensive gesture support. As far as I can tell, Octopi supports a max of five actions, and you can't change the gestures for them. They seem to be hardcoded to "swipe up", "swipe down", "swipe right from first screen", "double tap" and "tap home (icon)". If I could change the gesture for "swipe right from first screen" and "double tap" then I could almost perfectly recreate my Nova setup.

Re: Nova Launcher added Facebook and Google Ads tracking

#156

Post by ignoramous »

AdmiralAsshat wrote: post #151

So, frustratingly, I can't seem to get the launcher to downgrade after it automatically updated last night. Someone on the thread linked to the previous version APK from a site called uptodown (glanced at it, didn't seem to be malware, but didn't do any real forensic analysis). I enabled sideloading on my phone, tried to "update" the app, but the OS then refused to install it, claiming it was invalid. Can't tell if i…

> Can't tell if it's an OS level safeguard or an app-level one.

App version rollbacks are not allowed on Android. Even if it were, apps will have had to implement support for rollbacks (think database schema changes that must be undone etc).

Re: Nova Launcher added Facebook and Google Ads tracking

#158

Post by rpdillon »

fcpk wrote: post #118
SCdF wrote: post #102

Do we know if this counts for Prime? Though tbh the writing has been on the wall for awhile. It's really frustrating, because it otherwise just gets out of your way, which is why I like it. I guess I have to dedicate an afternoon to finding an alternative.

same thing here. com.teslacoilsw.launcher.prime is a different version and from what I see it doesn't have the tracking ... changing launchers when you have 200+ apps neatly grouped in folders would suck.

One option is to move to a keyboard-based launcher that no longer requires you to organize your apps in colorful grids. KISS is like this. Tiny, fast, free.

Re: Nova Launcher added Facebook and Google Ads tracking

#159

Post by ffsm8 »

gruez wrote: post #138
ffsm8 wrote: post #136

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Where? Just checked on every app I've purchased in app unlocks and none of them have any indicator for these unlocks (or others that are still available) on their app store page. The only way to see them - from my experience which I just verified - is to go into the app and go into the relevant menu's of the apps. Please explain where you're able to see this information on the app store on iOS or iPadOS

It's in the app store's app listing, just under age rating. It says "in app purchases: yes", which you can expand to show all purchase options. https://back.ww-cdn.com/superstatic/docs-res/41269/in-appfin...

Is this maybe only available for some regions or opt-in for the developer? I this UX doesn't exist on my devices running on 26.2 in the apps I checked. I just verified again but no luck

/Edit: found it! that is way too hidden - Would never have found that without your explicit mention and gif link!

After exploring some more on the play store too, There is actually a similar UI in the app details there too, it doesn't list all items but the price range (cheapest item to most expensive item). Definitely worse then having all items listed, but both could be improved imo by listing them as repeatable purchases, temporary licenses, forever unlocked etc) for informed consent before install. I'd never install any app which has repeatable transactions for example

Re: Nova Launcher added Facebook and Google Ads tracking

#160

Post by JohnFen »

stavros wrote: post #123
kristopolous wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most of these other launchers seem to force a fucking search bar on you. It's distracting and I don't want it Is there a way to just pin an app to a version? Then Nova is fine

I just tried a few launchers and none of them forced a search bar (or do you mean not on the home screen?). In fact, in Lawnchair and Octopi, I had to manually add a search bar if I wanted one.

Yeah, I tried out a handful of launchers too and none of them forced a search bar on me. Most of the had a search bar widget by default, but it was easy to remove.
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