Gadgetory

Google is killing off the Google now launcher why we don't know but what does this move mean for consumers and smartphone manufacturers well let's take a closer look to start off it's worth reiterating just what is a launcher unless you're really into jailbreaking there's really only one way to use an iPhone you have pages of apps a slider on the top for your notifications and a slider on the bottom for quick actions like controlling your Wi-Fi the Android ecosystem is a lot more diverse that's why when you get used to one Android phone and you pick up a different Android phone it feels different one way to help improve the familiarity on Android phones every time you buy a new Android device you can install your own launcher and customize it so that it feels the same as previous phones you've owned Android is made and supported by Google so maybe consider installing a Google developed launcher while other companies look to add a ton of features Google's approach focused on a fluid interface and ease of use well we now have official word from Google that by the end of this quarter the Google now launcher will be no more for manufacturers there's an official list of apps that google requires companies to install on their phones before they ship them out not only is the now launcher being delisted but any phones manufactured after the cutoff date will no longer be certified by Google that's a pretty stark encouragement to major manufacturers get on board for those companies the feel of Google launcher should be maintained one of the hallmarks of the now launcher is the left swipe to the side where you have your feed a customized list of notifications and news articles and I can still be activated by companies looking to maintain that look and feel so a manufacturer could go with the stock Android open source project launcher add that left swipe speed and most consumers probably wouldn't know the difference it does get a little trickier for consumers however the Google now launcher app will be pulled from the Google Play Store so for any future devices you might buy it's going to be increasingly difficult to install that launcher though the app will be pulled from the Play Store as long as you keep updating your Google Search app your Google now launcher will continue to receive support we're not entirely sure how that's going to work if you sideload the Google now launcher after the cutoff date but we would imagine Google will continue to support that too but the tricky part for those folks you don't want to have to manually install apps on the side what might this mean for them if they want to install a simple and free launcher to clean up their phone doesn't look like Google is going to be singing the rains on the pixel launcher that's going to stay on pixel phones there are a number of fantastic third-party options and I'm a big fan of Nova Launcher for example it really will be a bummer if there isn't a first-party Google Android solution for people looking to customize their Android devices and of course we want to hear from you do you use the Google now launcher are you looking at what alternatives you might be able to install or are you hoping that this is going to be a move where Google will open up the pixel launcher for more devices drop us a comment down below this video let's see we can get into a chat about it as always thanks so much for watching be sure to subscribe to the channel for more commentary videos like these and help us out with some sharing on your favorite social networks for PocketNow i'm juan carlos bag now so i'm gadget guy on Twitter and Instagram and I will catch you all on the next video you