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expiredpowerfuldoppler | Staff posted Dec 24, 2022 12:02 AM
expiredpowerfuldoppler | Staff posted Dec 24, 2022 12:02 AM

Nova Launcher Prime (Android App)

$0.49

$4.99

90% off
Google Play
124 Comments 49,104 Views
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Deal Details
Google Play has Nova Launcher Prime (Android App) on sale for $0.49.

Thanks to Deal Editor powerfuldoppler for sharing this deal.

About this app:
  • Nova Launcher Prime acts as a license to unlock these features in the free Nova Launcher App. You will need to install Nova Launcher first.
  • Gestures: Swipe, pinch, double tap, and more on the home screen to execute custom commands.
  • App Drawer Groups: Create custom tabs or folders in the app drawer for an ultra-organized feel.
  • Hide Apps: Remove apps from the app drawer without uninstalling them.
  • Custom Icon Swipe Gestures: Assign swipe gestures to home screen icons or folders for custom actions.
  • …and more. More scrolling effects, unread counts, and others.

Editor's Notes

Written by Brynn
  • About this deal:
    • This price is $4.50 lower (90.18% savings) than the regular price of $4.99.
    • This price beats a previous very popular Frontpage Deal
  • About this product:
    • This app has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 based on over 359,000 reviews on Google Play
  • Additional Note:
    • Please refer to the Forum Thread for additional discussion regarding this deal.

Original Post

Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
Google Play has Nova Launcher Prime (Android App) on sale for $0.49.

Thanks to Deal Editor powerfuldoppler for sharing this deal.

About this app:
  • Nova Launcher Prime acts as a license to unlock these features in the free Nova Launcher App. You will need to install Nova Launcher first.
  • Gestures: Swipe, pinch, double tap, and more on the home screen to execute custom commands.
  • App Drawer Groups: Create custom tabs or folders in the app drawer for an ultra-organized feel.
  • Hide Apps: Remove apps from the app drawer without uninstalling them.
  • Custom Icon Swipe Gestures: Assign swipe gestures to home screen icons or folders for custom actions.
  • …and more. More scrolling effects, unread counts, and others.

Editor's Notes

Written by Brynn
  • About this deal:
    • This price is $4.50 lower (90.18% savings) than the regular price of $4.99.
    • This price beats a previous very popular Frontpage Deal
  • About this product:
    • This app has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 based on over 359,000 reviews on Google Play
  • Additional Note:
    • Please refer to the Forum Thread for additional discussion regarding this deal.

Original Post

Community Voting

Deal Score
+217
Good Deal
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Top Comments

dcsang
275 Posts
204 Reputation
I'm a longtime Nova Launcher Prime patron, and still use it on my S22 Ultra. They were acquired by the analytics company Branch earlier this year. Just wondering how much development will go into product improvement going forward and how much data they intend to collect about their users.
Supply_and_Demand
5411 Posts
2584 Reputation
Dont buy this, its a trap. Nova sold to an analytics company. They want to data harvest you, launchers are very valuable and get a ton of info from you.
Use something like Pear Launcher instead that doesnt spy on you.
ALWAYS read up on app permissions and privacy policies before you install.

https://play.google.com/store/app...l=US&pli=1
wolfie14
1925 Posts
1062 Reputation
From searching SD, it looks like this has gone on sale for $1 every year in December.

Now, after being acquired by a data analytics company, it goes on sale for 50 cents.

Kinda makes a fella wonder.

I'd be curious to know what kind of data they have access to as a launcher. I tried searching at some point but couldn't find any good write ups.

124 Comments

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Dec 25, 2022 03:47 AM
2,547 Posts
Joined Nov 2015
PssstyeahyouDec 25, 2022 03:47 AM
2,547 Posts
Quote from FaithfulTank4187 :
Do I have to buy this for every device or do I buy once and use on all my devices?
Just once as long as you're logging into as many devices as you want, with the same account you were logged into when you bought it. The license is connected to your Google account you buy it with. It's on 4 devices of my own.
Dec 25, 2022 05:38 AM
11 Posts
Joined Dec 2022
TenseTexture7137Dec 25, 2022 05:38 AM
11 Posts
Quote from dcsang :
I'm a longtime Nova Launcher Prime patron, and still use it on my S22 Ultra. They were acquired by the analytics company Branch earlier this year. Just wondering how much development will go into product improvement going forward and how much data they intend to collect about their users.
Didn't know they sold... Bummer I've also been a long time user, time to switch. Sounds like pear launcher maybe ?
2
Dec 25, 2022 06:34 AM
348 Posts
Joined Jul 2005
MikesBoredDec 25, 2022 06:34 AM
348 Posts
Just a fyi, I looked at Nova permissions. Location was off my guess it's for Nova widget. Notifications was on but I think it needs to be on for the app badge counters because other launchers ask also. Phone was on, turned it off. The only permissions I needed were access to pictures and media files. Maybe the new owners will require more. The truly paranoid could install no root firewall and see every app or service on your phone that contacts the Internet and you will understand that everything on your phone is sending data all the time. It's a pain to use because every request needs allowed or denied so you will be busy.
Dec 25, 2022 07:29 AM
144 Posts
Joined Nov 2010
charliebeanDec 25, 2022 07:29 AM
144 Posts
Anyone having the issue where every time you hit home,
it asks you if you want 'ALWAYS' want to have Nova as your home function and hitting always does nothing?
Dec 25, 2022 11:04 AM
219 Posts
Joined Jun 2016
lhandlottDec 25, 2022 11:04 AM
219 Posts
Quote from wolfie14 :
From searching SD, it looks like this has gone on sale for $1 every year in December.

Now, after being acquired by a data analytics company, it goes on sale for 50 cents.

Kinda makes a fella wonder.

I'd be curious to know what kind of data they have access to as a launcher. I tried searching at some point but couldn't find any good write ups.
Obviously The kind that sells, that's the whole purpose of it. 😊
2
Dec 25, 2022 02:02 PM
289 Posts
Joined May 2006
WilliamRLBakerDec 25, 2022 02:02 PM
289 Posts
Well worth the cost at full price let alone 50cents.
I won't touch native launchers on android products they are universally all trash even the google pixel which has the least amount of bloat is vastly inferior to nova launcher.
1
Dec 25, 2022 06:14 PM
3,544 Posts
Joined Feb 2007
nolenskiDec 25, 2022 06:14 PM
3,544 Posts
Quote from JamesL8409 :
Downloaded Niagara in beta years ago. Decided to try it again on your recommendation now.

Not sure I like it compared to my OOS 13 but we'll see
Let us know when it comes back in stock.
1

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Dec 26, 2022 01:03 AM
12,015 Posts
Joined Oct 2005
jbloggsDec 26, 2022 01:03 AM
12,015 Posts
Quote from coachclass :
Yup, I'm looking for an alternative. Need to run on fire tablets.
Maybe the following would be useful to you

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQCfSfi08nw
Dec 26, 2022 03:44 AM
3,318 Posts
Joined Jul 2009
jeffricks2051Dec 26, 2022 03:44 AM
3,318 Posts
Quote from JakeW3302 :
Was my go-to for many years but switched to Niagara launcher and will never go back. It has loads of customizability and much more sleek.
Just spent an hour playing with Niagara on your suggestion. Love this app with just its free offerings. Repped.
1
Dec 26, 2022 02:54 PM
530 Posts
Joined Jul 2012
alexcaponeDec 26, 2022 02:54 PM
530 Posts
I stopped using it when I got the Fold 4. The launcher doesn't support foldables and they don't have any plans on doing so from what I've gathered from Reddit. For me it was perfect timing to move away from this product since they sold out to a data harvesting analytics company.
Dec 26, 2022 05:16 PM
91 Posts
Joined Dec 2014
Paul_VSDec 26, 2022 05:16 PM
91 Posts
As an aside, I find it amusing when cell phone reviewers base the majority of their opinion or time on the phone's native launchers, when for me it's the first thing to go because they all stink, imo.

I used to like Next Launcher if anyone remembers that one before it died.
Pro
Dec 26, 2022 06:28 PM
159 Posts
Joined Mar 2014
i5lee8bit
Pro
Dec 26, 2022 06:28 PM
159 Posts
Quote from charliebean :
Anyone having the issue where every time you hit home,
it asks you if you want 'ALWAYS' want to have Nova as your home function and hitting always does nothing?
Not sure what your phone model, OS, etc is, but I would try going to settings (system settings), Apps, Default Apps (the menu flow / wording might be different depending on what you're running), and then Home App. Try setting it from there. Maybe your ROM/manufacturer is wonky about setting the default home app in that way and requires it to be set through the system settings. Iirc, I've actually seen this happen before.
Dec 26, 2022 07:01 PM
31 Posts
Joined Aug 2015
t3rm1n80r07Dec 26, 2022 07:01 PM
31 Posts
Quote from Supply_and_Demand :
Dont buy this, its a trap. Nova sold to an analytics company. They want to data harvest you, launchers are very valuable and get a ton of info from you.
Use something like Pear Launcher instead that doesnt spy on you.
ALWAYS read up on app permissions and privacy policies before you install.

https://play.google.com/store/app...l=US&pli=1
Thanks, I use their free version but I'll look into pear.
1
Pro
Dec 26, 2022 07:11 PM
159 Posts
Joined Mar 2014
i5lee8bit
Pro
Dec 26, 2022 07:11 PM
159 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank i5lee8bit

About the whole Branch acquisition, I've actually been completely out of the loop on this matter until seeing this thread... I haven't had much time to really look into it, but from a few minutes of light research, **it seems like Branch integration doesn't really apply until Nova Launcher 8.x versions (currently only in beta)**. Branch Search can be disabled via Nova Settings -> Search-> Branch (whatever) if you're on 8.x, from my understanding.

It also seems that Branch is a HUGE company that specializes in deep links (when you click a link and it takes you to a specific part of an app), among of course analytics and stuff. I agree that's concerning, don't get me wrong, especially considering this is the launcher we're talking about here. And the "do you know how many apps phone home your analytics anyway?" argument isn't a great one either, because that line of thought contributes towards the increasing normalized intrusion of our privacy and data.

So I don't know what the right answer is, coming from a decade-long user of Nova Launcher + Prime. According to their changelog (https://novalauncher.com/beta), see under Beta 8.0.2, the Branch search engine library integrated into the newer beta version of Nova are supposedly not the same as the deep links library. As far as the one integrated into Nova, it says "This library is completely offline and makes no network connections". 8.0.3 beta says you can now see history and usage of usage reporting data, but honestly this doesn't mean much to me as history shows us how often companies have changed these policies, and/or there are a million other ways for them to take our data anyway.

I'm not a beta tester and so I'm still on Nova 7. Also, according to anecdotes, blocking (whether root or VPN based ad blocking, DNS based, pihole, etc) the *.branch.io domains caused a bunch of other apps and basic functions to stop working - stuff you'd probably never suspect had anything to do with Branch. So yeah, like said before, Branch is a HUGE company, one that kinda silently processes info "behind the scenes", the Ed Harris but we're Truman lol.

Again, I don't have an answer. But I can say this means Branch has already been processing your info in some way. But now having acquired Nova, it is certainly more concerning given they have direct access to the launcher. All I can say is that this is yet another lesson on why FOSS can be so beneficial. At this point, someone(s) could have just forked the source from before acquisition and continued from there. For now, I'll continue to use Nova 7.x, and reassess once 8.x is out of beta and into public release...
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Dec 27, 2022 05:16 AM
144 Posts
Joined Nov 2010
charliebeanDec 27, 2022 05:16 AM
144 Posts
Quote from i5lee8bit :
Not sure what your phone model, OS, etc is, but I would try going to settings (system settings), Apps, Default Apps (the menu flow / wording might be different depending on what you're running), and then Home App. Try setting it from there. Maybe your ROM/manufacturer is wonky about setting the default home app in that way and requires it to be set through the system settings. Iirc, I've actually seen this happen before.
yeah tried that, just started happening after 2 and half years, definitely didn't change anything either

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