Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Google Now Launcher hits the Play Store

The long-awaited Google Now launcher is available on the Play Store, but currently works only on Nexus handsets and Google Play Edition devices — but there’s a workaround for that.



Back when Google launched the Nexus 5, it mentioned that it would bring the Google Now (Google Experience) launcher to other devices shortly. It is making good on its word today, as the launcher is available for download from the Play Store. Google mentions that the launcher will work on all Nexus and Google Play Edition handsets, but sideloading the utility on other handsets has also worked.

The Google Now launcher tweaks a lot of home screen elements. For starters, the left-most home screen is dedicated to Google Now. The widgets section is also missing from the app drawer. You now have to do a long press from within the home screen to access widgets. From this menu, you can also manage your home screens, backgrounds and Google Now settings. The new app drawer features bigger icons along with a transparent background. The status bar and navigation button section at the bottom are now translucent.

After installing the launcher, you can select which launcher you’d like to sue as default when you click the home button. Also, you will now be able to access Google now by saying “OK Google” from the homescreen. Here’s a set of the stock Nexus 4 before and after the Google Now launcher:

#gallery-29 margin: auto; #gallery-29 .gallery-item float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; #gallery-29 img border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; #gallery-29 .gallery-caption margin-left: 0; /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */





#gallery-30 margin: auto; #gallery-30 .gallery-item float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; #gallery-30 img border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; #gallery-30 .gallery-caption margin-left: 0; /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */





If you have a Nexus or any Google Play Edition device on Android 4.4 KitKat and above, you will be able to download the Google Now launcher. If you don’t have any of the above devices and are keen on trying out the launcher anyway, head over to the link below to download the file and sideload it directly onto your handset. I’ve tried it with a Sony Xperia SL and it worked fine.

Download: Google Now Launcher*(Via Android Police)

Source: Google Play



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