This Android launcher reminds me of Windows Phone in the best possible way

I’ve a confession to make: I wasn’t an Android phone fan at first. I wasn’t an iPhone fanatic, both. As a substitute, I used to be a full-fledged Windows Phone disciple. I completely cherished the Metro UI, that includes a recent, tile-based interface that popped on an OLED display screen. I cherished the interface and cameras a lot that I purchased a Lumia 1020 and a Lumia 950. 

I’ve recognized about Android launchers that emulate this Home windows Cellphone search for years now, and briefly dabbled with them again within the day. However my Home windows Cellphone itch is stronger than ever, and I discovered two launchers that got here closest to scratching it. After taking a look at each Sq. Residence and Launcher 10 on my Pixel phone (sacrilege, I do know), I in the end settled on the previous.

Each launchers do an amazing job of emulating the Home windows Cellphone expertise from a visible perspective. I’d give the sting to Launcher 10 for its app drawer design specifically, however I selected Square Home for a number of causes.

Maybe the largest purpose is that Dwell Tiles can be found at no cost right here, whereas Launcher 10 requires fee to unlock them. For the uninitiated, Dwell Tiles had been Microsoft’s reply to widgets on Android, providing sq. or rectangular tiles that continually displayed updates and different data. For instance, you could possibly see missed calls within the telephone tile, notifications within the Fb tile, and your favourite pictures within the pictures tile.

Sq. Residence primarily populates the Dwell Tiles with data pulled out of your notifications, and this clearly requires your permission. It’s nonetheless a wise method to deliver these tiles to life, and also you’ll get data like Gmail snippets, calendar entries, and extra. I additionally fairly just like the media widget reside tile that pops up, which is derived from the media widget within the notification shade. And sure, you possibly can really work together with the media controls. In one other neat contact, the previous platform’s flipping tiles are right here, too, exhibiting you completely different nuggets of information. It’s also possible to make these tiles clear to indicate your wallpaper, very like later variations of Microsoft’s platform. So I by no means actually felt like I used to be lacking out in an enormous approach.

The launcher additionally received me over with its tile changes. Microsoft allowed Home windows Cellphone customers to regulate the dimensions of those tiles, going from the common measurement to one-quarter measurement to double-wide. Sq. Residence helps you to intuitively alter a tile’s measurement by long-pressing the tile, very like Home windows Cellphone itself (and with a couple of further measurement choices too). Launcher 10 gives granular measurement changes with sliders by default, but it surely’s not practically as intuitive and acquainted in the event you’re a Home windows Cellphone fan like me. Fortunately, you possibly can dig a bit deeper in Sq. Residence in order for you extra detailed changes too.

I additionally recognize Sq. Residence’s very affordable fee choices. You possibly can select to pay $1 a yr or make a one-time fee of $6. I do know many corporations ditched one-time purchases due to greed monetary causes, however I’m glad to see this feature right here. In saying so, the staff doesn’t adequately convey the advantages of paying for premium on its web site or Play Retailer itemizing. Nevertheless, it looks as if settings with inexperienced icons are paid additions. These embrace superior animations, media controller performance, numerous gestures, and your alternative of font.

One other level in Sq. Residence’s favor is its ad-free nature. There’s completely nothing unsuitable with providing an ad-supported app, and Launcher 10 may be very restrained in its method (seemingly restricted to the settings menu, whereas letting you pay to do away with them), but it surely’s good to have an ad-free expertise out of the field. 

Sq. Residence’s checklist of options doesn’t cease right here. It gives a customizable app drawer, wallpaper-based coloration theming, help for tablets and foldable telephones, and Non-public Area help. The staff just lately up to date the app to repair points with widgets in One UI 7 too, so the builders are nonetheless actively fixing issues in any case this time.

I can assume of some small areas of enchancment for Sq. Residence, although, corresponding to improved dealing with of third-party widgets and extra preset tile colours. However these are comparatively insignificant wishlist gadgets, and we positively have a full-featured expertise.

Despite the fact that the Home windows Cellphone ship sailed a very long time in the past, I’m glad to see that the group has picked up the baton and sprinted with it. I’m positively keen on Sq. Residence, however each of those launchers are nice methods to successfully emulate that have. Now, about Microsoft constructing its personal Home windows Cellphone launcher for Android.