Hi everyone!
I’m happy to share my app, Octopi Launcher, which I’ve worked on for quite a while now.
Octopi Launcher is a launcher for Android, built with the latest trends in mind, which includes visual and haptic effects, and support for foldables.
Features:
- App drawer, dock and homescreen
- Different homescreen for different screen layout/ orientation/ size/ foldable position
- Widgets and (autoscrolling) widget stacks
- Home screen folders
- Fine/ free positioning of home screen apps and widgets
- Big home screen icons
- Swipe actions for icons
- Display drawer items as icons or tiles (or single list); sort by installed date or updated date
- App search + instant launch
- Icon pack support
- Wallpaper blur when opening app drawer (on supported devices)
- Work profile support
- Fun animations, reflections and haptic effects
Screenshot album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/8xiXqSABV7Rhad139
Firstly, join the Google Group to gain access: https://groups.google.com/g/octopi-launcher-alpha-testers
Then, use this link to download the closed beta: https://play.google.com/apps/testing/com.otp.octopilauncher
I’d love to hear your feedback below, and have a nice day!
Well, I’m used to be able to search for an app wish a home on home press. The faster the better (some launchers are too slow on this, and that’s why I don’t use them). My main is Nova. The current speed setting is great.
The second thing is the Widget grouping per app.
On experience, I find this launcher too slow for my taste.
On the settings side, I find that having too many settings at the same time is kinda cumbersome.
Things that I like, to be able too see what setting does what easily, icon resizing, padding and dock concept.
I’d pay for this in the future. Like from 2 to 3 USD.
Coincidentally I was working on this a few days back. Mapping actions (including search) is definitely on my to-do.
I may group the widget list for faster loading, my initial thought was to have something different from the standard, and that was why I went for a search-based approach. Good suggestion.
Which aspects do you feel the speed can be improved? Also to share that there’s an animation speed setting where you can make animations much faster or slower
As for settings, things like preview are planned ;)
Thanks for the overall feedback!
The settings starter wizard is great for users that are not very familiar with customisation, so I think you have a lot of potential there for something new. I think you saw it as well. Most launchers are either very complex to set up (for someone that is not very familiar with android customisation) or too simple (like Niagara Launcher) but I think most users want some that is inviting for migrating from another custom launcher and from any stock one. Some launchers fix this by a migration wizard, but if you are going to copy something over, why migrate? I really like how your approach is going and I can’t wait to see where you land.
Regarding speed, I like your approach for speed , I think that’s something to consider on the wizard and I think that that’s the first setting I changed. I will send you my current nova set up and my Octopi one.
Thank you for your work, anyone can see that you are trying to do something different and put a lot of thought and effort into it.
Edit 1: is there anyway change the way how icons are shown on folders?
Folders wise, currently only 2 apps are shown as previews. It should be an easy task for me to code more preview styles.