The latest update for the popular Nova Launcher app includes Facebook Ads and Google AdMob.

Compare 8.2.4: https://reports.exodus-privacy.eu.org/en/reports/698198/

With 8.1.6: https://reports.exodus-privacy.eu.org/en/reports/673643/

From 2 trackers to 6 trackers. From 30 permissions to 36. And two of the “trackers” are for ad stuff, like Facebook Ads.

I believe the owner also changed. It’s no longer Branch, but something called Instabridge Sweden.

EDIT:

More tracking added. “Moloco”: https://old.reddit.com/r/NovaLauncher/comments/1qq1x9c/deep_dive_nova_launcher_beta_830_the_adtech/

  • MalReynolds@slrpnk.netEnglish
    0·
    19 days ago

    Here’s me using it on gOS with network deny permission (suck it assholes, also haven’t updated since years? ago). I’d use something else but I use KLWP for my UI and it gives the least friction…

    • K0Z@lemdro.idOPEnglish
      0·
      19 days ago

      Keep an eye on your battery life. I blocked Nova on my firewall app and it was retrying a connection to Google’s Firebase every minute or so. I assume because it was failing.

      • MalReynolds@slrpnk.netEnglish
        0·
        19 days ago

        Nah, battery life is 30+ hrs, not bad for a Pixel 7 (no Google services helps a lot), did change the battery 18mnths ago.

        • K0Z@lemdro.idOPEnglish
          0·
          19 days ago

          It’s crazy how much longer battery lasts after removing Google Services from Android.

          Unfortunately for me, not only some of my apps require Google Services, but I also use a Samsung… I don’t even have LineageOS available. Even if I did, custom ROMs on Samsung can’t use VoLTE, which is a problem as they’re shutting down 2G/3G where I live.

  • Albbi@piefed.caEnglish
    0·
    20 days ago

    I just changed launchers on my Pixel 6 because I’m slowly degoggling and the google search bar on the default launcher was the last place that had Google as a default for search. I was thinking of going back to using Nova launcher since I had purchased it way back, but decided to give Lawnchair a try. Very happy with the change so far.

    • dditty@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
      0·
      19 days ago

      I finally switched from Nova to Lawnchair just a couple of months ago and I am also very happy with the result! I spent ~20 minutes customizing it to my liking and it has been working beautifully ever since. Can’t believe I held out for so long!

    • K0Z@lemdro.idOPEnglish
      0·
      19 days ago

      I’ve tried Lawnchair. It’s better than it used to be last time I tested it. With this said, I don’t seem to be able to order folders by name, changed fonts (something more compressed) and half of the icons had the old font, and others had the new one (even after restarting the app)…

      I think I could make it work, but like all open source launchers I try, there’s always something half-backed or not polished enough.

      • Turret3857@infosec.pubEnglish
        0·
        18 days ago

        were you trying a stable, beta or nightly build? I use the nightly and havent necessarily noticed anything looking old.

        • K0Z@lemdro.idOPEnglish
          0·
          16 days ago

          I used “Lawnchair 15 Beta 2”, which was the latest available on their site and Github 4 days ago.

    • JustEnoughDucks@feddit.nlEnglish
      0·
      19 days ago

      Kvaesitso is my favorite so far after using KISS for years. Simple, but very polished! I like the clean home screen with favorite bar and searching with a few taps, or scrolling the full app page.

    • Vengefu1 Tuna@lemmy.zipEnglish
      0·
      19 days ago

      I didn’t know about Lawnchair, I’ve now switched over to it as well. Thanks for sharing your recommendation!

    • K0Z@lemdro.idOPEnglish
      0·
      19 days ago

      Man, I’d love to adapt to some of these launchers, but day to day, having a few icons and folders in easy to reach places works better for me than having to type, scroll, use gestures, etc. I always go back to traditional launchers.

  • Eager Eagle@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    20 days ago

    I had purchased it several years ago, but this is at least the 3rd concerning headline in the past 3 years. If you’re still on that boat, jump ship.

    • Redjard@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
      0·
      19 days ago

      The old versions are still fine. I never found a sufficient alternative, and it was (predictably) never open sourced despite the claims at aquisition so I couldn’t fork it, but at least I can freeze the last good version in time, restrict network access and updates, and hold out as long as I can.
      Probably until some future android version breaks it too badly.

      • TruF@lemdro.idEnglish
        0·
        17 days ago

        The issue with sticking with the old versions is newer versions of Android could totally break it with no way to fix it. Enjoy it while you can, but I’d recommend at least experimenting with other launchers so you have a plan when the day comes, not if. When.

  • FaeriesWearBoots@sopuli.xyzEnglish
    0·
    20 days ago

    I was using Nova until about a year ago I switched to Niagara launcher. The interface is clean, intuitive and fast

  • OnfireNFS@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    19 days ago

    I really want to switch but I need a launcher that lets me swipe on the dock left and right like how I can with home screen pages

    • frongt@lemmy.zipEnglish
      0·
      19 days ago

      Why?

      Personally I don’t use a dock at all, and I have only one home screen for my most-used apps. Less-used apps are in folders on the home screen, and everything else is in the app drawer.

      • slugger@sopuli.xyzEnglish
        0·
        19 days ago

        I have similar setup for lawnchair but I use “double tap” gesture to launch “AppDialer pro”. Quicker than app drawer to find the app I need.

  • Meldroc@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    20 days ago

    Switched over to Smart Launcher when Nova became abandonware.

    Well, at least with Smart Launcher, they’re actually trying to add useful features rather than just shoveling in ad-tracking.

    • PeachMan@lemmy.worldEnglish
      0·
      20 days ago

      Yeah, big new feature drop from them just this month, right? They added some features that I loved from Action Launcher (swipe to open folders).

      • K0Z@lemdro.idOPEnglish
        0·
        19 days ago

        At this point, I don’t mind paying something every year to keep development going (there’s always something that needs to be fixed on new Android versions) and so the author doesn’t feel the need to sell it, but monthly subscriptions… I don’t know.

        I think I paid the equivalent to $4 a few years ago for Nova. I’ve been using it for 10 or so years. I wouldn’t mind paying $4 per year just to avoid this sad outcome.

      • limerod@reddthat.comMEnglish
        0·
        19 days ago

        It does have a one time payment option. Either that or getting your data sold. You can’t expect people to develop apps for free without anything in return.

  • iamthetot@piefed.caEnglish
    0·
    19 days ago

    I’ve been using Nova for, gods, something like five years now or more.

    What are some good ones these days? When I started using Nova, it was very highly recommended.

    • 🇵🇸antifa_ceo@lemmy.mlEnglish
      0·
      19 days ago

      I use Niagara launcher now and while it takes some getting used to and doesn’t have all the customization of Nova but I think I prefer how it streamlines phone interaction a lot of the time. At least for me.

      • The Quuuuuill@slrpnk.netEnglish
        0·
        19 days ago

        Niagara and KISS are IMO the best launchers out. Niagara is more polished, KISS is open source, requires few permissions, and has an almost pathological dedication to supporting low power hardware

  • inb4_FoundTheVegan@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    19 days ago

    Glad I bailed, sad to see this from a launcher I used for years, but big Ole YIKES to everything since they were bought out.

    Using AIO launcher now. Don’t care for the chat gpt feature it’s pushing. But when you ignore that it’s just a nice slimmed down minimal utilitarian UI.

  • zikzak025@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    19 days ago

    Knew this sort of thing would happen eventually, glad I made the switch away a while back.

    When Nova was bought out by Branch, we all knew it couldn’t lead to anything good. But it sucks to switch away, and I know people kept using Nova because they could say “it’s not doing anything sketchy yet.”

    With this news, seems safe to say that “yet” is finally “now.” Tim to switch if you haven’t already. I’m happily using Niagara now.