Nothing (OS) Launcher Beta 1: Sans Substance.

Sayan_Dutta

As it seems Nothing Launcher in its current form is pretty basic (Not necessarily bad as it would help them add features seamlessly w/o thinking about removing anything useless that they would have added before) and seems somewhat underwhelming for the most who were waiting for days if not months. Being minimal need not be boring. There’s a reason it’s still in beta but truthfully its without much substance. I’ll get straight into it as to what worked and what didn’t.

What worked:

Foundation: It is not secret that the OS will cut all the useless crap and distil android in its purest form and it vividly shows in the approach. The launcher is being kept absolutely stock and I’m sure many will like it. Some solid, solid foundation to add on it.
Max Icons and Max Folders: Though it can look hilarious at first sight, but I can foresee it as to be something greatly useful and transforming that can give Android Home screen visual language a new identity. Max Icons is something that’s borrowed from past iterations(2×2 Grid) of Android and its a smart smart move. Max folder is really well thought out and is something that people will use. I’d like the max folder icon to be squircle as an option, it’ll go pretty well with rounded off Android 12/13 widgets. Launching any apps from the folder is a neat utility addition, saves one step. (cool
Clock and Weather widget: It has something visually so pleasing, iconic and artistic elements to it. Great job!
Icon Pack Customisation Option: Thumbs up! +1 Points. Nothing should have its own icon pack for the love of God. @Carl confirms they’re working on it. (Smile)
Overscroll Animation Adoption: Neat!
I loved the folder opening and closing animation.

What didn’t work:

Animations: Animations are fast and zippy, no doubt but it lacks a certain uniform motion and flow flow. Though Opening Animations are decent, I don’t know why the closing animations are broken as it doesn’t close to the source of the app.
Google Search Bar: Please don’t fix the search bar in that position. Let the user reposition it and remove it altogether if they want so.
App Search Bar: The app search bar can be used as Universal Search Bar like the pixel phones and that would be the wise approach.
Dot Matrix Font in the Header: It does look unique but it clearly has some visibility issues, a wise approach would be to let the user change the Header font to something more readable.
Many users faced problems with Nothing Weather and Clock widget as information was not shown fully as some portion was cutting.
The default wallpaper remains even after switching the launcher to something different.
The ‘Sun behind the Cloud’ visuals in weather widget need some refinement. Doesn’t look well put together in my eyes.
Some App Icons has less dp. Hence, enlarging them distorts the app icon. Not a fault from Nothing’s Part but gotta find a way to work with the developers or remaster the app icon with the help of AI engine.
Limited Compatibility: Users from every smartphone segment wanted to get a taste of the launcher since the time it was announced. Limited compatibility seems very unfair to them. Sideloading does work to a great extent still a wider compatibility was expected.

Liking the Wallpapers and Ring Tones are of personal preferences, I leave it to the users to decide. I absolutely adore the Alarm Ring tone.

Though Nothing Launcher is a small baby, I am sure it’ll grow into something noteworthy in the meantime. As a start, it’s not bad but it is not good either. Animations were something that should have been properly implemented by now in my opinion. I hope all the constructive criticisms from the users and fans will be taken positively. Thanks, Cheers!

Surya_8055

Sayan_Dutta excellent feedback man. This helps the software team a lot. All the points have been clearly addressed. I hope they will fix all these things. Keep going 😎.

Rob ⚡️

Sayan_Dutta Excellent work here @Sayan_Dutta, thanks for taking the time to provide some real in-depth feedback.

I imagine the team has plenty of tricks up their sleeve that have been omitted from this beta release - they’ve gotta save the good stuff for Phone (1)'s launch after all!

Sayan_Dutta

Rob ⚡️ There are surely many features planned for the Phone(1), sure. They must held back certain features, yes absolutely.

But the launcher doesn’t do justice with them who were waiting for days if not month. Apart from the community investors, there are many people who wants to see Nothing succed. And they are rooting for Nothing. It wasn’t a fair play to them as well. I have developed an emotional connection with the Brand, and if i feel they are falling short of their promises, I’ll be the first person to deliver constructive criticisms. Not to discourage their efforts, i felt the launcher was pretty underwhelming for the most part, and i am sure they’ll better it in the next iterations. Cheers!

Rob ⚡️

Sayan_Dutta I understand your point of view entirely. It is special that so many were waiting patiently for a preview of the upcoming Phone (1) experience, and perhaps some were expecting more.

We need more people like you, speaking out when things need attention - we wouldn’t be supporting the best interests of the brand if we just left things unsaid, purely because we’re fans.

Sayan_Dutta

Rob ⚡️ we wouldn’t be supporting the best interests of the brand if we just left things unsaid, purely because we’re fans.

You put it so well, mate! Its easy to delve in illusion, but we must get out of it using our rationale. There’s a lot in the community that can drive the brand close to perfection.

cristian

Hi guys tried nothing launcher for some days on Nokia 3.4 (android One) via apk and below my conclusions.

1 I like It. Used after the semistock launcher of android One but however this feels better

2 like circle folders. They makes microcosmos in the cosmos of the UI. But i want to be able do don’t assign any name them and i want that if i have 4 apps in the folder all them are touchble, not the 4th downsizing and untouchble.

3 i hate the Google bar, please make It removable.

4 love Digital Clock, both trasparent and solid but i want analogic Clock without date, Just a circle as folders.

5 obviusly much more wallpapers and to be able to set my own pic. Like the creepy hand but sometimes glitches (?)

6 i use Digital buttons so animations are not astonishing but nor bad. But if i set gestures omg are terrible

7 the possibility to leave the name of apps on home (i like to make stories with app icons on the home Page😂, but the name of this stole the appeal)

8 its the 1.0.0 of the beta… RELAX! its better than i thought. I have seen a lot of bad feedbacks on play store talking about mediocrity more than isusses. That becouse everyone expected something astonishing but in fact make a semi stock UI Is the best choice. It made great Oxyegn at its times and Will do the same with nothing. Remember that users that tried the launcher are in great part Pixel users, that are yet confident with stock UI. But im sure already a lot of oneplus users that don’t like color would be happy to move to nothing. So what to say about all Xiaomi or Huawei or Samsung that use a way worst UI? Just qustion of time i guess. Good job!

Bye

Sayan_Dutta

cristian It is actually a feature poor launcher and people hadn’t got the answer as to “why do we need this launcher in the first place”. But you know to get the right answers in the internet post a wrong answer" and it’s working. People have been pretty vocal about what features they want and what they liked and disliked.

Rudi

Sayan_Dutta benjamais cristian thank you for your feedback, super useful. 😀

benjamais

Just wanted to share this screenshot.

But I think most of my feedback has been well formulated by @Sayan_Dutta 😃

Hopefully, the team will take notes of everything said here to push the experience further.

Sayan_Dutta

benjamais The Team is definitely listening. It is a matter of time now that the OS grows into something really useful.

👍 For the Clean Setup.

CharlieHasdell

As a Oneplus 6TME user, the one killer feature on their OS (other than being close to stock android) is the draw - is this something we will see in the Nothing OS (or is that a oneplus exclusive?