So what are the most compelling Apps Launchers out there?

A users Home screen Apps launch page, is probably the most intimate and viewed 2 x 5 inch pixel space used by smartphone consumers. Obviously this is all a bit of a personal preference.

What do users recommend as being their favourite and most compelling Apps launchers ? 

Ideally a Home , Apps Launcher experience that is consistent with the use of Microsoft Services and Apos and synchronised with use of Windows 10 PCs desktops. That is what Microsoft keeps promising an seamless Windows PC to Android/ iOS experience.

Conversation 15 comments

  • Minke

    23 January, 2019 - 7:50 am

    <p>Personally, I like an uncluttered homescreen, so I generally use the Pixel launcher (on a Pixel 2) with only five apps just above the search bar at the bottom. The rest of the screen is just a beautiful photo. If I'm feeling that is too much, I switch over to the Evie Launcher that lets me remove the search bar. My five apps currently include the camera, personal email, work email, Google Voice, and the calendar. Those are things I need quickly. Everything else resides in the app drawer. Works well for me. I mostly use Google apps, but I have not had any issues using Microsoft apps too. I like using the Outlook app for work email and calendar in order to keep it totally separate from my personal stuff. Since we use O365 at work the Outlook app works perfectly and keeps everything in sync. If needed, I can also use OneDrive, Word, Excel, etc., but I tend not to use my phone for much more than communication, and prefer to use a laptop or desktop to do work that is better accomplished with a real keyboard.</p>

    • jules_wombat

      23 January, 2019 - 2:14 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#398855">In reply to Minke:</a></em></blockquote><p>So does that mean you are not bothered by any WhatApps or Text Messaging Icons/Notifications or News appearing on your Home screen ? I am intrigued how to maintain awareness without these being visible on such a minimial, albeit very clean Home page. </p>

      • minke

        23 January, 2019 - 8:44 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#398972">In reply to Jules_Wombat:</a></em></blockquote><p>You can still get notifications from apps that aren't on the homescreen, though I am a minimalist with regard to notifications too. I get text, email, phone message, and weather notifications mostly. I don't want Twitter, Facebook, etc., because I find that most of the notifications are not worth receiving.</p>

  • wright_is

    Premium Member
    23 January, 2019 - 9:31 am

    <p>I was using the Microsoft Launcher, but I switched back to just using EMUI on my Hauweis.</p>

  • harmjr

    Premium Member
    23 January, 2019 - 10:59 am

    <p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Microsoft Launcher IMO is the best. I use it on all my android devices. Essential Phone, Moto Droid, LG Stylo and my really old Samsung Galaxy Note 8" tablet.</span></p><p><br></p>

  • coeus89

    23 January, 2019 - 11:14 am

    <p>Some random thoughts on this:</p><p><br></p><p>The Microsoft launcher can get quite cluttered if you let it. however, i know someone who puts the "frequently used apps" list as his only page and that is literally all he uses. That is just about as minimalist as you can get. </p><p><br></p><p>If you want the best Microsoft experience, definitely the Microsoft launcher (What i use now). The Pixel Launcher is very good as well. I used the deprecated google now launcher for over 3 years and loved it. Very light weight and fast.</p>

  • Alexander Rothacker

    Premium Member
    23 January, 2019 - 11:26 am

    <p>Microsoft Launcher AFAIK is the one that best integrates with MS services, but it can't do it all alone, you will also need to use other MS apps, like Outlook, OneDrive and Edge to complete the integration.</p>

  • yaddamaster

    23 January, 2019 - 11:48 am

    <p>I use Launcher 10. Ended up buying it. I found it was the closest I could get to Windows Phone look and feel. Maybe the latest Microsoft Launcher is better but last time I tried it I didn't like it.</p>

    • Alexander Rothacker

      Premium Member
      23 January, 2019 - 1:33 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#398909">In reply to yaddamaster:</a></em></blockquote><p>I used Launcher 10 when I left windows phone, it absolutely is the best when it comes to look and feel of that, but at the time it didn't have a lot of integrations into MS accounts and services. If they added integrations like that, I would totally take a look at it again.</p>

  • Winner

    23 January, 2019 - 12:10 pm

    <p>Well you put a bunch of criteria out there that leads you to Microsoft, didn't you?</p>

    • jules_wombat

      24 January, 2019 - 3:20 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#398917">In reply to Winner:</a></em></blockquote><p>We'll yes, I am partially invested into Microsoft services. I have been unable to get my Gmail to sync with my Hotmail email account, so as to display titles in Square Home Live Tiles. Any advice on how to project Microsoft App notifications onto my home page would be desirable,.</p>

  • James Burns

    23 January, 2019 - 4:07 pm

    <p>Both my wife and I use the Microsoft launcher and we like it… a lot. </p>

    • jules_wombat

      24 January, 2019 - 3:17 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#399009">In reply to James_B:</a></em></blockquote><p>Hello, I tried Microsoft Launcher, perhaps need to look at it again with all the recommendations here. On my first attempt I felt it was really just a launcher, with little awareness of what I intested being projected on my home page.</p>

  • waethorn

    23 January, 2019 - 9:01 pm

    <p>No doubt Microsoft's launcher will sanitize your Google Now news feeds with only Microsoft's authorised advertiser partner messages.</p>

    • waethorn

      24 January, 2019 - 11:30 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#399067">In reply to Waethorn:</a></em></blockquote><p>Don't think so? It's only a matter of time before NewsGuard is fully integrated into their other products.</p>

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