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
- Blur for widget and dock background (experimental)
- Home screen and app drawer folders
- Fine/ free positioning of home screen apps and widgets
- Big home screen icons
- Swipe up/ down actions for icons
- Display drawer items as icons or tiles (or single list); sort by installed date or updated date
- App search + instant launch
- Assign a nickname to an app for instant app search and launch (e.g. searching “ff” launches Firefox instantly)
- 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!
Nice job! I like the looks, any plans on open sourcing it?
i second this, i won’t install a closed source launcher on my phone anymore.
Not in the immediate future, but I have been thinking about this since I wrote the first bits of code.
It’d be awesome, good luck
Somewhat weird name for a launcher considering this: https://octoprint.org/download/#octopi
Doubly so since people sometimes use Android phones as dedicated interfaces for their printer.
Used the plural of Octopus, perhaps I should go with Octopus Launcher instead?
Thought of the same, I used it for a few years. It even ocurred to me the possibility that the dev was branching out to other stuff 🤣
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it looks cool, but im not sure if id trust a proprietary launcher
Fair comment. I do not have trackers that may pose a privacy issue, and it will remain so.
When software is open source, people can know if they should trust you. When it’s proprietary, they need to have faith in your good will.
I might try it out if it ever becomes open source but trebuchet is good enough at this point that I’m definitely not going to use a closed source launcher.
I’ll share here if I open source this or a variant of this
Make it open source and don’t charge for a “premium” version when it’s fully released that will hamstring your capability if you don’t pay.
I plan to follow the model of Niagara and Nova launcher, but without recurring subscriptions and tracking. Closed beta testers will receive free codes to unlock the full version, so they get to enjoy all features they have now.
While I liked Niagara for what it tries to do, it’s price for a launcher was steep, and Nova IMHO is not a good company to emulate. May I ask why the need to join the Google group?
While I liked Niagara for what it tries to do, it’s price for a launcher was steep…
Quality often is, and it’s not terribly steep, in my opinion, if you consider that it’s the gateway into your phone and is used practically every time you unlock your phone. I personally opted for the lifetime subscription to not deal with any monthlys.
why the need to join the Google group?
Because closed beta
It will be priced very competitively, as it’s a personal project and I do not need to pay anyone else ;) Nova’s model before it’s bought over was great. i still recall being part of those who paid $0.10 for it. The Google group is how Google currently handles closed beta sign-ups, not very intuitive, I agree.
Congrats! It looks exciting!
Do let me know any issues you encounter
Initial thoughts: it would be nice if there was a screen where you could select apps for the dock on first launch.
I like the different sorts in the drawer, but the launcher should remember your choice.
Need swipe actions on apps, not being able to access my favourite chats in Telegram feels like a step back.
Other than that. Very nice.
Great suggestion on the “wizard”/ guide on first launch. The launcher starts a bit empty otherwise.
As for the app sorting, is there a reason why you prefer a permanent sort choice (by date)?
App shortcuts are definitely on my to-dos, and they will be supported as swipe/ gesture actions as well.
As for the app sorting, is there a reason why you prefer a permanent sort choice (by date)?
No real reason.
App shortcuts are definitely on my to-dos, and they will be supported as swipe/ gesture actions as well.
I’ll keep an eye out.
Looks cool, thanks for sharing!
Thank you and look forward to hearing any issues you faced
