Ever since Nothing started life in 2020, its actions have been carefully tracked. The UK-based firm was based by Carl Pei, co-founder of OnePlus, and launched its first product final yr – the Ear (1).
These reasonably priced earbuds had been usually nicely acquired, however it at all times felt like a smartphone was the product Nothing was constructing in the direction of. That grew to become a actuality with the official announcement of the Telephone (1), which is scheduled to reach this summer season.
Loads of questions encompass the system’s {hardware}, however Nothing is already giving us a style of the software program expertise. A beta of its Android launcher is now out there, and you’ll strive it out if in case you have a appropriate system. Right here’s all the things you’ll want to know.
Is my cellphone appropriate with the Nothing launcher?
Nothing might need launched the beta of its Android launcher on the Google Play Retailer, however you received’t have the ability to obtain it on most units. The corporate has confirmed it solely works on the next telephones:
Samsung Galaxy S22
Samsung Galaxy S22+
Samsung Galaxy S22 Extremely
Samsung Galaxy S21
Samsung Galaxy S21+
Samsung Galaxy S21 Extremely
Google Pixel 6
Google Pixel 6 Professional
Google Pixel 5a
Google Pixel 5
Assist for OnePlus telephones is seemingly “coming quickly”. That is additionally prone to be restricted to current flagships although.
Tips on how to set up the Nothing Launcher
Making an attempt out the Nothing Launcher is simply so simple as switching to every other Android launcher. We’ve put in it on a Pixel 5 working Android 12, however the course of could be very related on Samsung telephones:
Open the Google Play Retailer and seek for ‘nothing launcher’ – or simply click on right here
Faucet the related outcome, then select ‘Set up’
As soon as put in, open Settings > Apps > Default apps > House app
Faucet on ‘Nothing Launcher’ to change
Head again to the house display and also you’ll see the Nothing Launcher is now working. When you’d favor the tutorial in video format, the primary 26 seconds of the clip under exhibits you the way it’s performed:
Watch easy methods to set up Nothing Launcher (Beta) and provides suggestions on Discord. pic.twitter.com/beq1W3G2vo
— Nothing (@nothing)
April 28, 2022
How to return to your individual launcher
Making an attempt the Nothing Launcher doesn’t commit you to something – fairly the alternative. It couldn’t be simpler to change again to your common launcher (or one thing else):
Open Settings once more and return to Apps > Default apps
Inside ‘Default dwelling app’, faucet in your common launcher – if you have not modified launchers earlier than, there ought to solely be one to select from
Head again to the house display and all the things will likely be restored to regular
What’s the Nothing Launcher like?
As Carl Pei teased when saying the Telephone (1), Nothing’s launcher seems fairly completely different to the normal Google or Samsung software program expertise.
The futuristic design features a new wallpaper together with a selection of three widgets, providing two kinds of clock (analogue or digital) and the climate, all within the distinct Nothing aesthetic.
There are additional wallpapers and ringtones out there too, although they are not packaged with the Launcher – you’ll be able to obtain them from a Dropbox folder.
As you’ll be able to see from the screenshots above, it is doable to extend the dimensions of app icons and folders on the house display. You may as well select a customized icon pack after downloading it from the Play Retailer – that is a function you will not discover on the Pixel launcher.
However the present iteration of the Nothing Launcher additionally has some notable shortcomings. Android 12’s ‘Materials You’ design is just utilized in some areas, and the launcher limits you to a single dwelling display – so you’ll be able to’t set extra apps on a second display to the suitable, and there’s no Google Uncover feed to the left.
Nothing is encouraging early adopters to submit suggestions through Discord. Hopefully the model that ships with the Telephone (1) this summer season could have extra options value speaking about.
