Exploring Alternatives For Nova Launcher That Are TalkBack Friendly
I’ve been using Nova Launcher as my daily driver for years, but with the potential downfall of Nova Launcher with the loss of developer and support, I decided to stark exploring alternatives and started by revisiting launchers I knew were good in the past. I revisited Microsoft Launcher and Lawnchair to see how they stack up today from a Talkback perspective. Here’s what I found:
Nova Launcher
Why it’s still my favorite:
Mainly it boils down to extensive customisation and superior experience with with Talkback
- The app drawer memory feature is brilliant and when you open it, you’re right back where you left off instead of starting at the top every time
- Rich long-press menus with plenty of actions and consistent behavior
- Predictable Talkback navigation throughout the interface
- Comprehensive settings that let you fine-tune the experience
Microsoft Launcher
What works well:
- – Good customization options that respect Talkback navigation
- – The “at a glance” panel (accessed with a two-finger swipe right) provides quick access to news and widgets
- – Long-press menus offer more actions than Lawnchair
- – Generally consistent behavior that matches Talkback expectations
Where it falls short
- the presence of some focus issues when moving app icons around
- – Occasional unexpected Talkback behavior during customization tasks
Lawnchair Launcher
The e
- xperience Feels a little retro with elements like the floating “remove” button at the top center where Dragging icons to remove them works, but feels less streamlined than other methods and may seem foreign t some users as they will have to hunt spacially around on the screen for the remove button
- – Fewer settings compared to Nova and Microsoft
- – Limited long-press menu options
- – Less overall functionality for Talkback users who want extensive customization
I’m curious about other Talkback users’ experiences with these launchers. Specifically:
- – Is anyone running into the same issues such as the focus issues in MS
- – Has anyone found workarounds for the Microsoft Launcher focus issues?
- – Are there Lawnchair settings I might have missed that improve the Talkback experience?
- – What other launchers work well with screen readers?
What’s been your experience with Android launchers and Talkback? I’d love to hear your thoughts and any tips for getting the most out of these interfaces.
