Google Now Launcher May Retire in a Few of Weeks

Based on previous similar updates that Google has made available for Android devices, it is certain that the latest beta version only comes to optimize performance, flawless functionalities as well as fix bugs and errors in the current version. According to Android Police, Google is sending out letters to OEM partners declaring that the Google Now Launcher will be retired in Q1 2017.

However, the same source also suggests Google is experimenting with a cheaper, lower-specified Pixel 2B that it hopes to launch at the same time or shortly after the Pixel 2 in emerging markets.

This news has been confirmed by Sascha Pruter, Google’s Android TV Director.

If you do have the Android 7.1.2 Nougat beta installed on your Nexus device, you can turn this new swipe feature on by heading to Settings Moves.

The Google Now Launcher, a launcher that runs on Nexus devices and is often one of the first we install on devices that feature awful skins (LG and Huawei’s phones come to mind), may be put to bed here in the coming weeks.

Do you use the Google Now Launcher?

Killing of its old launcher isn’t entirely unexpected, as the company built a new one for the Google Pixel. Still, it would be interesting to see a non-Google device shipping with this AI Assistant. This isn’t the only launcher from the tech giant, Google Now launcher has been featured on many Android smartphones since it was made generally available in 2014. Thankfully there are still plenty of alternatives in the Play Store (Nova Launcher is a powerful yet close-to-stock experience). That could mean using AOSP’s Launcher3, which now works with the Search Launcher Services library.

For the uninitiated, Open GApps is a popular Google Apps package.

Despite being one of the best smartphones launched past year, the Google Pixel lineup has been plagues by numerous issues ever since their release. The major update could mean an Android 7.1.3 or 7.2, we’re not sure.

The clarification comes days after Mobileaxs, a corporate dealer of Telus products and services sent an e-mail to people who had pre-ordered the Google Pixel XL through the carrier. However, apart from these devices, Assistant has not been made available to third-party developers.