Want the Nothing Phone 1? Try the Nothing Launcher first

You’ll be able to attempt NothingOS, the software program put in on the brand new Nothing Cellphone 1 at the moment, proper now, with out shopping for the telephone itself. Go to the Google Play Retailer and obtain the Nothing Launcher app, and offered your telephone is appropriate, you’ll get most of the NothingOS expertise in your present system.

However it’s not fairly the complete expertise, and it’s worthwhile understanding the place the variations are between the app and the telephone’s software program. Nonetheless, it’s an effective way to get the Nothing Cellphone 1 expertise in your system earlier than truly shopping for it for your self.

Nothing Launcher compatibility

When the Nothing Launcher app was launched it was solely appropriate with sure Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy smartphones, however in early Could this listing was dramatically expanded to incorporate virtually any Android telephone with Android 11 or later. Meaning in case your Android telephone is lower than a few years outdated, there’s a really robust probability it’s able to operating the Nothing Launcher.

The launcher remains to be listed as a beta app although, that means it could have bugs and different efficiency issues, so simply remember that in case you apply it to your on a regular basis telephone it could introduce some points. Though the Nothing Cellphone 1 has been launched, there isn’t a signal of Nothing updating the Launcher to a last model, so now we have examined model 1.0.2.

What you get with the Nothing Launcher

We’ve got been utilizing the Nothing Launcher on the Google Pixel 6, and are evaluating it right here with NothingOS 1.1.0 on the Nothing Cellphone 1. The launcher isn’t vastly personalized, and it doesn’t introduce any dramatically totally different apps or strategies of management, no matter which telephone you employ. It’s easy and follows Android 12’s Materials You design intently, so don’t count on a revolution.

As soon as Nothing Launcher is put in in your telephone, faucet and maintain the House Display to get three choices: House Settings, Customizations, and Widgets. We’ll begin with House Settings, which is the place you’ll be able to set the Nothing Launcher because the default in your telephone. In NothingOS you’ll be able to activate the bizarre double faucet to show off the display characteristic, and there’s the choice to take away the Google Search bar from the House Display, too. The Search bar is completely on the House Display within the Launcher app.

Transferring on to the Widgets menu, in case you scroll by the listing that seems, you’ll spot an possibility known as Nothing Launcher. Broaden it and you’ve got a selection of three totally different types of clock. In NothingOS on the Cellphone 1, nonetheless, there are 4 totally different decisions, together with an additional pixel-art type model seen in a whole lot of Nothing’s promotional materials. Nothing’s NFT widget can also be lacking from the Launcher.

Subsequent, return to the House Display and open Customization. Right here you’ll be able to choose the Nothing Icon Pack, which is activated by default within the launcher and NothingOS. You may as well change the app grid format and activate Wallpaper Scrolling. It’s primarily the identical throughout each units, other than a hyperlink to obtain extra wallpaper and ringtones within the Launcher. It’s value doing, as there are some wallpapers within the folder that aren’t included with the Cellphone 1. For those who don’t obtain the extra wallpapers, the Launcher app solely has one wallpaper possibility, (the bizarre pixelated hand) whereas there are 4 totally different wallpapers in NothingOS.

Staying on the House Display, put some apps in a folder collectively and lengthy press on it. You’ll spot an possibility named Enlarge. Faucet this and the small, single-icon folder turns into a big, round folder the place you’ll be able to see at-a-glance three bigger icons and 4 smaller icons all on the similar time. Lengthy press the folder once more and faucet the Decrease possibility for it to return to its outdated, small dimension. This works precisely the identical on the Nothing Launcher and NothingOS on the Nothing Cellphone 1.

What the launcher is lacking

Except for what’s talked about above, there’s not far more to the Nothing Launcher. What’s totally different on the Nothing Cellphone 1? Open the Settings menu on the Cellphone 1 and also you’ll discover the Glyph Interface menu, the Connect with Tesla experimental characteristic, plus widespread use of Nothing’s dot matrix font. Slide down the notification shade to the Fast Settings view on the Nothing Cellphone 1, and there are two round icons on the high of the display, the place the telephone’s connectivity standing is proven and could be shortly altered. This isn’t a part of the Launcher. The one further app discovered on the Nothing Cellphone 1, the visually uncommon Recorder app, just isn’t put in alongside the Nothing Launcher.

For apparent causes, you don’t get any of the Glyph Interface choices within the Nothing 54567rtLauncher, as your telephone received’t have the required {hardware} to make it work. It additionally doesn’t include any of the ringtones or vibration patterns that add a lot to the Nothing Cellphone 1’s mild present, though a number of the ringtones could be discovered within the folder linked to underneath the Customization menu within the Launcher.

As a result of NothingOS is intently aligned with Android 12’s design, it’s not an enormous departure for anybody utilizing a Pixel telephone, however it’ll be fairly totally different for anybody on a Xiaomi, Oppo, or different telephone with a closely personalized interface. It actually provides a superb impression of what NothingOS on the Nothing Cellphone 1 is like to make use of, together with its enviable flip of velocity and clear, bloat-free design.

(and restricted) preview of the Nothing Cellphone 1

For those who’re curious in regards to the Nothing Cellphone 1 and its software program, the Nothing Launcher provides you a superb, if primary, introduction to what it’s like. And whereas there’s undoubtedly extra to NothingOS than you see within the Launcher, you received’t discover lots of extra options, apps, or design components on the Nothing Cellphone 1. NothingOS isn’t like that. It’s a pleasingly easy Android interface, and that’s what makes it value making an attempt.

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