Nova Launcher Acquired; Introduces Ads
In a significant development for Android users, Swedish company Instabridge has acquired Nova Launcher from Branch Metrics. This acquisition raises questions about the future of the popular launcher and its monetization strategy.
Nova Launcher Acquisition Details
Nova Launcher, a favorite among Android enthusiasts, was previously owned by analytics firm Branch Metrics. Acquired in 2022, Branch Metrics retained Kevin Barry, the original developer, until he stepped away last year, signaling what many viewed as the end of the launcher. Despite this, Nova Launcher continued to receive sporadic updates.
Instabridge promises to preserve the essence of Nova Launcher and aims for responsible management. However, they are exploring new revenue streams, including ads for the free version of the launcher, while assuring that Nova Prime users will remain ad-free.
New Features and Updates
The latest update, Nova Launcher v8.2.4, introduces several changes, including:
- Integration of Facebook Ads and Google AdMob trackers.
- New advertising permissions, such as:
- ACCESS_ADSERVICES_AD_ID
- ACCESS_ADSERVICES_ATTRIBUTION
- ACCESS_ADSERVICES_TOPICS
- New strings indicating future ad possibilities.
Users have already reported the presence of ads in their app drawer, despite Instabridge’s reassurances about maintaining minimal data collection practices.
Nova Launcher’s Future Prospects
With the new ownership, the potential introduction of ads has sparked mixed feelings among users. Instabridge has expressed interest in transitioning Nova Launcher to an open-source platform but has not made any commitments. Furthermore, they assure that existing Nova Prime users will retain their features and benefits.
However, concerns linger about Instabridge’s reputation due to complaints regarding its primary app, which reportedly bombards users with ads. For Nova Launcher users, options now include:
- Accepting updates with the possibility of ads.
- Sticking with the previous version (v8.1.6) and disabling auto-updates.
- Sideloading the last stable release (v7.0.57).
- Switching to an alternative launcher entirely.
Only time will reveal how Instabridge’s ownership impacts Nova Launcher and its vast user base. Community feedback remains crucial as users ponder their next steps.
