Rita El Khoury has been utilizing the Niagara Launcher for approximately a year, and her experience has been overwhelmingly positive. The launcher’s emphasis on simplicity, the ability to group notifications, and the ease of changing app icons are just a few of its appealing features. However, one particular functionality has captured her attention, standing out as a core aspect of her daily usage. This feature is so elegantly designed that it deserves to be a standard inclusion on all Android devices, especially the Pixel series, which might entice her to revert to the default Pixel Launcher.
Connect and select
Regardless of the launcher in use, home screen space is always at a premium. El Khoury prioritizes placing frequently used apps front and center, aiming to avoid the hassle of searching through the app drawer. However, the limited space necessitates careful selection of which apps make the cut. Regularly accessed applications like YouTube Music, Spotify, and Balance (her meditation app) would ideally be easily accessible. Yet, these apps are typically used only when her phone is connected to Bluetooth devices, such as headphones or car speakers. This is where the brilliance of Niagara Launcher shines.
The launcher allows users to designate apps that appear on the home screen exclusively when connected to a Bluetooth device. This context-aware feature ensures that the relevant apps are visible precisely when needed, eliminating unnecessary clutter on the home screen at all other times. This functionality, available in the premium version known as Niagara Pro, is not only simple but also immensely valuable, making it a worthwhile upgrade for many users. Given that numerous individuals utilize specific apps solely when connected to Bluetooth, it stands to reason that this feature should be standardized across the Android ecosystem.
Is there anything like this out there?
Currently, this specific feature is not available on the Pixel or any other Android devices that El Khoury has tested. However, Samsung offers a somewhat similar capability through its Modes and Routines feature. Users can set up routines that trigger the opening of a designated app upon connecting to a specific Bluetooth device. While this automation is beneficial, it does not quite match the versatility offered by Niagara Launcher.
“Niagara doesn’t automatically launch a single app but shows me a list of relevant ones instead.”
The key distinction lies in the selection-based system of Niagara, which presents a list of relevant apps rather than launching one automatically. This flexibility is crucial, as users may not always require the same app in a given context. For instance, some may prefer a meditation app at one moment and a music streaming service at another. The ability to choose which app to open enhances the user experience significantly. While Pixels do feature a basic Rules function, it currently lacks the option to create routines based on Bluetooth connectivity. There is hope that this functionality will be introduced in the future.
The future of contextual app access
It is anticipated that many manufacturers, including Google, will adopt a routine setup similar to Samsung’s “if-then” protocol. This could allow users to configure their devices to open specific apps when connecting to Bluetooth devices, such as launching Spotify when headphones are connected. However, the likelihood of a multi-app selection pop-up appearing remains uncertain, and there is a desire for such an implementation.
While Samsung’s approach may suffice for users who rely on a single app with a specific Bluetooth device, it can be limiting for those who utilize multiple applications with the same device. For example, if a user employs various apps with their headphones, the restrictions of a single-app routine can become frustrating.
Would you like to see this Niagara Launcher feature on all Android phones?
As the conversation around contextual app access continues, the question remains: should the multi-app selection feature from Niagara Launcher become a standard on all Android devices, or is Samsung’s single-app routine adequate for users’ needs? The community is encouraged to share their thoughts and participate in the ongoing discussion.
