Pixel Launcher Archives

AppWizard

May 22, 2025

Pixel Phones Get a Taste of Material 3 Expressive in Android 16 Beta

Google I/O 2025 has concluded, and the Android 16 QPR1 Beta has been launched, introducing the Material 3 Expressive design language. This update is the first Quarterly Platform Release following the stable Android 16 Beta program and is primarily aimed at developers and testers. It enhances user experience with a fresh visual design, which will also extend to Wear OS 6. Key features of the update include a redesigned user interface with increased space for widgets and apps, new system icons in the status bar, a colorful quick settings panel, expanded customization options, and enhanced controls for home and lock screens. The beta is available for various Pixel devices, including Pixel 6, 7, 8, and 9 series, as well as Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet.

AppWizard

May 20, 2025

Google tweaks the Pixel Launcher in Android 16 QPR1 to leave more space for your apps

Google has released the first beta build of Android 16 QPR 1 for Pixel devices, introducing Material 3 Expressive design changes. The At a Glance widget has been resized, allowing for an additional row on the home screen for app icons and widgets. Users receive a notification about the new layout upon installation. The lock screen has also seen a similar reduction in the widget size to support new lock screen widget features.

AppWizard

May 19, 2025

How to use Bluetooth audio sharing on a Google Pixel phone

Android 16 will introduce Auracast, allowing Google Pixel users with compatible devices to connect multiple Bluetooth headphones to a single Pixel phone for audio sharing. This feature can be accessed on Google Pixel 8 series or newer devices, and it relies on Auracast technology. Users can enable audio sharing through Developer Options, which is also available on Android 15 devices. Compatible earbuds or headphones must support Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) Audio, with examples including Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 and Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro and 3 Pro. To initiate audio sharing, users must access the Audio sharing page in the Settings app and follow specific steps to create a broadcast. The public debut of this feature is confirmed for Pixel phones with the release of Android 16, but the exact timeline is uncertain.

AppWizard

May 4, 2025

The 15 Hottest Android Apps You Need This May 2025

Android maintains its leading position in the mobile operating system market with a diverse ecosystem of applications. A selection of 15 notable Android apps for May 2025 includes: 1. Gesture Control: Edge Seek allows users to create customizable gestures for tasks like volume adjustments and app launches. 2. Device Mirroring: Screen Copy for Android enables users to mirror and control one Android device from another. 3. Customization: Everything Widgets offers over 100 customizable widgets, while Anting Icons provides a unified icon pack. Creative App combines widgets, wallpapers, and icon packs, and Fluffy KWGT features 3D-style widgets. 4. Cross-Device Integration: Sapphira syncs Android with Windows for messaging and file sharing, while Our Quick Share extends functionality for Mac and Linux users. 5. AI Tools: Adma is a free AI image upscaler that enhances image resolution offline. 6. Gaming and Entertainment: Swick is a platform for discovering and playing mini-games. 7. Lightweight Alternatives: Notebook is an ad-free alternative to the Facebook app with a minimalistic design. 8. Rooted Device Tools: Pixel Launcher Enhanced and Android 16 Expressive Theme provide advanced customization for rooted devices. 9. Productivity and Organization: Pixel Shot organizes screenshots, and Digipause tracks time spent on video apps. 10. Utility Tools: Curome combines over 25 features, including a QR code generator and Pomodoro timer. These apps enhance functionality, creativity, and efficiency for Android users.

AppWizard

May 1, 2025

Android 16’s UI redesign reportedly shows its face in massive leak

A recent leak reveals potential redesign features for Android 16, including a blurred and transparent notification panel, a revamped lock screen with a new font and repositioned date/temperature, and geometric app icon options in the Pixel Launcher. The volume sliders will change from a pill shape to a rectangular design, and there will be updates to the Settings menu with colored icons and a new horizontal battery icon format. Android 16 is expected to debut in Q2 2025, with more details likely to be revealed at Google's I/O 2025 event. The Android 16 Beta 4 update has reached "Platform Stability," indicating that final adjustments are being made before the official rollout.

AppWizard

April 18, 2025

Android 16 Beta 4 Arrives with AOD Theming, App Drawer Shortcut, and More

Google's Android 16 Beta 4 is being rolled out to Pixel 6 and newer devices, introducing enhancements aimed at improving user experience and security. Key updates include an enhanced Always on Display (AOD) feature with dynamic theming, the Themed icons toggle moving out of beta, a new Apps list shortcut in the Pixel launcher, and new options in the recent menu for Screenshot and Select. The Gesture Navigation page has been updated with a tutorial demo, and the Quick Settings Media Player artwork has been darkened. Some users have reported the removal of the Battery Health feature from the Battery Settings page, although it is still available on certain devices.

AppWizard

April 10, 2025

Microsoft’s overlooked Android launcher showed me everything Pixel Launcher is missing

Microsoft Launcher is an Android launcher developed by Microsoft, offering extensive customization options that surpass those of the default Pixel Launcher. It features up to ten customizable gesture options for enhanced usability, particularly for one-handed operation. The launcher includes a component called Your feed, which consists of Glance and News; Glance allows users to curate a personalized experience with scrollable cards from Microsoft apps, while the News section serves as a shortcut to MSN News but is criticized for excessive ads. Users can customize the home screen layout by removing or rearranging default widgets, and the app drawer has a spacious 5×8 grid layout with an alphabetical jump list. However, users may experience occasional animation glitches typical of third-party launchers on Pixel devices. Overall, Microsoft Launcher is considered a superior option for Pixel users seeking more features and customization.

AppWizard

April 5, 2025

How do you use Android app shortcuts?

App shortcuts were introduced with Android 7.1 in October 2016 and have seen user interface changes while retaining their functionality. They provide quick access to specific tasks within applications. Commonly used app shortcuts include Chrome's New Tab, Play Store's My apps, Gmail account shortcuts, Fitbit's Log Water, Files by Google: Downloads, Google Calendar: New task, Google Keep: New text note, Google Maps: Home and Work, and Pixel Camera: Take a selfie and Take a video. Users can access shortcuts by long-pressing application icons rather than cluttering their homescreen. Improvements suggested include the ability to hide unused shortcuts, a more compact presentation, and a layout without text labels for easier one-handed use. There are currently limitations on the number of shortcuts per app, and some users find the long-press action on Pixel Launcher and Samsung’s One UI distracting.

AppWizard

March 17, 2025

Hands-on: Google will soon let you customize icon shapes on your Pixel’s home screen

The Pixel Launcher will soon allow users to customize the shape of their app icons, introducing six distinct shapes, including a traditional circle. This feature aims to enhance personalization options, which have been limited in the stock launcher compared to third-party alternatives. The capability for icon shape customization was previously available in Android 11 but was removed. Initial hints of this feature appeared in November, and it has been activated in the third beta of Android 16. The customization process applies a mask to all app icons on the home screen, app drawer, and folders, but does not affect their appearance in other contexts. The six available icon shapes are: “circle,” “square,” “four-sided cookie,” “seven-sided cookie,” “arch,” and “complex clover.” This feature is part of ongoing development for the Pixel wallpaper app, which has been in progress since August of the previous year.

AppWizard

February 23, 2025

These apps aren’t on the Play Store, but I always sideload them on my Pixel

Google Pixel users are increasingly sideloading applications from third-party repositories, enhancing their devices' functionality. The Smartspacer app improves the At a Glance widget by integrating with third-party apps and Google services, offering advanced control and enhancing the Always-On Display. Smartspacer is available on GitHub, along with various plugins. Obtanium helps users manage and update sideloaded apps, providing a centralized hub for tracking updates, and is accessible on GitHub and F-Droid. Breezy Weather is a highly regarded weather app that offers customizable features and integrates well with Pixel's design, available on F-Droid and GitHub, and can also be updated using Obtanium.