While the users of Google Nexus and Pixel are already enjoying the Android O preview, other Android phone users are still waiting to have a taste of the next big thing in the Android world. However, while you wait, you can have a feel of the Android O experience by installing the Android O Pixel launcher for Marshmallow.
If you really want to try out the launcher, this post will guide you through on how to get the launcher and install it on your Non-Pixel Android phone.
How to Get Android O Pixel Launcher for Marshmallow
Before taking you through how to get the Pixel launcher for Marshmallow, I like to give credit to the brain behind this creation. All credits go to the ever brilliant guys at XDA forum, for porting the Pixel launcher.
The only requirement to get the Android O Pixel launcher is to ensure your phone currently runs on Android 6.0.1 or later. Also ensure that your phone is set to install applications from Unknown Source.
To ensure this, go to your Settings, then Security; under Device administration, tap on Unknown source. You may see a warning message – just tap on OK.
When that is set, follow this link to download the Android O Pixel launcher for Marshmallow. After downloading the APK, install and tap on your home button and make the Pixel launcher your default launcher.
The guy that ported the Pixel launcher for Marshmallow called it Backport, and the link above gets you the version 2, in which some of the bugs in the version 1 is fixed.
Cool Screenshots of The Pixel Launcher for Marshmallow
One interesting feature of the launcher is the new app shortcuts that arrive with the latest update of the Android O public beta. The app shortcuts help to access specific functions in installed app.
For example, instead of always having to start a chat app and find that favourite contact you chat with, you can easily create a shortcut to chatting with the contact. You can then put the shortcut on your home window or in a folder, where you can easily access it.
To create the app shortcuts in the Pixel launcher for Marshmallow, move the app you want to create a shortcut from to the home window. From the home window, long press on the app and contextual menus will pop up.
From the contextual menus, you can create the shortcuts and drag them to the home window or put them in a folder.
The only thing that hasn’t really work in this launcher is the Notification dots — this will only work if the Android O Operating System is the ROM on your phone.
If you don’t like the current wallpaper displayed on the launcher, you will be needing Google Wallpaper to change the launcher’s wallpaper. Head to PlayStore and download Google Wallpaper, which automatically gets you cool wallpapers from its online catalog.
Photo Credit: AndroidPit
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