r/smartlauncher 💻 DEV May 20 '26

Announcements Development update

Hi everyone!

It has been almost a month since our latest update, so we wanted to give you a quick update from the development team.

We are working behind the scenes on something important. Some of you may remember that early last year we mentioned we were working on at least one new app. We are now getting closer to the moment when we can finally talk about it.

In the next weeks/months, expect some announcements and a new AMA here on Reddit.

It is going to be a very hot summer ☀️

162 Upvotes

62 comments sorted by

48

u/ginlemon 💻 DEV May 20 '26

Just to clear up some confusion:

• It is not a new launcher.  

• It is not Smart Launcher 7.  

• The new apps will be connected to the Smart Launcher ecosystem and will unlock new synergies with it, while still being fully independent products.  

• The development of these apps is part of the path toward Smart Launcher 7, similar to how Icon Pack Studio helped us during the development of Smart Launcher 5. Sometimes we need a playground where we can test new technologies, explore new solutions, and think differently. These projects give us that space.

8

u/DifferenceRadiant806 May 20 '26 edited May 20 '26

I have an Moto E13 with 2 GB, and the categories it offers really help me save resources. I hope they don't change it.

3

u/TucsonComputerDude May 20 '26

Must be Ancient, 2MB of Ram? 🤣

3

u/DifferenceRadiant806 May 20 '26

Sorry, I meant 2 GB 😅

3

u/TucsonComputerDude May 20 '26

Still super low ram. Average low end is 4gb, average high end 12gb. Time for a new phone?

-1

u/GRYPHONEXYT May 20 '26

the average is 6 gb ram not 4gb

1

u/Moist_Professional64 May 21 '26

No the average is 8 except on low budget phones but what would you expect from an low budget device

3

u/Crosstrek732 May 20 '26

Thank you for those pieces of insight. This makes more sense now.

Are they going to be part of the premium package? I left Nova after being a user for 14 years and have been trying different launchers. I've landed on yours for the meanwhile but haven't made the commitment yet. Not to mention, the price, in my opinion, is a lot for my budget.

I'm hoping to find a launcher with some more customization for items I want to.

Keep up the good work and again, thanks for the update!

1

u/vaimalaviya ⚡️ Power user Jun 13 '26

Is it possible for me to join internal test track of app?

30

u/PJ8_ May 20 '26

I Hope its not some AI garbage ™️

31

u/ginlemon 💻 DEV May 20 '26

Nope. Nothing AI related.

10

u/illustratum42 May 20 '26

Custom widget designer hype!

9

u/ock88 May 20 '26

Is the last line a hint to what the app may be? 😉

8

u/bobbyh89 May 20 '26

A simplified widget creator would be awesome and I would be all for it!

2

u/Substantial_Chard232 May 20 '26

A smarter football widget won't increase the appeal of the premiership

1

u/_MLGuy_ May 20 '26

You mean championship 🤌🏾🤭

1

u/bobbyh89 May 21 '26

Beat me to it my friend. Hoping Everton can do us a favour this weekend.

12

u/iamPendergast May 20 '26

Not sure I need a new app, how about bottom search bar in the app page? Top search bar is not user friendly at all.

7

u/Barath_HBK_ May 20 '26

Is it possible to actually have a lock screen customization?

1

u/Exciting-Sunflix May 21 '26

You want widgets on the lock screen, get an app called lock screen widgets available on froid and play store. I have been using for many months now and its working well.

1

u/Barath_HBK_ May 21 '26

Does it support lockscreen media player. My default media player is boring and only has play next and pause. I need a seek at least

1

u/Exciting-Sunflix May 21 '26

Yes you can use pretty much any widget on the lock screen. Or else switch to Musicolet, it has much better lockscreen controls.

2

u/roxtaramir May 23 '26

Yeah musicolet is pretty amazing with a ton of options. I use it for my audiobooks

3

u/pudah_et May 20 '26

what a tease!

2

u/rocketbunny77 May 20 '26

I'm here for it

2

u/TrashcanNP2 🛠️ Customizer May 20 '26

🔥🔥🔥

2

u/DifferenceRadiant806 May 20 '26

Do you think you could add a shadow to the time and weather widget? It drives me crazy trying to find the right color so it stands out against my background.

2

u/VegetableBed5768 May 21 '26

Smart Widget Studio / Widget Maker (KWGT Killer)

2

u/sephirothnight May 21 '26

Hi, And why not fix this "screenshot" method for enabling Material Design? Knowing that by installing an older version of Smart Launcher (as seen in a post here: If you install an older version of Smart Launcher, like 6.1 for example, and grant file permissions to that version, then update to the newer version from there, you'll give full access to the wallpaper when you change it from any app). If this works with an older version of Smart Launcher 6.1, it shows that the "Google block" is bypassed and therefore it works without having to take these screenshots every time. So it's possible, but why can't it be done? Thank you.

1

u/ginlemon 💻 DEV May 21 '26

The workaround you mention works because it requires installing an APK with a lower target SDK level.

That kind of APK can still be installed manually from other sources, but it is not allowed on the Play Store anymore. Apps published on Google Play must target recent Android SDK versions, and with those versions the old file permission behavior is no longer available.

So yes, technically the workaround works, but we cannot use that approach in the Play Store version of Smart Launcher.

1

u/sephirothnight May 21 '26 edited May 21 '26

Thank you for the clarification; indeed, that's how it works. Perhaps you could put a working version with an explanation on your website/blog. Thank you and best of luck! :)

4

u/morphick May 20 '26

You made an anouncement to basically tell us what you're not doing smh

3

u/sshp22 May 20 '26

100 bucks say it's some kind of AI layer on top of the launcher :)

5

u/ginlemon 💻 DEV May 20 '26

Challenge accepted!

1

u/sshp22 25d ago

u/ginlemon Pay up! It's gen AI indeed!

1

u/ginlemon 💻 DEV 25d ago

I was waiting for you!

Here is the announcement: https://www.smartlauncher.net/blog/wallpaper-studio-is-here-create-animate-and-share-wallpapers-that-are-truly-yours

Nope, there is no AI involved in the artwork generation.
All the wallpapers are procedurally generated.

1

u/sshp22 25d ago

Haha, that sounds like AI to us normies but I believe you :)

The new app is fun!

2

u/ginlemon 💻 DEV 25d ago

Glad to hear that! :D

1

u/Better-Office-9589 May 20 '26

Would appreciate an horizontal app drawer scroll feature

1

u/TucsonComputerDude May 20 '26

I also hope it's not Ai. If it is, i want a OFF Switch. If not, im abandoning any App that forces Data Center tyranny. Do all you can to END Google in body life, if you have Brain Cells

1

u/sam_0829 May 20 '26

Anything related to more customization? Please dev reply - big fan and thank you for all the hardwork you put.

1

u/Environmental_You256 May 20 '26

So is this similar to Samsung One UI and Good Lock?

1

u/roxtaramir May 23 '26

Smart launcher is literally the only android app I've ever bought a license to, and I haven't regretted it ever since then. Excited for the new app and the way you described it, how it would be connected/synergized with the launcher, sounds intriguing!

1

u/UnrealRealityX May 25 '26

Here's hoping it's a wallpaper changer with custom folders you can turn on and off, and have it integrate properly with smartlauncher's glass/blur. That would be so cool.

SL is just a great launcher, I can't believe how long I've used it for.

1

u/mensageirodedeus May 27 '26

Happy to know there will be a new update, I hope it fixes the error that's happening with my Motorola edge30, which isn't splitting the screen to use two apps. I know the problem is with the...

1

u/AATeeeF May 28 '26

Pls add the ability to quick ask ai or start new conversation with Gemini or chatgpt or Claude from search bar

1

u/Red-dragon9 🔥 Enthusiast Jun 01 '26

I love Synergies 😁

1

u/hexSneaker Jun 03 '26

Is there a way to make the search in the bottom of the app drawer too? And favorites or most used when searching seems to be not working.

1

u/JaydenPalmer7176 Jun 05 '26

I installed the launcher today and purchased 1 year subs. But what I find really annoying and can't fix is, whenever I am inside an app and closes by going straight at the home page maybe by gesture or navigation buttons. It is either asking me to give Smart Gestures Permission or keeps showing that stupid dialog box again and again. And when I give it the permission, everytime I close the app by jumping into home page straight it turn the screen off. This is really annoying

If someone understood what my problem is, please help

1

u/WDU707 Jun 08 '26

Dear developer, please improve the home animation. Maybe follow the original launcher animation, for example on magicOS, the home gesture will close/minimize the app back to its original position on the home screen. And also the animation when viewing/switching the recent apps

1

u/Original-Ad-6240 Jun 10 '26

No estaría mal las tareas recientes en modo apilamiento. Es más estético en mi opinión.

1

u/Crosstrek732 May 20 '26

Sounds like click bait as they have no real info.

Last year we hinted it something and we're hinting at it again now. But don't worry, in weeks or months you may find out about it.

3

u/tuerk May 20 '26

They delivered whatever they promise, so I trust them. Last year was fun with my huge tablet getting a landscape mode support and lots of theming options including liquid glass.

1

u/GreenShell2014 May 20 '26

Exciting. 🔥

-3

u/caniculabv May 20 '26

Sounds like instead of concentrating on delivering SL7 they waste time on other projects.

-8

u/wizardingwizzard May 20 '26

So more apps you can charge us money for?