The site laboratory continues to study the most relevant applications for mobile solutions based on Android OS. Last month we finished reviewing the segment and summed up the corresponding results.

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In this article we will compare the shells of the leading (and, of course, competing) players in the mobile software market - Google and Yandex. The first entrant, Google Start, offers cutting-edge design, minimal features, and excellent performance. But the second, Yandex Launcher, is positioned as a simple solution that will be understandable to all users and contains many goodies.

The test equipment used was Xiaomi smartphone Redmi Note (Miui V7 on OS Android 4.4.2, Dalvik runtime, MediaTek MT6592 processor, 8 x 1700 MHz, Mali-450 MP4 video coprocessor, 700 MHz, 2 GB RAM) and Jinga Basco M500 3G smartphone (OC Android 5.1, runtime ART execution, MediaTek MT6580 processor, 4 x 1300 MHz, Mali-400 MP2 video coprocessor, 1 GB RAM).

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Google Start

Acquaintance

Simple, stylish and trouble-free - this is how you can characterize the free Google Start launcher. But this is in general, and to be more precise, what is this program? Let's take a closer look at it.

Key features of the Google Start launcher:

• Swipe right to open Google Now tips and get the information you need, where you need it, at the right time;
• Find information on any page of the home screen;
• Say "OK Google" to start voice search, send SMS, play music and more;
• Convenient search on the device and in Google Play in an alphabetical list with the ability to quickly scroll;
• The apps you are looking for are listed above the rest.

Beginning of work

Starting with OS Android 4.0, Google has been promoting a common interface for all its systems and gadgets, which is increasingly stylized and improved from version to version.

But not all device manufacturers agreed with this approach, for example, Samsung both “sculpted” TouchWiz into all of its devices, and “sculpts it.” And Google employees decided to post it in open access the same shell that was used on models of the Nexus line.

Appearance of Google Start on a smartphone with a five-inch screen.

Google Start, which is the name of the interface, offers a completely “stock” appearance. The home screen is represented by a classic, unchangeable grid of shortcuts, the size of which depends on the diagonal of the smartphone and its DPI.

There is a Google search bar at the top. The Google Now service application is responsible for its activity. If previously it was possible to remove it or not install it and the shell continued to function fully, with the exception of search, now the “launcher” is completely dependent on it.

By the way, if we make a “knight’s move,” or rather, swipe to the right on the main screen, then the aforementioned Google Now assistant will open.

In addition to shortcuts, graphic modules (widgets) can also be placed on the desktop. True, they do not scale.

It is also worth noting the presence of Google branded wallpapers. They are completely transferred from the latest current system, currently OS Android 6.0 Marshmallow.

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Menu with installed applications Google Start looks interesting. If at the most earlier versions systems, starting from 1.0, the menu was scrolled vertically, then by OS Android 2.2/2.3-4.0 the developers switched to horizontal scrolling.

Now Google is going back to basics and making a vertically scrollable menu. In addition, it adds a search bar and puts the four most used applications in the most prominent place - at the top of the list.

And this is what Google Start looks like on a tablet with a seven-inch screen.

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Settings

Google is true to itself, and there are no settings in the Google Start shell. However, craftsmen do not sleep. They took the application apart piece by piece and released the Xposed GEL Settings module application for the Xposed Framework. Thanks to this program, we can customize the grid of shortcuts on the desktop, increase/decrease the size of icons, fonts and many other parameters. This all depends on the version of the application and the specific device.

Don't forget that the Xposed Framework requires superuser rights to work. Additionally, we recommend making a general backup copy system, since the program changes important components systems that affect the performance of a mobile device.

Testing

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One of the disadvantages of the Google launcher, which concerns its performance, is the need for the Google Now assistant. This application is quite resource-intensive, creates additional load on the processor and RAM and increases battery consumption.

Programmers from Google have done something with the application and to activate it, a complete abandonment of the standard “launcher” is required. But on MIUI 7 and newer firmware this is basically impossible, since Chinese developers have completely redesigned the system in their own way.

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conclusions

Google Start is one of the best shells for Android devices. It is simple, stylish and relevant, since it is developed by Google employees. The shell can be installed and forgotten about for a long time, it does not cause any problems and does not cause any complaints, as if Google Start is present on all gadgets by default.

The product itself is completely free and contains no advertising. The same can be said about settings and functions. Google is Google, all applications are maximally simplified and unified for understanding by a large number of users.

However, the launcher also plays a significant role when using a smartphone. Nexus devices use the Google Start launcher as standard, which you can install on your device right now. Will the company change its launcher? If so, will the update be welcome for Android owners? We have answers to these questions.

Let's answer the first question right away. Will the company change its launcher? Yes, it will change. Information about the updated launcher was provided to us by colleagues from androidcentral who are 90% sure of its veracity. So let's take a closer look:

Above you can view gifs that perfectly convey the essence of the update. However, it is worth saying that this is not the final version. Knowing Google, you can't be sure that the final version of the launcher will be exactly like this. Regarding the changes themselves, they are truly significant. In the past, the company only changed the color of the icon that goes to the list of all applications, and also made the scrolling of this list vertical.

In a future update, Google employees have decided to completely abandon the icon for going to the list of all applications. However, this does not mean that users will receive another copy of iOS, no. The list of all applications will not go anywhere, and to call it you will only need to pull up the translucent card from the dock bar. At the top of the card there is the dock bar itself with application icons; as you raise the card with a list of all applications, the transparency is reduced to zero, and the dock bar applications disappear, giving way to search.

You can also raise the curtain with a list of all applications by clicking on the small arrow or swiping up from it. The list of all applications itself has not received any significant changes, however, we repeat, this may still change by the release.

There is a calendar widget on the main screen that cannot be moved or deleted. To the left of the widget there is a kind of bookmark with the letter “G”, clicking on which activates Google search. So far, swiping from the bookmark does not lead to anything, which is due to the dampness of the update. In addition, in the future Google should introduce Assistant and an updated Google Search.

And it will present all the “stuffing” of the updated software along with the new Nexus smartphones Sailfish and Marlin. In addition, we note that, most likely, the updated launcher will be available at the initial stage only to those who have purchased new Nexuses. Everyone else will have to wait, as was the case with the Nexus 5, the updated launcher of which was received by other Android owners only a few months later, including the owners of the Nexus 7 (2013) and Nexus 4.

Google Start is a proprietary launcher from Google for Android, which will allow you to try out the new graphical interface on Nexus devices. After installing it, the changes will affect only the desktop design; some additional functions and a slightly redesigned appearance of the icons. But, most importantly, you can quickly call Google Assistant Now with a simple swipe to the right from the main screen.

The design of the launcher is different from the bottom and top panels, which have become translucent and visually enlarge the active area of ​​the screen. Icons and folders have also changed somewhat, becoming larger and having a different background. The main menu as a whole remains the same, we can only note that the “Widgets” tab has disappeared. In general, the interface looks lighter and more stylish.

Application features

The interaction with desktops, wallpapers and widgets has been significantly changed. A new desktop will appear only when free space runs out. You cannot manually change the number of tables. The wallpaper is changed in a separate menu, which is called up by a long tap on the free area of ​​the screen. Here you can also see a menu for adding widgets.

In the settings section you will find only a few items: search options on the device, voice search, personal data, notifications and help. There is also a global “switch” responsible for the operation of Google Now. As you can see, the settings are quite limited and do not differ much from the standard ones.

Features of Google Start for Android:

• New “easy” interface;
• Quick access to Google Now;
• Resized icons;
• Voice control;
• Available for Nexus devices only.

There were a decent number of minuses. The launcher, by and large, does not change much the usual appearance of the desktop and essentially allows you to test the future interface. Unfortunately, for now only owners of devices from the Nexus line can try it out, and at the same time they require Android versions not lower than 4.4. Another significant drawback is poor work with widgets. In particular, most widgets are displayed with altered proportions without the ability to resize.

Bottom line

Google Start― an application for mobile devices based on the Android system, it changes the main desktop of your mobile phone and offers fast access to the famous Google Now service. By simply swiping one finger to the side (to the right) on the main screen of your device, you will find yourself in and its tips will be at your fingertips at the right time. Application Google Start available for all mobile devices with operating system Android system 4.1 and other later versions.

Receiving tips has become even easier, now you can launch Google Now directly from the home screen. You can activate voice commands by saying "Okay Google" and pronounce the desired one search query, you can also dictate SMS messages, indicate an address or the desired location to receive a specific route, you can even name the track you want to listen to at the moment.

Thanks to the optimized search system, you can easily find necessary information and most importantly very quickly. You will have very simple and convenient access to the most popular services Google, for example, such as YouTube, Gmail and Maps. The status bar and navigation bar are transparent but visible, even while you open the app drawer.

Quite convenient and clear interface and a huge selection beautiful wallpaper You can select any picture from your device's gallery or online storage, customize its location on the main screen, and preview how it will look before saving the settings. The application is completely Russified, so understanding all the options will not be difficult, even for new, inexperienced users. Earlier Google Start could work freely with anyone mobile device, but for this, the user still needed to download the APK file separately, but now, in the updated version of the application, there is no need to download anything.

Download Google Start launcher to yours, you can do it completely free on our website, which does not require registration or sending SMS messages. Thousands of users have already downloaded this application to their smartphones and are actively enjoying all its advantages. The only negative this application is that it only supports latest versions Android devices and does not work on earlier versions operating systems. Now all the most popular Google services will be at your fingertips at any time.