Android Launcher developers unite to urge Google for improvements and Chrome’s address bar switch set for final return

Top 3 Key Points:

1. Android launcher developers collaborate to push Google for better user experience due to ongoing issues.
2. A survey was launched to gather data, aimed at fixing bugs and improving third-party launcher compatibility.
3. Chrome for Android is likely to reintroduce the bottom address bar switch, ending user frustrations.

Third-party Android launchers like Nova, Lawnchair, and Niagara have long been popular for customizing home screens, but recently, their quality has suffered. Due to Android updates, users are facing issues such as lagging animations, gesture failures, and missing features like screenshots or RAM data. This degradation in performance has frustrated both users and developers.

In response, leading launcher developers are teaming up to address the situation. They’ve launched a survey to gather data on the various issues affecting launchers across different Android devices. The goal is to compile this information and present it to Google’s Android team at an event in October. Developers hope this feedback will prompt Google to take action and improve the overall launcher experience.

Smart Launcher shared the survey link on X (formerly Twitter), encouraging users to participate. The more feedback collected, the stronger the case for Google to address these issues. The survey covers basic information like Android version, device, and launcher type, aiming to give a clear picture of the problem.

At the same time, Google Chrome for Android is working on a feature that has been requested for years: moving the address bar to the bottom of the screen. Although this feature existed in the past, Google removed it several times, frustrating many users, especially those with larger phones. Recent code leaks in the Canary version of Chrome suggest that the bottom address bar may soon return, possibly for good.

This feature is already available on iOS, and its reintroduction could satisfy Android users who have been asking for it. While Google hasn’t confirmed an official release date, the change would improve one-handed usability, making the mobile browsing experience more user-friendly.

For now, both launcher developers and Chrome users are eagerly awaiting updates from Google. If the company listens, these changes could enhance both the customization and browsing experience on Android devices.