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Business News/ Technology / Apps/  Microsoft Launcher for Android updated with several improvements
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Microsoft Launcher for Android updated with several improvements

Microsoft has already made several changes to its official launcher app for Android since re-launching it last month. The latest update adds a few more changes

Microsoft has made a few design changes in the interface that would make searching and accessing apps a lot easier.Premium
Microsoft has made a few design changes in the interface that would make searching and accessing apps a lot easier.

After renaming the Arrow launcher for Android to Microsoft Launcher last month, Microsoft has been trying to revamp it with new features and design elements. The latest update (called version 4.3) is an attempt to make the app more user-friendly for all sorts of users and screen sizes. The new features are rolling out to Android users who have signed up for the app’s beta program on the Play Store, with a final version release expected for all users sometime in the next few weeks.

Simplifying things

Microsoft has made a few design changes in the interface that would make searching and accessing apps a lot easier. The search bar, which showed at the top and was difficult to access on big-screen phones, has been moved at the bottom of the interface right above the primary app dock. It is on the lines of the revamped Pixel UI in the new Pixel 2 smartphones, in which it’s placed under the primary app dock.

With the search tab now available at the bottom, users can type in the search bar without shifting the phone in the hand. The app drawer icon has been replaced with a swipe up gesture which feels more intuitive.

Migrate interface from previous launchers

Arranging app icons from scratch is a common problem that most users have to put up with while switching to a new launcher. The latest update to Microsoft Launcher provides users with the option to move their layout of apps on the home screen in exactly the same manner as it is in the default launcher on Android phones. It shows right at the beginning when setting up the new launcher. With the app drawer icon gone, now users can have five apps in the first line of the primary dock and up to 10 apps in total.

More customisation for users

The “Customisation" section has been renamed to “Personalisation" and new features have been added to it. Users get more options while customising app grids. They can have up to 12 columns and 12 rows of apps, which may come in handy on big-screen smartphones. Also dragging and dropping the apps icons on the home screen will not open the edit mode anymore. Users can also change the shape of the app folder icon on the home screen.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Abhijit Ahaskar
Abhijit writes on tech policy, gaming, security, AI, robotics, electronics and startups. He has been in the media industry for over 12 years.
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Published: 27 Nov 2017, 01:46 PM IST
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