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Google Now Launcher beta adds landscape mode, normalized app icon sizes might come in the future

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By Victor Hristov

Published: Jan 15, 2016, 7:15 AM

Google Now Launcher beta adds landscape mode, normalized app icon sizes might come in the future

The Google Now Launcher is probably the best way to get the stock and contemporary Android look as Google itself sees it. With the latest update to a beta version of the app aimed at developers, the Google Now Launcher makes it possible to use your phone in landscape mode (which we find awesome). Keep in mind that this update targets Android 6.0 Marshmallow and later devices, so you will not be able to install it on 5.x phones.

Originally, Google published this latest version of the beta of Google Now Launcher with the useful option to normalize icon sizes, so there are no longer huge icons contrasting with much tinier ones. A few hours later, though, the company has removed this feature and our guess is that the feature has not been finalized to a sufficient degree. Hopefully, it will eventually make its way to a future update of the app.

An interesting question in itself is: why does the problem with different sized icons exist in the first place? The reason lies in third-party Android app developers that often don't follow the guidelines for icon sizes that Google provides, cheating their way to attention (usually) by picking larger icon sizes. Having the icon size normalization feature would definitely be useful in this regard.

Google Now launcher beta with landscape mode support, image courtesy of Android Police

So how do you get hold of this current Google Now Launcher beta? The version is not published on the Google Play Store, but you can easily sideload on your Android device. Make sure to only use trusted websites when sideloading Android APKs to avoid malware.

Download Google APK Version: 5.8.47.19 from APK Mirror (arm | arm64 version)

source: Android Police

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Victor, a seasoned mobile technology expert, has spent over a decade at PhoneArena, exploring the depths of mobile photography and reviewing hundreds of smartphones across Android and iOS ecosystems. His passion for technology, coupled with his extensive knowledge of smartphone cameras and battery life, has positioned him as a leading voice in the mobile tech industry.

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