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Google is now selling stock Android editions of the Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One in addition to the Nexus 4, featuring Google’s software without the usual manufacturer customizations. You can get a more stock Android-like experience on your existing phone, too.
Most Android manufacturers take advantage of Android’s openness to replace the standard launcher and even other applications like the keyboard and calendar app. We’ll show you how to get the more Google-driven experience on your phone.
Replace Your Launcher
The “launcher” is the part of Android that handles your home screens and app drawer. Many manufacturers replace Android’s default launcher with their own. Unfortunately, they alsostrip Android’s standard launcher out of the phone so you can’t use it if you prefer it. Google doesn’t yet offer the stock Android launcher on Google Play, although they’ve recently been trying to make Android more modular, so Android’s launcher may be available from Google Play in the future.
While you can’t yet install Google’s official launcher, you can install third-party launchers. Some third-party launchers are very different, while others are very similar to Google’s stock Android launcher with only a few more configuration options. If you’re looking for one just like Android’s default launcher, install Nova Launcher. The standard version is free — the paid version just gets you some additional configuration features that aren’t found in Google’s default launcher, anyway.
