Instabridge has acquired Nova Launcher

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Privacy, Tracking, and Trust

  • Many commenters see the acquisition and the recent update adding Facebook/Google trackers as a clear red flag, contradicting claims of “minimal, purpose‑driven data collection” and “we do not sell personal data.”
  • Several note that companies often treat “anonymized” or third‑party‑collected data as “not personal,” so statements about not “selling personal data” are viewed as largely meaningless.
  • The prior owner (Branch/Branch Metrics) is described as an analytics/cohort‑tracking company; that history reinforces expectations of aggressive data collection rather than user‑centric development.
  • Instabridge’s existing Wi‑Fi app is criticized for dark patterns: incentivized 5‑star reviews, broken ToS/privacy links, attempts to change default launcher/browser, aggressive ads, and prompts to share home Wi‑Fi passwords.

Ads, Business Model, and “Here to Stay”

  • Nova’s own FAQ about “evaluating ad‑based options” for the free version, while keeping Prime ad‑free, is interpreted by many as confirmation that ad monetization is coming.
  • Phrases like “here to stay,” “immediate focus,” and vague future open‑source talk are widely read as corporate boilerplate preceding either enshittification or shutdown.
  • Timeline shared: acquisition by Branch (2022), mass layoffs leaving only the original dev (2024), then the dev leaving after being told to stop open‑sourcing (2025). This reinforces a narrative of a once‑beloved app being stripped for value.

Open Source vs Proprietary and Sustainability

  • Many argue this is another example that proprietary apps inevitably degrade once investors/metrics companies get involved; open source is framed as the only durable protection.
  • Others counter that open source still struggles with funding and burnout; there is no solved model that reliably sustains quality without monetization pressures.

Alternative Launchers and Use Cases

  • Popular replacements mentioned: Lawnchair, KISS, Kvaesitso, Niagara, Octopi, Smart Launcher, Olauncher, Microsoft Launcher, Square Home, Pear, Pie, and various OEM/Lineage launchers.
  • People value: removing the forced Google search bar/news feed, consistent behavior across phones, search‑centric UIs, tabbed app drawers, minimalist black/white designs, and fewer trackers.
  • Some report glitches with third‑party launchers on certain devices (e.g., Pixel 6, OnePlus 15), though others say these are now mostly resolved.

Do Launchers Still Matter?

  • A subset feels modern stock launchers are “good enough”; others say OEM launchers remain inflexible, push their ecosystems, and often include telemetry, making custom launchers still important.
  • Impact on related products like Sesame is raised but remains unclear.