After several years of beta testing, Niagara Launcher is now available for download in the Google Play Store. It is designed to replace the standard Android app uploader and home screen grid with a layout that is more easily accessible with one hand.
You select your favorite apps to pin on the home screen, and the rest is accessible under an alphabetical list on the right side of the screen, at an easy hit distance from your thumb. It is fast and very responsive; you can tap on the part of the alphabet you are aiming for, or swipe up and down to scroll through your list of programs.
With Niagara, you can also act quickly from the home screen by swiping across any app to compile a list of options, such as setting a new timer in the clock app or starting a session with Strava. Favorite apps will also show a preview of notification content on the home screen, and a swipe will expand it to show the full text without opening the app.
These basic features are available with the free version, but to further customize your home screen with additional widgets and display your battery life, you need to upgrade to the paid pro version, which costs $ 6 per year.
Niagara has a clever design, and it will come in really handy on a large phone. I would have also appreciated it during my bus trip in the Pre-Time-Alone bus, when I held on to the track with one hand all my life while looking at my email to the other. It’s also quite handy on a smaller phone to see your notifications better without having to open an app.
The free version does not contain ads, which is another plus. While the launcher does offer the basics, it’s a bit disappointing that it does not allow you to add something as simple as a weather widget without paying for the upgrade. Overall, though, Niagara offers a clean look and a unique solution for those with one-handed misery.