The best thing about the Android OS is the variety of customization options present in it, even for someone who is not a tech geek. One such example is of the Nova Launcher which is a custom launcher for Android devices. Top-rated in the app store, the Nova Launcher is probably the most used third-party launcher amongst the tech crowd. Now, the app is coming with more good news. Just today, Google‘s Google Now API was integrated into the app and it has Android fanatics excited.
For those who don’t know, Google Now allows users to easily showcase their favorite updates. However, previously the Google Now API was only available on the Google Now Launcher that was powered by the company itself. There was a catch, though. Google placed a lot of restrictions on which third-party apps could utilize this feature. This meant that the Nova Launcher could not benefit from this API.
Finally, Google relaxed its policies towards integration of the Google Now API into third-party apps that were debuggable. However, Nova Launcher was not such an app and could not have the API integrated into itself straight-forwardly. To have the Google Now feature, Nova created a new debuggable app, titled as the Nova Google Companion. The new app is only downloadable in an APK version because the Play Store does not allow debuggable to be published due to their poor optimization and occasional glitches. The app works on any Android device than runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow or higher.
The paid version of Nova Launcher, Nova Launcher Prime, is not required to run the app nor is rooting the device necessary.
With the Nova Google Companion, users now have the Google Now API integrated into their Nova Launchers. With an easy swipe to the right, Nova users can now have their Google cards displayed.