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How do you remove the search bar in 4.4?

Just seems stuck there.

It's part of the OS now, and it's not something you can really get rid of without using a custom ROM. I could be mistaken but I'm pretty sure it's there to stay on the "pure stock" Nexus 5.

If you change your launcher that will get rid of it. But then you loose "OK Google" listening functionality
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app

You've never been able to get rid of that on the stock launcher.
The only way is to download/buy a custom launcher like Nova or Apex. Doing so you lose the 'ok google' from the homescreen and slide to google now, and all 4.4 features like the transparency.
Nova and Apex i'm sure will add the 4.4 graphics but the other features most likely will never be added.

Nova has supported gestures for years. You would not lose slide to now. Nova also has transparency support build in though I can't say yet if it works on 4.4
Ok Google May be lost but that is not certain. If it is reliant on the launcher.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I'm amazed android still haven't implemented the gestures of nova, like swipe down for notification bar. On these large screens it's vital
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

With the source for KitKat being available, and with it being a Nexus device, i honestly wouldn't be surprised if we see an update come down the line at some point soon from Nova with support for a lot of KitKat's features, even quite possibly "Ok Google"

Since I don't use google now the swipe and voice functions are no loss to me. On the other hand I will never use their stock launcher until I can move the search bar out of the location where it is and put it where I have put it since android came out. Really torques me that its immovable, I mean how many ways do you need to open up google now on the same screen for christ sake?

reply for ur answer
adamsweeting said:
If you change your launcher that will get rid of it. But then you loose "OK Google" listening functionality
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no you will not lose ok google listening functionality...go to google...settings...voice...ok google detection...check on "from any screen". it will work from any screen as well as on any launcher

surajsahijwani said:
no you will not lose ok google listening functionality...go to google...settings...voice...ok google detection...check on "from any screen". it will work from any screen as well as on any launcher
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This thread was from a year ago.

Launcher working with google now?

Hi guys, I want to try an icon pack on my non-rooted, stock device, but I also want to use the 'OK Google' function.
Is there a launcher out there with Google Now enabled?
Thanks in advance.
Aaron

Only the Google Experience Launcher has that feature that I know of.

i saw a similar feature on either another launcher, or launcher mod/add on. let me see if i can track that back down.....

[Q] Blinkfeed vs Google Now Launcher

I'm not sure if this is the right place for this, but I was curious about peoples opinions/preferences between these two launchers?
I've been using Google Now Launcher on my Galaxy Nexus for a couple of months and really liked it. After grabbing my M8, I installed Google Now Launcher on it, but I hear a lot of praise for Blinkfeed on Sense 6.
While the concept of Blinkfeed is certainly interesting, the link summaries in my highlights are vague or non-existent. I'm also struggling to find a way to do Google Search voice triggers. Adding a Google Search bar doesn't seem to provide this functionality. Overall, Blinkfeed seems to be a poorly done Google Now with social media integration. Are there any fans of Blinkfeed that can help me improve my experience?

Zieen said:
I'm not sure if this is the right place for this, but I was curious about peoples opinions/preferences between these two launchers?
I've been using Google Now Launcher on my Galaxy Nexus for a couple of months and really liked it. After grabbing my M8, I installed Google Now Launcher on it, but I hear a lot of praise for Blinkfeed on Sense 6.
While the concept of Blinkfeed is certainly interesting, the link summaries in my highlights are vague or non-existent. I'm also struggling to find a way to do Google Search voice triggers. Adding a Google Search bar doesn't seem to provide this functionality. Overall, Blinkfeed seems to be a poorly done Google Now with social media integration. Are there any fans of Blinkfeed that can help me improve my experience?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried blinkfeed on my M7 for a few months until root came out. and switched to the google launcher.
I tried blinkfeed on the M8 for all of an hour before I switched to the Google Launcher again.
I'm in the same boat as you. I just wish I could get anything besides the HTC lock screen as I want pattern lock. But I don't want it to wipe my phone after 10 attempts.

I'm using Action Launcher but wanted to check out Blinkfeed. You can create a shortcut to Blinkfeed with Activity Launcher and use it like an app. Thought I'd give it a chance and still use my launcher of choice.
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk

breakerfall said:
I'm using Action Launcher but wanted to check out Blinkfeed. You can create a shortcut to Blinkfeed with Activity Launcher and use it like an app. Thought I'd give it a chance and still use my launcher of choice.
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
I hadn't considered that. I might just have to play with it that way. As an at a glance widget/page, I feel Google Now is far superior, but I'd like to play around with it and see if Blinkfeed is good for social media and the like.

I have enjoyed using Google Now launcher on my Rezound and my Nexus. I'm going with Blinkfeed and have moved the Google search as one of my five dock icons so I can get the equivalent at any time.

hgoldner said:
I have enjoyed using Google Now launcher on my Rezound and my Nexus. I'm going with Blinkfeed and have moved the Google search as one of my five dock icons so I can get the equivalent at any time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you know you can just swipe up from the bottom on any of the home screens and have google now anytime without using up your shortcuts on the bottom

If Sense supported custom gestures (I use swipe up to bring up the drawer, swipe down to see notifications, and double-tap to show the toggles) I would try it out. But I use those gestures ALL the time.

For those with Google Now Launcher, few questions(sorry for the sidetrack):
Is there more icons on the screen? I went to nova laucher for more rows of icons and no blinkfeed.
any issues with side loading?
where did you get the apk, (I can find one, I would like to have a know working version)?
Does the play store update the laucher after the install for updates?

lilshooter said:
you know you can just swipe up from the bottom on any of the home screens and have google now anytime without using up your shortcuts on the bottom
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, forgot about that; thanks for mentioning it. Ultimately, that's what I did, giving something else that precious 4th spot on the dock.

non transparent Nav bar on GNL
Hey guys. Did any of you getting this annoying semitransparent nav bar while having a Google now launcher on HTC M8 ?
I mean the original nav bar on BlinkFeed is completely transparent, also Google now launcher installed on any device so far (running KitKat) had a transparent nav bar ! What is wrong with GNL and HTC M8 ??
Check out this picks.
http://img.wonderhowto.com/img/original/10/74/63531824020426/0/635318240204261074.jpg
http://img.wonderhowto.com/img/original/76/19/63531824114441/0/635318241144417619.jpg

i brought a htc one m8 recently from ebay, since ive had it my launcher is defaulted to google now i cannot install sense, its really annoying and laggy ad freezes and ugh
currently gonna try viperone but not sure what to do, ive recovered restocked etc but nothing, the phoine was rooted but isnt any longer but super su is still installed ive had to disable it, im so confused.

viper one has screwed up my phone. help it wont power on just gets stuck on htc screen
using htc one m8

charchar4339 said:
viper one has screwed up my phone. help it wont power on just gets stuck on htc screen
using htc one m8
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I really don't think viperone is what screwed your phone up as I am running it and have installed and re-installed about 10 different times when checking out different ROM's.
It sounds like user error to me.
What was your install process ?
Did you do a checksum on the download before installing ?
Only one time did I have a faulty ROM and it was due to a bad download as I forgot to do a checksum on it.

Zieen said:
I'm not sure if this is the right place for this, but I was curious about peoples opinions/preferences between these two launchers?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
FWIW, I don't like either, I use Nova Launcher.

[Q] Moto G App Drawer (KK 4.4.3)

Hi, Today I boought a Moto G, and immediately upgraded and rooted it to Android 4.4.3. (Previously I'd been using a Galaxy S2 and a Xperia S)
The first thing I noticed is the changes in the app drawer, which I hate. I do not like that widgets and apps are mixed, I mean I liked the cycling thru apps in Jelly Bean, and having to select the widgets tab to cycle thru widgets.
Another thing I noticed is that the Moto G doesn't have an options button. While in the App drawer, all 3 buttons are redundant:
Left side button (Where options usually is) is now back, which takes you to the homescreen...
Middle button (Home) Takes you home .... -In Jelly bean you could long press to open recent apps-
Right side button - Opens recent apps
With that in mind you can tell that you're losing a lot of customizing options, for example, I used to click options and hide apps in Galaxy S2, or sort apps alphabetically, by use, recent install, etc...
I guess my questions is: Is there any way to get those features back using the stock launcher?
To sort apps customly, to separate widgets and make the app drawer cycle thru apps like it's supposed to?
I appreciate the help

I assume the launcher you are using is the stock launcher provided in Android.
If you want more options in the app drawer then it would be better to install another launcher.
My prefered launcher is Apex but I know that a lot of people are using Nova as well.
Both very smooth launcher with lots of options.

Mickeyvdb said:
I assume the launcher you are using is the stock launcher provided in Android.
If you want more options in the app drawer then it would be better to install another launcher.
My prefered launcher is Apex but I know that a lot of people are using Nova as well.
Both very smooth launcher with lots of options.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Mickey, thanks for your reply.
Yes, I was using stock launcher at the moment of the question, the question basically was if it was possible with stock launcher... I assumed it was not so I downloaded Nova Launcher, but it also doesn't have the option to customly organize apps, like dragging and dropping one before the other in the drawer. If I hold on an app it takes it to the home screen which is not what I want
Also with Nova I could only separate widgets from apps if I made the drawer scroll vertically, I want horizontal with multiple pages, but widgets on a different tab.
What custom launcher has the option to do these things?
Thank you again for your time

I think Solo Launcher has the features you require.
Sent from my XT1033 using XDA Free mobile app

Solo and Nova
I've tried both solo and Nova launcher but neither has the features I'm looking for, solo offers the option to sort apps but from presets like 'alphabetically, most used, recently used " but I want to sort them manually, I don't understand why I'm having so much trouble finding this option when on previous Android devices was as simple as drag and drop

Riki_RM said:
The first thing I noticed is the changes in the app drawer, which I hate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are no changes in the app drawer. The stock Google launcher has always worked this way. If your previous devices worked differently, then you were not using the Jellybean launcher, which looked and worked exactly the same way as you are describing.
Middle button (Home) Takes you home .... -In Jelly bean you could long press to open recent apps-
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, that was never possible with stock Jellybean. If it worked that way on your S2, it's either because you had installed a third-party launcher or because that is how Samsung's own launcher (is it still called Touchwiz?) worked. I have never used anything other than Nexus or Google Play Edition devices (as well as played around a bit with Cyanogen), so I couldn't say for sure.
I used to click options and hide apps in Galaxy S2, or sort apps alphabetically, by use, recent install, etc...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Those all must be Samsung "innovations."
I guess my questions is: Is there any way to get those features back using the stock launcher?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, because they were never in the stock launcher. You will have to try various other third-party launchers until you find one you like. I'm generally happy with the stock one, so I'm afraid I would be useless at recommendations.
Good luck,
-- Nathan

Riki_RM said:
I've tried both solo and Nova launcher but neither has the features I'm looking for, solo offers the option to sort apps but from presets like 'alphabetically, most used, recently used " but I want to sort them manually, I don't understand why I'm having so much trouble finding this option when on previous Android devices was as simple as drag and drop
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are looking for Nemus Launcher
Sent from my XT1032 using Tapatalk

Bug when using custom launchers

Is anyone else having issues using any custom launcher from the Google play store? For example, when Nova is installed and set as the launcher, when going home from an app the animation leads to a strange overlay with both the Nova and stock launcher on the display. I've attached a photo to illustrate the issue. It's worth mentioning that I'm on the latest stock China rom, nothing done to the phone at all.

I had the same issue. It was resolved after I did a reboot.

xreactx said:
I had the same issue. It was resolved after I did a reboot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here. Reboot fixes

Delete data/cache of miui launcher from app menù is better

You guys should try the pocophone launcher on play store. It works great

Pocophone launcher is nice... but it lacks the Google feed integration. Otherwise I would use it.

wbit said:
Pocophone launcher is nice... but it lacks the Google feed integration. Otherwise I would use it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Action launcher is good and has the Google feed, smooth and good customisation

Never had this issue on any Rom and I'm using nova launcher since I got the device.

xreactx said:
I had the same issue. It was resolved after I did a reboot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have never had that issue. However, using a custom launcher and trying to change the lock screen background doesn't seem to work on custom launchers unless you are using a theme. If you change the lock screen background though on the default launcher and then switch launchers, it does stick.