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Yahoo buys contextual Android launcher Aviate

12

Aviate

Yahoo announced today that they have acquired Aviate, a popular replacement Android home screen launcher. Aviate is by far one of the most impressive launchers on the Google Play Store, mainly due to the app’s contextual nature. In fact, many users have called Aviate the Google Now of launchers, since Aviate provides you with the right applications and home screens at the right time.

Aviate tracks your usage patterns and automatically categorizes applications you use on your Android phone based on context such as WiFi, GPS, time of day, or accelerometer. Through this learning nature, Aviate automatically gives you a home screen and apps, called a space, that fits your needs whether that be at home in the morning, driving, at work, or at home in the evening.  The more you use Aviate, the better it gets, automating your Android experience.

Yahoo seems to be going strong in the mobile space in 2014, adding Aviate to their arsenal is a smart choice. Yahoo plans to continue improving the launcher, but hasn’t announced any integration with existing Yahoo services or apps.

If you signed up for the Aviate private beta, the below email might be sitting in your inbox. Have no fear. Thanks to the Yahoo acquisition, the first 25,000 people to use the code “YAHOO” can give Aviate a try.

Avite Invite

Download Aviate on the Google Play Store.

Source: Yahoo!

Derek Ross
I'm a passionate Android enthusiast that's on the pulse of the latest Android news, writing about Android as often as possible. I'm also a little addicted to social networking. Hit me up, I'd love to chat.

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12 Comments

  1. Not sure what the big deal about Aviate is. Tried it and other like/type launcher replacements and went back to stock/GEL. While “convenient” at times, they require a learning curve far more consuming than stock and doesn’t really speed anything up or decrease clicks/taps to get to apps.

    1. Same here. When I first got it, I liked the look a lot. Chalk it down to the freshness of something different. After using it for a while, I noticed some issues. It always put me in the greasy spoon downstairs instead of at work. When I was ‘going somewhere’, it eagerly wanted to ‘check me in’ to stores or restaurants. Moreover, it’s really just a limited homescreen with very little room for widgets and a list of ‘folders’ aka spaces organized by group (which I recreated when I went back to GEL). I will admit that I LOVED the app list organized as a ‘contact’ list with the letter slider.

      1. If you liked the app-list style app drawer you should try Nova Launcher. It’s very similar to GEL only with more customization options, one of which is turning the app drawer into a list with the aforementioned letter slider.

  2. it looks nice and all but with only one real home screen, there isn’t enough room for widgets. too bad it insists on being the default launcher, otherwise i might be willing to keep it as a secondary app. but considering even time you use it makes you choose a default launcher breaking you home button till you do

  3. Tried it… Not impressed
    I wish Yahoo the best of luck…

  4. Tried it; and quickly went back to Nova. Design Too restrictive.

  5. I wonder if this has something to do with Android’s former AOSP lead heading over to Yahoo.

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  7. This makes me sad… I really like Aviate

  8. I’m interested to see this pan out. Yahoo seems like it’s making alot of the right moves atm. I hope they get this luancher up and running faster. As I do use this luancher along with action side luancher and cover.

  9. I hope there will be more improvement coming. I like it as it is right now but I’m hoping for widget changes together with Spaces. That being said, I still prefer it more than any launcher out there :)

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