In a move that basically confirms the name change for the upcoming Google Pixel phones, the search engine giant has reportedly renamed the Google Nexus Launcher to a new Google Pixel Launcher.
The Nexus Launcher has been here for some time, but it only featured as a beta version. APK files of the launcher have even been availed to different people who have gone ahead to taste the waters. Now, a renowned HTC leaker who goes by the Twitter handle @LlabTooFeR has come in with fresh images of what he calls the Pixel Launcher. Surprisingly, the pictures show basically no difference between the two launchers, only that the leaker says it has a new name.
Given that there is really not much to gather about the Pixel Launcher other than the less-detailed images, it is not possible to confirm this rumor. Still, it appears that the new launcher is comfortable with handling landscape views, users can still search for apps directly from the app drawer and the sliding arrow that featured in the bottom third of the Nexus Launcher can still be accessible in the new Pixel Launcher, with the same functionality of allowing access to the app drawer. You will also notice the small Google toggle at the top that allows you to access Google Now instantly.
Speculations about Google’s shift from Nexus branding to Pixel branding for the upcoming smartphones started showing up about a week ago. But before that, it had also been rumored that the phones will be dropping the “Nexus” logo in favor of a “G” logo. However, this change of names from the Nexus Launcher to Pixel Launcher could just be what we needed to confirm that indeed the next phones from the search engine giant will be known as Google Pixel and Pixel XL.
The new Pixel Launcher comes with version number 7.1-3231428, another indicator that the Google Pixel phones could also come preinstalled with a new Android 7.1 Nougat, just as rumors have been pointing out. More leaks have also suggested that Google will go for the latest and fastest Snapdragon 821 SoC, making the phones the first in the U.S. to come out with the chipset. However, ASUS has recently unveiled its ZenFone 3 Deluxe variant that is powered by this same chipset.
