Nokia Unveils 'Z Launcher' for Android 4.1 or Higher Devices

A Nokia division not owned by Microsoft on Thursday introduced a new Android launcher app called Z Launcher. The Z Launcher app is a limited pre-beta release right now, and is only available via the Z Launcher website, and not via Google Play.

The Nokia Z Launcher app is compatible with smartphones running Android 4.1 or higher, and is not optimised for Android tablets. At present, Nokia is testing the Z Launcher on the Google Nexus 5, Samsung Galaxy S III , Galaxy S4 , and Galaxy S5 . In order to download the launcher app, users will have to sign up with their Google account first. 

The Nokia Z Launcher is named after one of its key features that lets user write a letter in order to search for anything directly from the launcher screen. Nokia calls it 'Scribble', a feature that can search anything on the phone "in as little as one second." With Scribble, users just need to draw the first letter of the search and it finds the related app, contact or task.

When the Z Launcher will be installed, users will see the time, date and one upcoming calendar event at the top of the home screen. Just like other launchers, with a tap on time will open Android's clock app and tapping the calendar event will open the Calendar app. Other than that rest of the screen is acquired by few apps, contacts and web pages.

"We're releasing the first version of Z Launcher with a limited number of downloads initially, to see how it works and learn from your feedback. In the next few months we'll provide updates on new versions, features and availability", noted Brook Eaton, Lead Product Manager on Z Launcher's blog.

The Z Launcher app is an independent project by Nokia, free of Microsoft. The company is no longer a cellphone maker as it sold its devices and services business to Microsoft handset for EUR 5.44 billion.

Nvidia confirms Microsoft is working on Surface successor

In an interview with CNET , Nvidia
chief executive Jen-Hsun Huang
confirmed that the chipmaker is
working with Microsoft on the next
generation Surface.
Microsoft launched the Surface RT to
much fanfare. However, last month it
was forced to write down $900 million
of stock after demand for the tablet
failed to surface.

Despite the failure of the first
Surface RT to make a significant
impact on the market, Nvidia is still
optimistic Microsoft’s tablet does have
a future.
Huang criticised the limitations of
Windows RT, saying that Outlook would
have made his “life complete”.
Earlier this year, Microsoft confirmed
that it would be introducing Outlook
for Windows RT when the update for
Microsoft Windows 8.1 is released.
Pointing to that, Huang said that he
believes Surface RT now has its “killer
app”.
He then confirmed that Nvidia is
working with Microsoft on the second
generation Surface tablet.
“Now we’re going to bring it with the
second-generation Surface,” said
Huang. “We’re working really hard on
it, and we hope that it’s going to be a
big success.”
Previous reports have hinted that
Microsoft is working on a successor to
the its original Surface RT tablet.
Earlier this year, it was reported that
Microsoft is testing Qualcomm’s
Snapdragon 800 processor – the same
that powers the LG G2 .
The software maker is also believed to
be preparing a seven or eight inch
Surface tablet to compete with the
Nexus 7 and iPad mini.