Newsletter
One of the great things about Android is the number of customization options Google’s mobile operating system offers. Regardless of whether you’re an original equipment manufacturer, software developer, or an end user, Android allows for a lot of freedom when it comes to customizing the user experience of your device. Case in point – Android launchers. In addition to a whole lot of third-party launchers which are available on the Play Store, most OEMs also develop their proprietary graphical user interfaces (GUIs).
The Taiwanese HTC is no exception, and its HTC Sense Launcher has been relatively well-received among consumers. Of course, most proprietary Android GUIs aren’t available on competing devices, though a closed beta for HTC Sense 8 was recently introduced for phones that weren’t made by the Taiwan-based tech giant. Almost five months later, we’re still waiting for an official release of this launcher, but luckily, the Android community is here to help. Namely, one Ashutosh Sundresh recently took to XDA Developers boards to post an APK file of the HTC Sense 8 Launcher. The GUI should work on most modern Android devices and is installed just like any other APK file.
The said author points out that you have to make sure there are no other HTC apps or widgets installed on your phone before you try running the HTC Sense 8 APK, so as to avoid any potential glitches and general issues. The launcher is packed with the HTC Themes app which features a plethora of icon, wallpaper, and sound packs which you can access using a free HTC Account. Last but not least, BlinkFeed has been confirmed to run without any problems. While the APK has been specifically released for the Google Pixel XL, it can be installed on any phone running Android 4.4 KitKat and newer.
You can download the HTC Sense 8 Launcher for non-HTC devices by following the source link below. Of course, like any other unofficial version of a proprietary GUI, you’re doing this at your own risk. While the app seemingly isn’t infected with any malware, people who are more cautious regarding security might want to stay clear of it as a precaution. If you aren’t one of them, don’t forget you have to enable Unknown Sources in the Security menu of your device’s settings before you’re able to install this launcher.