Microsoft beta launches their own Android launcher

Microsoft is beta testing a new Launcher app for Android, an application that will completely take over your Android home screen and provide a new way to navigate through apps and contacts.

Android smartphone users who want to join Arrow Launcher’s beta testing group can submit their request on the app’s Google+ beta community for a chance to get an invitation to test the app, or barring that, opt to download the APK file from OneDrive Live.

Overall, Microsoft’s Arrow Launcher looks very much like the Android M’s Google Now launcher, but since this is a beta, we expect more features to be added in the coming months. You can not add or remove these pages. the The People page is where you will see your contacts as well as email accounts.

According to GSM Arena the app is called “Arrow” and offers three different homescreen options. It even replaces the stock app icons for Phone and Messages which launchers usually don’t modify.

Arrow Launcher has a Notes & Reminders page that appears with a right swipe, featuring a to-do checklist where users can type in reminders or a list of things to accomplish, and check a box once each task is completed. This includes the Recent section and the Frequent section. To the left, you’ll find your frequent contacts, as well as a shortcut for the dialer. It is similar to a note-taking app and the blog states that most custom Android Launchers don’t include this feature. The Arrow Launcher also comes with the usual dock where you can access the apps you use the most and swiping app reveals the settings, feedback and wallpaper pages, the latter with which you can choose the daily Bing wallpaper as your default. However, the firm is simply looking to aid users in accessing apps and functionality more easily.