Yahoo! is officially launching its Aviate contextual Android launcher, which changes its appearance when you are at home, work or out elsewhere. Yahoo Aviate Launcher is not your typical launcher. Unlike GO, Nova, Apex and other similar launchers, Aviate automatically simplifies and intelligently organises your phone, only showing you the apps and information that you need, as you need them, throughout your day.
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KEY FEATURES:
- Simple, beautiful navigation – Transforms your phone into four, easy-to-navigate screens to make every interaction faster and more efficient.
- Adapts to you – Shows you different apps based on your current context and time of day.
- Stay organised – Automatically categorises your apps into Collections, based on function.
- App recommendations – Recommends apps based on what you have installed and the latest ratings on Google Play.
- Stay in touch – Contact your Favourite People with one swipe up instead of digging through your contacts.
- Customisation for simplicity – Edit the apps in your Collections, choose between two Themes, create Shortcuts, install Icon Packs, add Widgets and change your Home Image to make Aviate you own.
EVERYDAY USES:
- Wake up, and Aviate automatically shows you how long you’ve slept, the weather and news for the day.
- When at work, Aviate gives you easy access to all the apps you need to get your job done, plus intelligent calendar features like one-tap calling to conference calls, emailing to meeting attendees and more!
- While on the road, Aviate automatically gives you traffic conditions and directions home.
- Go to dinner, and Aviate automatically shows you photos, tips and restaurant reviews.
- Plug in your headphones, and Aviate shows you music apps and extra information about the artist/band you’re listening to, like recent Tweets, upcoming concerts and bios.
Aviate was bought by Yahoo! early this year for a reported $80m. Since then the software has been in a public beta test, available for download from Google Play. Purchasing Aviate was one part of a larger push towards mobile instigated by new chief executive Marissa Mayer in 2012 when she discovered that only 37 of the 12,000 employees were working in the area. Today that number stands at more than 500. Nokia launched a similar product to Aviate earlier this month, its Z launcher for Android. Like Aviate it attempts to learn which apps you want to access at certain times, changing the homescreen depending on what you are trying to do – text messaging a certain contact, for instance. It also allows you to launch apps by writing the first letter of its name on the screen with your fingertip.
