Yandex Launcher

Yandex Launcher, running on a Huawei Y6 before its discontinuation in 2022

Developer(s)| Yandex
Initial release| October 6, 2015; 10 years ago (2015-10-06)
Final release|

2.4.0[1] / August 1, 2022; 3 years ago (2022-08-01)

Operating system| Android 5.0+[2]
Available in| Multiple languages
Type| Operating system shell
License| Freeware[3]
Website| yandexlauncher.com

Yandex Launcher (Russian: Я́ндекс.Ло́нчер) was a free GUI for organizing the workspace on Android smartphones.[4][5]

## Contents

* 1 Functionality
* 2 History
* 3 Technology
* 4 Monetization
* 5 Management
* 6 Criticism
* 7 References

## Functionality

According to The Next Web, one of the main distinguishing features of Yandex Launcher is the built-in recommendation service.[6] Machine learning technology provides the basis of the recommendation service,[7] with which Launcher selects apps, games, videos and other forms of content that might interest the user.[8][9] The key elements of Launcher are the content feed of personal recommendations by Yandex Zen, as well as a system of recommended apps; both elements are built into Launcher and analyze the user's favorite websites and other aspects of their behavior with the aim of creating a unique model of the user's preferences.[10][11][12]

Other features of Launcher are: themes for the interface,[6] wallpaper collections,[13] fast search of contacts, apps and sites,[13][4][14] search by app icon color,[4][15] "smart" folders and widgets,[13] built-in notifications on icons, screen manager, a visual editor grid for icons, etc.

## History

In 2009, SPB Software published the SPB Mobile Shell application. The application won several accolades.[16]

In 2011, SPB Software was purchased by Yandex.[17] Through this, Yandex acquired the rights to the company's products, including SPB Shell 3D (a paid application).[18]

After the purchase by Yandex, the shell has become "Yandex.Shell".[19] The company's services were built into it, and it was distributed for free for users from Russia and other countries.[20]

In 2014, Yandex released a modified Android firmware, which was given the name Yandex.Kit.[21][22] The firmware was tightly integrated with Yandex services.[22] One of the standard apps supplied with the firmware was the launcher that was based on Yandex.Shell.[22] Yandex.Kit was preinstalled, in particular, on Huawei smartphones.[22]

On October 6, 2015, the Yandex Launcher GUI was released.[6][23] Despite the fact that the developers of Yandex.Shell and Yandex.Kit[24] took part in the creation of Launcher, these projects have little in common. Unlike Launcher, Kit was focused on enterprise applications and was not distributed through Google Play.[22] Shell had a different monetization scheme and different geographical distribution.[25][26]

On October 8, 2015, Google Play accidentally blocked Yandex Launcher. A few hours later Launcher was unblocked.[27]

After its launch, the app was available only to users from Latin America,[2][4][28] later it was unlocked for users from the EU, United States, Russia and other countries.[6] On December 14, 2015, the app was made available without geographical limitations.[2][29]

In October 2016, Yandex offered the pre-installation of their apps (including Yandex Launcher) to retailers and manufacturers of Android smartphones.[30][31] Participating in this program was MTS (Russia), Multilaser (Brazil), ZTE (China), Wileyfox (United Kingdom), Posh Mobile and others.[32]

At the start of 2016, the service's foreign audience was three times bigger than the Russian audience.[33]

Somewhere in 2023–2024, Yandex Launcher was discontinued, due to Yandex seeing the launcher is "no longer in demand".[34] The first archive of its support site with the warning banner of discontinuation was on February 10, 2024.[35]

## Technology

To generate personal recommendations, Yandex Launcher uses artificial intelligence technology.[24][36] The system analyzes which of the recommended apps the user has installed or ignored. Based on this information, the system predicts what apps users might be interested in at a later time.[7] The more a user interacts with Launcher, the more accurate the recommendations become.[37] Recommendations also depend on the user's place of residence, their interests and other factors.[37][38]

Launcher is one of the "Discovery" products of Yandex.[39][40] Yandex Zen, which is part of Launcher, belongs to the same product category.[41]

Several design elements of Launcher are generated algorithmically. In particular, the color of app information cards are selected automatically based on the color scale of app icons.[42][43]

The user can select one of the three search engines to use within the Launcher (Yandex, Google or Bing).[44]

## Monetization

Monetization of Launcher is due to the built-in recommendation services. Native advertising is displayed inside the Yandex Zen content feed. Most recommendations in the app recommendation service are selected without taking into account the commercial component, but if a user installs one of the commercial recommendations, then the corresponding ad network pays a commissions to Yandex.[6][25]

According to data from Q2 2016, the experimental business activities of Yandex (which includes Yandex Launcher and Yandex Zen built into it, along with a number of other company products) brought in 153 million rubles in revenue.[45][46]

## Management

The head of the service is Fyodor Yezhov.[47][48][49] Prior to this, Yezhov worked at SPB Software and SPB TV.[33][50]

Earlier, the project was headed by Dmitry Polishchuk.[33][51]

## Criticism

Yandex Launcher has been criticized for the lack of options for fine-tuning the app. In particular, it is not possible to hide icon names.[6][52][53] Launcher has also been criticized for the small variety of wallpapers in the online collection.[13]

## References

1. ↑ "Launcher - Android Apps on Google Play". https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.yandex.launcher.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "В "Яндекс" запускают приложение Yandex Launcher для Android". http://www.vladtime.ru/internet/460376.
3. ↑ "Яндекс выпустил Yandex Launcher для Android". http://www.ferra.ru/ru/apps/news/2015/12/14/Yandex-Launcher-Android/.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Подборка: главные приложения октября / Статьи / Вести.Hi-tech". http://hitech.vesti.ru/news/view/id/7967.
5. ↑ "Яндекс выпустил Лончер для Android.". October 7, 2015. https://www.computerra.ru/195955/yandeks-vyipustil-loncher-dlya-android/.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Degeler, Andrii (6 October 2015). "Yandex continues its push onto Android with a Launcher for low-end smartphones". https://thenextweb.com/apps/2015/10/06/yandex-releases-launcher-low-end-android-smartphones/#gref.
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 ""Яндекс" выпустил собственную оболочку для Android-смартфонов - Yandex Launcher - ITC.ua". 7 October 2015. http://itc.ua/news/yandeks-vyipustila-sobstvennuyu-obolochku-dlya-android-smartfonov-yandex-launcher/.
8. ↑ Геращенко, Екатерина; Рожков, Роман (10 July 2015). "Яндекс". http://www.kommersant.ru/doc/2826518.
9. ↑ "Stocks in the Spotlight: Endeavour Silver Corp. (EXK), Baker Hughes Incorporated (BHI), Yandex N.V. (YNDX) – istreetwire". http://istreetwire.com/2016/07/15/stocks-in-the-spotlight-endeavour-silver-corp-exk-baker-hughes-incorporated-bhi-yandex-n-v-yndx/.
10. ↑ "Personal recommendations Zen earned in Yandex.Browser on iPad - ActualApple.com". http://actualapple.com/personal-recommendations-zen-earned-in-yandex-browser-on-ipad.
11. ↑ Lunden, Ingrid. "Yandex woos smartphone makers with AI, browser and launcher partnership programs - TechCrunch". https://techcrunch.com/2016/10/12/yandex-woos-smartphone-makers-with-ai-browser-and-launcher-partnership-programs/.
12. ↑ "Как включить Яндекс Дзен на компьютере в браузере". 13 September 2016. http://sdelaicomp.ru/nastrojka-sistemy/kak-vklyuchit-yandeks-dzen-na-kompyutere-v-brauzere.html.
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 "Выбираем оболочку для android-устройств: Google Start и Yandex Launcher". https://www.overclockers.ru/lab/77420_2/vybiraem-obolochku-dlya-android-ustrojstv-google-start-i-yandex-launcher.html.
14. ↑ "Яндекс выпустил фирменный "лончер" для Android-смартфонов". http://www.3dnews.ru/925180.
15. ↑ "Yandex Launcher é aposta russa para lançador de apps no Android; conheça". http://www.techtudo.com.br/noticias/noticia/2015/10/yandex-launcher-e-aposta-russa-para-lancador-de-apps-no-android-conheca.html.
16. ↑ "Reviews & Awards » SPB Mobile Shell » Pocket PC Software » SPB Software". http://www.spb.com/pocketpc-software/mobileshell/reviews.html.
17. ↑ "Компания Яндекс — Главные новости". https://yandex.ru/company/press_releases/2011/1128/index.xml.
18. ↑ ""Яндекс" выпустил бесплатную версию оболочки Shell". http://lenta.ru/news/2012/02/09/shell/.
19. ↑ Smith, Chris (20 February 2014). "How one company is trying to push Google out of Android". https://bgr.com/2014/02/20/yandex-forked-android-experience/.
20. ↑ "Приложения в Google Play – Яндекс.Shell". https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ru.yandex.shell&hl=ru.
21. ↑ ""Яндекс" выпустил собственную Android-прошивку". 19 February 2014. https://vc.ru/p/yandex-kit.
22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 22.4 ""Яндекс" выпустил прошивку для Android смартфонов "Yandex.Kit"". http://ilenta.com/news/news_2186.html.
23. ↑ "Новый лаунчер от компании Яндекс — android.mobile-review.com". http://android.mobile-review.com/market/40608/.
24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 ""Яндекс" выпустил оболочку для Android-смартфонов "Яндекс.Лончер" с новой системой монетизации". 14 December 2015. https://vc.ru/n/ya-launcher.
25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 ""Яндекс" выпустил оболочку для Android - IKSMEDIA.RU". http://www.iksmedia.ru/news/5266072-Yandeks-vypustil-obolochku-dlya-And.html.
26. ↑ ""Яндекс" выпустил оболочку для Android". http://www.cnews.ru/news/top/2015-12-14_yandeks_vypustil_novyj_loncher_dlya_android.
27. ↑ "Google Play ошибочно заблокировал латиноамериканский Yandex Launcher → Roem.ru". 11 October 2015. https://roem.ru/11-10-2015/209868/launcher-has-left-the-internet/.
28. ↑ "Yandex chega ao Brasil com launcher - Notícias - Baguete". http://www.baguete.com.br/noticias/13/10/2015/yandex-chega-ao-brasil-com-launcher.
29. ↑ "Яндекс представил собственную оболочку для Android". https://rg.ru/2015/12/15/launcher-site.html.
30. ↑ Ведомости (12 October 2016). ""Яндекс" предлагает операторам и производителям смартфонов заработать на рекламе". https://www.vedomosti.ru/technology/articles/2016/10/12/660595-yandeks-predlagaet-operatoram-proizvoditelyam-smartfonov-zarabotat-reklame.
31. ↑ "Business geek. Продвижение "Яндекса", дроны для WeChat и кроссовки за 104 тысячи долларов". http://www.the-village.ru/village/business/news/246857-biz-geek.
32. ↑ ""Яндекс" предложил партнерство производителям смартфонов на ОС Android". http://planet-today.ru/novosti/tekhnologii/item/52981-yandeks-predlozhil-partnerstvo-proizvoditelyam-smartfonov-na-os-android.
33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 ""Яндекс" признал удачным эксперимент с Yandex Launcher и назначил руководителя сервиса". 12 February 2016. https://vc.ru/n/ya-launcher-success.
34. ↑ The first message that kicked this conversation off was a support request asking about the shortcuts and why they didn't work. CDT Yandex support team launcher@support.yandex.com August 17 at 10:30 Hello! We will not release new updates with fixes. In this case, we recommend that you choose an alternative product. -- https://forms.yandex.ru/surveys/10012037/?theme=support-vote&iframe=1&lang=en&session=VOTE Best regards, Person 2 The Yandex Support team https://yandex.com/support/ 2024-08-19 16:43:21, Kxeo: Oh really? Why so? What is stopping you from making an update that fixes this bug? Is it so engrained into the Launcher that it's unfixable? CDT Yandex support team launcher@support.yandex.com August 18 at 24:48 We have stopped supporting and developing Launcher. We see that the application is no longer in demand. You can continue using Yandex Launcher or choose an alternative product. -- Please rate our reply Best regards, Person 2 The Yandex Support team https://yandex.com/support/
35. ↑ "O Яндекс Лончере | Яндекс Лончер". 2024-02-10. https://yandex.ru/support2/launcher/ru/.
36. ↑ "Launcher от Yandex доступен для Android-смартфонов в России". 15 December 2015. http://droider.ru/post/launcher-ot-yandex-dostupen-dlya-android-smartfonov-v-rossii-15-12-2015/.
37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 "Попытка номер три: Yandex Launcher". https://geektimes.ru/post/263564/.
38. ↑ "Компания Яндекс — Новости сервисов — Яндекс запускает лончер для смартфонов на Android". https://yandex.ru/company/services_news/2015/1214.
39. ↑ "Yandex Discovery Business Solutions for OEMs, telcos, software developers and integrators". https://yandex.com/discovery/.
40. ↑ ""Яндекс.Такси" за год утроил выручку до 984 миллионов рублей". 22 March 2016. http://www.interfax.ru/business/499750.
41. ↑ "New discoveries every day". https://zen.yandex.com/about.
42. ↑ ""Экзоскелет для дизайнера": что нового принесет в индустрию алгоритмический дизайн — Колонка Юрия Ветрова". 20 June 2016. https://vc.ru/p/algorithm-design.
43. ↑ "Автоматическое определение цвета — опыт команды "Яндекса"". 20 May 2016. https://vc.ru/p/yandex-colour.
44. ↑ Ведомости (6 October 2015). ""Яндекс" сделал приложение Латинской Америке". https://www.vedomosti.ru/technology/articles/2015/10/07/611717-yandeks-sdelal-prilozhenie-latinskoi-amerike.
45. ↑ ""Яндекс" нарастил чистую прибыль почти на 400%". http://www.rbc.ru/technology_and_media/28/07/2016/5799da0c9a794775edd8e362.
46. ↑ ""Яндекс" смотрит на 2016 год с оптимизмом". 28 July 2016. http://kommersant.ru/doc/3049304.
47. ↑ "Назначен руководитель Yandex Launcher - Android в России". http://googlephones.ru/gnews/naznachen-rukovoditel-yandex-launcher.
48. ↑ Рожков, Роман (2 December 2016). "Вчера". pp. 7. http://www.kommersant.ru/doc/2913761.
49. ↑ "Сотрудники "Яндекса" бесплатно проконсультируют дизайн-проекты". 5 April 2016. https://vc.ru/p/ya-school-experts.
50. ↑ "Презентации докладчиков - Санкт-Петербург, Grand-2015 – Международный Гранд Форум "Бизнес и ИТ. Вокруг ЦОД. Вокруг Облака. Вокруг IP" (8 апреля)". https://sankt-peterburg-grand-forum-2015.ciseventsgroup.com/presentations.html.
51. ↑ ""Яндекс" тестирует новый Yandex Launcher на новых рынках и с новой схемой монетизации → Roem.ru". 6 October 2015. https://roem.ru/06-10-2015/209423/yandex-launcher/.
52. ↑ "Попытка номер три: Yandex Launcher - Версия для печати - PVSM.RU". http://www.pvsm.ru/gadzhety/100270/print/.
53. ↑ ""Яндекс" выпустила лончер для бюджетных Android-смартфонов / Статьи / Вести.Hi-tech". http://hitech.vesti.ru/news/view/id/7819.

* v
* t
* e

Yandex

* Alice
* Cocaine (PaaS)
* Elliptics
* MatrixNet
* Yandex.Auto
* Yandex Browser
* Yandex.Checkout
* Yandex Disk
* Yandex.Direct
* Yandex.Drive
* Yandex Maps
* Yandex.Money
* Yandex Launcher
* Yandex.Navigator
* Yandex Search
* Yandex.Taxi
* Yandex.Translate
* Yandex Zen

0.00

(0 votes)

Original source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yandex Launcher. Read more

|

Retrieved from "https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Software:Yandex_Launcher&oldid=3951534"
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template