A few months ago, it was reported that Microsoft"s Garage division was working on an app launcher for Android called Arrow Launcher, as the company continues to push its apps to rival platforms. Now, the app is finally out of private beta and can be downloaded from the Google Play Store.
Microsoft had previously revealed that Android"s openness provides them an opportunity to gain experience with such applications, and gives them access to a large number of users. Many companies already have their own launchers, such as Nokia"s Z launcher and Yahoo"s Aviate, which also share the same sort of common features as the Arrow Launcher.
However, Arrow does more than just providing lists of installed applications and is quite feature-packed. It provides easy access to frequently used apps and contacts while also providing note-taking capabilities by just swiping through the screens. The homescreen comes with a standard app dock which can be swiped up for additional shortcuts, and toggles which can be customized. It also supports third-party icon packs for further customization.
Microsoft says that the app is universally available, but only supports English and Chinese languages. Interested Android users can grab the app from the Play Store.
Source: TechCrunch | Image via Microsoft