Action Launcher 3 updated with Marshmallow-based launcher improvements, Google Now integration (root), and more| for sock rom go to rompure.com

An update to Action Launcher 3 is currently rolling out with the usual assortment of improvements, feature tweaks, and fixes... but there's more going on here. This isn't just any update—the latest version of Action Launcher 3 moves to a Marshmallow launcher code base and adds (root-only) Google Now integration.

Here's the full changelog.

• NEW: Update base code to Android 6.0.1's Launcher3 code. Notable usability enhancements include the addition of fast scroll in the All Apps drawer, a much improved widget picker and infinite paged folders and more. This base code upgrade also sees a year's worth of Google's bug and stability and performance fixes.
• NEW: Can select pure black color via Quicktheme.
• NEW: Option to disable the Quickdrawer (Settings -> App drawers -> Quickdrawer).
• NEW: Option for enabling dark icons on the status bar (Settings -> Display -> Dark status bar icons). Note: requires Android 6.0 or later.
• NEW: Option to enable overlapping widgets (Settings -> Desktop -> Overlapping widgets).
• NEW: When dragging existing Home screen items, display Edit and Uninstall shortcuts.
• NEW: Add shortcut to jump straight to the system's device storage browser (requires Android 6.0 or later).
• NEW: Add shortcut to trigger a music search (via Google App).
• NEW: Add shortcut to jump to weather forecast (via Google App).
• NEW: Add shortcut to jump to the settings via the System Settings -> Apps -> Action 3 app page (requires Android 7.0).
• NEW: Added old material design versions of Google Play apps to in-built icon pack.
• NEW: Option to enable Google Now integration (Alpha). Note: REQUIRES ROOT. Please see FAQ for full details. Option will appear in Settings -> Desktop -> Google Now integration (Alpha) for rooted devices only.
• IMPROVEMENT: Reduced app's memory usage. Especially apparent when using an Icon Pack and/or Smartsize icons.
• IMPROVEMENT: Samsung Knox support.
• IMPROVEMENT: Engaging Quickedit with many icon packs installed is both much faster and more reliable.
• IMPROVEMENT: Support icon packs that use vector drawables.
• IMPROVEMENT: Use high-res Google icon on the Quickbar.
• BUG FIX: Importing from TouchWiz's launcher works when running Marshmallow.
• BUG FIX: Fix alignment of text/icon on Hidden apps dialog.
• BUG FIX: Newly installed apps will apply the current icon pack's icon.
• BUG FIX: Don't display Shutters on Quickedit when Shutters are disabled.
• BUG FIX: Countless other stability fixes.

The move to the Marshmallow launcher code means the little things we've become used to in Google's launcher will be in Action Launcher. So, paginated folders, a better widget picker, and so on. This comes with improved stability and should make future updates faster. There are also multiple highly requested new features included in this update (eg. overlapping widgets).

The big story here is Action Launcher's addition of Google Now integration. Like the Google Now Launcher, you can slide to the left from your first home screen panel to access Google Now. Sony recently added this to its beta launcher, and everyone was wondering why third-party launchers didn't have it. Well, it's not exactly an officially supported feature. Only rooted users will be able to use this in Action Launcher as the launcher has to be set as a system app. That's just the way Google's Now API works (it's for OEMs).

   

Developer Chris Lacy says he's cognizant of the potential support headache of dealing with a root feature. To mitigate that, you won't even see the Google Now option in the app unless you're rooted. It will also be marked as an alpha and won't be pushed as a core feature of Action Launcher. It's just a nice bonus for root users. The new version of Action Launcher is should be live for everyone in the Play Store soon.