In fact, the only area where stock launchers have had Nova beat is that some include a baked-in Google Now page, which lets you swipe over to see a list of relevant news and info that Google serves up just for you. But now, the development team at TeslaCoil has even found a way to get the Google feed on Nova. Previously, you could enable the Google Now page on Nova if you were rooted, but this new method works by simply installing an additional app, so root is no longer required. Considering that, there's no reason you shouldn't be running Nova now, so I'll show you how to set up the Google Now page below.
Get an Integrated Google Now Page in Nova Launcher — No Root Needed
The stock home screen app that comes with your phone is nothing compared to Nova Launcher. Not only is Nova faster, but it's got tons of customization tweaks like gestures, adjustable grid sizes, and icon packs, just to name a few.
In fact, the only area where stock launchers have had Nova beat is that some include a baked-in Google Now page, which lets you swipe over to see a list of relevant news and info that Google serves up just for you. But now, the development team at TeslaCoil has even found a way to get the Google feed on Nova.
Previously, you could enable the Google Now page on Nova if you were rooted, but this new method works by simply installing an additional app, so root is no longer required. Considering that, there's no reason you shouldn't be running Nova now, so I'll show you how to set up the Google Now page below.
Step 1 Get the Latest Beta Version of Nova Launcher
The integrated Google Now page is a brand new feature, so you'll need to sign up for the beta version of Nova Launcher to try it out.
If you already have Nova Launcher installed, just head to the app's Play Store page, then scroll down to the "Become a beta tester" section and tap "I'm in." After that, just wait for an update to come through, then you'll be all set after installing it.
If you haven't installed Nova Launcher yet, start by heading to this page. Next, press the "Become a tester" button, then tap the link that says "Download it on Google Play." After that, you'll be taken to Nova Launcher's Play Store page, where you should be able to install the latest beta version within a few minutes.
Once you've got Nova installed, press your home button, then you'll see a pop-up message. Select Nova from the list, then choose "Always," and Nova will now be your default home screen app.
Step 2 Disable Infinite Scrolling
This next section only applies if you already had Nova Launcher installed. Because the Google Now page has to reside on your leftmost home screen, the new feature won't work if you have Nova's "Infinite scroll" option enabled.
So before moving on, long-press any empty space on your home screen, then tap the Settings icon. From there, open the Desktop menu, then find and disable the "Infinite scroll" option.
Step 3 Install the Companion App
Next, you'll just need to install the app that adds the Google Now page to Nova. This app was created by Nova's developers, so it's as official as it gets, but because it uses a workaround to integrate the Google Now page, TeslaCoil has chosen not to host the app on the Google Play Store.
That just means you'll need to sideload the companion app. To do that, start by tapping the following link from your Android device. Once the APK file has downloaded, open it from your notification tray or with any file browser app. From there, press "Install" when prompted, then you'll be just about ready to go.
Download the Nova Google Companion app (.apk)
4 Enjoy Google Now
Next, open the Nova Google Companion app, and if everything went according to plan, you should see a message saying that Nova will now include the Google page. To try it out, head to your home screen, then swipe over to the leftmost page, and you should be greeted by the Google feed.
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