ADW Launcher 2 exits beta, premium unlock half off for a limited time [Video]

I personally am not very into custom launchers — I prefer a stock launcher experience, whether that means using Google Now Launcher or the new Pixel Launcher — but if you’re a launcher aficionado, you’re probably aware of ADW Launcher. The launcher was a lot more popular back in the days of Android KitKat (and earlier), but earlier this year it was resurrected as a beta in a post-Material Design world…

Now, the launcher has exited beta to go fully public as yet another great launcher option for your Android Nougat or Android Marshmallow device. The new version is obviously a complete visual overhaul compared to the Holo-inspired design of the past. The new version resembles a lot of other popular launchers in many ways, packing features like Android 7.1 launcher shortcuts, automatically-changing UI colors based on wallpapers, various app drawer stiles, and more.

Here’s the full change log for ADW Launcher 2.0:

* Support for Android 7.1 launcher shortcuts (limited support on older versions down to 5.x)
* Added new icons effects section. You can choose image filters and compositions. Awesome.!.
* Dynamic UI coloring using wallpaper colors.
* New way to manage screens. Hold down an empty area of the desktop.
* New way to add widgets and shortcuts.
* New way to change the wallpaper, lock/unlock the desktop or access settings. Hold down an empty area of the desktop and choose the option.
* Added fast scroll app drawer style.
* Added indexed fast scroll app drawer style.
* Added some desktop transitions.
* Added new section to configure icon badges.
* Added a visual mode to configure desktop, icon appearance, folder appearance, and app drawer options.
* Added option to change the top panel/widget.
* Added option to change the content type of bottom panel (dock/widget).
* Added new wrap folder mode to folders. This mode lets you launch the first app in the folder on tap, and show the folder contents on swipe up.
* Added new fast application search in app drawer.
* Improved app categories in app drawer.
* Improved way to manage user gestures.
* Improved way to apply internal and external themes.
* Improved context menu for all desktop objects.
* Added new Custom Widget object. You can add new custom widgets from widget list, import them from friends and other developers, create, edit and share your own.
* Added some initial extensions for the custom widgets (time/battery)
* Check out ADWExtensions pack for more extensions (weather, gmail, etc).
* Added template manager. Remove, add and share templates easily.
* Improved icon properties dialog.
* Improved folder properties dialog.
* Added backup manager in advanced settings/system. Now you can import data from other famous launchers (if you miss one, report back to us so we can include it.)
* Added the possibility to set a secondary action on desktop shortcuts. Swipe up over the desktop shortcut to execute the secondary action.
* Probably 2 or 200 things I’m forgetting…
* A bunch of wibbly wobbly timey wimey stuff inside.

You can grab ADW Launcher 2 from the Play Store right now for free, but a lot of these features are exclusive to the premium version which requires an in-app purchase. Normally, this premium unlock costs $4, but you can get it for just $2 for a limited time to celebrate this launch.