Yandex Launcher

According to The Next Web, one of the main distinguishing features of Yandex Launcher is the built-in recommendation service.{{cite web|url=https://thenextweb.com/apps/2015/10/06/yandex-releases-launcher-low-end-android-smartphones/#gref|title=Yandex continues its push onto Android with a Launcher for low-end smartphones|first=Andrii|last=Degeler|date=6 October 2015|publisher=}} Machine learning technology provides the basis of the recommendation service,{{cite web|url=http://itc.ua/news/yandeks-vyipustila-sobstvennuyu-obolochku-dlya-android-smartfonov-yandex-launcher/|title="Яндекс" выпустил собственную оболочку для Android-смартфонов - Yandex Launcher - ITC.ua|date=7 October 2015|publisher=}} with which Launcher selects apps, games, videos and other forms of content that might interest the user.{{cite web|url=http://www.kommersant.ru/doc/2826518|title=Яндекс|first1=Екатерина|last1=Геращенко|first2=Роман|last2=Рожков|date=10 July 2015|publisher=|via=Kommersant}}{{cite web|url=http://istreetwire.com/2016/07/15/stocks-in-the-spotlight-endeavour-silver-corp-exk-baker-hughes-incorporated-bhi-yandex-n-v-yndx/|title=Stocks in the Spotlight: Endeavour Silver Corp. (EXK), Baker Hughes Incorporated (BHI), Yandex N.V. (YNDX) – istreetwire|publisher=|access-date=2017-04-21|archive-date=2017-02-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170215024753/http://istreetwire.com/2016/07/15/stocks-in-the-spotlight-endeavour-silver-corp-exk-baker-hughes-incorporated-bhi-yandex-n-v-yndx/|url-status=dead}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://actualapple.com/personal-recommendations-zen-earned-in-yandex-browser-on-ipad|title=Personal recommendations Zen earned in Yandex.Browser on iPad - ActualApple.com|website=actualapple.com|access-date=2017-04-21|archive-date=2017-02-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223043128/http://actualapple.com/personal-recommendations-zen-earned-in-yandex-browser-on-ipad|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/10/12/yandex-woos-smartphone-makers-with-ai-browser-and-launcher-partnership-programs/|title=Yandex woos smartphone makers with AI, browser and launcher partnership programs - TechCrunch|first=Ingrid|last=Lunden|publisher=}}{{cite web|url=http://sdelaicomp.ru/nastrojka-sistemy/kak-vklyuchit-yandeks-dzen-na-kompyutere-v-brauzere.html|title=Как включить Яндекс Дзен на компьютере в браузере|website=sdelaicomp.ru|date=13 September 2016}}

Other features of Launcher are: themes for the interface, wallpaper collections,{{cite web|url=https://www.overclockers.ru/lab/77420_2/vybiraem-obolochku-dlya-android-ustrojstv-google-start-i-yandex-launcher.html|title=Выбираем оболочку для android-устройств: Google Start и Yandex Launcher|publisher=}} fast search of contacts, apps and sites,{{cite web|url=http://www.3dnews.ru/925180|title=Яндекс выпустил фирменный "лончер" для Android-смартфонов|publisher=}} search by app icon color,{{cite web|url=http://www.techtudo.com.br/noticias/noticia/2015/10/yandex-launcher-e-aposta-russa-para-lancador-de-apps-no-android-conheca.html|title=Yandex Launcher é aposta russa para lançador de apps no Android; conheça|publisher=}} "smart" folders and widgets, built-in notifications on icons, screen manager, a visual editor grid for icons, etc.

In 2009, SPB Software published the SPB Mobile Shell application. The application won several accolades.{{cite web |url=http://www.spb.com/pocketpc-software/mobileshell/reviews.html |title=Reviews & Awards » SPB Mobile Shell » Pocket PC Software » SPB Software |website=www.spb.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100123015339/http://www.spb.com/pocketpc-software/mobileshell/reviews.html |archive-date=2010-01-23}}

In 2011, SPB Software was purchased by Yandex.{{Cite web|url=https://yandex.ru/company/press_releases/2011/1128/index.xml|title=Компания Яндекс — Главные новости|access-date=2017-04-21|archive-date=2021-04-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419061803/https://yandex.ru/company/press_releases/2011/1128/index.xml|url-status=dead}} Through this, Yandex acquired the rights to the company's products, including SPB Shell 3D (a paid application).{{cite web|url=http://lenta.ru/news/2012/02/09/shell/|title="Яндекс" выпустил бесплатную версию оболочки Shell|publisher=}}

After the purchase by Yandex, the shell has become "Yandex.Shell".{{cite web|url=https://bgr.com/2014/02/20/yandex-forked-android-experience/|title=How one company is trying to push Google out of Android|first=Chris|last=Smith|date=20 February 2014|publisher=}} The company's services were built into it, and it was distributed for free for users from Russia and other countries.{{cite web|url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ru.yandex.shell&hl=ru|title=Приложения в Google Play – Яндекс.Shell|website=play.google.com}}

In 2014, Yandex released a modified Android firmware, which was given the name Yandex.Kit.{{cite web|url=https://vc.ru/p/yandex-kit|title="Яндекс" выпустил собственную Android-прошивку|date=19 February 2014|publisher=|access-date=21 April 2017|archive-date=22 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170422041328/https://vc.ru/p/yandex-kit|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://ilenta.com/news/news_2186.html|title="Яндекс" выпустил прошивку для Android смартфонов "Yandex.Kit"|publisher=}} The firmware was tightly integrated with Yandex services. One of the standard apps supplied with the firmware was the launcher that was based on Yandex.Shell. Yandex.Kit was preinstalled, in particular, on Huawei smartphones.

On October 6, 2015, the Yandex Launcher GUI was released.{{cite web|url=http://android.mobile-review.com/market/40608/|title=Новый лаунчер от компании Яндекс — android.mobile-review.com|website=android.mobile-review.com}} Despite the fact that the developers of Yandex.Shell and Yandex.Kit{{cite web|url=https://vc.ru/n/ya-launcher|title="Яндекс" выпустил оболочку для Android-смартфонов "Яндекс.Лончер" с новой системой монетизации|date=14 December 2015|publisher=|access-date=21 April 2017|archive-date=23 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223042743/https://vc.ru/n/ya-launcher|url-status=dead}} 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. Shell had a different monetization scheme and different geographical distribution.{{cite web|url=http://www.iksmedia.ru/news/5266072-Yandeks-vypustil-obolochku-dlya-And.html|title="Яндекс" выпустил оболочку для Android - IKSMEDIA.RU|website=IKSMEDIA.RU - деловой портал для бизнеса в телекоме, ИТ, медиа}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cnews.ru/news/top/2015-12-14_yandeks_vypustil_novyj_loncher_dlya_android|title="Яндекс" выпустил оболочку для Android|publisher=}}

On October 8, 2015, Google Play accidentally blocked Yandex Launcher. A few hours later Launcher was unblocked.{{cite web|url=https://roem.ru/11-10-2015/209868/launcher-has-left-the-internet/|title=Google Play ошибочно заблокировал латиноамериканский Yandex Launcher → Roem.ru|date=11 October 2015|publisher=}}

After its launch, the app was available only to users from Latin America,{{cite web|url=http://www.baguete.com.br/noticias/13/10/2015/yandex-chega-ao-brasil-com-launcher|title=Yandex chega ao Brasil com launcher - Notícias - Baguete|website=www.baguete.com.br}} later it was unlocked for users from the EU, United States, Russia and other countries. On December 14, 2015, the app was made available without geographical limitations.{{cite web|url=https://rg.ru/2015/12/15/launcher-site.html|title=Яндекс представил собственную оболочку для Android|website=Российская газета}}

In October 2016, Yandex offered the pre-installation of their apps (including Yandex Launcher) to retailers and manufacturers of Android smartphones.{{cite web|url=https://www.vedomosti.ru/technology/articles/2016/10/12/660595-yandeks-predlagaet-operatoram-proizvoditelyam-smartfonov-zarabotat-reklame|title="Яндекс" предлагает операторам и производителям смартфонов заработать на рекламе|last=Ведомости|date=12 October 2016|publisher=}}{{cite web|url=http://www.the-village.ru/village/business/news/246857-biz-geek|title=Business geek. Продвижение "Яндекса", дроны для WeChat и кроссовки за 104 тысячи долларов|publisher=}} Participating in this program was MTS (Russia), Multilaser (Brazil), ZTE (China), Wileyfox (United Kingdom), Posh Mobile and others.{{cite web|url=http://planet-today.ru/novosti/tekhnologii/item/52981-yandeks-predlozhil-partnerstvo-proizvoditelyam-smartfonov-na-os-android|title="Яндекс" предложил партнерство производителям смартфонов на ОС Android|publisher=}}

At the start of 2016, the service's foreign audience was three times bigger than the Russian audience.{{cite web|url=https://vc.ru/n/ya-launcher-success|title="Яндекс" признал удачным эксперимент с Yandex Launcher и назначил руководителя сервиса|date=12 February 2016|publisher=|access-date=21 April 2017|archive-date=22 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170422041358/https://vc.ru/n/ya-launcher-success|url-status=dead}}

Somewhere in 2023–2024, Yandex Launcher was discontinued, due to Yandex seeing the launcher is "no longer in demand".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/ The first archive of its support site with the warning banner of discontinuation was on February 10, 2024.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-10 |title=O Яндекс Лончере {{!}} Яндекс Лончер |url=https://yandex.ru/support2/launcher/ru/ |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=web.archive.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240210062952/https://yandex.ru/support2/launcher/ru/ |archive-date=2024-02-10}}

To generate personal recommendations, Yandex Launcher uses artificial intelligence technology.{{cite web|url=http://droider.ru/post/launcher-ot-yandex-dostupen-dlya-android-smartfonov-v-rossii-15-12-2015/|title=Launcher от Yandex доступен для Android-смартфонов в России|website=droider.ru|date=15 December 2015}} 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. The more a user interacts with Launcher, the more accurate the recommendations become.{{cite web|url=https://geektimes.ru/post/263564/|title=Попытка номер три: Yandex Launcher|publisher=}} Recommendations also depend on the user's place of residence, their interests and other factors.{{cite web|url=https://yandex.ru/company/services_news/2015/1214|title=Компания Яндекс — Новости сервисов — Яндекс запускает лончер для смартфонов на Android|publisher=}}

Launcher is one of the "Discovery" products of Yandex.{{cite web|url=https://yandex.com/discovery/|title=Yandex Discovery Business Solutions for OEMs, telcos, software developers and integrators|website=yandex.com|access-date=2017-04-21|archive-date=2017-04-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170413020956/https://yandex.com/discovery/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.interfax.ru/business/499750|title="Яндекс.Такси" за год утроил выручку до 984 миллионов рублей|date=22 March 2016|publisher=}} Yandex Zen, which is part of Launcher, belongs to the same product category.{{cite web|url=https://zen.yandex.com/about|title=New discoveries every day|website=Zen}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://vc.ru/p/algorithm-design|title="Экзоскелет для дизайнера": что нового принесет в индустрию алгоритмический дизайн — Колонка Юрия Ветрова|date=20 June 2016|publisher=|access-date=21 April 2017|archive-date=23 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223042324/https://vc.ru/p/algorithm-design|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://vc.ru/p/yandex-colour|title=Автоматическое определение цвета — опыт команды "Яндекса"|date=20 May 2016|publisher=|access-date=21 April 2017|archive-date=23 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223045102/https://vc.ru/p/yandex-colour|url-status=dead}}

The user can select one of the three search engines to use within the Launcher (Yandex, Google or Bing).{{cite web|url=https://www.vedomosti.ru/technology/articles/2015/10/07/611717-yandeks-sdelal-prilozhenie-latinskoi-amerike|title="Яндекс" сделал приложение Латинской Америке|last=Ведомости|date=6 October 2015|publisher=}}

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.

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.rbc.ru/technology_and_media/28/07/2016/5799da0c9a794775edd8e362|title="Яндекс" нарастил чистую прибыль почти на 400%|publisher=}}{{cite web|url=http://kommersant.ru/doc/3049304|title="Яндекс" смотрит на 2016 год с оптимизмом|date=28 July 2016|publisher=|via=Kommersant}}

The head of the service is Fyodor Yezhov.{{cite web|url=http://googlephones.ru/gnews/naznachen-rukovoditel-yandex-launcher|title=Назначен руководитель Yandex Launcher - Android в России|website=googlephones.ru}}{{cite web|url=http://www.kommersant.ru/doc/2913761|title=Вчера|first=Роман|last=Рожков|date=2 December 2016|publisher=|issue=24|pages=7|via=Kommersant}}{{cite web|url=https://vc.ru/p/ya-school-experts|title=Сотрудники "Яндекса" бесплатно проконсультируют дизайн-проекты|date=5 April 2016|publisher=|access-date=21 April 2017|archive-date=22 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170422041230/https://vc.ru/p/ya-school-experts|url-status=dead}} Prior to this, Yezhov worked at SPB Software and SPB TV.{{Cite web|url=https://sankt-peterburg-grand-forum-2015.ciseventsgroup.com/presentations.html|title=Презентации докладчиков - Санкт-Петербург, Grand-2015 – Международный Гранд Форум "Бизнес и ИТ. Вокруг ЦОД. Вокруг Облака. Вокруг IP" (8 апреля)|website=sankt-peterburg-grand-forum-2015.ciseventsgroup.com}}

Earlier, the project was headed by Dmitry Polishchuk.{{cite web|url=https://roem.ru/06-10-2015/209423/yandex-launcher/|title="Яндекс" тестирует новый Yandex Launcher на новых рынках и с новой схемой монетизации → Roem.ru|date=6 October 2015|publisher=}}

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.pvsm.ru/gadzhety/100270/print/|title=Попытка номер три: Yandex Launcher - Версия для печати - PVSM.RU|website=www.pvsm.ru}}{{cite web|url=http://hitech.vesti.ru/news/view/id/7819|title="Яндекс" выпустила лончер для бюджетных Android-смартфонов / Статьи / Вести.Hi-tech|publisher=}} Launcher has also been criticized for the small variety of wallpapers in the online collection.

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Category:2015 software

Category:Android (operating system) software

Category:Mobile application launchers

Category:Yandex software