Microsoft tests landscape view and dark mode for Launcher on Android

Microsoft has released a preview variant of its Launcher for Android that will give the company a look at new features and designs for the software. Among other things, the version has support for landscape view and Android’s dark mode.

The Launcher Preview app, according to Microsoft, is an alpha version of the regular launcher that allows users to try out features early on. The test version has a different look and, according to the maker, is based on a new codebase to integrate other functions.

In addition to the dark mode and landscape view, Microsoft mentions performance improvements such as shorter loading times, lower memory usage, battery optimizations and smoother animations. At the same time, the company warns that many features of the standard version are missing from the preview variant. Microsoft promises to update the Launcher Preview regularly.

Microsoft introduced the first version of its Launcher in 2015, then under the name Arrow. It allows users to customize the look and feel of Android, connect their smartphone to their PC and access Microsoft services such as OneDrive, To Do, Calendar and Edge.