iOS 8 Launcher App Let’s You Put Apple Bling On Your Android Phone

Even as a rabid Android fan, there's one aspect of Apple's iOS that attracts me: The aesthetics. This is especially true since the release of iOS 7; yes, that particular release became the butt of many jokes thanks to its heavy use of gradients, but as a bit of a color freak, it appealed to me. For those Android users like me who appreciate that general aesthetic, there's now an option: A theme called iOS 8 Launcher HD Retina.

It's not entirely clear when this theme first launched, but as of the time of writing, Google's Play Store shows that it's amassed over 500,000 installs. It's sometimes a little risky to install a theme from an unknown developer (this one only has this app listed), but this one currently has an average rating of 4.4, based on over 14,000 reviews.

iOS 8 Launcher HD Retina, as its name states, isn't just a theme: It's a launcher. That means it will replace the launcher your phone came with, so after installing, you'll be asked if you want to set it to default. Because the launcher won't be what you're used to, there will be a slight learning-curve. Swiping up on the main screen will reveal settings, while swiping down will slide a Google search bar down from the top of the screen.

I currently use GO Launcher EX, and am quite pleased with it, but I couldn't help but test this one out. Here's how it looks on my Moto G:

One thing I should point out is that all of those folders were created by the launcher, not by me. This has resulted in some odd placement, such as Steam in the Life folder rather than Games, and a calculator app in Games rather than Tools. Fixing the placement is a simple task, though, and overall it did a fair job in organizing things. And as you can tell from the bottom, this definitely tries to look like an iOS 8 device.

Overall, a great theme (err - launcher), and one that's worked beautifully for me so far. I'm going to be sticking to my previous launcher because I've become so familiar with it, but this is definitely a great option for those who want a little iOS infusion in their Android.