14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has just released a new stable version of its Launcher app for Android, shipping a bunch of features previously available for beta testers exclusively to public users as well.
With this new update, Microsoft Launcher reaches version 4.8.0.41990 and it comes with rather subtle improvements versus the previous stable release, though it goes without saying that updating is anyway worth it.
For users who have been part of the beta program, the changelog might sound familiar, as it includes improvements that Microsoft previously shipped in several beta builds of branch 4.8.
First and foremost, Microsoft Launcher 4.8 comes includes app sorting support for new languages, like Korean, Japanese, and Russian. This feature is available in the app drawer and complements other languages, such as English.
Under the hood code improvements
Additionally, the new Launcher version come with a revamped first-time experience for mobile-connected users from Windows settings. Fans of digital assistant Cortana are getting their own share of goodies with version 4.8, including improved app launch experience and support for more device settings, like Wi-Fi and flight mode. Navigation query support also lands for Cortana with this update.
Obviously, there are several other under-the-hood refinements, such as bug fixes and performance tweaks, so overall, the new version of Microsoft Launcher should run smoother and be faster than the previous builds.
Microsoft Launcher is one of the top Microsoft apps on Android, and it currently has more than 10 million downloads. It’s also one of the highest-rated, with an overall score of 4.6 points out of a maximum of 5.
You can download the new Microsoft Launcher APK from Softpedia right now to get the aforementioned improvements on your Android device as well. New betas should see daylight very soon, as Microsoft typically starts testing features for the next stable release shortly after completing developing of a new production build.