14 DAY TRIAL // The development of Microsoft Launcher for Android has reached version 5.4, with the first beta introducing a series of welcome changes for users in select countries.
This version comes with a brand-new cricket widget that helps users keep track of their favorite teams in the Cricket World Cup, and it’s obviously aimed at specific markets like the United Kingdom, Pakistan, Australia, and India.
The widget displays the “last updated” time, teams playing, the score, and other information about the venue, all included in a very clean design that perfectly aligns with the launcher.
Additionally, the new beta also comes with improvements for the status bar and the system navigation implementation in order to match the active theme on the device.
Other improvements under the hood
Microsoft says it has also introduced Android Work Profile improvements, so beginning with this update customers can view personal and work apps separately in the app drawer. This is a welcome change for people who are using the same device for personal and working apps, and this update makes it easier to separate profiles and reach the appropriate apps faster and easier.
There are also additional bug fixes and performance improvements, so Microsoft Launcher should now run smoother on your device, though you may not necessarily notice these refinements given they happened under the hood.
Keep in mind, however, that version 5.4 is still a beta, which means that some features might not work exactly as expected. The application is only available for users who are part of the beta program, and you can enroll using the link here.
As for the stable release, it typically takes a few weeks before a beta build makes it to the production channel, so expect Microsoft Launcher 5.4 to go live in the Play store for all users next month.