Ara Wagoner
Ara Wagoner was a staff writer at Android Central. She themes phones and pokes YouTube Music with a stick. When she's not writing about cases, Chromebooks, or customization, she's wandering around Walt Disney World. If you see her without headphones, RUN. You can follow her on Twitter at @arawagco.
Latest articles by Ara Wagoner
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Nova Launcher is getting a new feature that you're going to love
By Ara Wagoner last updated
Nova Launcher has long had notification badges, but they're getting a bit of an overhaul in the latest Nova Launcher Beta update, ditching unread counts for something a little more dynamic.
![Halloween theme](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KJkJge8SDXnsSvK5Ce2oCW-320-80.jpg)
Get cute this Halloween with an adorable jack-o-lantern theme
By Ara Wagoner last updated
Halloween is a holiday devoted to dressing up in awesome costumes, playing tricks on our friends and soliciting sweet treats from total strangers. Get your phone dressed up for the event.
![Black theme](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KyKiUQdaafg7ZWv4zGjPgJ-320-80.jpg)
Celebrate the eclipse with this dark-as-night theme pack!
By Ara Wagoner last updated
Home screens can be bright, they can be colorful, and they can be cheery, but some of the best home screens are none of these things. Some home screens are dark, and they are beautiful.
![VW awesome](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mbBCooPWiXdSfDV2eGUahR-320-80.jpg)
Nova Launcher joins the 50 million downloads club on Google Play
By Ara Wagoner last updated
Nova Launcher, one of Android’s most popular and customizable launchers, has a new accomplishment under its storied belt: over 50 million downloads on Google Play.
![null](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MYDL7vzEuzESaMHXPaEYCC-320-80.jpg)
Nova Launcher Beta adds Android O style notification dots, but Dynamic Badges are better
By Ara Wagoner last updated
Nova Launcher's had a big spring for notification badges. First came the Dynamic Badges, and now the notification dots from Android O are coming to the launcher's beta.
![null](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TVHMH4cCaecsTUZsPjsmsg-320-80.jpg)
Make Google Play Music — or almost any music app — your alarm clock!
By Ara Wagoner last updated
![null](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DaWrn2WeRjArC8VxvGQqhV-320-80.jpg)
How to use gestures to become an Android home screen expert
By Ara Wagoner last updated
![Canada Day themes](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QunUu3NpFFHaixDjChZcV6-320-80.jpg)
Put some Canadian pride on your home screen with these Canada Day themes!
By Ara Wagoner last updated
Who says the Americans get to have all the fun? Canada Day celebrates Canada’s unity and culture, so let’s get some maple leaf on our home screens, eh?
![null](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XTVPvVNhamtdV4PvR8EU6R-320-80.jpg)
THING Launcher tries to cook up recipes for Android automation and magic
By Ara Wagoner last updated
There's no shortage of 'smart' launchers out there, and THING Launcher is trying to squeeze into the game with a launcher revolving around IFTTT-like recipes.
![null](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Nyt8X4o64ZZwXWeMKVGvrD-320-80.jpg)
Subgrid positioning is the feature that keeps me coming back to Nova Launcher
By Ara Wagoner last updated
![null](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hkDjcyLPjJawBztpWn7N8A-320-80.jpg)
Go Rogue with these Star Wars themes
By Ara Wagoner last updated
Did you forget? May 4th is Star Wars Day! We find your lack of theme disturbing.
![null](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/w54V4Q3KvNYncrL7eeZZ54-320-80.jpg)
South Floridians will soon be able to order McDonalds via UberEATS
By Ara Wagoner last updated
Live near Miami, Tampa, or Orlando and want McDonalds without having to actually brave Florida drivers? UBEREats and McDonalds will soon let you order a Big MAc from the comfort of home.
![Samsung Galaxy Z Flip Vs Hands On Nirave](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/X8LeLVzNBW6ZmQb49pVCSc-320-80.jpg)
From the Editor's Desk: Unpacking the Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy S20
By Ara Wagoner last updated
![null](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CavrUS5viTA7yf7N5BRwDi-320-80.jpg)
Action Launcher's best hidden treasures: Covers, Shutters, and Quicks
By Ara Wagoner last updated
A good launcher is like a magic trick, letting you seamlessly hide and extract what you want. And Action Launcher is a great magic trick.
![ActionDash 4 Focus Mode Usage](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rJZSLwDpMoHQnn3oVPy9B4-320-80.jpg)
ActionDash 5.0 brings 'Fresh Start' to avoid re-opening bad habit apps
By Ara Wagoner last updated
ActionDash is back with another big update, and this one is going to help end that unending cycle of scrolling distraction.
![null](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/78GWTNXowCwBoX9TNAg9RM-320-80.jpg)
Color By Disney review: premium subscription for a not-so-premium coloring app
By Ara Wagoner last updated
![null](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XT3i2MNUVbt2ioUU3PJLuW-320-80.jpg)
Adaptive Icons make the jump to Nova Launcher in its latest beta update
By Ara Wagoner last updated
![null](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tbehjkEaxEkPHTBxwfPiW9-320-80.jpg)
Put some summer magic on your home screen with this theme pack!
By Ara Wagoner last updated
It's the dogs days of summer, so beat the heat with a cool, new home screen! Whether you're beach-bound or couch-bound, there's a home screen theme to put some seasonal sizzle on your phone.
![null](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Y82FmBkve5HWyfnmcJs3MS-320-80.jpg)
In a world of ordinary wallpapers, these are Wonder Woman wallpapers!
By Ara Wagoner last updated
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What are you looking forward to with Android O? [Roundtable]
By Jerry Hildenbrand, Daniel Bader, Andrew Martonik, Ara Wagoner, Harish Jonnalagadda, Alex Dobie last updated
Changes big and small are coming to Android and these are our favorites.
![null](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sBN24P8Tje8oXxZB8LDj5W-320-80.jpg)
Nova Launcher's Dynamic Badges still beat Android Oreo's Notification Badges
By Ara Wagoner last updated
Once upon a time, unread notifications were ugly numbers on our app icons. Today, we’ve got choices for our notification badges, and the best ones live on Nova Launcher.
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