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We’ve covered a lot of Mr. Rubik’s creations in the past. He’s known for creating interesting Android applications and launchers that look like that of old school software; he’s made a PS2 Launcher changing your Android’s look to that of the <a href="https://comicvibe.com/playstation-patent-describes-controller-acting-as-a-credit-card-reader/” title=”PlayStation patent describes controller acting as a credit‑card reader”>PlayStation 2, he’s done the same with Nintendo Wii U and the PSP, now he’s turning his attention to dual-screen Android handhelds, and more specifically the ANBERNIC RG DS.
NitroDeck is a previous Android launcher that turns your smartphone’s UI into that of a Nintendo DS, but a future update is coming in the next week or two that will allow you to use it with dual-screen Android handhelds such as the ANBERNIC RG DS, turning its UI into a more nostalgic Nintendo experience. The good news is that it’s available to downloadwait a little while before it gets updated
I believe this is his first jab at creating a launcher designed for two screens at once, and he’s been testing it on the RG DS, as it’s the nearest Android device that looks like a Nintendo DS. Mr Rubik has taken a lot of inspiration from the DS’s user interface, so much so that it’s certainly infringing on a bunch of intellectual property, but that’s not stopped him in the past and Google seems to be looking the other way when allowing it to be available on the Play Store.
But that said, he’s integrated your ROMs and emulators in the game cartridge section of the launcher, even going as far as adding in the Nintendo DS boot-up screen and sound when you open it up. In Mr Rubik’s words:
“NitroDeck is a DS-style Android launcher for users who want a focused, visual, and controller-friendly home screen. Open installed apps from a fast catalog, search alphabetically, customize app icons with local images, use your own photos on the alternate home surface, and navigate comfortably with touch, keyboard, or gamepad. NitroDeck includes a classic dual-screen launcher layout, local game library tools for files from folders you choose, optional notification badges, sound and haptic settings, backup export, and controls designed for handheld Android devices”.
Main Features
- DS-style launcher interface
- DSi-style launcher interface
- Installed Android app catalog
- Local DS, DSi, and GBA game library
- Custom app icons from local images
- Controller and gamepad-friendly navigation
- Sound and haptic feedback toggles
- Icon pack and notification badge support
- Local backup/export tools
- Offline by design — no accounts, no analytics, no tracking.
The Android scene already has a wide range of frontends that resemble the Nintendo DS, but this is the first one that is happily flying too close to the sun and wants to mimic Nintendo’s UI as closely as possible, which undoubtedly makes your RG DS look and feel like a Nintendo DS. We just hope the update is refined enough to work well and launches soon, as we know Mr Rubik heavily uses AI to assist with development. All we can do is wait for the update to come!
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