Honest question: What makes you think you are qualified to know if they've "done anything"? Nova was bought by an analytics(data) company, the danger wasn't in them aesthetically changing nova or its core functionality, the danger was in them keeping you thinking nothing has changed but aggressively/unethically selling all the data about you so others can exploit and manipulate you.

Simple example is, making a predictive model of when you're most likely sad based on context clues and general device usage and then kleenex buys that data, in aggregate. They then use it to predict when they can raise the price of tissues for surge pricing in your area when you're most vulnerable and least price sensitive. This is a slightly silly example work "big Kleenex" as the bad guy, but hopefully you get the idea.

Add to it if you use any of nova middle layer services (e.g. A nova search widget instead of browser search, sesame shortcuts, etc). That's all increased fidelity they get on a data profile of who you are at any given time so that they can sell it to others to target and harass you. That is what the new nova is, quietly. You won't get a knock on your door to ask you if you approve, it has just happened already.

More hypothetical examples:

• We detect increasing frequency of you launching the travelocity app, means you're getting more desperate to book, prices go up on your app, increasing more and more between today and the departure date you've been searching.

• You downloaded two pregnancy tracker apps in a week, means that several companies can now invest in spamming you with predatory social and direct mail advertising and you're employer can consider finding alternative cause to fire you to not absorb the upcoming costs of delivery/care and parental leave.

• You not having any Christian/bible material or apps on your phone means there's a high percentage that you aren't a practicing Christian (or conversely, you having a Quran app downloaded). Your house gets a big red X on a map for an app funded by dark money Christo-fascist, Christian nationalists quietly creating a directory of "good" people and "bad" people that your neighbors with red hats and flags on their raised trucks can eventually download and access freely to "keep an eye out".

That last one is NUTS! You're crazy! That's ridiculous! and then...

KIIS launcher and some others floating, I think Pear launcher maybe for some? Different FOSS options that are decent