And nothing of value was lost.
this post was submitted on 15 Sep 2024
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Imagine needing to use a Google search app... Cellphones are a mistake
This is the integrated search on the home screen of my android (pixel). For a lot of mobile phone users, it's the fastest way to search something. I can just Google search directly from the home screen instead of opening up a browser.
firefox can do the same with any other search engine, it has a search widget
yeah, but I really wish I could change the browser/search engine it uses. pretty fucked up that I can't. literally the only reason I use Google search/chrome is the convenience of that search bar (which I know is the reason I can't change it)
I changed mine. Also it's a widget, you can just take it off your phone screen and add the Firefox one of you want, or whichever you please.
You might check out the Lawnchair launcher, that aims to replicate the Pixel launcher, but FOSS and more cuatomizable. You can set the search app up with any browser on that.
You can change it on other launchers.
Personally I like neolauncher.
https://github.com/NeoApplications/Neo-Launcher The search bar can be set to immediately directly open Firefox search, or you can pick form a list of various engines.
There's a dozen other launchers to try. Lawnchair is a more popular choice, probably better for someone switching from pixel default. There's a few very specific features it's missing for me.
If you search Lemmy for "Nova Launcher" you'll find some threads listing a dozen alternatives due to nova's downfall.
Yeah but this requires you to use an entirely different launcher which has its own caveats...
I'm not aware of major downsides to using a different luncher.
The biggest incovience is initial setup and putting your home screen apps back where they belong.
Spend a few hours to escape to some of google bloat and set your search bar to use Firefox (which has ublock support).
You can if you are in the EU.
Google just says fuck you to everyone else because they get away with anti-competitive practices.
And now I wish I was in the EU, at least so that Big Tech doesn't shit on me repeatedly.
fuck google. I wish I didn't like pixel phones as much as I do :(
I seem to remember that pixels are some of the easiest phones to put a different os on.
yeah I know, but I am really in love with the notification/status bar of PixelOS (I know it's android but it's custom android)
Duck duck go
For the stock launcher, yeah. Alternatives are a dime a dozen.
I still rely on it for the Google Assistant, possibly the only Google related thing I still use that isn't YouTube.
And no, I'm not switching to Gemini.
For a huge number of phones it's a requirement because Google and Android do not allow you to customize or change this aspect of the device.
Unless you're in the European Union in which you get the right to.
Fuck Google.
I will be proud of myself for the fact I didn't notice or know
You can see the non stop complaints in the Google Search Support forums about the issue if you scroll down to that time frame. There is also this massive Reddit thread with complaints
But, strangely, not a complaint was heard.
Oh no...
Anyway...
I haven't gotten it to work properly for years. Keeps trying to sell me shit. If I want ads blasted in face I'll go to the gas station thank you very much.
If only we had a choice to... You know... Not use the stupid thing
Unfortunately that right is only reserved for EU Citizens.
Google needs to be broken up.
How do you not have a choice?
What are you even talking about not having a choice? I agree Google is awful, but even on pixel phones you can change most aspects of it - definitely including your browser/search app and engine. Just switch to Firefox and/or use duckduckgo, or any of the other browsers and search engines that are readily available. I haven't used chrome in years, but if you're a chromebro I'm pretty sure it supports changing the search engine too.
If your launcher doesn't support changing your search engine/app in a built-in search bar, throw a different browser widget up on your home screen or get a new launcher with a better app/web search widget, unless you got your phone from work or something with restrictions in place you can easily swap out your launcher for a 3rd party one. I personally use Niagara launcher and like it a lot, if you want a more traditional launcher there's KISS (It's also foss), and launchair
Use a custom launcher and different search engine
Custom launchers have their own issues. I've tried them such as Nova launcher and I really just don't like the experience.
I'm on Lawnchair and I find it pretty nice
Pixel with graphene is working just fine for me
Google search is still pretty good although definitely not what it was in its ad-free heyday. That you would go to the trouble of complaining about it is incomprehensible, given the plethora of credible alternatives.
Shit! What a pity not using Google Search App (nor Google altogether). I've not been part of this historical moment. /s