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.
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 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.
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.
firefox can do the same with any other search engine, it has a search widget
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.
And nothing of value was lost.
I will be proud of myself for the fact I didn't notice or know
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.
Shit! What a pity not using Google Search App (nor Google altogether). I've not been part of this historical moment. /s
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