10mo ago

Google Search App Stopped Working For A Few Hours Last Night.

www.seroundtable.com /google-search-app-stopped-working-38069.html

31 comments

And nothing of value was lost.
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)
  
  firefox can do the same with any other search engine, it has a search widget
  
  Duck duck go
  
  For the stock launcher, yeah. Alternatives are a dime a dozen.
- 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
- 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

31 comments