Changes are taking place in the experience of using a Google Pixel phone, in reaction to the Digital Markets Act. This law only affects users in the EU, U. S. governments, and the U. S. government. Similar laws will largely follow and contemplate similar laws. The latest update affects the home screen of Pixel phones, called the Pixel Launcher.
The DMA is designed to ensure “fair and open virtual markets”, in the words of the European Commission, and focuses on giant online platforms that it calls “gatekeepers”, and calls for tweaks such as interoperability with third parties (WhatsApp has a revolutionary update that will allow messages from other apps to appear there) or opening up to competition, such as the latest versions of iPhone software that will enable third-party app marketplaces.
While it’s been on the iPhone and has already led to a lot of tweaks and several quick changes by Apple, tweaks are also coming to Android and Google.
For example, Google is now introducing a new browser selection screen when setting up the device for Android phones for users living in the EU.
Now comes an update to the Pixel Launcher, with one key change: the search bar at the bottom of the home screen. It is possible to add another search engine to the home screen, if you want, for example, DuckDuckGo instead of Google. as your search engine. This is still the case around the world. But it’s not the most fancy look, as it means you have two search widgets that take up limited space.
Now, with the release of the update, Pixel users can change the app they use to search the web, so that the search bar on the home screen displays the logo of the engine of their choice. Does this mean there’s no need to have a standalone search widget?Well, almost.
The challenge at the moment, according to some users who have noticed the new presentation, as reported through 9to5Google, is that so far the selection of the search engine is limited, with only DuckDuckGo and Ecosia appearing so far as features. But that’s not the case for everyone.
Pixel 8 Pro: Notice the panda in the search bar.
I just installed a Google Pixel 8 Pro in Spain and introduced more than a dozen features for the browser and about the same for the search engine. I chose WWF Panda as my search engine.