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Google Pixel Launcher Allows Default Search Engine Pick

January 15, 2024

2 minutes read

The Google Pixel Launcher, like many Android launchers, lets you search everything on your phone and online in one spot. In the latest Android 14 QPR 2 Beta 3, this launcher got an update with a cool hidden menu named “Search Engine.” It’s simple: “Pick the app for web searches. It changes what you see on your home screen.”

It’s just speculation for now, but there’s a chance that Pixel devices might let you change their main search engine from Google to alternatives like Bing or DuckDuckGo. @Nail_Sadykov, a reliable source, shared this info on Twitter. The thread also hints at similar findings about the Chrome browser. Pixel Launcher users noticed “Search engine choice” flags in the browser, with text indicating that setting these flags could impact the initial user experience, giving them a choice of search engine during the first run.

Google’s Legal Challenges and Pixel Launcher Search Engine

This situation sparks various speculations. But it’s crucial to note that Google is presently dealing with a substantial antitrust legal challenge. It is filed by both the US Justice Department and attorneys general from eight states. The case accuses Google, having up to a 95% monopoly in the search engine sector, of monopolistic practices by limiting options for users to choose a different search engine. Consider the fact that Google pays Apple $10 billion annually to maintain Google as the default search engine on iOS. It adds weight to the argument.

This recent action by Google seems linked to increasing legal challenges. It raises questions about whether this is Google’s final defense against the accusations of maintaining a supposed “monopoly,” especially amid the ongoing struggle for control over the Play Store.

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