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Google Search is everyone’s go-to resource for web links on the internet, whether they lead to articles like this one, videos on YouTube, images, or even short videos. Google’s attempts to ride the short video hype train have been mostly limited to YouTube Shorts, but the company is now taking cognizance of the format’s important role in information delivery as well. Search users may see a new Short Videos filter appear in Search shortly.
Google wants to help plan your next trip with new tools in Maps and Search
AI itineraries in Search and curated lists in Maps, just in time for summer travel season
Generative AI has pervaded nearly every aspect of Google’s business, right from Workspace tools to other core pillars of the business like Search and standalone projects like the Gemini chatbot. Although a lot of details still need to be ironed out, Google seems intent on including its Search Generative Experience (SGE) in Search results by default. To ensure users get the most out of this change, this summer, the company is maintaining the steady cadence of improvements with new capabilities coming to SGE and a few handy tweaks to Google Maps.
The Google Search widget needs a redesign, so I did it myself
KWGT and some determination go a long way
Google's redesign of the At a Glance widget for non-Pixel phones has been a love-or-hate affair, and I fall into the former camp. I think it looks great, but I have one criticism: the regular Google Search widget looks mismatched and awful by comparison. You'd imagine the Search widget would be one of the most used widgets on Android, so the fact it's gone this long without a Material You makeover boggles my mind. Google Drive, Chrome, Gmail, Keep, and more have all received new widgets, but this one hasn't. So I took matters into my own hands with the help of KWGT.
Google gets confused when you ask it about its vice president
It’s funny how the knowledge graph card works
Since its inception 25 years ago, Google has always saved the day whether you’re pondering things like “Do the blind see in their dreams” or simply trying to get it right in the hallway before you get to the interview room. As one of the most reliable search engines in the world, Google has given most of its searches the best results. However, even with all the natural language processing advancements over the years, it can struggle to understand the context behind certain questions.
Google could move the search bar closer to your thumb in Android 14 QPR1
The floating search bar is similar to Android 13's but more accessible
There’s something charming about Google's ongoing Pixel changelog. Users know that getting a Pixel smartphone means getting the latest Android features first, and that happens even more frequently now thanks to quarterly Pixel Feature Drops. In a fast-paced tech world, the excitement around a new smartphone quickly wanes. But the Pixel’s three-month Feature Drop cadence keeps your smartphone fresh, updated, and more helpful. On that last point, it appears that December's Feature Drop will bring some improvements to the Google Search bar.
Google is testing a fake search bar in the Discover feed
The beta test simplifies searches originating from articles on Discover
Google Discover is an unmissable part of Pixel Launcher and the Google app, serving as a hub for everything you could possibly be interested in. Google realizes you often read an article on Discover and then switch to the main Search app to find related content. Now, the company is testing a new UI component that makes this search journey easier, giving you a launchpad for the query directly in the Discover feed.
Google Search picks up new tools to show you where results are coming from
A worldwide rollout for some features is still in the works
Google offers a multitude of different services, so it's understandable that some of them fall into a state of neglect from time to time. But when the company's flagship product needs attention, it gets some right away. In December last year, redesigned knowledge panels revamped the appearance of Google Search and made results more useful. Now, Google is taking things a step further, introducing a handful of ways to verify the authenticity of results for your query.
Google Search on the desktop may soon integrate Lens
Helping you identify even the most curious images
Lens is one of Google's most low-key versatile tools that we really don't take enough advantage of, letting users do everything from identifying flowers in the wild to translating signs in unfamiliar languages. First consigned to mobile use, Google started integrating Lens with Chrome a couple of years ago. Now that push towards the PC continues, as we learn about Google testing Lens integration right in Search.
Android 12 Beta 5 fixes the annoying square search bar
Back to rounded edges with the new universal search, which is also now live
Among the more vexing changes in the Android 12 Betas to date has been the apparent bug that caused the search bar/widget built into the Pixel Launcher to lose its curves, not just appearing as a hard-edged square but with an off-center Google logo, to boot. As far as pedantically tiny frustrations go, it was maddening. Android 12 Beta 5 thankfully fixes that problem, and it looks like it won't be an issue when it hits stable.
The Google search bar is being a square in Android 12 Beta 3
A little bug in the app drawer breaks the rounded aesthetics
Android 12 Beta 3 is the last beta before the new OS reaches platform stability, but that doesn't mean that there aren't still bugs that need to be ironed out. Among them is one that's rather fun. No matter which icon shape you choose for your launcher, the search bar in the app drawer is always square with a rather misaligned Google icon.
Doodles are becoming one of the rare manifestations of Google's funky side. With the company becoming more serious and losing its witty approach to things, Doodles still remind us, from time to time, that there is still a playful child hiding inside that grown-up adult. But many Android users don't notice the genius behind the daily Doodle because they just use the search widget on their homescreen. Google has found a workaround for that.
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- Google has updated its support docs to highlight widget-customization functionality.
Customization options for Google's search widget first started to appear all the way back in 2017 before being unceremoniously yoinked. Hints of its return cropped up in a teardown earlier this month, and based on numerous reports and our own experiences over the last few days here at Android Police, it's back again.
A new version of the Google app is making the rounds to users that have opted into the beta channel. This update is a bit tamer than some other recent version bumps. The only change popping up in the live interface at this point is a command to return the Google search widget to its original styling. However, there are quite a few small topics in the teardown, including the addition of Scenes to the upcoming support for Routines (a.k.a. multi-action shortcuts) and a couple more details about Quartz and devices that may be related to it.
In his teardown of the Google app 7.12, Cody uncovered a customizable Google Search bar was in the making and it's been showing up here and there for some, but the latest Google app beta version 7.14.15 finally brings it to life for everyone.