Modifications are coming to the expertise of utilizing a Google Pixel cellphone, as a response to the Digital Markets Act. This laws impacts customers within the EU solely, although governments within the U.S., U.Okay. and past shall be watching intently and contemplating comparable legal guidelines themselves. The newest change impacts the house display of Pixel telephones, known as the Pixel launcher.
The DMA is designed to make sure “honest and open digital markets,” within the phrases of the European Fee, and focuses on giant on-line platforms it calls gatekeepers, and requires modifications reminiscent of interoperability with third events (WhatsApp has a ground-breaking replace which can permit messages from different apps to seem in it) or opening companies as much as rivals, reminiscent of the newest variations of iPhone software program which can allow exterior app marketplaces.
Whereas a lot of the main focus has been on the iPhone, and has already result in a lot of modifications and several other fast-moving U-turns from Apple, there are additionally modifications coming to Android and Google.
As an example, Google now exhibits a brand new browser alternative display throughout gadget setup for Android telephones for customers resident within the EU.
Now, an replace to Pixel Launcher is coming, with a one key change: the search bar on the backside of the homescreen. It’s been potential so as to add a distinct search engine to the homescreen, should you needed, say, DuckDuckGo as a substitute of Google as your search engine. That continues to be the case worldwide. Nevertheless it isn’t essentially the most elegant of seems to be, as a result of it means you’ve two search widgets taking on the restricted actual property.
Now, with the replace rolling out now, Pixel customers are capable of change which app they use to go looking the online, so the search bar on the homescreen exhibits the emblem to your alternative of engine. Does that imply there’s no want for a separate search widget? Properly, virtually.
The issue simply now, in keeping with some customers who’ve seen the brand new structure, as reported by 9to5Google, is that up to now the selection of search engine is restricted, with simply DuckDuckGo and Ecosia showing as choices up to now. That’s not the case for everybody, although.
I’ve simply arrange a Google Pixel 8 Professional in Spain and was supplied greater than a dozen choices for browser and across the similar for the search engine. I’ve chosen WWF Panda as my search engine.
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