Pixel Launcher will soon allow you to choose the default web 'Search engine'.
The app build that comes with Android 14 QPR2 Beta 3 contains a hidden search settings item called "Search Engine". This feature will allow you to choose an app for the web search.
Screenshot from the linked tweet of the setting in Android 14 QP2 Beta 3:
Wow, that’s perfect. I’m actually really used to Niagara Launcher right now but I might consider Pixel Launcher. It’s just sooo smooth on a Pixel, no other launcher quite gets there, even Niagara.
It’s not. Particularly the switch to a multitasking view and some animations cannot be as smooth for any third party launcher due to the fact that the required API is not available to them. I don’t remember the details but I think it’s only available to system apps? I know it can be achieved with root but I don’t want that.
Just switched to Nova Launcher on my Pixel 7 about a month ago. Every once in a while —like, maybe once a week or so—it’ll take about a quarter second to load the home screen when I go to home. About as frequently, there will be a slight visual glitch when I launch an app, where the icon zooms out instead of in; but that doesn’t affect how long it takes to launch the app. I’ve also noticed an increase in my battery life, despite tripling the number of widgets since switching to Nova.
I’ve been using Nova for years and love it too, but it seems to be a bit unstable on my Pixel 7 Pro. Sometimes when pressing the home button, I just get a blank wallpaper until trying again. Other times the launcher freezes until I go into settings and force close it. It’s not happening often enough to make me switch yet, but often enough to be annoying.
Wow, that’s perfect. I’m actually really used to Niagara Launcher right now but I might consider Pixel Launcher. It’s just sooo smooth on a Pixel, no other launcher quite gets there, even Niagara.
I’ve really come to like Nova. It’s one of the few that is as smooth as the pixel launcher
It’s not. Particularly the switch to a multitasking view and some animations cannot be as smooth for any third party launcher due to the fact that the required API is not available to them. I don’t remember the details but I think it’s only available to system apps? I know it can be achieved with root but I don’t want that.
Just switched to Nova Launcher on my Pixel 7 about a month ago. Every once in a while —like, maybe once a week or so—it’ll take about a quarter second to load the home screen when I go to home. About as frequently, there will be a slight visual glitch when I launch an app, where the icon zooms out instead of in; but that doesn’t affect how long it takes to launch the app. I’ve also noticed an increase in my battery life, despite tripling the number of widgets since switching to Nova.
Anecdote isn’t the singular of data, though.
I’ve been using Nova for years and love it too, but it seems to be a bit unstable on my Pixel 7 Pro. Sometimes when pressing the home button, I just get a blank wallpaper until trying again. Other times the launcher freezes until I go into settings and force close it. It’s not happening often enough to make me switch yet, but often enough to be annoying.