Changes are coming to the experience of using a Google Pixel phone, as a response to the Digital Markets Act. This legislation affects users in the EU only, though governments in the U.S., U.K. and beyond will be watching closely and considering similar laws themselves. The latest change affects the home screen of Pixel phones, called the Pixel launcher.
The DMA is designed to ensure “fair and open digital markets,” in the words of the European Commission, and focuses on large online platforms it calls gatekeepers, and requires changes such as interoperability with third parties (WhatsApp has a ground-breaking update which will allow messages from other apps to appear in it) or opening services up to competitors, such as the latest versions of iPhone software which will permit external app marketplaces.
While much of the focus has been on the iPhone, and has already lead to lots of changes and several fast-moving U-turns from Apple, there are also changes coming to Android and Google.
For instance, Google now shows a new browser choice screen during device setup for Android phones for users resident in the EU.
Now, an update to Pixel Launcher is coming, with a one key change: the search bar at the bottom of the homescreen. It’s been possible to add a different search engine to the homescreen, if you wanted, say, DuckDuckGo instead of Google as your search engine. That continues to be the case worldwide. But it isn’t the most elegant of looks, because it means you have two search widgets taking up the limited real estate.
Now, with the update rolling out now, Pixel users are able to switch which app they use to search the web, so the search bar on the homescreen shows the logo for your choice of engine. Does that mean there’s no need for a separate search widget? Well, almost.
The problem just now, according to some users who have seen the new layout, as reported by 9to5Google, is that so far the choice of search engine is limited, with just DuckDuckGo and Ecosia appearing as options so far. That’s not the case for everyone, though.
I have just set up a Google Pixel 8 Pro in Spain and was offered more than a dozen options for browser and around the same for the search engine. I’ve chosen WWF Panda as my search engine.
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