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Bing NOT replaceable

There may not be a big deal, but if VZW has locked you out from using Google, then the search button will use Bing, and you may not be able to change it. All we can do is speculate based on available documents until we have the phone or hear from someone that does.
 
the Galaxy phones are so easily rootable, that it should COME FROM VZW prerooted, lol...if you don't root it, that's fine, but it is so easy to do it, then you have a phone that is truly your own...get rid of all the bloatware, use google voice to replace Visual Voice Mail, for messaging, and calling non VZW phones, let Verizon know that there are alternatives to what they offer....that way maybe just maybe we'll get some things accomplished....VZ Navigator? was nice when there weren't any other alternatives...the fact that VZW still charge for it on Android devices is ridiculous....been using google maps since I bought my D1 in December, continue to use it on my DInc, and will continue on both the Fascinate (wife) and the new HTC Merge/Incredible HD whatever it's called...
 
EliC said:
There may not be a big deal, but if VZW has locked you out from using Google, then the search button will use Bing, and you may not be able to change it. All we can do is speculate based on available documents until we have the phone or hear from someone that does.
Click to expand...

This is my biggest concern as I use the hard search button and the voice commands all the time, especially for searching on maps.
 
At least on other android phones the magnifying glass button can be remapped to voice search/google search. I highly doubt this would be overwritten as what Elic fears is completely opposite what android stands for. I am absolutely sure that bing can be replaced if wanted. IMO the only thing that limits an android phone is hardware.
 
As many have stated, root will likely be very easy, so this is all likely moot (assuming you are willing to root).

However, while android itself is open, any provider can lock it or its features down. VZW may have done so in this case as per an agreement with M$.
 
ELiC please change the title. Bing not being able to be removed is not stated anywhere in that manual whatsoever. Atleast put a ? or might in there unless you know 100%. As a phone guide have some credibility.
 
Kierik said:
ELiC please change the title. Bing not being able to be removed is not stated anywhere in that manual whatsoever. Atleast put a ? or might in there unless you know 100%. As a phone guide have some credibility.
Click to expand...

The title of the thread correctly reflects the verizon documentation. Post number 4 has a screenshot from verizon documents stating that Bing can not be removed. Hopefully this is wrong or I am mis-reading it, but thats clearly exactly what it states.

Either way, with root, all things are possible ;-) We won't know for sure until someone with the phone in hand can confirm either way.
 
All that shows is that the widget cannot be changed from bing to google. and the google widget cannot be changed from google to bing. Do you even have an android phone or used one? Why would they lockout a search widget and not maps? Hell that chart isnt even correct as google search does do apps.
 
It has now been confirmed. Google search is NOT downloadable. The google search is locked out! So without root, you are using Bing.
 
Has anyone read over the Fascinate manual? It was posted on Pahndroid.com


It would be really dumb to lock you down to not being able to remove Bing from the screen. I don't care if you can't delete it permanently, as long as it doesn't have to sit on one of my homescreens and I can put the Google search on there, and hopefully link the hardware search button to Google. The linking of the physical button to google is not a dealbreaker for me though.
 
oPEEPINGTOMo said:
Has anyone read over the Fascinate manual? It was posted on Pahndroid.com


It would be really dumb to lock you down to not being able to remove Bing from the screen. I don't care if you can't delete it permanently, as long as it doesn't have to sit on one of my homescreens and I can put the Google search on there, and hopefully link the hardware search button to Google. The linking of the physical button to google is not a dealbreaker for me though.
Click to expand...

U can remove the bing just drag it into trash can like all other widgets
 
durangojim said:
This is my biggest concern as I use the hard search button and the voice commands all the time, especially for searching on maps.
Click to expand...

And this is my concern as well. If this is fixable without root (or works as we expect it to work now even out of the box - we don't know), then Bing would seem to be a non-issue to me. We will see.
 
ckochinsky125 said:
Bing isn't that bad idk why everyone is so worked up over this.
Click to expand...

It is bad. Search something simple like "How big is the sun?" on Bing. Then search it and compare it to Google. Also click images on both for the same question, and compare. Post back here on your conclusions.

As far as what EliC is saying, he could be right. Verizon took away my option to have Google, or any other search provider as my default search, when I had my blackberry. Woke up, and (bam!) all that was there was Bing. You could still use Google by bookmarking it tho, but that was extra steps for no reason.

Unlike blackberry, Google is deeply integrated into Android. If Verizon broke Google integration, and replace it with Bing integration, then that would be worse then you think. That means even if you replace the widget with a Google one, (for example) it won't stop links in the browser from defaulting to Bing when you click on them. Another example would be Bing maps would open instead of Google maps. Another limitation would be Bing's voice search, which can't compare to Google's.

That search button on your phone would only open Bing search, A nightmare.
 
HolyGrail said:
It is bad. Search something simple like "How big is the sun?" on Bing. Then search it and compare it to Google. Also click images on both for the same question, and compare. Post back here on your conclusions.

As far as what EliC is saying, he could be right. Verizon took away my option to have Google, or any other search provider as my default search, when I had my blackberry. Woke up, and (bam!) all that was there was Bing. You could still use Google by bookmarking it tho, but that was extra steps for no reason.

Unlike blackberry, Google is deeply integrated into Android. If Verizon broke Google integration, and replace it with Bing integration, then that would be worse then you think. That means even if you replace the widget with a Google one, (for example) it won't stop links in the browser from defaulting to Bing when you click on them. Another example would be Bing maps would open instead of Google maps. Another limitation would be Bing's voice search, which can't compare to Google's.

That search button on your phone would only open Bing search, A nightmare.
Click to expand...

So just as a scenario, since this will be my first android phone if i get it, if you can remove the bing widget, replace it with the google one, but not associate google as the default for the physical button, are you still able to use all of the google voice search stuff on it or you can only do that if it can be set as default?
 
Sad, but it confirms my original reading of the verizon documentation. I wish I was wrong, but it appears I was correct.
 
I posted the following questions on that site and hopefully we will have some answers.
1) Can you change which search engine the browser defaults to?
2) Also in the video were you searching the market for Google Search widget(doesnt exist) or google search?
3) Do you notice any signal attenuation problems when the device is held normally vs smothered?
4) Is google voice search used or is this replaced by a bing voice search?

I still plan on getting this phone as i cannot stand T-mobile's indoor performance.(i love their plans tho) My only concern all along was never stated in any training manual which is can you select your search engine for the browser.

I wonder if android uses a Hosts file where you can route bing.com to google.com


Answered with google search Where is the Hosts File in Android? - xda-developers
So we can try this for a solution
 
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