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Google Search Replacement

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chaos0822

Newbie
It's been a while since I've posted, so hello again! So, my Droid 4 recently received the JellyBean update, and I've been going out of my mind with the new Search app. I turned off Google Now, but it's frustrating that searches are no longer handled by the browser. As such, there is no way to quickly customize search settings that are available in the web-version (for me, this is usually changing the time range). Is there a replacement app for this, or any way to get the ICS version of QuickSearch back? I am rooted, so I suppose I might be able to simply overwrite the .apk file with an older one if someone happens to still have it. I know "search" apps do exist (usually widgets), but none of them integrate with the hardware search key. I tried rebinding the search key in the key-mappings, but this of course breaks the key for in-app use. All I want to do is replace the global search - eg: when pushing the search button from in the launcher app. Any thoughts, or is this simply impossible? According to the few threads I've found around the 'net on this topic, it's not quite as simple as simply listening for the search intent, which is likely why it's not simply an option in the launcher.
 
To have search results handled by the browser, you can install Firefox and the Google Search add-on.

Linux user #266351. Android since v1.0
 
@Crashdamage: Can you perhaps elaborate a little? I have Firefox, but I'm not sure what addon you're referring to. Also, I didn't realize addons had control of things outside of Firefox itself

@chanchan05: Indeed, this is what I've been doing lately, but I have this 3 year habit of pressing the hardware search button when I quickly want to start a search. I briefly mapped the search key to launching the browser, but of course this doesn't help much when I wanted to use the search functionality built into various apps. Basically I just want the classic ICS QuickSearch functionality where, if the search didn't match anything on the phone (or in any app that it searched), it would simply bring up a browser with the google query already filled in - no fuss, much lighter, and had the advantage of being in a browser where the search can be pushed into another tab if you briefly get interrupted.
 
Firefox > Menu > Tools > Add-ons look for an add-on called Google integrated search. I think it's included with Firefox. If it's not there, install and enable it. If it's installed already but disabled, enable it. You also might have to make Firefox the default browser if it's not already, not sure. Good to go.

Linux user #266351. Android since v1.0
 
I enabled the addon, but as expected it has no effect on the global search functionality. This only affects searching while within the browser. I am trying to replace the Google Search app - the one which normally contains Google Now on JellyBean.
 
Firefox is the default browser, I removed the Google Search app, and restarted the phone. From the launcher (Go Launcher), pressing the search button now does nothing. I am on Droid 4, 4.1.2
 
Out of ideas. But Go Launcher has really become a piece of bloated crapware. Uninstalling it *might* fix the problem, could be worth a shot. Try a better launcher like Nova or Apex.

Linux user #266351. Android since v1.0
 
I just tried those launchers - same thing, without the Google Search app installed, the search button doesn't do anything. Do you still have the Google Search app installed along with Firefox on your phone?
 
Not sure if its related but "global" search got "banned" from some devices in the US. I know Google Gesture Search app still searches within the phone (contacts, apps, etc) even in devices where global search was removed in firmware updates
 
@funkylogic: This is certainly possible... I know Motorola really did a number on the OS with the Jellybean update (not very happy with a lot of the changes).

I'm starting to wonder if this really is true:
Android Global Search app replacement - Stack Overflow
android - jelly bean search key - Stack Overflow

I feel like something like this should work for a solution, but it would require that I have access to the original APK's:
applications - How do I change the default search app in MIUI? - Android Enthusiasts Stack Exchange

I wouldn't have thought this would be an issue, since I'm fairly certain the search box was part of AOSP... It really should be as simple as registering your app to be the default handler for the global search intent, but this may be something hardwired as of Jellybean. I expect that with root I should be able to resolve this if I knew where to look.
 
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