Another video. Cant download google search?

[Archerdude]

I will be the first to tell you i really dont know if google search can be enabled, downloaded or what. But i would like someone to confirm or deny what this guy says in the video. I did look at the dump files and it does show google search. Just would like to know for sure before i buy this phone Thursday.
YouTube - Samsung Fascinate Hands On!!!

 

[idkmybffjill]

Either way we know there'll be a root coming soon and then we can Google our little hearts out. I try to Google at least once a day.

 

[dsignori]

I will be the first to tell you i really dont know if google search can be enabled, downloaded or what. But i would like someone to confirm or deny what this guy says in the video. I did look at the dump files and it does show google search. Just would like to know for sure before i buy this phone Thursday.
YouTube - Samsung Fascinate Hands On!!!

We'll have to see if this is true or not. The phone actually comes pre-installed with a Google Voice search app(per the leaked user guide).

It would be odd indeed if that app is pre-loaded, but the Google Search widget was blocked from being downloadable on this phone. Then again, nothing is too far-fetched with some of these carriers .. We will see ..

edit: A person in another forum tested the download of Google Search widget in a store, and it seems it is missing/blocked. He compared it to a Incredible in the same store and the Incredible found it immediately in the Android Market. Hopefully the Google Search widget .apk can still be side-loaded without root.

Anyone happen to have the Google Search widget .apk file around for download?

 

[prakash99]

If worst comes to worst and if I don't feel like rooting the device, I will just make google search my default homepage. So if I want to do a search I will just have to fire up the browser. I wont be able to use the dedicated search button. That's all. As long as Gmail is fully functional with push notification, I can just learn to ignore Bing.

 

[brandonx1000]

i guess i'm one of the few that doesn't care about getting bing. i never really use the google search implemented on the phone, i just open google.com and go from there

 

[gspeed]

We will either root or sideload google search on these devices. No way MS runs on my phone without consent. My way of giving the middle finger to MS. Root will happen eventually and loading custom roms.

Sideloading will happen immediately.

 

[theoneuafter]

Good I want Google on my beast. I hate that they try to force us to use Bing. The recent updates for Google have been freakin awesome too.
Now I gotta stop using that cause MS wants to weasel in on one of the hottest phones coming out? Dont think so. Bing is out asap........

 

[ellisz]

Google search is in the Fascinate system dump from what I read.

 

[Archerdude]

It is on the dump. But I am hearing conflicting reports if it can be placed on the device. We will be getting one so I will find out next week.

 

[Cory Streater]

If its in the dump, it already is on the device, which means it doesn't need to be installed. It's probably just another choice in the widget list. Google Search doesn't show up in the Market on the Epic either, but it's definitely installed.

 

[kentster]

Does anyone know if Bing Maps offers similar functionality as Google Maps for voice assisted, turn-by-turn directions? I am reading conflicting reports about what Google Maps can do on the Fascinate. However, if Bing Maps offers equivalent functionality and is working then I'm not really concerned.

 

[prakash99]

Bing maps don't offer turn by turn voice navigation.

 

[Cory Streater]

You can get Bing installed on any Verizon Droid phone right now. It's available in the Market. I tried it last night on the X and was completely horrified.

 

[Archerdude]

You can get Bing installed on any Verizon Droid phone right now. It's available in the Market. I tried it last night on the X and was completely horrified.

I figured as much.

 

[bxojr]

i guess i'm one of the few that doesn't care about getting bing. i never really use the google search implemented on the phone, i just open google.com and go from there

You're not alone. I don't expect to use the Search button a whole lot; and when I do use it, all I'll care about is whether it finds what I want. If it does, I couldn't care less whose brand is on the search engine.

If it doesn't work, that's a different story, and I'll be first in line to root and change the behavior. But I've used Bing on the desktop, and as far as I can tell it works fine. Sometimes it even finds things Google doesn't.

 

[joebob2000]

You're not alone. I don't expect to use the Search button a whole lot; and when I do use it, all I'll care about is whether it finds what I want. If it does, I couldn't care less whose brand is on the search engine.

If it doesn't work, that's a different story, and I'll be first in line to root and change the behavior. But I've used Bing on the desktop, and as far as I can tell it works fine. Sometimes it even finds things Google doesn't.

The part that genuinely freaks me out is the possibility they are going to force VZ Nav (and the $5/mo fee) on us and lock out the (free) Google version... If they are ok selling out to microsoft to lock the default search on bing, what happens when they take the next step?

 

[Cory Streater]

The part that genuinely freaks me out is the possibility they are going to force VZ Nav (and the $5/mo fee) on us and lock out the (free) Google version...

They are not doing this. It has been confirmed that you can install and use Google Maps & Nav.

 

[Sabban]

thats one app i will be installing first is google maps, never actually used google nav before