[APP][THEME][WIDGET] Transparent Google Search

[Lttlwing16]

Once, again, I am on a transparent widget kick. Here is the google search bar widget in a transparent theme.

Changelog: I have also themed a Black Google Search Widget with the browser symbol from Gingerbread. Download and pic below.

This is a system app, so you'll have to be rooted and have access to the system/app drawer via a file manager of your choice. I recommend removing the existing Google Search widget off your homescreen if you have one before replacing the .apk. I also recommend copying the stock, existing GoogleSearchBar.apk from your system/app drawer and keeping it on your sdcard in case something goes wrong, or you want the stock search bar back. After replacing the existing .apk with the themed one reboot your device and re-check your widget list.

as always, since this requires modifying your system/app drawer, I take no responsibility for you gorking your phone. If you don't know what your doing, take some time to ask, or read.

I also take no credit for the development of this .apk. All Credit goes to Google Development.

Download:

.apk's
Transparent
http://www.mediafire.com/file/h2i6eelpz9lwyit/GoogleQuickSearchBox.apk

Solid Black
http://www.mediafire.com/file/gwhcgrjdg4dr9jm/GoogleQuickSearchBox.apk

.zip (Amend)

Trans
http://www.mediafire.com/file/gwfpsajddu8r0gi/GoogleWidgetTransGRN.zip

Black
http://www.mediafire.com/file/nfaxniq6o7lww89/GoogleWidgetBLAK.zip

 

[Lttlwing16]

Solid black widget themed and added in OP. See above

 

[Lttlwing16]

upon request I .zip'ed these to make them easier to install. Flash in CWM. Tested and Verified. Check OP.

 

[stali13]

The zips are not supported by cwm 3.x

 

[gomcse]

I don't want to root my Galaxy S2, but I want a black Google Search Widget. Is there a way to do this? Does an APK exist? I don't like BlackL Google Search because it makes the search result background BLACK...but their widget is *exactly* what I want as the skin for my Google Search widget.

...help...?

Thanks!
Dave

 

[Lttlwing16]

I don't want to root my Galaxy S2, but I want a black Google Search Widget. Is there a way to do this? Does an APK exist? I don't like BlackL Google Search because it makes the search result background BLACK...but their widget is *exactly* what I want as the skin for my Google Search widget.

...help...?

Thanks!
Dave

Hey Dave, have you tried just installing the .apk from above with the App Installer? It might work.

 

[asd12]

This fails. As expected.

# adb install GoogleQuickSearchBox_transparent.apk 
4613 KB/s (556418 bytes in 0.117s)
	pkg: /data/local/tmp/GoogleQuickSearchBox_transparent.apk
Failure [INSTALL_FAILED_UPDATE_INCOMPATIBLE]

Remeber one has to copy the file GoogleQuickSearchBox.apk into the /system/app/ directory, and then set the correct file permissions:

cp /mnt/sdcard/GoogleQuickSearchBox.apk /system/app/GoogleQuickSearchBox.apk
chmod 755 /system/app/GoogleQuickSearchBox.apk

 

[Lttlwing16]

This fails. As expected.

# adb install GoogleQuickSearchBox_transparent.apk 
4613 KB/s (556418 bytes in 0.117s)
	pkg: /data/local/tmp/GoogleQuickSearchBox_transparent.apk
Failure [INSTALL_FAILED_UPDATE_INCOMPATIBLE]

Remeber one has to copy the file GoogleQuickSearchBox.apk into the /system/app/ directory, and then set the correct file permissions:

cp /mnt/sdcard/GoogleQuickSearchBox.apk /system/app/GoogleQuickSearchBox.apk
chmod 755 /system/app/GoogleQuickSearchBox.apk

Thanks for the insight. I figured you'd have to manually push it to system/app. Good to know.

I just fix the permissions with root explorer.. but if you prefer adb than that will work too.

 

[fletcher969]

Hi all...sorry to jump in where I wasn't invited, but I was searching the web looking for a themed Google search box, and found your thread. Anyway, the black search box mentioned above is also exactly what I'm looking for, so I "borrowed" the links, and got a copy to play with.

I tried replacing GoogleQuickSearchBox.apk in the app directory, and gave it rw-r--r-- permissions using Root Browser, but every time I add the Google Quick Search Widget to a desktop, it's still white. I'm far from an expert in Linux, so I'm not even sure how it's possible for the search box to remain white when I've supposedly changed the "content" file to black. Anybody wanna help me out here? Thanks.

 

[Lttlwing16]

Hi all...sorry to jump in where I wasn't invited, but I was searching the web looking for a themed Google search box, and found your thread. Anyway, the black search box mentioned above is also exactly what I'm looking for, so I "borrowed" the links, and got a copy to play with.

I tried replacing GoogleQuickSearchBox.apk in the app directory, and gave it rw-r--r-- permissions using Root Browser, but every time I add the Google Quick Search Widget to a desktop, it's still white. I'm far from an expert in Linux, so I'm not even sure how it's possible for the search box to remain white when I've supposedly changed the "content" file to black. Anybody wanna help me out here? Thanks.

Fletcher969,

It sounds like your rooted if your able to fix permissions with Root Browser, but if your not then you'll need to be.

Here are the steps I follow to get this to work

0. Download the desired widget .apk from above and store on your sdcard.

1. Remove existing search widget from homescreen

2. Open Root Explorer (browser in your case) and mount R/W.

3. Navigate to Sys/app and copy the existing stock GoogleQuickSearchBox.apk to the sdcard for safe keeping (in your case, fletch, you may have already overwritten it, but maybe not) and then rename it something to let you know it's the original file. GoogleQuickSearchBoxORIG.apk or something.

4. Navigate to the themed .apk downloaded and rename to GoogleQuickSearchBox.apk

5. Copy renamed, themed .apk to the sys/app folder. If prompted to overwrite agree and continue.

6. Find the new .apk in the list once done overwriting and long press to fix 1) Owner: 1000 System : Group: 1000 system 2) Permissions to rw-r--r--.

7. Reboot your device

8. Long press on desired home screen and select widget. Scroll and select the Blue "G" Boxed icon for Google Search Box. Pick your desired search option i.e. all, web, contacts, etc.

9. Enjoy

Hope that helps! and Good Luck! Keep yours eyes peeled, as I may have a new box up today. It's completely transparent and somewhat redesigned. Here's a pic:

 

[fletcher969]

Fletcher969,

It sounds like your rooted if your able to fix permissions with Root Browser, but if your not then you'll need to be.

Here are the steps I follow to get this to work

0. Download the desired widget .apk from above and store on your sdcard.
1. Remove existing search widget from homescreen
2. Open Root Explorer (browser in your case) and mount R/W.
3. Navigate to Sys/app and copy the existing stock GoogleQuickSearchBox.apk to the sdcard for safe keeping (in your case, fletch, you may have already overwritten it, but maybe not) and then rename it something to let you know it's the original file. GoogleQuickSearchBoxORIG.apk or something.
4. Navigate to the themed .apk downloaded and rename to GoogleQuickSearchBox.apk
5. Copy renamed, themed .apk to the sys/app folder. If prompted to overwrite agree and continue.
6. Find the new .apk in the list once done overwriting and long press to fix 1) Owner: 1000 System : Group: 1000 system 2) Permissions to rw-r--r--.
7. Reboot your device
8. Long press on desired home screen and select widget. Scroll and select the Blue "G" Boxed icon for Google Search Box. Pick your desired search option i.e. all, web, contacts, etc.
9. Enjoy

Hope that helps! and Good Luck! Keep yours eyes peeled, as I may have a new box up today. It's completely transparent and somewhat redesigned. Here's a pic:

Well, that pretty well covered every single step I took, including the backup of the original which I stashed safely onto my SD except for changing the ownership attributes. My Linux noobility showing itself. Long press in Root Browser shows:

Owner, 0-root
Group, 0-root

My long and vast experience in all things computing says I just change what's in those two entry boxes to match what you suggest and I'll be fine, and I'll likely do just that before I get confirmation, but if all that was wrong was ownership, WHERE is the system caching a copy of the "white" search box when the black one has physically replaced the previous? Just curious...

And thanks for the help!

 

[fletcher969]

Hmmm...I made the ownership changes (I verified same after rebooting), and it's still the default white box. Ok...perhaps I grabbed the wrong link? In the four above, I grabbed the "Solid Black" apk, and the "Black" zip file. I looked inside the zip file, and saw the appropriate apk embedded therein, but I copied the "Solid Black" apk listed above instead since it seemed obvious it was solid black. I'll look into this in a bit. Other things to take of for a bit, but I'm more curious now.

It's worth mentioning too, that I don't get the "all, web, contacts, etc." options for the widget you mention above when long pressing on the desktop and selecting the Google Search widget. I only get the size choice (4x1 or 4x2). I also tried it on different desktops just in case, and it's worth noting even though it's next to my avatar that I'm using a CM7.1 mod, etc. though I can't imagine it should matter.

 

[Lttlwing16]

Yeah that white search box is not the same .apk i don't believe. Does it prompt you to overwrite when you paste to sys/app?

Sent from my NookColor using Tapatalk

 

[fletcher969]

Yeah that white search box is not the same .apk i don't believe. Does it prompt you to overwrite when you paste to sys/app?

Sent from my NookColor using Tapatalk

The way I did it was to rename the original first, then copy the new one in place, then copy the renamed original onto the SD (yeah, a little anal initially), so unfortunately I never got a sneak peek overwrite prompt. This last time I just wiped the file remaining there, and recopied the new on into place, changed the permissions and ownership, and it's still white. I'll try a couple more things before I hit the sack, and see what I can find. Thanks again.

 

[fletcher969]

Ok, I found a completely different black searchbox (though it's quite similar) on a different site, and the same thing happened with that one when I try installing it on a desktop (a white 4x1 widget), BUT...when I view the file in Root Browser now, the icon is a green G on black instead of a blue G on white (or was that a white G on blue?), so it's seeing something different. Unfortunately, the system isn't seeing the same changes. Perhaps I should clear some caches somewhere....dunno how Linux works though.

 

[Lttlwing16]

There isn't a Google search with a "blue box and a white g" in the widget list ? Or is that the one you have been selecting? I also have the option for the white search box, however it is in the bottom of the list. I would theme that one but can't find where the files are hidden.

Attached are a couple screen shots of what I mean.

The themed widget is the one with the blue box in the list.

Sent from my NookColor using Tapatalk

 

[fletcher969]

There isn't a Google search with a "blue box and a white g" in the widget list ? Or is that the one you have been selecting? I also have the option for the white search box, however it is in the bottom of the list. I would theme that one but can't find where the files are hidden.

Attached are a couple screen shots of what I mean.

The themed widget is the one with the blue box in the list.

Sent from my NookColor using Tapatalk

I have the same two icons in my widget list also. I've been selecting the blue one expecting it to install the new black widget, but it's white every time. I also tried selecting the "Search" widget also, but it's just like the other one apparently.

The ONLY change I've affected so far is that when I browsed the /system/app/GoogleQuickSearchBox.apk previously, it would show the "white G on blue" icon in the file listing; however, last night, when I installed the "different" black apk file, the file listing shows a "green G on black" icon, so something changed which indicates the file isn't the original (we knew that anyway, but it's nice to have confirmation). Sadly though, when I install a new 4x1 widget, it's the same white one shipped.

 

[Lttlwing16]

Maybe try clearing your caches..? Not real sure about your problem. I never tried these when I was on CM7..

Sent from my NookColor using Tapatalk

 

[fletcher969]

Maybe try clearing your caches..? Not real sure about your problem. I never tried these when I was on CM7..

Sent from my NookColor using Tapatalk

I've been clearing caches and data after making changes, and before installing the widget almost since I started with this little item. Root Browser seems to be taking it's icon (again, now black with a green G) from inside the apk, but the system isn't using that file...that much I can say for sure. I'll have to poke around, and find out how and/or where Android stores such stuff.

 

[fletcher969]

Hey guys...

I revisited this, and discovered why my search box wouldn't change from the default white, even after replacing the search box apk in /system/app. It's because the "working" apk files on my X's CM7 are found in the /data/app folder. Probably a 2nd init thing, whereupon the apk files in /system/app are part of the initial processing before hijack takes over. Anyway, I still don't have a fully functioning BLACK themed search box, because it's transparent instead. I have confirmed the hdpi and mdpi image files are themed for black, but all I get atm is a simple outlined search box with a mic on the right side. The search box cannot be selected for text search, but the mic functions as expected. I'm going to keep looking into why it's not black themed. Perhaps it's "defaulting" to a completely unthemed/transparent look for some reason.