Big Google Search Update + Experience Launcher now available for all Android 4.1+

BKlip

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Apr 28, 2013
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Just installed on my Note 3. So cool! Who needs a Nexus 5?

(didn't yet see this posted. My apologies if it already has been)

Massive Google Search 3.1.8 Update Rolling Out, Brings Google Experience Launcher To All 4.1+ Devices, New Cards, Completely Fixes GEL On Tablets, And More [APK Download]

Google Experience Launcher To All 4.1+ Devices, New Cards, Completely Fixes GEL On Tablets, And More [APK Download]

A huge Google Search update started rolling out earlier today. It is absolutely massive on many levels:

? It officially brings Search version 3 (3.1.8 to be exact) that shipped in KitKat to all devices running 4.1+. This includes an updated UI, new refresh animation, among other things.

? Because Search houses the Google Experience Launcher (GEL) inside, this update also brings GEL to all devices running Android 4.1+. All you need to do after installing Search 3.1.8 is install the launcher app from here, and voila - GEL for all, not just KitKat devices. I have it running on 4.1, 4.3, and 4.4 on both phones and tablets, and it finally looks perfect.

? As I mentioned above, 3.1.8 completely fixes the wonky GEL layout on tablets. As you may have seen yesterday, several things on the Nexus 7, for example, were out of whack - the keyboard was popping when you tapped Home, the icons were old, and the Search box was off-center. All fixed.
Remember: GEL does support transparency in the navigation and status bars, but you need KitKat for that to work. And Google disabled it system-wide on the Nexus 10.

? New cards:
Website update card
News topic card
What to watch card
Traffic incidents using Waze on maps.
Recurring reminders.
Real-time scores for rugby teams
See when your packages are ready for in-store pickup.
You can now bring back dismissed cards by pressing Undo.

But seriously, did you see that? GEL for all, with the help of one additional APK, now optimized for devices other than just the Nexus 5. This is what we've been waiting for.

Of course, Google should also upload the launcher stub that we need to install manually to the Play Store and make it really painless for everyone. I don't see any reason why this won't happen once they verify GEL works fine on as many hardware variations as possible.

On that note, where did the individual card settings and toggles go? I can't find them anymore. Update: All card settings and toggles have been reworked into a series of menus and yes/no questions - just tap the wand at the bottom of Search to access them.
 
Can someone try this and let me know if it works for them? I had these issues before the update, and still have them afterwards.

1. Am I the only one who's having issues when I say "Set an alarm for 7 and a half hours from now"? For example, if right now it's 6:30pm, and I ask it to set an alarm for four and a half hours from now, it sets it for 4am.

Screenshot_2013-11-12-18-32-37.jpg

2. When I say "remind me to buy milk at 9pm" it says "Saving reminder" then never reminds me. But if I say "create a calendar event buy milk at 9pm" it works just fine. I understand that reminders are connected to cards, and although everything is enabled (cards and reminders are on), nothing works. If I press the bottom left icon (pointed finger), it says "You don't have any upcoming reminders ..."

Thanks!
 
I installed GEL last night on my Sprint N3. Couple things I immediately noticed...Icons are HUGE, like massive (wish I could find a way to easily shrink them). Second, battery life seems to be taking a little bit of a hit. Might be because Google Now is always keeping the Mic on when the screen is on.
 
I installed GEL last night on my Sprint N3. Couple things I immediately noticed...Icons are HUGE, like massive (wish I could find a way to easily shrink them). Second, battery life seems to be taking a little bit of a hit. Might be because Google Now is always keeping the Mic on when the screen is on.

What do you mean keeping the mic on? It won't pick up if I say "Ok Google" if I don't have the app open?
 
Im new to this stuff. What exactly to I need to dl and install. The link posted here has a download but it also mentions needing another download. Im confused.


Got it figured out. Wish we could make the icons smaller though. Otherwise pretty cool.
 
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So, I got the updated Search app... now I can't find my cards' settings! How do I tell Google Now what I want and don't want to see? Where do I set the websites I want to get notified on?

Frustrated :(
 
I installed this last night as well. I noticed that my media server was staying awake for pretty much the entire time my phone was on. I don't know if this is a direct correlation with GEL, but I've never had this issue in the past. Battery life definitely took a hit as a result.

I lost about 10-15% more battery than normal at the time I checked.

Went back to touchwiz. I liked the way GEL looked and felt, but the icons are too big... kinda kills the resolution screen space. I also didn't like that there was a constant border on the top and how the settings button doesn't work with the samsung phone settings.

Google now integration was great though.
 
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I've been running it for two days now on my nexus 4 and am having the exact same issue with the mediaserver process. I really wonder if the current version is optimized for the snapdragon 800 and its dedicated audio coprocessor. 31% of my battery has been eaten by the process. I'll try running it one more day with the hotword detection turned off and see if the problem goes away.

I really like the GEL. It makes much better use of space than the stock launcher. Much less spacing around widgets and icons.
 
I gave it a try as well, but it's not for me. Maybe I'm missing something but I like my main home screen to be in the center, I like to have more than one dock, and I like my home & apps drawer to loop. I could not find much in the way of settings options.

Posted via Android Central App
 
Well, I turned off hot word detection a few hours ago. It's pretty clear where the battery drain in the Google Experience Launcher is coming from. :(

I'll give it a full day tomorrow to see if mediaserver climbs to the top again or not but I think if I want to use "ok google" I am going to have to switch back to the stock launcher. :-(

Screenshot_2013-11-16-22-43-04.png
 
Oh, sorry. Those were from my nexus 4. I originally landed in this thread as it was the only one I found that mentioned the battery drain issue.
 
I used it for a day or so and I couldn't bring myself to get away from the features of Apex Pro. The battery drain was slightly more than normal, but overall to me, the features that I lost were more important than having Google now always available. And also, did anyone notice the custom status on boot after it was installed. That was a little alarming to me.

Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk
 
Sticking with Nova Launcher Prime + Kit Kat Experience / Icons ($1 on the Play Store, amazingly good)
 

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