Why did Verizon remove Google & Replace it with Bing?!

[Cory Streater]

I hear yeah. Even though it will all still be there, Launcher Pro can at least hide all of that stuff in the meantime. Except for Bing As for root, I'm hoping you're right on the timing.

 

[badmf222]

I have to say I'm truly disappointed at how Verizon managed to completely lock down this phone. I was looking forward to grabbing one on release, but with Verizon disabling key Google services that are native to the Android platform, I think I will have to pass on this phone and grab either an X or an Incredible. What a big letdown. This basically kills the Google Voice Search capabilities that were introduced for Froyo. Why would anyone want a phone that doesn't work with upgrades done to make the OS and services work seamlessly?

 

[Cory Streater]

Why would anyone want a phone that doesn't work with upgrades done to make the OS and services work seamlessly?

I hadn't thought about the upgrade part of the equation. The "customization" of this particular flavor of the Galaxy S could have played a part in why it took so long to release the phone, and will likely be the reason if we get Froyo months after everyone else does. That said, I'm confident that after 1-2 days with this phone, I will have figured out how to Google search working on this thing. Either that or I will totally brick it. One of the 2 haha.

 

[thebizz]

lol have you ever tried to side load the apk from the system dump that may give you the option to set it as defualt

 

[Menno]

What you would need is somone to pull the google search.apk from the system dump and then re-package it for sideloading. (I think, I'm not a coder, so I don't know how hard this is)

But Phil/Cory what you guys should do is make a guide detailing exactly how to set Google Maps up as the default navigator. From what I've read, Verizion/samsung worked very hard at making vz navigator the default for everything it could be.

This new phone makes me sad.. I don't mind if people have the OPTION to choose bing (or yahoo) but removing google is just stupid. It's a trend I really don't want to see grow, so as cool as this phone looks on paper, I really hope it bombs so intervention is seen as bad.

 

[thebizz]

no need to recode or anything all you have to do is copy the apk to your sdcard and use a file manager to install the app. thats if its not already installed on the system. if its installed then you will have to someway disable bing by force stoping it then clear its defualts. from their try the search button and it may give you the option for bing or google

 

[Archerdude]

At this point I am feeling confident we will have it up and running how we like in a short time.

 

[Cory Streater]

no need to recode or anything all you have to do is copy the apk to your sdcard and use a file manager to install the app. thats if its not already installed on the system.

If that's all it takes, then consider it a done deal. The APK is all over the place in the various Galaxy S system dumps.

Take Bing out of the picture, and there is an awful lot to like about this phone. And I can say with 99% certainty that once you download and install Google Maps and Google Navigator from the Market, you will be prompted weather to use Navigator or Maps as the default choice when clicking on addresses in emails and in the browser. The Epic and the other Galaxy S phones all prompt you to choose between the Carrier nav app and Google Maps.

It has a an amazing screen, reviewers are touting it as the fastest phone to date, and contrary to other Galaxy S versions, it appears the battery life in this phone is phenomenal. Cover TW up with LP Plus and you have one hot phone.

 

[thebizz]

looking at a video of it now makes my d2 look slow and ugly. and for a 5mp camera video and pics look great i think i could live with bing. i really like this phone have to see if they will let me trade in my d2 for it would love to play with it

 

[Cory Streater]

looking at a video of it now makes my d2 look slow and ugly. and for a 5mp camera video and pics look great i think i could live with bing. i really like this phone have to see if they will let me trade in my d2 for it would love to play with it

Now you're talking Bizz. We haven't been together since the days of the Droid. It would be great to be in the same forum as you again

 

[thebizz]

yes it would just got to convice vzw.

 

[pheatton]

I think that since the other Galaxy phones got rooted very quickly this will to. Thats the the only reason Im going to get this. Once its rooted then we can get rid of all the bloatware and such. Then move onto custom ROMs.

I wonder if Seidio is going to make a case for it...?

 

[thebizz]

lets hope. root isnt the only reason i want to get this. the sgs line right now are the most well rounded single core android phone that your going to get right now good camera, great processor/gpu, beautiful screen etc i want it

 

[joebob2000]

It has a an amazing screen, reviewers are touting it as the fastest phone to date, and contrary to other Galaxy S versions, it appears the battery life in this phone is phenomenal. Cover TW up with LP Plus and you have one hot phone.

What makes you so sure about the battery life?

 

[Cory Streater]

What makes you so sure about the battery life?

I'm only basing it off of this comment. I'm sure my experience with battery life will not be as good as mentioned here.

 

[Sabban]

based on that, it sounds like the battery should hold up pretty good.

 

[Cory Streater]

I swear I read or saw it in one of the reviews too, but I can't for the life of me find it now.

Edit: Here are a couple of reviews that are favorable to battery life:

Droid Life.

Neowin.

 

[ellisz]

Will it have the car dock ability as well? The more I read the better I feel about this phone

 

[Cory Streater]

Yep.

 

[StonewallUSMC]

Though Big Reg has let me down, the community here is getting me to see favor in this device. If I could have Google apps functionality I would be happy. This will/would be my first Android device so I don't have any thought on the UI yet, just based upon what I read in articles and in forums.