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

[jokerls240]

I just posted in the Fascinate dump thread. I'm willing to contribute what I can to get Microsoft out of my Google phone!

Another question: Since I don't use the Search or Voice widgets, I just open the browser and go to the search site I want (I'm old fashioned that way), does searching from www.google.com bring Google's results? Trying to rule out a proxy on Verizon's end.

 

[Phil Nickinson]

does searching from www.google.com bring Google's results? Trying to rule out a proxy on Verizon's end.

Yep, that works just fine.

 

[badmf222]

I just tried it. While it gives you the Google search widget, results are still pulled from Bing, and NOT Google.

DAMNIT! Oh well...

 

[Phil Nickinson]

Here's the YouTube proof that changing launchers gets you the search widget, but it's still routed through Verizon and Bing.

Changing launchers on the Verizon Samsung Fascinate

 

[Phil Nickinson]

Hate Bing? Bookmark Google

OK, so as of right now we're stuck with Bing for the default searches. But it's not like you *can't* use Google. Just bookmark it, and stick an icon on your desktop.

That's the $3 fix. I'm sure we'll get a real one soon enough.

 

[watchout4d]

Yep, that works just fine.

Phil:
Question--What is wrong with going to Google mobile on your phone which is the exact same web page as comes by default on other Android phones, then sticking a short cut on your homepage?


If you use Google Voice Search, do you get Google results?

 

[Phil Nickinson]

Phil:
Question--What is wrong with going to Google mobile on your phone which is the exact same web page as comes by default on other Android phones, then sticking a short cut on your homepage?


If you use Google Voice Search, do you get Google results?

Great minds think alike.

http://forum.androidcentral.com/verizon-fascinate/33712-hate-bing-bookmark-google.html

 

[badmf222]

Here's the YouTube proof that changing launchers gets you the search widget, but it's still routed through Verizon and Bing.

Changing launchers on the Verizon Samsung Fascinate

Thanks for doing the extra work Phil. I figured it was a little TOO easy the way it was presented earlier. Sucks that I'm still on the fence with this phone. I just don't know how much the Bing integration changes the way everything else interacts on the phone with Android.

 

[namebrandon]

Is it the same as a Google?

I want Google, because it is a Google.

 

[Ivisi]

Does this Google have the wifis and the bigger GBs? Cause I need that.

 

[watchout4d]

Great minds think alike.

http://forum.androidcentral.com/verizon-fascinate/33712-hate-bing-bookmark-google.html

Phil,

Thanks. So the Google Voice Search works normal and as expected not affected by Bing?

 

[pheatton]

I'm just going to set the home page as Google for the browser. I really don't use the search key anyway on my Incredible.

 

[watchout4d]

Thanks for doing the extra work Phil. I figured it was a little TOO easy the way it was presented earlier. Sucks that I'm still on the fence with this phone. I just don't know how much the Bing integration changes the way everything else interacts on the phone with Android.

I was mad as hell when I first heard about this issue. I even sent Verizon a scathing email.

But I'm no longer sure what the big deal is. You can place a Google mobile bookmark on your homescreen, and a shortcut for Google Voice Search next to it.

The widget is ok, and as of today Sprint's Epic cant access Google Search in the market, so it seems it will be available eventually. Seems to me nothing after that is different.

Maybe someone can tell me otherwise??????

 

[nickf126]

One idea and 2 questions

Hey guys I have an idea on how to avoid BING. If you change your DNS server on the phone, wouldn't that route it through where you want (i.e. OpenDNS) and not through Verizon and Bing?

My 2 questions are: How does Bing being on the phone effect navigation? Is there even turn-by-turn navigation?

Second, if I purchase an app for my original Droid, can I transfer it to a new Fascinate without purchasing it again? Thank you.

 

[badmf222]

If adding this link is improper etiquette in the forum, then please remove it as I do not want to break rules or ruffle feathers.

It seems that someone on another forum has supposedly rooted a Fascinate and was able to remove Bing and replace it with Google. It is mentioned starting at post #12. If Phil or Corey can somehow verify this can be done, it would be nice to know.

How soon til root? - Android Forums

 

[Cory Streater]

Thanks for the link. I'll give it a shot tomorrow when I get mine.

 

[Jerry Hildenbrand]

Hey guys I have an idea on how to avoid BING. If you change your DNS server on the phone, wouldn't that route it through where you want (i.e. OpenDNS) and not through Verizon and Bing?

My 2 questions are: How does Bing being on the phone effect navigation? Is there even turn-by-turn navigation?

Second, if I purchase an app for my original Droid, can I transfer it to a new Fascinate without purchasing it again? Thank you.

Don't know if that is going to help. It's the Verizon network that's redirecting the search traffic, not your phone.

Q1 -- never used Bing, but I think it has a decent navigation system in place
Q2 -- Yep. all gets saved through your Google account and can be used on any phone that supports the app.

 

[Ivisi]

Your DNS idea won't work, because that's not the way they are handling the search redirect.

The best analogy I can think of is file associations on your PC. Let's say you have a JPEG file you want to open. Windows has Microsoft Paint as the default application for JPEG files, so when you double-click the file, it automatically opens the file in Paint. Same with the Fascinate. You want to search, the OS sees that request and pipes that request to Bing.

Now, say you would much rather use Photoshop by default. You've installed it, but Windows still thinks that Paint is the default app. Normally, you could just do an Open With and select Photoshop as the application to use, and checkmark the Make Default option so it always uses Photoshop. In this case, with Bing, even if you have Google Search installed, the OS is locked down and won't allow you to change that association with search. Any other phone, you'd have the option to clear the defaults for search and reassociate it with another, but the option is locked out on the Fascinate.

That's what we have to find a way around. Well, that, and having them actually allow Google Search to be installed directly from the market.

 

[namebrandon]

I'll give it a go as well Cory. Here's the actual post it seems that was copied from, with the working links to the necessary files.

http://theandroidsite.com/2010/07/18/how-to-root-your-samsung-vibrant-or-captivate/

 

[Cory Streater]

I'll give it a go as well Cory. Here's the actual post it seems that was copied from, with the working links to the necessary files.

http://theandroidsite.com/2010/07/18/how-to-root-your-samsung-vibrant-or-captivate/

Lol - I knew that had to be a copy and paste job. I have no problems with people linking or posting other peoples work, but at least give credit to the source.