Pixel Launcher prepares search shortcuts for Maps, Play Store and YouTube

With Android 12, Pixel Launcher introduced a new search experience on the device at the top of the app launcher. While temporarily away from Android 13 Beta 1, the Pixel Launcher works on search shortcuts in addition to the Google app.

About APK Insights: In this “APK Insight” post, we have decompiled the latest version of an application that Google uploaded to the Play Store. When we decompile these files (called APKs when it comes to Android apps), we are able to see different lines of code within the hint about possible future features. Keep in mind that Google may provide these features and that our interpretation of what they are may be imperfect. We will try to activate those that are closer to completion, to show you what they will look like if shipped. With that in mind, read on.

This newer Pixel Launcher search experience, which can be set to automatically open the keyboard when you swipe up to the app launcher, is aimed at queries on the device. That said, it does suggest “Google Search” when no other results are displayed.

Version S.17 of Android System Intelligence reveals the work of adding Search Maps, Play Store, Settings and YouTube. As with Google Search, tapping a search shortcut should automatically enter this query into the corresponding application.

  • Search Maps
  • Search the Play Store
  • Search for Settings
  • Search Youtube

It is possible that Google will roll this capability ahead of the broader Android 13 update that seems to be underway. Android 12 will remain the stable construction for a few months and this seems to be ideally suited for the next Pixel Feature Drop.

More about Pixel Launcher:

Thanks to JEB Decompiler, which some APK Insight teardowns take advantage of.

Dylan Roussel contributed to this article

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