Sometime last month, Google officially released the second Android 12 developer preview. This system is for developers and it gives us an insight to many features that are on their way. There is a new Pixel Launcher search widget that allows users to search for apps, contacts, settings, etc. on the device. This launcher is not entirely new to the Android system. However, it appears that the search widget will no longer be exclusive to the Pixel Launcher.
The developer of the popular third-party home screen replacement application, Niagara Launcher, found new evidence in the Android 12 preview document. The document indicates that Google is adding a new device search API in Android 12. This will allow third-party launchers to provide similar Global search function. Furthermore, it will also allow third-party launchers to “access the centralized AppSearch index maintained by the system”.
Features of AppSearch index
It further emphasizes that the AppSearch index is a search library for managing structured data. The characteristics of this feature are
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- It offers an absolute offline equipment solution
- A set of APIs for application programs to index and retrieve documents through full-text search
- Provides an API for the application to enable the system to display its content on the system UI
- Similarly, the application’s API also allows the system to share its content with other specific applications.
Basically, this feature is now a traditional alternative to a couple of global search applications. The interesting part of this feature is that it gives users the opportunity to search for technically anything on the device instantly. As of now, the reports on this feature integration are incomplete. However, we expect for information regarding this feature in the upcoming Android 12 developer preview.
It is worth mentioning that OnePlus has already provided a similar general search function on its native launcher app, but it is limited to specific markets.
From the Android 12 release schedule, this system will be available publicly after August 2021. It will enter the public beta phase by May 2021. Following the usual trend, in the beta phase, some Chinese smartphones will be part of the upgrade. The likes of Xiaomi and OnePlus are sure to take part in the first public beta release.
In the official log, the main changes of developer preview 2 compared to developer preview 1/1.1 are focused on the convenience of developers. There are too many bugs in the actual functions and interfaces. However, a couple of features are not entirely ready for public testing. Features such as round corners support, picture-in-picture animation function and others need more work.
