webOS 1.4 Brings Bing to Verizon Pre and Pixi Phones 43
by Robert Werlinger Thu, 04 Mar 2010 12:23 pm EST
Verizon Pre Plus and Pixi Plus owners are reporting that 1.4 brought with it (along with the already documented additions and enhancements) the ability to change the default Web search engine for the browser and for Universal Search. Once this option is changed in the Browser preferences menu, Google is replaced with the proper Bing logo in Universal Search. We've only been hearing these reports from Verizon users so far - inexplicitly, everyone else has Google as the only option in the default search engine field.
While the rest of us non-Verizon customers wait for the official ability to switch our default search providers, do keep in mind that there are a number of patches and tweaks available through Preware and webOS Quick Install that will allow you to modify what search providers are available through Universal Search.
Thanks to Alex for the tip!
43 Comments
I'll have to try this, I enjoy the Bing Maps Birds-eye view!
actually is not bad at all I didn't have this for the pre and now that I have the plus is ma fun to have both as for bing actually runs it alil b faster and kind off more easy to get access from what you looking for.
I think that was the case with 1.3.5 on VzW. I remember being able to choose Bing as an option. It's murky, but I have a vague recollection!
When is Microsoft gonna give us webOS users a Bing App like the iPhone app with bing Maps?
I had this option before 1.4
Who cares? Google is 10x better than Bing any day of the week.
Have you used bing? I find the searches at least as good and most of the time better than google. It also handles image and video searches better than google.
microsoft is a joke... The number one search on bing is google! Microsoft is suing google for monopolization! What does that say? Says alot for microsoft.... Just like apple suing htc, it's says I'm losing money lets sue... Both apple and microsoft are shit, linux is the way to go user friendly and free!
LOL. User-friendly. OK.
+1
+1
Linux is user friendly???? Hahahaha That's the funniest thing I've heard this year.
How do you display the battery and the date like that? Is that an app?
"There's a patch for that."
no, seriously... how do you do it?
There is seriously a patch for that. New to patches? Check out http://www.precentral.net/how-add-homebrew-apps-patches-and-themes
He wasn't kiddin at all.
There's a patch for that (via Preware and other), it's called "Battery icon and %" or something similar.
As with my custom homescreen you see here, the top portion (%, date, carrier string, etc) are all changeable via patches through Preware!
1. Load Preware
2. Select "Available Packages"
3. Select "Patch"
4. Select "Top Bar"
...the rest is a given ;)Hope I was clear enough for you.
hey! You stole my top bar!! lol
I like options, but why bing? Why not just leave your phone at home and guess? You'd be just as well off. It's not going to give you any fancy maps.
Verizon can have that one. I'll stick with the Google search engine - much better.
I would like the option.
I could be mistaken, but I remember hearing about how Verizon has a deal with Microsoft to use Bing on all their phones. I'm still trying to decide when to pull the trigger and pick up a Pre Plus myself...
Google does seem to be superior, but with Yahoo and Microsoft together, I feel that Bing is gonna make a large change. I find that bing has a much better video search, I love that you can scroll over the thumbnails for a short preveiw.
I am all for choice and competition. But when the only other choice is Microsoft... well... I don't see that as much of a choice. I will stick with Google.
I don't need or want fancy graphics and animation on a search engine. I want fast, simple, small, and accurate.
I have a Bing app on my Sprint Pre. I love having the option of using Bing or Google for my searches.
Now if only there was proxy support. :(
I could care less about BING....I just want 1.4...I hate you bell!!
Ah, I want Bing on my Sprint Pre. I use it daily now on my computer.
Anybody who hasn't tried Bing, I recommend you check out Bing Maps. Find a point of interest, perhaps your home, whatever. Then see if under the Aerial Photo/satellite view that the Bird's Eye option is available. They don't have it for every place in the world, but I've found it available for many places. It gives you a side view (downward view angle about 45 degrees) which can be very interesting. I have to gather information about properties all over North America in my work, and using Bing before I do a site visit can really be helpful to let me know what may be present at the property.
Sorry to be "that" guy, but you inexplicably used the word inexplicitly. ;)
Thought the same thing.
..I just go, Bing, Bing, Bing. It's like you're not even trying.
A cold shiver just ran up my spine...it's like all the cheer just went out of the world...
FLASHBACK!
why the hell can't we add our own search engines yet?
I really like Bing and also prefer Yahoo over Google on mobile. When I search on a phone I want MOBILE sites....imagine that, silly me to want mobile sites when I search from a mobile phone.
AND....nothing surprising about this at all. I am more surprised Google is still an option given Verizon's contractual obligation with Microsoft and Bing.
I have had Bing since day one of my pre plus. It was just one of the options for search. I also noticed that there was a Verizon logo on the search results page as well.
want it on sprint.
Can someone elaborate on how this is possible for the sprint pre with preware or webosquickinstall?
last month I tested the Palm Pre Plus, it was running the 1.35 software it had the search option for Bing but not Google.
You stated in the article....
"While the rest of us non-Verizon customers wait for the official ability to switch our default search providers, do keep in mind that there are a number of patches and tweaks available through Preware and webOS Quick Install that will allow you to modify what search providers are available through Universal Search."
What patch or tweaks is that? I would love to patch in Bing, & Yahoo right along Google. I'm a Sprint Pre.
What the heck is Bing... Is that from Apple? LOL
and what is a "Sprint"?
MS paid VZ an enormous amout of money to push Bing. VZ probably wrote it into Palm's contract that they have to provide Bing because of it. Until MS does the same deal with Sprint, the Sprint Pre/Pixi will probably never see Bing.