Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
TL;DR
- The Google Search widget on Android could soon get a refreshed design alongside wider theming options, and we managed to activate the feature in the latest beta to give you a sneak peek.
- Google is also testing a quick share button on the search results page.
Google has been experimenting with new functionality for the Search widget, which is present on the home screen of practically all Android flagships. Google was spotted testing a new shortcut button on the Search widget, and now, the company has been spotted testing a new widget design alongside theming options.
An APK teardown helps predict features that may arrive on a service in the future based on work-in-progress code. However, it is possible that such predicted features may not make it to a public release.
Google is looking to give the search widget a makeover. While not enabled, we managed to activate the new widget design in the Google app v15.47.26 beta. Alongside the new theming options for the widget that were spotted previously, this would give the widget a fresh look.
Currently, you can set the Search widget to System, Light, Dark, and Device themes and alter its transparency. In the future, you will be able to set a custom theme, which can help you complement or accentuate your existing themes with contrast elements. You can change the hue and saturation levels, allowing you to create a unique look for the Search widget. As you can see, the theme also extends to the shortcut feature we had previously spotted.
For reference, this is what the widget currently looks like:
Alongside this, we also managed to activate a share button on the Google Search results page. This share button is present in the top right corner, and it shares the URL of the current search query.
AssembleDebug / Android Authority
These changes are not currently live in the Google app. Depending on the feedback that beta users pass back to Google, they may or may not roll these changes out to more users.
Update: This article has been corrected to refocus on the widget design rather than the theming options, as themes were already previously spotted.