Since May of 2019, Huawei was blacklisted by the US Dept. of Commerce restricting the company from licensing Google Mobile Services (GMS) for its new devices. This restriction prevents the Chinese tech giant from pre-installing Google apps on its new smartphones and devices. The US has been extending the blacklist, and with no solid resolution in sight, Huawei is making necessary moves to release products that consumers would purchase despite the absence of Google apps.
New Search App on Huawei Devices
A new report from XDA Developers revealed that the Chinese tech giant is currently Beta testing its Huawei Search. The site got its information about the company's recent activity through Reddit user beingnull. The tipster reportedly informed the site that Huawei is currently recruiting users in the UAE to test the Huawei Search app.
Huawei Search App Details
XDA's Max Weinbach, who has been a constant source of a lot of information about upcoming products in the industry, tried the APK file on his Huawei Mate 30 Pro. It turns out that Huawei Search is just a standard search app that allows users to key in the query to look for news articles, videos, images, and webpages on the Internet. Unlike Google Search, which allows users access to Google Lens, Google Podcasts, and Google Assistant, Huawei Search comes with a shortcut on the current weather powered by Huafen-AccuWeather.
Sports enthusiasts can also access shortcuts for sports, while other shortcuts include calculator and unit conversion. When users check on the app's Settings, there is a search history that could be switched on and off. They could also provide feedback, adjust search language and region, and activate a safe search.
The Huawei Search app also allows users to change their search cope. It regulates what the Huawei apps the Huawei Search could also do some search. The site also reveals that the Huawei Search app supports EMUI 10's dark theme. Based on the Huawei Search's User Agreement, the service is operated by Huawei's subsidiary in Ireland, Aspiegel Limited.
Other Details
The report from XDA Developers aligns with the rumors that the Chinese tech giant is working on a beta version of the Huawei Search, which was launched in the UAE. The goal is to test and provide feedback for the app developed to be released in the market in the future. But, as of Mar. 1, 2020, the testing was reportedly put on hold 'until further notice.'
In its community post, the Chinese tech giant claims that it is currently working on a new version of the app with added improvements. It appears to be the company's decision following the feedback it received from the community during the early testing phase.
