Petal Search

Last updated

Petal Search
Developer(s) Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
Initial release2020
Stable release
12.0.0.300
Included with Huawei Phones and Tablets
Available inMultilingual
Type Search engine

Petal Search (also known simply as Petal) is a mobile Search-based application for Android, owned and operated by Huawei and aimed at allowing users to find apps and web results delivered by Microsoft Bing. It originally had an independent search engine under the same name available on the web, but it was quietly discontinued on June 25th, 2023. [1] [2] The Petal suite of search, mail, and maps were created in response to sanctions that barred Huawei from using Google Mobile Services. The engine provides comprehensive search functionality including text, voice, visual, news, video, app, shopping, travel, and local searches. It can present mobile app results from the Huawei AppGallery and other trusted app stores. Petal's design, which includes a dark mode, is based on a mobile-first approach. Launched globally, the service is especially focused on European markets and supports 55 languages in 170 countries and regions as of November 2021. The Petal Search app is available in the Huawei AppGallery and the Apple App Store.

Contents

History

In 2019, multinational technology company Huawei was affected by the sanctions enforced during an ongoing international trade ban because United States wanted to remove Huawei from the market. Huawei’s new and upcoming Android smartphones were denied access to Google Mobile Services. [3] Due to these restrictions, Huawei decided to expand the scope of the Petal Search service to create an independent search engine.

In 2022, Petal Search has been announced as the winner of iF DESIGN AWARD 2022. [4]

Functionality

Third-party App Stores

Petal Search is a mobile search engine and also provides users who are searching for mobile phone applications with results from the AppGallery (Huawei's official app store) and other third-party stores. When a user searches for an app, Petal Search includes results from "trusted" app stores. [5] This feature is integrated with the AppGallery. [6]

Search Channels

Petal Search supports searching for photos, reverse image search, and the standard text-based search. Visual search functions rely on Huawei’s visual search technology, HiTouch. [7] It can search for and detect multiple objects in an image at the same time. For example, when a user takes a photo of a sofa with a blanket and a cushion on it, Petal Search can identify all three items, and then deliver search results based on that.[ citation needed ]

Petal Search supports voice search for English, Spanish, French, Arabic, Turkish and other languages. [8]

Petal Search crawls and lists results from news outlets. [9]

Petal Search provides users specifically with video URLs if chosen by the user. If a general query returns video results it will also be included in the results page. [10]

Petal Search offers a mobile application search functionality which allows users to search the AppGallery and other third-party sources. [11]

Users can search for consumer products on Petal Search and then follow a link to the online store if they wish to make a purchase. [12]

A flight reservation function is available on Petal Search. Users can also book hotels or search for information on flights such as the arrival time. Nearby restaurants, local tourist spots and attractions and local events can also be searched for. [13]

The Near Me function facilitate finding local businesses, nearby products and services and consumer reviews. Data providers: Uberall, Tripadvisor, Yell, Foursquare and more. [14]

Design

Petal Search’s logo design is based on the shape of a magnifying glass. The main focus is currently to develop the service for mobile devices, therefore its design is rooted in a “mobile-first” approach. It also offers a "dark mode" option.[ citation needed ]

Availability

Petal Search is active in different markets around the world, currently focusing its operations in European countries, mainly in Spain and Turkey. [15] As of November 2021, Petal Search supports 55 languages and is available in 170 countries and regions around the world. [16] Currently, Petal Search application is available to download in Huawei AppGallery and Apple App Store.

See also

Related Research Articles

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The Android Package with the file extension apk is the file format used by the Android operating system, and a number of other Android-based operating systems for distribution and installation of mobile apps, mobile games and middleware. A file using this format can be built from source code written in either Java or Kotlin.

An app store, also called an app marketplace or app catalog, is a type of digital distribution platform for computer software called applications, often in a mobile context. Apps provide a specific set of functions which, by definition, do not include the running of the computer itself. Complex software designed for use on a personal computer, for example, may have a related app designed for use on a mobile device. Today apps are normally designed to run on a specific operating system—such as the contemporary iOS, macOS, Windows, Linux or Android—but in the past mobile carriers had their own portals for apps and related media content.

A mobile application or app is a computer program or software application designed to run on a mobile device such as a phone, tablet, or watch. Mobile applications often stand in contrast to desktop applications which are designed to run on desktop computers, and web applications which run in mobile web browsers rather than directly on the mobile device.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Google Play</span> Digital application distribution service by Google

Google Play, also known as the Google Play Store or Play Store and formerly known as Android Market, is a digital distribution service operated and developed by Google. It serves as the official app store for certified devices running on the Android operating system and its derivatives, as well as ChromeOS, allowing users to browse and download applications developed with the Android software development kit and published through Google. Google Play has also served as a digital media store, offering games, music, books, movies, and television programs. Content that has been purchased on Google Play Movies & TV and Google Play Books can be accessed on a web browser and through the Android and iOS apps.

App store optimization (ASO) is the process of increasing an app or game’s visibility in an app store, with the objective of increasing organic app downloads. Apps are more visible when they rank highly on a wide variety of search terms, maintain a high position in the top charts, or get featured on the store. Additionally, app store optimization encompasses activities that aim to increase the conversion of app impressions into downloads.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aptoide</span> Online marketplace for Android and iOS apps

Aptoide is an online marketplace for mobile applications which runs on the Android and iOS operating systems. In Aptoide, unlike the Android-default Play Store and iOS-default App Store, there is not a unique and centralized store; instead, each user manages their own store. The software package is published by Aptoide S.A., a for-profit company incorporated in 2011, and headquartered in Lisbon, Portugal.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">EMUI</span> Mobile operating system by Huawei

EMUI is an interface based on Android developed by Chinese technology company Huawei, used on the company's smartphones primarily globally.

HarmonyOS (HMOS) is a distributed operating system developed by Huawei for smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, smart watches, personal computers and other smart devices. It has a microkernel design with single framework: the operating system selects suitable kernels from the abstraction layer in the case of devices that use diverse resources.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Huawei Mate 30</span> High-end smartphone line by Huawei

Huawei Mate 30 is a line of Android-based phablets manufactured by Huawei as part of its Huawei Mate series, and the successor to the Mate 20. The Mate 30 comprises the Mate 30/5G, Mate 30 Pro/5G, and Mate 30 RS Porsche Design, which were unveiled on 19 September 2019 in Munich, Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Huawei P40</span> High-end Android smartphone line by Huawei

Huawei P40 is a line of high-end Android-based smartphones manufactured by Huawei. Unveiled on 26 March 2020, they succeed the Huawei P30 in the company's P series line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Huawei Mobile Services</span> Proprietary software service

Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) is a collection of proprietary services and high level application programming interfaces (APIs) developed by Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. Its hub known as HMS Core serves as a toolkit for app development on Huawei devices. HMS is typically installed on Huawei devices on top of running HarmonyOS operating system, and on its earlier devices running the Android operating system with EMUI including devices already distributed with Google Mobile Services. Alongside, HMS Core Wear Engine for Android phones with lightweight based LiteOS wearable middleware app framework integration connectivity like notifications, status etc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Celia (virtual assistant)</span> AI virtual assistant developed by Huawei

Celia is an artificially intelligent virtual assistant developed by Huawei for their latest HarmonyOS and Android-based EMUI smartphones that lack Google Services and a Google Assistant. The assistant can perform day-to-day tasks, which include making a phone call, setting a reminder and checking the weather. It was unveiled on 7 April 2020 and got publicly released on 27 April 2020 via an OTA update solely to selected devices that can update their software to EMUI 10.1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Huawei AppGallery</span> Mobile app distribution platform developed by Huawei for the HarmonyOS operating system

Huawei AppGallery is a package manager and application distribution platform, or marketplace 'app store', developed by Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. It serves as the official app store for the devices running on Huawei HarmonyOS, and is also available for Huawei EMUI and Microsoft Windows via the Mobile Engine emulator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Huawei P50</span> Smartphones released by Huawei in 2021

The Huawei P50 and P50 Pro are HarmonyOS-based high-end smartphones manufactured by Huawei. Unveiled on 21 July 2021, they succeed the Huawei P40 in the P series. In March 2023 Huawei released their successor Huawei P60 Series phones in China, and in May 2023 it released the Huawei P60 Pro in Europe.

Petal Maps is a map service based on TomTom provided by Huawei to devices with the operating system HarmonyOS, Android and iOS. It offers satellite imagery, aerial photography, 3D view surroundings, turn-by-turn navigation, head-up display and route planning for traveling by foot, car, bike, and public transportation.

References

  1. ↑ "Petal Search App Not Working Anymore". consumer.huawei.com. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  2. ↑ "Final Archive of petalsearch.com". Archived from the original on 25 June 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  3. ↑ Moon, Angela (20 May 2019). "Exclusive: Google suspends some business with Huawei after Trump blacklist - source". Reuters. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  4. ↑ "Petal Search wins iF Award 2022, signaling its dedication to next-generation search engine". 26 June 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  5. ↑ Friedman, Alan (25 October 2020). "Huawei's breakthrough Petal Search app helps users install content banned by the U.S." Phone Arena. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  6. ↑ "Huawei P40 Pro long-term review: Last call for Huawei's Western dream". Android Authority. 27 March 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  7. ↑ "Huawei's Petal Search Blossoms into Full Google Competitor". www.digitaltrends.com. 11 September 2020. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  8. ↑ "Huawei Grows Its Mobile Services Apps with Petal Search, Petal Maps, and Huawei Docs | News | Smartphones". Neofiliac. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  9. ↑ "Huawei Petal Search goes head-to-head with Google". Android Authority. 11 September 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  10. ↑ "Huawei Petal Search goes head-to-head with Google". Android Authority. 11 September 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  11. ↑ Ion, Roxana (27 October 2020). "Petal Search, Huawei's Way Of Avoiding US Restrictions". TechTheLead. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  12. ↑ "Huawei Petal Search Aims To Compete With Google". Android Headlines. 14 September 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  13. ↑ "Huawei's Petal Search Bar helps P40 Pro users find apps, content, and news from other outlets". TalkAndroid.com. 4 June 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  14. ↑ "Uberall and tech giant Huawei announce partnership, integrating Uberall's global platform with Petal Search". Uberall.com. 11 September 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  15. ↑ "Huawei Petal Search Aims To Compete With Google". Android Headlines. 14 September 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  16. ↑ "Huawei has launched Petal Search to connect users to more apps". Lifestyle Asia Singapore. 8 July 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
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