Google's weather app icon has disappeared from Pixel devices
In December, Google began the rollout of a dedicated "Weather" icon on the app grid of Pixel phones and tablets. This shortcut, introduced via a server-side update, was predominantly available on most Pixel devices. The icon, a simplistic representation of the sun and a cloud, mirrored the "Add to homescreen" shortcut, but lacked the Google app icon badge in the corner. However, recently users have noticed that this Weather shortcut has vanished from their app grid.
Weather icon replacement and user expectations
For those who had previously placed the Weather icon on their homescreen, it has been replaced by the Google app. This change is seen as a setback for users who hoped that Google Weather would evolve into its own standalone experience, separate from Search. An independent app could potentially deliver faster updates and more features, including additional homescreen widgets.
Google's weather service and redesign in 2023
In 2023, Google undertook a comprehensive redesign of its weather experience. Alongside Material You, it launched real-time 12-hour precipitation forecasts known as "Nowcasts," powered by a MetNet-3 deep learning model. Additionally, Google introduced a "Weather" service on Pixel devices that showed forecasts in the Clock app. This service was part of the company's efforts to enhance user experience, with more detailed and accurate weather updates.
