Google Rolls Out New Features Across Maps, Search And Shopping

    9
    Google Rolls Out New Features Across Maps, Search And Shopping

    The introduction of numerous new Maps, Search, and Shopping services was announced by Google today. The majority of the new capabilities were debuted by the business at its Search On event in September, and they are now beginning to be made available to consumers.

    Search

    Users will now be able to use Search to locate their preferred food at a nearby restaurant as of today. For instance, you can look out for local eateries that provide truffle mac and cheese by typing in “truffle mac and cheese near me.” Once you’ve located the food you’re looking for, you can learn more about it, including its cost, ingredients, and other details.

    You may utilise Google’s multi-search capability to locate certain foods close to you thanks to yet another new Search feature. Let’s say you stumble upon a tasty-looking item online, but you have no idea what it is or where to get it. You can now take a screenshot or take a picture of a meal in the Google app for Android or iOS and add the words “near me” to identify a location that offers it close by using Lens.

    Google will release an update to its Lens AR Interpret capabilities later this year to allow users to translate text on complicated backgrounds. In contrast to how it now works, Google will remove the original text, recreate the pixels beneath it using an AI-generated background, and then add the translated text on top of the image.

    Maps

    Google is introducing Live View, a new visual search platform, in London, Los Angeles, New York, Paris, San Francisco, and Tokyo in addition to the new Maps capabilities.

    Google writes in a blog post, “Say you’re visiting New York with intentions to finish your holiday shopping and catch up with pals.” To view local retailers and other locations like coffee shops, banks, and ATMs, lift your phone and hit the camera symbol in the search bar. You can see what direction they’re facing and how far away they are using AR-powered directions and arrows, and you can even notice locations that aren’t in your line of sight (like a clothing store around the corner) to get a full feel of the neighbourhood at a look.

    You can tap on categories to discover nearby parks, restaurants, pubs, dessert stores, and transit stops if you’re looking for other locations. Users will be able to see important details about each site, such as if it’s busy, open, what the price range is, etc., superimposed on top of the location information.

    EV drivers can now find the optimal charging station for their vehicles with the help of a new Maps function. With the “rapid charge” filter selected, you can now search for “EV charging stations.” Additionally, you can search for stations that provide the plug type for your EV.

    The “accessible places” feature, which Google first introduced in 2020 in the U.S., Australia, Japan, and the U.K., is now being expanded globally. The function is intended to make it easier for users to assess whether a location is wheelchair accessible. You can enable the “accessible places” setting in the app to view wheelchair icons on locations that are accessible for wheelchair users. You can check to see if a location has parking, restrooms, and seating that is accessible. According to Google, the feature can also be useful if you wish to avoid stairs because you are using a cart or a stroller.

    Shopping

    Google has unveiled a brand-new augmented reality (AR) shopping capability that should make it simpler to locate the perfect foundation fit. According to the company, the 148 models in its new photo collection reflect a wide range of skin tones, ages, genders, facial shapes, nationalities, and skin types. As a result, it should be simpler for customers to imagine how various products will seem on them.

    Google described the process in a blog post, saying, “Here’s how it works: Search for a foundation shade on Google across a range of pricing and brands, like “Armani Luminous Silk Foundation.” You may choose the foundation that works best for you by seeing how it looks on models with skin tones similar to your own, including before and after photos. Simply choose a merchant to buy it from once you’ve found the one you like.

    Now, users may use AR to do their shoe shopping. Starting today, you can start looking into footwear from companies like Saucony, VANS, and Merrell. Google claims that additional brands will eventually support the service. Start by typing in a certain type of sneaker, such as “Shop blue VANS sneakers,” and then selecting “View in my space.” The shoes will then be visible in your area for you to spin, zoom, and see to determine whether you like the colour, laces, tread, etc.