The Google App for the iPhone has been updated and now supports Google Goggles. If you don’t know whatGoogle Goggles is, it allows you to take a picture of something and Google will try to match a search to it based off a picture. And Android phones have had it for a really long time (it seems). The cool thing about it is the extent that it works. You can use it to search for:
- Books and DVD’s
- Landmarks
- Logos
- Contact information
- Artwork
- Businesses
- Products
- Barcodes
- Text – You can actually use it to translate text as well.
I tested it out by taking a picture of a Gatorade bottle to which it gave me product information and pricing and nutritional information. I also took a picture of a can of beans’ bar code and it found all the information. I also took a picture of the phrase “Où est la salle de bains” which is French for where is the bathroom. It took me to the translate page and translated the phrase. You can see those pictures at the right.
You can check out Google’s little promo video below. I think it is pretty cool. Now will I find it useful day-to-day, probably not. But if you have an iPhone, the app is free and you may want to check it out.
Posted on October 6, 2010