Google Goggles brings visual search to Android phones
last updated
Text search and voice search are so yesterday. Today Google unveiled Google Goggles, turns your camera into a search tool. Check out the video above. In a nutshell, it takes a picture of something, analyzes it, and returns search results. How it works, according to the Big G:
- We first send the user's image to Google's datacenters
- We then create signatures of objects in the image using computer vision algorithms
- We then compare signatures against all other known items in our image recognition databases; and
- We then figure out how many matches exist; and
- We then return one or more search results, based on available meta data and ranking signals; and
- We do all of this in just a few seconds
Google Goggles is in its infancy, and we're going to spend the rest of the day trying to use it on every random object in our basement (save for the bodies, naturally). This should be fun. You can download Goggles now in the Android Market for phones with Android 1.6 and above. [Google Mobile blog]
Get the Android Central Newsletter
Instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.
20 Comments
-
Cant download it, says not found on Android Market, what gives?
-
Hmmmmm. Worked for me on the Droid.
-
Sucks for us Sprint Hero users out there... come on update!!!
-
Is this really not available for the HTC Hero ?? Are you kidding me ???
-
Just read its available for Android 1.6 and higher only , what a bunch of CRAP !!! Come on already UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE !!!!!
-
Wow...us Sprint Hero users are SOOOOOOO being left behind right now.
-
This is lame I finally got the new Google maps for my hero but still can't get the goggles app
-
The new Google maps has nav in it. It is for 1.6 and up. If you have 1.5 (ie the Hero) you dont have the latest version. The one in the market is the same as what is on my Hero. No Nav.
-
Watching that video I totally had Arnold Schwarzenegger in my mind's eye. Which made it that much more awesome for some reason. Yet another reason to ditch this "iPhone" thing (whatever that is) and get a real phone.
-
If I snap a picture of this warty looking thing on my johnson, will Goggles diagnose it for me?
-
I heard theres an app for that...
-
Read on Sprint about an update to the nav app in February. Maybe a firmware update at the same time. Hope so. If not bye bye Sprint. If so will they block the Google Navigation and force us to use the Sprint Nav?
-
I think its funny ha ha wish it would have actually happen now that would be something to talk about..
-
So I purchase a Google based Android phone...HTC hero... one month old and I can't download this Google app? Will there be an update soon?
-
awesome application - used it on my friend's android. any word on this being available on WebOS?
-
awesome application - used it on my friend's android. any word on this being available on WebOS?
-
Sprint is a joke. Jacking up fees. Trying to rule the market. Jut a big ass joke. I had sprint for 10 years, and I am FINALLY leaving those scumbags behind, probably switching to tmobile.
-
Sprint blows is the joke. Even with higher fees, they've got the cheapest all-inclusive plans available, and way better 3G than AT&T or T-Mob. Rule the market? What have you been smoking?
-
Not sure about that Sprint comment. Sprint is approx 40% cheaper for your basic phone and data plan than any other carrier. Sure I wish they had a 2.0+ Android phone (or even the iPhone) ready to go, but I imagine they will be coming around fairly soon in this regard.
-
I just got my LG Ally at Christmas and was thinking of downloading Google Goggles. Does anyone have any updates on the usability of this app? The reviews on the Market were mixed. Some loved it but some didn't and then couldn't uninstall it. I have very limited space on my droid so will not load it if I will be unable to uninstall it later.