Google Rolls Out New Features Across Maps, Search and Shopping (techcrunch.com) 25
Google announced today that it's introducing a slew of new Maps, Search and Shopping features. The company revealed a majority of the new features during its Search On event in September and is now starting to roll them out to users. TechCrunch reports:
Search
Starting today, users will be able to use Search to find their favorite dish at a restaurant near them. For example, you can search "truffle mac and cheese near me" to see which nearby restaurants carry the dish on their menu. Once you find a specific dish that you're looking for, you can get more information about its price, ingredients and more. Another new Search functionality lets you use Google's multisearch feature to find specific food near you. Say you see something tasty-looking online, but don't know what it is or where to find it. You can now use Lens in the Google app for Android or iOS to snap a picture or take a screenshot of a dish and add the words "near me" to find a place that sells it nearby. Later this year, Google is going roll out an update to its Lens AR Translate capabilities so users can more seamlessly translate text on complex backgrounds. Instead of covering up the original text like it currently does, Google is going to erase the text and re-create the pixels underneath with an AI-generated background, and then overlay the translated text on top of the image.
Maps
As for the new Maps features, Google is launching a new visual search experience called Live View in London, Los Angeles, New York, Paris, San Francisco and Tokyo. [...] In addition to displaying information about where places are, users will be able to see key information about each spot overlaid, such as whether the location is busy, if its open, what the price range is, etc. Another new Maps feature makes it easier for EV owners to find the best charging station for their vehicle. Now, you can search for "EV charging stations" and select the "fast charge" filter. You can also filter for stations that offer your EV's plug type. Google also announced that it's expanding its "accessible places" feature globally after initially launching it in the U.S., Australia, Japan and the U.K. in 2020. The feature is designed to help people determine whether a place is wheelchair accessible.
Shopping
Google has announced a new AR shopping feature that is designed to make it easier to find your exact foundation match. The company says its new photo library features 148 models representing a diverse spectrum of skin tones, ages, genders, face shapes, ethnicities and skin types. As a result, it should be easier for shoppers to better visualize what different products will look like on them. [...] Users can now also shop for shoes using AR.
Starting today, users will be able to use Search to find their favorite dish at a restaurant near them. For example, you can search "truffle mac and cheese near me" to see which nearby restaurants carry the dish on their menu. Once you find a specific dish that you're looking for, you can get more information about its price, ingredients and more. Another new Search functionality lets you use Google's multisearch feature to find specific food near you. Say you see something tasty-looking online, but don't know what it is or where to find it. You can now use Lens in the Google app for Android or iOS to snap a picture or take a screenshot of a dish and add the words "near me" to find a place that sells it nearby. Later this year, Google is going roll out an update to its Lens AR Translate capabilities so users can more seamlessly translate text on complex backgrounds. Instead of covering up the original text like it currently does, Google is going to erase the text and re-create the pixels underneath with an AI-generated background, and then overlay the translated text on top of the image.
Maps
As for the new Maps features, Google is launching a new visual search experience called Live View in London, Los Angeles, New York, Paris, San Francisco and Tokyo. [...] In addition to displaying information about where places are, users will be able to see key information about each spot overlaid, such as whether the location is busy, if its open, what the price range is, etc. Another new Maps feature makes it easier for EV owners to find the best charging station for their vehicle. Now, you can search for "EV charging stations" and select the "fast charge" filter. You can also filter for stations that offer your EV's plug type. Google also announced that it's expanding its "accessible places" feature globally after initially launching it in the U.S., Australia, Japan and the U.K. in 2020. The feature is designed to help people determine whether a place is wheelchair accessible.
Shopping
Google has announced a new AR shopping feature that is designed to make it easier to find your exact foundation match. The company says its new photo library features 148 models representing a diverse spectrum of skin tones, ages, genders, face shapes, ethnicities and skin types. As a result, it should be easier for shoppers to better visualize what different products will look like on them. [...] Users can now also shop for shoes using AR.
That's great! (Score:2)
IF search still works like yesterday.... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:IF search still works like yesterday.... (Score:4, Funny)
"I can search for a local restaurant that serves fillet minion"
Just fillet your minions at home, like Gru would
Will be cancelled (Score:3)
These features will be cancelled just as soon as a bunch of people start relying on them. Its the Google way.
Re: (Score:3)
Re: (Score:2)
information: free. search: expensive (Score:2)
Re: information: free. search: expensive (Score:3)
Re: information: free. search: expensive (Score:3)
You're missing the bigger picture. Google knew the probability of what you'd eat implied by knowing precisely where you were eating.
Now they have collapsed the wave function causing millions of tons of food to materialise in landfill.
So basically (Score:3)
They're trying to grab users from Yelp or whatnot and have that money go to Google instead. Because I've already been able to type "Truffle Mac and Cheese Seattle" (for example) and get pretty good results for the past several years.
(It's unlikely I'll ever search specifically for "Truffle Mac and Cheese" though)
I hope the features work after the Stack Ranking (Score:1)
adventure that Google has embarked on.
It wrecked Microsoft and many other big tech companies so why should it work for Google?
Because they have the best people in management positions?
Will Stack Ranking also be applied to the top management?
All this 'good Google news' is just to cover up the layoffs and the mayhem to come because of Googles Stack Ranking idiocy.
Time for a Google replacement (Score:2)
I remember when Google was really a search engine. It's been in the process of jumping the shark for quite a while. Now that it's been dumbed down into, of all things, a modern-day version of the fucking Yellow Pages, it's time for it to mosey off into the sunset and give way to something that grownups can use to get shit done.
Re: Time for a Google replacement (Score:3)
Re: Time for a Google replacement (Score:1)
Re: (Score:3)
"gagh near me" (Score:1)
No useful results.
How about when I search for "Thai food"... (Score:5, Insightful)
How about when I search for "Thai Food" don't show pins on the map for McDonalds, Popeyes Chicken, 3 tire shops, 5 local parks, a barber shop, and a pet store?
What is a "foundation match"? (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Did you even read the summary ?!
Re: (Score:2)
It's a makeup thing, basically basecoat paint for the face. Ask a girl, she'll explain it better.
Wait, no Dark Mode? No added Themes? Help popups? (Score:2)
Google needs to work on UI (Score:2)
Just got back from 1000 mi road trip, navigated by Google (for free!). Why, oh why, is it so complicated to map a route and then save and download it to your phone so that it is readily available? Should be one click ("save to phone?"), but no, that is not enough, that just gets you a notification that expires. You have to do a google search just to find out the secret incantations, which all have to be done separately.