I’m surprised this hasn’t come out sooner: Google Goggles is a visual search app for Android phones that scans products, books, movies, business cards, bar codes, artworks—a ton of stuff. It’s like Google robot eyes in your phone.
While it’s not pixel perfect in its judgment, what’s impressive is its depth—unlike apps like ShopSavvy or SnapTell, Goggles aims to search everything, even if it admittedly isn’t great at IDing food or pets or cars. Yet. Plus, it’s got integrated augmented reality powers, so it’ll show you nearby businesses without you having to touch anything.
Considering Google’s rollout of QR codes to a bunch of places, clearly, they’re planning to splash big with visual search before some upstarts get the ball rolling—I figure it’s only a (short) matter of time before we see it on other smartphones. [Google]
justin
December 8, 2009 at 10:04 AM
doesn’t appear to be available for Australian android users, well with Optus anyway… i assume its tied up with the same issue where our telco’s cant get their tiny heads around a google account.
Report PermalinkVern Norrgard
December 8, 2009 at 10:36 AM
It’s only Available to the US! Bummer. I only worked out recently that us Aussies have limited access in the Android Market, can’t get Twidroid Pro either.
Report PermalinkDerek
December 8, 2009 at 1:27 PM
It is available on the Google Market for me in Australia (HTC Magic from Vodafone). I had to do a search for Google Goggles (wasn’t in the featured list – yet), but it was available and free for me?
Report PermalinkStewart
December 8, 2009 at 4:25 PM
Yer derek is right i have a htc magic on the vodafone network and google goggles works perfectly its fair awesome, but i cant wait to take it for a spin in the city
Report PermalinkTim Vaughan
December 9, 2009 at 6:14 PM
I’ve been a stubborn dumbphone user so far, but this has changed me. WANT.
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