This archive report was first published on 16 September 2019.
Google's Smart Screenshots: A New Way to Search Online ¶
Google is working on a new feature called Smart Screenshots, which will allow users to perform online searches using screenshots taken via Google Lens. This feature is expected to be part of the upcoming Pixel phones and Google Assistant.
According to an APK teardown by 9 to 5 Google, the new feature will include multiple buttons that will pop up on the screen after a screenshot is taken. These buttons will include an Edit button, a share button, and a new 'Lens' button that will allow users to search for objects inside the smart screenshot via Google Lens.
The 'Lens' tool will enable users to perform a search, do optical character recognition (OCR), or find visually similar items by selecting Lens. The current annotating, cropping, and sharing editing tools will most probably stay as they are.
Additionally, a new redesign in Google Assistant suggestion pop-up was also tipped off by 9to5Google. Google is reportedly working on making changes to the pill-shaped Google Assistant suggestions to make them more accessible.
At the moment, when the Google Assistant is triggered, it shows pill-shaped suggestions at the bottom, with a maximum of two suggestions at one time in the Assistant UI. After the redesign, the Google Assistant suggestion pop-up should show circular suggestions placed on top of the UI, instead of the bottom.
