Google’s Live View AR search kicks off next week. After the latest update to searches for football fans, Google is introducing a number of new features to its services. Starting with Maps, the company will begin rolling out its long-awaited Live View search feature. As the name suggests, the feature adds a search bar to the augmented reality layer of the app, making it easier to find places like ATMs, services, and restaurants. Starting next week, the feature will roll out to London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Tokyo.
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At the same time, Google is adding a new wheelchair icon to Maps to identify places with barrier-free entrances. Finally, Maps will include new filters designed to help you find EV charging stations with fast-charging plugs and those with plugs that match your vehicle. Starting today, both features will be available globally.
Search will also receive a number of improvements. For starters, Google is making Lens even more efficient: if you see a photo of some food you want to try, you’ll be able to find a restaurant that makes it, even if you don’t know the name of the dish.
Still staying on Lens, Google will update the translation feature later this year. Once the update arrives, Lens will use an AI algorithm to erase the original text and generate new pixels underneath before overlaying the translation on top. The feature is supposed to make translated texts more readable.
On the shopping front, Google is adding new augmented reality features. The former is a library of 150 templates representing different skin tones, ages, genders, face shapes and skin types, an addition the company says will help users accurately test more than 2,000 foundation shades of a variety of brands. The company is also adding a new AR experience for sneakers that lets you wear footwear from Saucony, Vans, and Merrell. Both features will start rolling out in the US starting today.
