Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Google Lens now being rolled out for first-generation Pixel, Pixel XL

Google Lens, the image recognizing tool, has started appearing on Google Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones. Announced first at Google I/O 2017, this app scans objects and gives you text information on your smartphone. Google Lens arrived as an app on recently launched the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. Redditors have now posted images of Google Lens appearing on their smartphones without any update.

First reported by 9to5Google, Google Lens was discovered by Redditor self.Android who saw the app under Photos on his Pixel XL. After sharing the discovery on Reddit, other Pixel and Pixel XL users started commenting saying that Google Lens is available on their devices too.

The Google Lens display page lists different features of the app. These include copying text like phone numbers, dates and addresses. More features include learning more about landmarks, and looking up books, music albums, movies, and artwork. It further states that any Google Lens activity will be saved to your Google account if permissions are granted accordingly. Google Lens is rolling out in a phased manner as not everyone has received it. In a few weeks, Google Lens is said to be integrated to Assistant as well.

Google Lens uses the company’s Deep Learning technology. The app uses your smartphone’s camera to scan, for example, a flower and the AI will search the web for relevant information. Google will present information with action cards for opening a related app, copy the text, or open the Share menu. Google Lens is also capable of automatically connecting to your Wi-Fi network. All you need to do is point the smartphone’s camera at your Wi-Fi network’s SSID and password.