Google’s Circle to Search feature, which lets you visually search for anything on your screen, is set for some exciting upgrades. This is according to a recent Made by Google podcast that sheds light on the development process and Google’s plans for the future.
From its inception, the team says the focus was on making Circle to Search as accessible and fast as possible. That’s why they chose to activate it via a long-press on either the gesture bar or home button. While this offers effortless access, some users have reported accidental triggers due to the touch target while others, especially those who heavily relied on triggering Google Assistant by long-pressing the home button, simply want it gone. Google is well aware of the issue and promises improvements that should eventually fix the annoying accidental activations of the Circle to Search feature on your Pixel phone.
The podcast also reveals that Google’s Lens technology works hand-in-hand with Circle to Search. So, not only can you search for things on your screen, but you also unlock Lens’ visual search capabilities, including OCR (optical character recognition). This explains Google’s ambitious plan to merge standard Search with Lens results. This promises a unified search experience, eliminating the need to switch between apps — a rollout that will take place over the coming months. In the long run, Google plans to make Circle to Search universally available across your Pixel device for maximum utility.
Work is also underway to enhance the precision and accuracy of Circle to Search’s region selection and text-copying capabilities. The development team’s commitment to a “delightful” user experience is evident, even while acknowledging the speed advantages of traditional tap-to-select methods.
Google’s Circle to Search is an evolving tool with immense potential to reshape the way we interact with our smartphones. With ongoing improvements and the exciting integration of Lens, Circle to Search could become a true powerhouse of visual search capabilities, delivering smarter and more intuitive ways to find the information you need.
Hillary Keverenge
2114 Posts
Tech has been my playground for over a decade. While the Android journey began early, it truly took flight with the revolutionary Lollipop update. Since then, it's been a parade of Android devices (with a sprinkle of iOS), culminating in a mostly happy marriage with Google's smart home ecosystem. Expect insightful articles and explorations of the ever-evolving world of Android and Google products coupled with occasional rants on the Nest smart home ecosystem.
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