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Google Now Lets Shoppers Virtually Try On Makeup Products Before Buying Them

Google Now Lets Shoppers Virtually Try On Makeup Products Before Buying Them
Image courtesy: Google Blog

This year, due to the ongoing virus pandemic, all offline marketplaces and shopping centers remained closed. As a result, more people have turned towards online shopping and it has become more popular now than ever, and Google has also come to play a major role in this. Google Shopping is among the ones to bring new features for shoppers to make it easier for them to find their favorite products. Now, it has just launched a new virtual try-on feature that lets users try on makeup products virtually before buying them. For this, the tech giant has partnered with ModiFace and Perfect Corp, the developer of YouCam.

Similar to the filters in Snapchat and Instagram, Google Shopping has now launched an AR-powered cosmetics try-on experience on Google Search. The web search giant is working in partnership with top cosmetics brands like L’Oréal, MAC Cosmetics, Estée Lauder, Black Opal, and Charlotte Tilbury to allow shoppers to try on the makeup shades with various skin tones. It even lets them try on themselves using their front camera and see how the shade would look on them.

Google Shopping Try It On Feature, Availability

Google Now Lets Shoppers Virtually Try On Makeup Products Before Buying Them
Image courtesy: Google Blog

This new innovative process will help customers find and choose the best make-up product for their skin tone by trying it beforehand, virtually. When customers search for makeup products, say a lipstick or eyeshadow product, like L’Oreal’s Infallible Paints Metallic Eyeshadow, they can virtually try it out and see what it looks like on a range of skin tones. They can also compare the shades and textures and find the right products of their choice.

Using the Google app on your smartphone, you can now virtually try makeup products from within the app. For example, when you search for a specific lipstick or eyeshadow, you can now see what it looks like on a range of skin tones. Starting December 17, this feature is already available in the Google app for brands including L’Oreal Paris, Black Opal, MAC Cosmetics, Charlotte Tilbury, and more.

Android Users To Receive Four Years Of Update!

Android Users To Get 4 years of update
Image Courtesy: Gizchina

The upcoming year is a big one for Android users. Android Users will receive green robot updates and security patches for four years. As shared by Google, owners of 2021 flagships starting with Snapdragon 888 can get their hands on this extended support.

The update is the result of the collaboration between Qualcomm and Google. Both of them have worked together to make sure that the OEMs can have this update without changing the software of the chip. It would result in the slackening of the cost of software release. The venture would also result in the reduction of preparation time required for the updates. However, already existing devices in the market cannot avail of this update.

Android to receive updates for 4 years
Image Courtesy: Android Police

Although the future Pixel smartphone users are all set for this 4-year support, no other Android smartphone manufacturer has confirmed taking up this initiative of Google and Qualcomm. However, Samsung might be the next in line for scoring this support, having transferred its flagships to a 3-year update cycle this year. Apart from these, smartphones based on Android 11 are likely to switch to 4-year updates and security patches support.

One thing that is common in each of these is that the update will be on the table for future customers and not the existing users. Thus, Google and Qualcomm’s initiative might not be a complete winner, but it is indeed a great start. The future of Android smartphones still depends on the manufacturers of mobile devices.    

Google Announces New Local Language Features for India in Its L10n Event

Google-HQ

Google on Thursday hosted a virtual dubbed Google L10n in India to introduce new localized features for its services. In the event, the company announced a range of new features to help deliver an even richer language experience to millions of users across India. These include adding major local languages to more of Google’s products, including Maps, Lens, and Search.

Google Announces New Local Language Features for India in Its L10n Event
Image courtesy: Google India Blog

Note that the tech giant already allows users to use its services like Gboard and Google Assistant in local languages. But now, it seems like Google is aiming to onboard more new users in India and reach a wider userbase by introducing local language support to more of its products. Here’s what new local features are coming to you while interacting with Google and its services.

Indian Language Search Results Made Easy

Google Announces New Local Language Features for India in Its L10n Event
GIF courtesy: Google India Blog

Google is mainly bringing two changes to the search results and how they appear in India. These include the addition of four new Indian languages — Tamil, Telugu, Bangla, and Marathi — apart from the already-existing Hindi and the introduction of search results in the local language for English queries. In the first case, users can easily toggle between English and the five aforesaid Indian languages by tapping the language ‘chip’ or tab in search results. The second change is that over the next month, Google Search will start showing results in local languages even if a user types a language query in English. 

Google Maps Gets Nine New Indian Languages

Google Maps Language Picker Animation
GIF courtesy: Google India Blog

One of the most used navigation services, Google Maps is getting support for nine new local languages in India. “This will allow Indian users to search for places, get directions and navigation, and interact with the Map in their preferred local language,” said Google in its India blog post. To choose the local language, users can simply open the app and head to “Settings > App language” and select their language from Marathi, Gujarati, Tamil, and more. Here’s how the whole UI, search, and navigation will display in your local language.

Get Homework Help in Hindi Using Google Lens

Google Lens Homework in Hindi Animation
GIF courtsey: Google India Blog

With Google Lens, the tech giant also wants to make life easier for students and their parents by adding Hindi. The ‘Homework’ feature in Lens lets students scan the maths equation, like… quadratic equations, and get the solution. By introducing Hindi, Google wants to reach more students and help them by showing the steps for answers in Hindi.

Apart from all these new localized features, Google has said that it is developing various machine learning algorithms and AI to understand Indian languages. The company also unveiled MuRIL (Multilingual Representations for Indian Languages) in the L10n event. It provides support for transliterated text, such as when writing Hindi using Roman script. It also understands the sentiment of the query to deliver accurate results.

MuRIL is open source and currently supports 16 Indian languages other than English. The company says it could form a better foundation for students, researchers, startups, and anyone else interested in building Indian language technologies. You can download MuRIL from here.

New Text Previews And Search Images Tested By Google

Google Text
Image Courtesy: TechWyse

You must have heard people around you saying, “If you don’t know, just Google it”. That is what makes Google one of the most-used search tool. Not just on Windows and Android platforms, but Google Search also finds its way on iPhones and other Apple devices. And why wouldn’t it be, the company is constantly improving the user experience over time. Moreover, it was only this week that Google tested new text previews and search images.

Being a UI addition, the feature previews images that are embedded in a link when you hover your cursor over it. While it might sound like a simple update, it gives you more detail about the content on a page without leaving your current search window.

Google to add image preview
Image Courtesy: Ishan Agarwal

9TO5Google reports that while testing the new features, they searched for “Stadia”, and could only see previews from Stadia Dev Blog and Wikipedia in the form of text. When they searched for “Note 20 Review”, the search engine showed image and text previews from every website. As soon as you would hover over a link on the search page, Google Images would also show you the most relevant results. However, the images do not disappear once you remove the cursor. This might improve with updates.

The public launch of this feature is still unknown, however, some users also report to experience the UI tweak on Twitter. Other users got to experience the new feature while they were in Chrome’s incognito mode. For understanding purpose, this feature is something similar to the small tab that opens up when you hover over a hypertext in Wikipedia.

Messenger Desktop To Add Holiday AR Effects And Filters!

messenger filters
Image Courtesy: Messenger News

One of the most used applications on the planet Earth is Facebook Messenger. Until this year, the experience was limited to smartphones and tablets. Recently, Facebook launched the desktop version of Messenger, to cater to the macOS and Window’s user. This was surely in line with several messengers being available on desktop and letting the users experience the interactive messaging application on their desktop. Well, the good news is that Messenger has announced an update, which would add Holiday AR Effects and Filters to the large screen experience.

facebook messenger
Image Courtesy: Messenger News

These interactive features are specifically designed for a screen as large as your laptop or desktop. Naturally, you might see some really beautiful designs. What I am specifically waiting for is the 360-degree and AR-enabled backgrounds. Not only that, Facebook has launched a bunch of Holiday AR effects and Filters, to add to the holiday spirit, for both mobile and desktop platforms. It is sort of a race among social media platforms, to be relevant and add loads of benefits for their users.

Here is a list of AR effects; all of them come with an uplifting holiday spirit.

  • Santa’s Lap
  • Christmas Tree Hat
  • Festive Lights
  • Christmas Elf
  • Winter Village
  • Grumpy Yeti
  • Golden New Year
  • Snow Day

Sticker pack includes:

  • Christmas Stickers
  • Hanukkah with Dreidel Stickers
  • “Bye 2020”, “New Year’s Eve” Stickers

To access these new filters and stickers, click on the smiley face while on a video call, enjoying a room call with your friends, or sending pictures to your family. Use these simply while texting, or you can use them to decorate a video call – the Holiday Style! If you have not checked out the Messenger Desktop yet, you are missing on a lot.

Apple TV App is Soon Coming to Chromecast With Google TV, Will Launch Next Year

Apple TV App is Soon Coming to Chromecast With Google TV, Will Launch Next Year
Image courtesy: Google Blog

After adding support for Apple Music in Nest smart speakers and displays, Google is bringing more of your favorite entertainment from Apple TV to Chromecast with Google TV soon. The tech giant has announced that it will add the Apple TV app on its all-new Chromecast with Google TV next year. However, it didn’t give an exact date for when the service will be available for users.

In early 2021, Chromecast with Google TV users will be able to watch Apple TV+ content along with their existing library of movie and TV show purchases from iTunes. According to Google, Chromecast with Google TV has now become one of the only streaming devices with all the major video subscriptions. The company confirms that it will also bring the Apple TV app for Google’s Android TV in the future, but we don’t know when. 

Apple TV app in Chromecast with Google TV

Apple TV App is Soon Coming to Chromecast With Google TV, Will Launch Next Year

Integrated into Google TV’s content aggregation system on Chromecast, the Apple TV app will provide users personalized and curated recommendations in their feed. The good thing is that users can even save them to their Watchlist, which they can catch up on later. Also, Apple TV+ subscribers can tune into the award-winning shows, movies, and documentaries — like The Morning Show, Ted Lasso, Defending Jacob, Greyhound, and Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special.

On the Apple TV app, subscribed users can access their purchased library of movies and TV shows, along with personalized and curated recommendations and the Apple TV channels. Also, Google TV now makes it easier for users to find their favorite movies and shows by allowing them to see Apple Originals in their personalized recommendations and search results. Additionally, they can also share their subscriptions to Apple TV channels with up to six family members through Family Sharing.

Speaking of availability, Google has said that it will roll out the Apple TV app on Chromecast with Google TV early next week. However, the company didn’t reveal the exact date of the launch yet. For devices powered by Android TV OS, the Apple TV app will launch in the future.

Google Acquired Neverware & CloudReady – Integration With Chrome OS About To Happen!

Google acquired Neverware
Image Courtesy: Neverware

If you are someone who owns an old computer, Neverware is here to save your day. It uses Google’s Chromium OS, which is an open-source platform and converts it into Chromebook like devices, with the help of cloud-based custom software. It is primarily aimed at enterprises and schools. As it turns out, Google has bought Neverware and CloudReady OS.

Google recently announced that both Neverware and CloudReady have become a part of the Chrome OS team. Chrome, in a formal statement, appreciated the speed, manageability and productivity that Neverware adds to a device. This alliance would directly benefit the Chrome OS. Being an open-source platform has its own advantages. Multiple developers can provide their inputs and customize the application according to their specific needs. Google is looking forward to a mutually beneficial partnership, where Neverware can develop a better than ever web-based application, and Google gets a hand on the CloudReady OS and its users.

Neverware to extend to Google
Image Courtesy: Neverware

As CloudReady becomes an official Chrome OS offering, you can expect the release mechanics to fall in line with official Chrome OS releases, Google confirmed.

Neverware has primarily been focussing on schools and educational enterprises, giving them a platform to use budget friendly and old devices and turn them into Chromebook like interface.