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Google Lens shortcut is tested on Pixel Launcher search bar

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By Alan Friedman

Published: Apr 27, 2021, 12:17 AM

Google Lens shortcut is tested on Pixel Launcher search bar

Playing the game of musical icons, for some Pixel users Google stopped the music with the Google Lens icon on the Pixel Launcher search bar to the right of the Assistant icon. 9to5 Google posted a picture showing exactly what the search bar looks like with the Lens short cut being tested. Google Lens uses image recognition technology devised by Google to show certain features about an items it identifies.

Tapping the Google Lens icon takes the user directly to the Google Lens app. There is a similar icon in the Google Search app's search bar that happens to do the same exact thing. The test that Google is running with the Lens icon's placement in the Pixel Launcher search bar has been spotted only by those participating in the Android 12 Developer Preview which recently had its third release.

The Google Lens icon shows up in the Pixel Launcher search bar in Android 12 Developer Preview

A Google Lens based "translate" button has surfaced on Android 11's screenshot UI next to the preview found in the left corner of the display. This feature has also been found in the Recent Apps view on the Android 12 Developer Preview.

Google Lens Translate has surfaced in the Android 11 Screenshot UI

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Alan, an ardent smartphone enthusiast and a veteran writer at PhoneArena since 2009, has witnessed and chronicled the transformative years of mobile technology. Owning iconic phones from the original iPhone to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, he has seen smartphones evolve into a global phenomenon. Beyond smartphones, Alan has covered the emergence of tablets, smartwatches, and smart speakers.

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