Series Samsung Galaxy S24 is here, and with it comes a host of new AI features. Samsung is branding these features under its new “Galaxy AI” brand, and you’ll only find most of them on the S24 phone for the first time.
Along with the Galaxy S24 announcement, Google confirmed that one of the S24’s new features, called Search Circle, will be coming to other Android phones besides the S24. And it will arrive soon.
What is a search circle?
The search circle works as its name suggests. Anywhere on the Galaxy S24, you can press and hold the Home button/gesture line (depending on what navigation style you’re using) to launch Circle to Search mode. From there, circle on the screen everything you want to Google.
Once the object is surrounded, it is surrounded by a small frame (as seen in the photo above). Search results will appear below your item based on what you circled. In the example above, Circle to Search discovered a backpack and offered a link to purchase it in addition to other related searches.
Circle to Search works with almost anything on your phone screen. This could be something you’re viewing in Google Chrome, the Photos/Gallery app, a text message, etc. What’s especially useful is that Search Circle is an overlay on top of any app you’re looking for. in which you are now. When you’re done using this feature, swipe your finger across the screen and you’ll be taken back to where you left off in the previous app.
These are the phones that will get the new feature
However, this is where things get interesting. Although it was hinted at the Samsung press conference that Circle to Search only If it came to the Galaxy S24 series, everything is not the same there.
Apart from the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24 Plus and Galaxy S24 Ultra, Circle to Search will also be available on Google Pixel 8 and Google Pixel 8 Pro. And they will appear no later. All five phones will receive the Circle to Search feature on January 31, the day the S24 series officially hits store shelves.
While Google hasn’t named any other phones that Circle to Search will come to, it’s hard to imagine the feature will remain exclusive to the Galaxy S24 and Pixel 8 series forever. If I were a betting man, I think we’ll learn more about that Circle to Search will be coming to other Android phones around Google I/O this spring.
It’s also worth noting that in its press release, Google calls the S24 and Pixel 8 “select premium Android smartphones” that have this feature, suggesting Circle for Search requires a certain amount of processing power and will only be available on more powerful phones , if they expand to other devices in the future. Additionally, Circle to Search is available “in all languages and countries” where the Galaxy S24 and Pixel 8 phones are sold.
In addition to the Circle to Search expansion, Google also announced expanded functionality for Google Lens. Now, when you scan something with Lens, you can enter a relevant search term for the image and get “AI-powered information that goes beyond visual matches.” In the example provided by Google, you can use Lens to scan a board game and then ask questions like “How do you play this game?” or “What kind of game is this?” Previously, Google Lens only returned visual results, but now it will use Google’s artificial intelligence to suggest relevant responses. The feature will be available in the Google app for Android and iOS this week, in English only in the US.
Source: Digital Trends
