Google app adds a dedicated feed for visual inspiration
Google just added a dedicated Images tab to its mobile app to make visual discovery easier. The new feed serves up daily images tailored to your interests, letting you save them to collections or search for related ideas in one place. It is rolling out to Android and iOS users in the U.S. over the next few weeks.
Sometimes it is nearly impossible to describe the exact outfit or home aesthetic you want, but you know it the second you see it.
Google wants to capture that feeling. The company is adding a dedicated visual browsing tab directly to its flagship mobile app.
A dedicated tab to browse and save inspo
Android and iOS users will soon spot a new "Images" icon pinned right to the bottom navigation bar of the Google app.
Tap it, and you get a daily stream of images tuned to your specific interests. You can casually browse, bookmark favorites straight into your collections, or tap on a picture to dig up even more related visual inspiration.
Google says the rollout will take place over the next few weeks for Android and iOS users in the United States.
Why it matters
Google is coming straight for Pinterest's bread and butter.
Traditional search requires intent: you type a query, grab a link, and leave. Visual discovery works in reverse. People usually browse when they do not yet know what they are looking for, a habit Pinterest turned into a multibillion-dollar business.
Giving an algorithmic image feed prime real estate at the bottom of the screen is a clever way to keep users inside Google's walls during the brainstorming phase. If the recommendations are good, you might skip Pinterest altogether, though minimalist searchers might find the extra tab a bit intrusive.
Sources (1)
- blog.google(opens in a new tab)Originalblog.google