Google Now on Tap updated with text selection, image scanning

We haven’t heard much about Google Now on Tap since its debut, but today the feature is making headlines because of a new feature.

Google is updating Now on Tap to make it easier to find exactly what you’re looking for. Starting today, you can select exactly the detail that you want to learn more about to narrow down what Google Now on Tap displays. For example, you can highlight a specific word in a block of text to get a definition and relevant links.

Google Now on Tap can now show you info about images on your screen, too. In Google’s demo, it shows a a photo of a tree and then uses Google Now on Tap to determine the name of that exact tree (General Sherman) and its location (Sequoia National Park). Now on Tap can also work with some objects using your camera viewfinder. Simply launch your camera app, point it at the object that you want to learn more about, then activate Now on Tap by holding the home button.

These new Now on Tap features are available to everyone that can use Now on Tap. They’re pretty significant additions to Now on Tap that will make it easier to find info that you’re looking for. The ability to find info using your camera’s viewfinder is reminiscent of Google Googles, an app that offered similar functionality but hasn’t been updated since 2014, and so it’s nice to see that feature reappear on modern devices.

How often do you use Google Now on Tap?

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