Reviewed by: Jessica Dolcourt on December 21, 2009
We tip our hat to Google for creating a novel mobile app that uses pictures to prompt a search, not just text or vocal input. When you take a photo through Goggles, the free app scans the image, matching your picture against its database and returning a result. Goggles can read bar codes, landmarks, logos, books and DVDs, signs, and products. Things like plants still give Goggles trouble, and results aren't always consistent scan to scan. As Goggles is still a product of Google Labs, it's more experimental than fully baked. But it's a good experiment, and one that's sure to save you some typing.
A picture is worth a thousand words. With Google Goggles for Android no need to type your search anymore. Just take a picture. Find out what businesses are nearby. Just point your phone at a store. Turn on 'visual search history' to view or share your pictures at any time. Turn it off to discard them once the search is done. Goggles can also recognize English, French, Italian, German, and Spanish words and allow you to translate into other languages.
CNET Editor's Note: The "Download Now" link directs you to the product page. You can download the application in the Android Market from your Smartphone.