Google continues to innovate its search capabilities with features like Circle to Search, designed to streamline how users interact with visual content. With a simple gesture of circling an item within a photo on supported apps, users can easily initiate a Google Search, unlocking valuable information about their interests. This enhancement not only aims to improve user experience but also facilitates targeted advertising, which has significant revenue implications given Google's $54 billion earnings from search last year.
The latest update brings a notable change in user experience with increased haptic feedback. Users with Pixel devices running version 16.4.36 or later will now experience stronger and longer vibrations when they activate Circle to Search. This change is intended to provide clear feedback, indicating successful activation of the feature. Accompanying this adjustment is a redesigned user interface (UI) that consolidates the search options into a pill-shaped widget, encompassing features like song lookup and translation.
By long pressing the navigation bar, users can now feel enhanced haptic feedback, confirming the activation of Circle to Search. | Image credit-PhoneArena
However, not all users are thrilled with this update. Some, like Reddit user Adnaks, find the new activation method less intuitive, expressing confusion about whether the new haptic signals a successful activation or an error. In contrast, others such as user Luke_starkiller34 have welcomed the change, appreciating the new feedback as it indicates when the feature has been successfully activated, eliminating previous frustrations.
Currently, the upgraded haptic feedback for Circle to Search is exclusive to Pixel devices, sparking interest in whether this feature will expand to other Android smartphones in the near future.
