How To Use Google Camera Icons

Lens closed out last year with a Pixel Camera-inspired redesign and more shortcuts in other apps to launch the visual search tool. Google is now testing a new Lens icon that better communicates its functionality.

As spotted by Android Police, the new Lens icon was spotted at the superlative of Google app in the search field. This placement, which appears next to the microphone icon, was introduced to Android in October. The shortcut has been on iOS for quite sometime now.

Instead of a rounded square, this logo is rectangular and shaped like a DSLR. Still comprised of four colors, blue is the nearly dominant i taking the lens, top-left corner, and viewfinder. Green remains the least prominent at the top-right position.

This alter is not widely rolled out today, and Google's Rajan Patel said it was just an "experiment to come across if we can better communicate that tapping that button will open the photographic camera. Seems to be doing well!"

Google is looking to increase the usage of Lens. Today, it'southward available in Banana, Photos, photographic camera apps, Search (Images), and Chrome when holding down on a picture. Its placement in the Google app is already prominent, simply the visitor wants to increase the tool'due south obviousness.

Lens has officially had two icons in its life. That said, when it was announced on stage in 2017, the company had a rectangular version that's non besides dissimilar from what's being tested today. In fact, that variant likewise appeared on the Pixel 2 and 2 XL's retail packaging — the showtime phones with Lens.

In software, the icon has e'er been a rounded square. In 2019, Google made it less blocky with rounded corners and visual separation to wait more like a viewfinder than a square camera. The company also briefly trailed another icon terminal year.