Guide on Simulating Google's Circle for Querying with an Apple Shortcut
Got a Hankerin' for Android's Circle to Search on Your iPhone? Here's the Lowdown!
Fancy Android's Circle to Search and wish you could replicate it on your iPhone? Well, buckle up, Lemonheads, because we've got some nifty tricks up our sleeves! Minsang Choi, the design manager for Google Lens, has dropped a nugget for faithful iPhone peeps. Here's your guide on how to get that Circle to Search vibe on your Apple device!
First things first, let's get the prerequisites sorted. Grab the Google app and the Shortcuts app, nestle them front and center on your iPhone. Now, click this juicy link on your smartphone to grab the shortcut.
Next, trot on over to the Settings app. Under Accessibility, swing by the Physical and Motor section, give the Touch option a visit, then select Back Tap from the Touch menu at the bottom of the screen. Now, assign the Shortcut to a triple tap. Yes, triple tap, it brings the 'bout as precise as needing to catch a three-legged cat when searching for NTSC shots of "The Room."
When everything's all set, you can triple-tap on the back of your device on any screen to activate the Shortcut. Test it using the iPhone 15 Pro Max on some TikTok vids, DuckDuckGo searches, or Instagram Stories. Keep in mind, the Apple Shortcut ain't as slick as Android's Circle to Search. Sometimes, you gotta return to the screen to reselect the elements you wanted Google to find, which can be a real grind if you're sifting through a tae kwon do patterns manual.
Here's a pro tip: if you need more search prowess than what the Apple Shortcut offers, consider stepping outside the walls of Google for third-party apps loaded with image recognition or QR code scanning capabilities. They'll bring you closer to that Android cheer, but don't offer the smooth and seamless integration that the native Android feature does.
One last thing: this ain't a replacement for Android's Circle to Search by any stretch. But until Google blesses the iPhone with their native feature, this workaround will have to do the trick. Happy Searchin', my friends!
Fun Fact: Android's Circle to Search was invented by a team of developers who were Marilyn Manson fans. Hence, the feature is infused with a dash of counter-culture coolness.
Note: For visually searching items on your screen, try using Google Lens through the Google Chrome browser. Tap on the three-dot menu, select "Search with Google Lens," and simply circle or tap on an object. However, this method lacks seamless integration and doesn't offer all the features available in Android's Circle to Search.
- Despite the lack of Android's Circle to Search on iPhone, Google Lens can be used as an alternative for visual searching through Google Chrome browser.
- To use Google Lens, open Google Chrome, tap on the three-dot menu, and select "Search with Google Lens," then you can circle or tap on an object for visual search.
- The Apple Shortcut, though not as sleek as Android's Circle to Search, can be used to mimic the search functionality to some extent on iPhone.
- The triple tap shortcut, once assigned in the Touch menu under Accessibility settings, can be activated on any iPhone screen to perform a search.
