Usually it’s a big thing when major companies like Google release new apps. However, some of them get silently released if they are not part of the strategy roadmap.
The real purpose might be merely of experimental nature. Or perhaps it was just a small project and did not get any marketing budget. Who knows why.
Here are five such apps by Google that are interesting but were never really called out to anyone. We got this list for Android devices, but the apps might be also available on other platforms.
PhotoScan
It does what the name suggests. Google PhotoScan helps you to scan old photos to archive them in a digital form in your Google Photos account. From there you can share them with friends and family or keep them for yourself. If you’re looking for a photo editor, you should check out Google Snapseed instead.
Toontastic 3D
With Toontastic 3D by Google you can draw, animate and narrate your own cartoons. Create a funny scene and do your own voice-over. You can even export them as 3D videos. Perfect for kids and well… you know you want to try it out yourself. 😉
Expeditions
With this app Google sends you on a virtually immersive field trip. Could Expeditions be the future of education? Probably not, but it definitely has the potential to make things a lot more interesting by combining VR and learning.
Crowdsource
If you enjoy contributing to the Internet by completing small tasks, Crowdsource might be for you. Personally, I like contributing with little things, like a Wikipedia edit or uploading a photo to a location on Google Maps, that didn’t have one. Have a look if the Crowdsource tasks are of interest to you. Possibly a more productive time killer than a casual mobile game.
Measure
This app is only for Tango-enabled devices, like the Lenovo Phab 2 Pro or the Asus ZenFone AR, but it looks very useful. With Measure you can leverage the camera of your device to have it take measure of objects in real life. Augmented reality brings you the ultimate measuring tool.
What do you think of these apps? Is any of those going to be useful to you? I would love to know your thoughts. Just drop us a line below in the comments.
If you want to read more into less popular apps check out “5 Android Apps from Google You Might Not Know About” from 2014.
Photo credit: Google