14 DAY TRIAL // Google has released “a new, rich, and engaging way to interact with all your favorite catalogs” - the Google Catalogs app for iPad owners. It’s free and it allows you to discover inspiring photos and videos, create collages, save products that you find appealing, as well as share everything with your friends.
“For years, shoppers have enjoyed flipping through glossy print catalogs to be inspired, discover new trends and find great products,” says Kinnari Jhaveri, Strategic Partner Development Manager, Google Commerce Team.
“Today, mobile technologies can make catalog shopping more engaging, social and creative. With that in mind, we’ve created Google Catalogs—a free app for tablet devices that enables you to browse all of your favorite catalogs and interact with new layers of rich-media content,” Jhaveri is proud to announce.
The software basically aggregates digital versions of catalogs in categories like fashion and apparel, beauty, jewelry, home, kids and gifts.
Some of the leading brands Google has partnered with include Anthropologie, Bare Escentuals, Bergdorf Goodman, Crate and Barrel, L.L. Bean, Lands’ End, Macy’s, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Pottery Barn, Saks Fifth Avenue, Sephora, Sundance, Tea Collection, Urban Outfitters and Williams-Sonoma.
And that’s just to name a few, according to Jhaveri.
The flagship feature of the application has to be “Interact”, which allows users to analyze a product from all angles, see videos and reviews, inspiring photos etc.
If there’s something that can help you in your decision to shop for an item, this is probably the next best thing (after visiting an actual store).
When users find an item that they like, they can tap “Buy on Website” to visit the merchant online and see their purchasing options.
The ability to email a product or collage to all your shopping buddies is also a huge plus.
Finally, you can add catalogs to your Favorites and get notified whenever a new issue arrives.
Google Catalogs is an iPad-only app for now. It calls for iOS 3.2 or later and it’s free. Android tablets are getting later on, Jhaveri said.