Are the days of J.Crew and L.L. Bean print catalogues numbered? On Tuesday, Google launched Google Catalogs, a free tablet-optimized app that aggregates shopping catalogs in a searchable, interactive format.
Google Catalogs, which is currently only available on the iPad, lets you "subscribe" to digital versions of print catalogs from dozens of retailers, including William Sonoma, L.L. Bean, Urban Outfitters, and Macy's. The app will provide alerts when new catalogs show up.
Beyond that, you can search for products among all your catalogs, save products that catch your eye, and create collages to share with friends. You edit photos, choose backgrounds, and edit text; there's also the option to make it public for viewing by other app users. Google Catalogs also supports videos, like cooking demonstrations in the William Sonoma catalog. You can even tap to buy the product at the online store, or search for nearby store locations.
"With Google Catalogs, browsing through a catalogue is a rich and engaging experience," Google said in a demo video (below).
Current categories include: apparel and fashion for men, women, and children; beauty; jewelry; home goods; and gifts. Google promised to add more in the future.
If this story sounds all too familiar, that's because it is. Google launched "Google Catalog Search" in 2001, which let consumers search through scanned versions of various print catalogs. It never gained much traction, however, and Google shut it down in 2009.
Source:http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2391193,00.asp?kc=PCRSS05039TX1K0000762
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