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Google's next chat service is... Photos
One of the best things about Google+ (RIP) was its engrossing photography community, where people from far and wide shared and discussed their images. Google's stab at a social network might be dead and buried, but it's doubling down on ways for people to message each other across its various services. Now, it's marrying those two notions by bringing a chat feature to Google Photos.
Google Photos hit a billion users in just over four years
Google has confirmed Google Photos now has more than a billion users. It surpassed the milestone earlier this summer, a little over four years after it unveiled Photos, Google told Fast Company in a profile of the service.
Google will stop syncing files between Drive and Photos
Google is changing how Drive and Photos share your videos and photos with each other, in a move that might actually cause more problems than it solves. From July 10th, when you upload files to Drive or Photos, they won't automatically sync to the other service. Likewise, when you delete a photo or video from Drive, it won't be removed from Photos and vice versa.
Court tosses lawsuit over Google Photos' facial recognition
Google Photos users nervous about facial recognition on the service aren't going to be very happy. A Chicago judge has granted Google a motion dismissing a lawsuit accusing the company of violating Illinois' Biometric Information Privacy Act by gathering biometric data from photos without permission. The plaintiffs couldn't demonstrate that they'd suffered "concrete injuries" from the facial recognition system, according to the judge.
Google Photos doubles Live Albums limit to 20,000 images
Google Photos is doubling the amount of images you can store on its auto-populating Live Albums to 20,000. That's up from the 10,000 limit introduced with the feature's launch in October. Google has updated its support page to reflect the change, reports Android Police.
Google Photos update brings depth control to iOS
Google has added a useful feature to its Google Photos app for iOS. You'll be able to tweak background blur levels and adjust the focus on portrait mode photos. The depth editor tool is arriving on iOS soon after Google added it to the app on Pixel 2, Pixel 3 and some Moto phones. Notably, Pixel 3 phones have a built-in depth control feature, as do iPhone XS and XS Max.
Google+ is dead, but its legacy lives on
Following the revelation of a security vulnerability that exposed the private data of up to 500,000 Google+ users, Google is finally ready to pull the plug on the consumer version of its troubled social network. Simply put, the company said Monday, Google+ has not achieved the broad consumer or developer adoption it had hoped for. Google even said that 90 percent of Google+ user sessions were lasting less than five seconds. This sums up the sad state of a service that, when it launched in 2011, Google dreamed of turning into a serious Facebook competitor.
What will Android look like in the next ten years?
A decade ago, Android launched... to a world of challenges. But back in 2008, Google wasn't worried about artificial intelligence, it was just trying to make a stable mobile operating system. One that stood out in a very crowded playing field. Back then, the competition was Apple, BlackBerry, Nokia/Symbian, Palm and Windows Mobile. By 2009, however, Android's market share was steadily climbing, and by early 2010, sales inched past that of iOS devices (according to Statista). Android's upward trajectory hasn't stopped since. Now, Statista reports 88 percent of all smartphones sold run Google's mobile operating system, with iOS devices making up around 12 percent (based on total sales). What started as an alternative mobile experience for nerds has gone full mainstream. But what does that mean for the future of Android?
Google video teases all-white look for Gmail and other apps
Google has been revamping its Material Design guidelines for internal and third-party products. We've already seen previews of how the look of Google's own products will change, from Android to Gmail to Chrome. A video just surfaced showing a glimpse of what those redesigns may end up looking like: Clean, all-white interfaces, according to Ars Technica.
Google Photos' web version now behaves like a native app
Not everyone can justify downloading the Google Photos app on their phone, and that just hasn't been an option on computers. Now, however, you don't have to think about that choice: users have discovered that Photos is now available as a Progressive Web App. You may have to manually enable PWA support in Chrome to make them work, but this provides a look and feel closer to that of the native photo management tool without a sizeable download. You can install the app on your Android phone's home screen or, with Chrome 67, as a shortcut on your desktop.
Google's latest app easily transfers VR180 footage to your phone
Google's work toward democratizing virtual reality has taken a big step forward. The company recenlty released the VR180 app for Android and iOS, which takes photos and video captured on its special VR cameras and uploads them directly to Google Photos and YouTube. There's an option for live-streaming too, according to TechCrunch. You'll need one of Google's VR180 cameras to use the app, of course, but there are already a few options to choose from in that regard. Lucky for you, Lenovo's Mirage Camera is available as of today.
Google Lens can identify dog and cat breeds
Now that the Android-first Google Lens feature has finally rolled out to the Photos app on iOS devices, nearly all mobile users can appreciate a recently-added feature: Identifying pet breeds. Also, a new wrinkle added this week will have Google Photos automatically create a book starring your pet. Yes, the might of artificial intelligence has been mustered to determine what kind of dog or cat is in the photo you just took. The only thing left for humans to decide is if they prefer a hardcover or softcover edition.
Google Lens visual search rolls out on iOS
After making a slow march across Android devices, Google's AI-powered visual search is coming to iOS. Apple device owners should see a preview of Google Lens pop up in the latest version of their Google Photos app over the next week. In case you've forgotten how it works, the idea is that your camera will recognize items in a picture and be able to take action with tie-ins to Google Assistant. Of course, now that you can use the technology the question is whether or not you should.
Google Lens is now available for non-Pixel Android phones
Google Lens is making it way from the Pixel to Android devices and iPhones alike starting today. In a roundabout way, that is. The AI-powered photo analyzing app will live inside Assistant in Google Photos, as spotted by 9to5 Gooogle. The announcement was first made at Mobile World Congress. You should see an overlay on your photos indicating that it's available for the Lens treatment. The Android roll-out is happening right now, so if you don't see the update you might need to be patient. Apple fans, however, will have to make do with an ambiguous "coming soon."
Google Photos compiles your pics in ‘Smiles of 2017’ video
Google wants to give a you look back at the year and it's doing so with a video called "Smiles of 2017" that compiles some of the photos you saved throughout year. The short movies are reportedly between 40 and 60 seconds long and are paired with typical Google Photos video music. While Google Photos had a "Smiles" slideshow last year as well, it appears that more users are getting access to this year's version. The videos are appearing in the Assistant section of the Google Photos app or desktop site and if you have one, a notification should let you know.
'Untrained Eyes' explores how computers perceive you
If you search for "man" on Google, most of the image results you'll get are of white males looking confidently at the camera. "Woman," meanwhile, brings up pictures of women that appear to have been taken from a male gaze -- and yes, you guessed it, they're also predominately white. That lack of inclusion in machine learning is what "Untrained Eyes," an interactive art installation, aims to shed light on. The project, created by conceptual artist Glenn Kaino and actor/activist Jesse Williams, comes in the form of a sculpture that uses five mirrors and a Kinect to get its point across. Stand in front of it, wave and, within seconds, you'll be presented with an image that will "match" your appearance.
Google Lens is rolling out to first-generation Pixel phones
Google is working on some impressive artificial intelligence tricks. And, many of them are finding their way to the public. We can already interact with the company's digital assistant on our phones and through Google Home. Now, Google Lens is arriving on the original Pixel and Pixel XL. As Android Police notes, a number of users have spotted the feature in the Photos app on the first-gen handsets. We knew Lens was coming, but we didn't know when. In case you missed its unveiling in May, Lens uses computer vision to understand what's in your photos, videos, and the world around you. In the words of Engadget's Devindra Hardawar: "It's basically Google search for everything outside of screens."
Google Photos can pick your pet out of a furry lineup
Google Photos has long been adept at recognizing animals in a generic sense. But let's be honest: the real reason you're digging through photos is to find shots of your specific pets when they were little balls of fur. Accordingly, Google has made those pet searches much easier. Photos is now smart enough to recognize individual and dogs, placing their shots alongside people. You can name pets, too, so you can look for Chairman Meow or Rover instead of typing in generic "cat" and "dog" queries.
Google Photos will limit Pixel 2 users' uploads after 2020
Google promised you'd be able to upload files to the Photos app in their original quality and resolution so long as you use a Pixel phone. If you get a Pixel 2, though, that's only true until 2020. Part of Pixel 2's fine print has revealed that by 2021, the app will only upload your files in "hiqh-quality" resolution. For Google, "high quality" means 16-megapixel photos and 1080p videos. If you upload anything bigger than those, the app will automatically downgrade them.
Google Photos eases video sharing on slow connections
With Google pre-loading Google Photos on a range ofAndroid devices, it's no wonder the app has racked up 500 million users. The search giant is already capitalizing on its success using AI-assisted tools that pester you to share more visuals. Now, it's hellbent on eradicating any mobile signal barriers that could hinder your sharing pleasure. The app's latest update builds on a feature unveiled earlier this year. Back in March, Photos began backing up images in a lower resolution when it detected weak connectivity, later giving the pics a high-res bump via Wi-Fi. That way you could upload and share lightweight preview pics on the go, without worrying about a signal dropout ruining your progress. Video fans will be happy to hear that same functionality is now available for recorded clips.
