Google Photos on Android could soon be getting a major update that will bring another redesign and several new features. Android Authority discovered the latter after analyzing the files for Google Photos version 6.94. These potential changes run the gamut and affect several areas of the app.
First off, the platform is reportedly incorporating two new search filters to help people locate images. They are “Most Recent” and “Best Match,” and yes, their respective names adequately explain what they do. Most Recent sorts search results “chronologically, with the most recent images” (hence the name) appearing at the top.
Best Match finds photos that “closely match” a given keyword. Android Authority gives the example of someone typing “Flower” into the search bar, and then Photos shows photos that show a flower inside a frame. Additionally, the company may allow scrollable albums to appear above search results near the top.
Highlighting
Next, evidence of “Spotlight” was discovered within Google Photos 6.94. This tool is apparently capable of automatically editing videos down to the “key moments and [applying] effects.”
At the moment, very little is known about Spotlight, and while Android expert AssmebleDebug was unable to activate the software, he did find some clues. He claims that it will offer preset editing profiles that can be activated with a single tap.
AssembleDebug says Spotlight works similarly to Video Spotlight in the Memories carousel. In that particular feature, Google Photos highlights sections of past videos and then shares them on the home screen as a “trip down memory lane” experience. It’s possible the feature could work similarly, but you’ll have manual control over what to highlight.
Finally, Google may make it easier to comment on shared albums. AssembleDebug says the app will offer users a direct way to add comments via a new floating bar. Tapping on the album on the screen will bring it up.
This method is simpler than the current one, which requires you to tap a speech bubble icon to bring up the comments section before you can add your own. It's a small change, but it could significantly improve user engagement.
AssembleDebug said that you could enable the revamped comments section by enabling the appropriate software flag. However, because the feature is still in development, we don't recommend going into the files and enabling the flag yourself, as it might not work.
Make sure to take all of this leaked information with a grain of salt. It will likely be a long time before we see any of these changes implemented. Or Google could, one day, decide to cancel all of these projects suddenly. It's entirely possible.
While we're at it, check out TechRadar's list of the best Android phones for 2024.
