Google Photos is currently implementing a series of exciting upgrades, but, unexpectedly, these enhancements are only available for iPhone users at this time. Features such as a redesigned photo view, an improved actions menu, and actionable badges are set to arrive for Android users soon. In the meantime, let's delve into the latest updates for Google Photos on iOS.
With the introduction of a light mode for the app, Google Photos will now align with your iOS theme settings. This means that the user interface (UI) will automatically switch between light and dark modes based on your system preferences. While the addition of a light theme may not excite users who prefer dark mode—like myself—it is likely to be a welcomed feature for many who enjoy having their app displayed in light mode, especially during daytime hours.
Another noteworthy update is the addition of glanceable photos data. Google is now providing essential information directly above each photo you open, including the date, time, and location where the picture was captured. While this information has always been accessible, it previously required manual selection. The convenience of not needing to click to view a photo's geotag is a significant improvement that many users will surely appreciate.
Next to the glanceable data, users will find a new action button that simplifies the process of managing photos. Tapping this button reveals a range of actions, including:
About Google Lens Create Cast Save as (compatible with Live Photos taken on iPhone) Download Delete from deviceWhile some existing actions may appear to be missing, they have not been removed entirely. Instead, these features can now be accessed through the Add to (+) button located in the bottom bar, allowing users to organize photos into albums, archive images, or move them to their Locked Folder.
Managing photo stacks and burst mode photos has also been made easier. By tapping the new action button adjacent to the thumbnails of these photos, users can access a menu that allows them to:
Remove items from the stack Unstack the entire group Multi-select photos to apply actions to all Change the top pick in the stackIn addition to the above features, Google Photos for iOS now includes several badges for quick actions. These badges enable users to swiftly change a photo's category, play or pause a Live Photo, save shared photos to their library, and manage photo backups or storage. Positioned above the photo being viewed, these badges allow for quick execution of actions with just a tap.
All these exciting features are now available in Google Photos for iPhone users. However, there is currently no definitive timeline for when these enhancements will be rolled out to Android devices. Google has confirmed that these updates will reach Android users soon, though they have not specified an expected release date as of this writing.
