Google Photos Can Now Fix Sideways Snaps and Generate GIFs to Share

[MacRumors]

Google has announced a few notable updates to its Photos app, with some new features powered by its machine-learning technology.

The app can now automatically generate animated GIFs from videos you upload to the service. Google says its technology looks for video segments that capture activity - "a jump into the pool, or even just an adorable smile" - and creates short animations that can then be easily shared over email or social media.

In addition, Photos now uses facial recognition to surface older pictures of people that appear in your most recent uploads, and can also serve up what it considers to be picture 'highlights' from each month - similar to Apple's Memories feature in its native Photos app.

Last but not least, Google Photos now detects sideways photos in your uploads and offers to rotate them in one batch, saving you from having to correct their orientation yourself one by one.

Google Photos is a free download for iPhone and iPad from the App Store. [Direct Link]

Article Link: Google Photos Can Now Fix Sideways Snaps and Generate GIFs to Share

 

[JaySoul]

It genuinely gets better every couple of months.

It's one of Google's Top 10 best products they've ever released.

 

[rudychidiac]

This app keeps getting better and better, their face and object recognition algorithm is so good it's almost scary...

Though I have 2 feature suggestions that would make the app a lot better... The first is a duplicate finder. The second feature is "smart albums" that allows you to add filters, for example an album that automatically detects all photos taken at a certain place, or an album that detects all photos that includes Person X and person Y together.

Apple has a lot of things to learn from Google Photos...

 

[0038396]

Apple really needs to catch up. iCloud Photo Library is really embarrassing next to this free service that's better in every way.

 

[miknos]

Amazing service.

They should be more straightforward about compression (unlimited option), specially on videos.

 

[JaySoul]

This app keeps getting better and better, their face and object recognition algorithm is so good it's almost scary...

Though I have 2 feature suggestions that would make the app a lot better... The first is a duplicate finder. The second feature is "smart albums" that allows you to add filters, for example an album that automatically detects all photos taken at a certain place, or an album that detects all photos that includes Person X and person Y together.

Apple has a lot of things to learn from Google Photos...

I'm pretty sure that the Duplicate Finder thing has been addressed (in a way). It's something I harrassed them about!

Anyway, it should automatically detect duplicates, and thus not DISPLAY them. However, I believe the duplicates are still stored, i.e. they hide them, but don't delete them.

Amazing service.

They should be more straightforward about compression (unlimited option), specially on videos.

In my view, they've been pretty straight forward about compression.

 

[itsmilo]

I dont understand this app. Everytime i try to use it, it tries to upload all my photos from my iPhone which i have already uploaded using my mac AGAIN. Same with iPad

Also it turns them into a mess with pics i have taken years ago randomly appearing as latest pics

 

[timber]

Google Photos as an app is nice but as a service it is just plain awesome

 

[balamw]

This app keeps getting better and better, their face and object recognition algorithm is so good it's almost scary...

I recently had the experience of having my 15 year old meet up with friends he had not seen in 7 years. Google identified all three kids as being the same people as when they were kids. Scary indeed!

B

 

[69Mustang]

I recently had the experience of having my 15 year old meet up with friends he had. It seem in 7 years. Google identified all three kids as being the same people as when they were kids. Scary indeed!

B

That's one of then more amazing things about Photos. The recognition is uncanny. All around great app.

 

[5105973]

I recently had the experience of having my 15 year old meet up with friends he had. It seem in 7 years. Google identified all three kids as being the same people as when they were kids. Scary indeed!

B

It reminds me sort of a reverse of those age progression pics and software that law enforcement uses to try and find missing kids abducted years ago.

Now these features that are just being announced, well I've had them since I got my first Note7 in late August. But my husband didn't and was wondering why I had them and he didn't. But now he's starting to get these features. I wonder if I got slipped a pre release version somehow.

 

[miknos]

In my view, they've been pretty straight forward about compression.

They said unlimited storage for up to 12mp pics and 1080p video. You might think "great, my device is below that" but if you upload videos, the degrading quality is noticeable. If you upload a 120fps or 240fps video, it saves only in 30fps so you end up losing a lot of content of that video that you might never get back.

To be fair, their image compression is quite good. I can't notice the difference and file size is 50% of the original.

If you have a DSLR, stick to Flickr (1TB, no compression). Yahoo might go bankrupt though.

 

[JaySoul]

They said unlimited storage for up to 12mp pics and 1080p video. You might think "great, my device is below that" but if you upload videos, the degrading quality is noticeable. If you upload a 120fps or 240fps video, it saves only in 30fps so you end up losing a lot of content of that video that you might never get back.

To be fair, their image compression is quite good. I can't notice the difference and file size is 50% of the original.

If you have a DSLR, stick to Flickr (1TB, no compression). Yahoo might go bankrupt though.

It's unlimited to 16MP, not 12MP.

And yes, 1080p but they have to limit it somehow, crikey imagine them storage everybody's 4K videos. Hence why Pixel is a deceptively good deal.

As for DSLR's, if you're a serious photographer, you won't be relying on Google Photos. If you're taking super high quality pics (e.g. wedding photographer or prosumer) then it's not for you. If you're taking lots of high quality videos, then again no.

But for (I'd argue) 95% or more of the world, Google Photos is the perfect solution, especially as nowadays almost everyone exclusively relies upon their smartphone to take pics - perhaps only getting out their nice DSLR/compact for a project, holiday or family event.

Yeah the video compression is pretty good, and you can be sure they'll strive to improve it too.

Don't forget, you can also use your own Google Drive to upload with no restrictions, so there's always that (paid) option. But most people will likely store on computers/hard drives.

 

[dwsolberg]

My hope is that we'll drift back to the good old days when Apple was supplying the hardware and system software, and Google was providing the services. If Apple continues to open up to third party integrations, this could actually happen.

---
Search 800 photos in Apple's Photos app for "dog": 4 results, all dogs.
Search same 800 phones in Google Photo for "dog": 38 results, all dogs.

 

[Vanilla35]

My hope is that we'll drift back to the good old days when Apple was supplying the hardware and system software, and Google was providing the services. If Apple continues to open up to third party integrations, this could actually happen.

---
Search 800 photos in Apple's Photos app for "dog": 4 results, all dogs.
Search same 800 phones in Google Photo for "dog": 38 results, all dogs.

Google is really amazing at the actually coding aspect of software. Innovation is pretty good as well (creativity in new features, etc.) but their delivery of products is very lackluster. Apple is much better at delivering products and services; providing a much more complete package (ecosystem, all features working hand in hand, etc.).

In this manner, I think google is a much smarter company, and appreciate their work very much.

 

[JaySoul]

My hope is that we'll drift back to the good old days when Apple was supplying the hardware and system software, and Google was providing the services. If Apple continues to open up to third party integrations, this could actually happen.

---
Search 800 photos in Apple's Photos app for "dog": 4 results, all dogs.
Search same 800 phones in Google Photo for "dog": 38 results, all dogs.

Always thought this will naturally occur, but now Google appear to finally be taking phones seriously, so they may wish to start (slowly) eroding Apple.

Google is really amazing at the actually coding aspect of software. Innovation is pretty good as well (creativity in new features, etc.) but their delivery of products is very lackluster. Apple is much better at delivering products and services; providing a much more complete package (ecosystem, all features working hand in hand, etc.).

In this manner, I think google is a much smarter company, and appreciate their work very much.

The problem with Google is they release some amazing products/services, then some other really good ones which suddenly die after 18 months, or get incorporated into something else entirely.

That's why Google Photos is a surprising hit on every level. It's as revolutionary as Gmail was. But something like this awesome new app Google Trips? I'm not going to get too attached to it!!

 

[turbineseaplane]

I find this at once, awesome and also depressing.

I really want to Apple's photos to be better, but they're continuing to get their ass kicked left right and sideways.

 

[Nicksd84]

My hope is that we'll drift back to the good old days when Apple was supplying the hardware and system software, and Google was providing the services. If Apple continues to open up to third party integrations, this could actually happen.

Nail meet head. I always reference the original google maps in this regard. Apple's UI plus google back end was magical. Now they're both short of what they could be. Good but not great.

 

[DrewDaHilp1]

My hope is that we'll drift back to the good old days when Apple was supplying the hardware and system software, and Google was providing the services. If Apple continues to open up to third party integrations, this could actually happen.

---
Search 800 photos in Apple's Photos app for "dog": 4 results, all dogs.
Search same 800 phones in Google Photo for "dog": 38 results, all dogs.

I never knew you could search by terms like that. Thanks.

 

[merkinmuffley]

Just keeps getting better...and it's still free.

 

[JaySoul]

Although in the UK, we don't have the whole facial recognition thing at all! Hopefully it comes one day.

 

[fermat-au]

My hope is that we'll drift back to the good old days when Apple was supplying the hardware and system software, and Google was providing the services. If Apple continues to open up to third party integrations, this could actually happen.

---
Search 800 photos in Apple's Photos app for "dog": 4 results, all dogs.
Search same 800 phones in Google Photo for "dog": 38 results, all dogs.

Apple should subtilly make changes so that people can use Google Photos just as easily was iCloud photos. Google does services better than Apple in almost every case, if this prevents people from buying Apple hardware, this is a huge problem for Apple. Hardware margins are where Apple's rofits come from. Tight integration of hardware and software and services has advantages, as Apple likes to remind us, but when one of the parts is week this tight integration is a disadvantage for Apple.

 

[the-msa]

sadly, iphone + google services used to be one of the best google experiences.

lets see if the pixel finally changes that.

 

[adrianlondon]

I've tried Google Photos, and if I wanted to store all my photos in the cloud I'd switch to it rather than pay for iCloud storage, but at the moment I store all my photos on my laptop.

The main issue I have with Google's offering is the lack of editing tools. I'm not a serious photographer but the iPhone's lens works well in good light and the editing available are good. Sometimes I need to enhance the shadows, increase the brightness and saturation slightly and occasionally the white balance (less so with the 6S, but my 5S needed it regularly). The latter has to be done on the Macbook unfortunately.

As far as I can tell, Google doesn't offer this.

 

[Loco Emperor]

Amazing but its a google app so won't be using this.