The latest Google Photos update for Android has added a number of cool new features, like video stabilization and a rumored Google+ integration. The latest update started rolling out to devices on April 11, 2017, and includes the video stabilizing feature we've been waiting for.
As far back as August 2016, an APK teardown done by Android Police confirmed that Google was planning on adding video stabilization to Photos. A subsequent update indicated that the stabilization function would be rolled out to the phone directly, in lieu of being processed on the server side.
Now, it's as simple as opening a video, viewing it, and then tapping on the pencil icon to edit and stabilize. Even if the video isn't stored on your phone, just download it, then once you enter the editor, the "Stabilize" button can be found at the bottom of the screen to the left.
The stabilizing time is subject to the processing power of the device you have, as well as the duration of the clip, its resolution, and frame rate. You can watch the video on your phone after it has been stabilized — the stabilize button will turn blue when this happens, and you can tap it to compare the results.
The only downside of this update is that the clip will be cropped a bit to accommodate stabilization. Overall, it's definitely a worthwhile feature, though.
Additionally, Android Police's APK teardown noted that there's a chance that the update could include new integration with Google+.
Google+ previously provided photo storage before Google Photos was turned into a standalone service. When this happened, many users were disappointed to learn that the shift meant Google+ would be losing album sharing abilities with Google's cloud photo storage, despite the social network's less-than-impressive user count. However, Android Police says there may be a solution to this in the latest update.
They identified a code within the Google Photos update which seems to come from the Google+ app, relating to creating circles, sharing them, and adding people. However, the string names are identical, which could pose a problem, and there's also the fact that no string directly references a photo-centric feature, so Google+ integration isn't 100% definite.
Other recent Google Photos features noted on APKMirror include:
- Dynamic filters to enhance photos in one tap.
- Advanced editing controls to tweak lighting, and color
- These controls also include a Deep Blue slider that adds color to sky and water.
- Austin's Mystery Feature (a little teaser string from developers which has yet to be revealed).
You can download the new version of Google Photos from the Play Store, but note that v2.13 may take as long as a week to reach all users. If you don't want to wait for the update, you can grab the latest version from APKMirror here — you'll have to have "Unknown Sources" enabled, and you'll also need to know your processor type and screen density.
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Screenshots by Dallas Thomas/Gadget Hacks
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