Google

Google enhances Photos with complex HDR edits, expands YouTube premium lite, and retires original Meet app

Published

6 months ago

October 16, 2024

Google has introduced several significant updates across its products, including enhanced editing capabilities for Pixel devices in Google Photos, the expansion of the YouTube “Premium Lite” plan to more countries, and the retirement of the original Google Meet app.

Advanced Editing in Google Photos with Ultra HDR Retention on Pixel

Google Photos now supports complex image edits while retaining Ultra HDR quality on Pixel 8 and newer devices. Previously, editing beyond basic cropping or rotating would convert the image into SDR (Standard Dynamic Range), losing the HDR (High Dynamic Range) quality. The main challenge was dealing with the metadata called Gain Map, which records brightness information for HDR images. Without addressing the Gain Map, editing could result in noticeable artifacts like “ghosting.”

Google’s solution is a machine learning (ML) model that predicts and reconstructs the missing HDR metadata after editing. The model is based on a large dataset of HDR and SDR images, enabling it to generate an accurate Gain Map. This ensures that tools like Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur, and Magic Editor can now work seamlessly with Ultra HDR images. Google’s approach to training this lightweight model has made it possible to run it efficiently on mobile devices, and it uses less than 1MB of space.

This update provides users with the ability to make advanced edits on their Pixel devices while maintaining the full quality of Ultra HDR images, improving the overall photo editing experience for Pixel 8 and newer devices.

YouTube Expands “Premium Lite” Plan with Limited Ads

YouTube’s “Premium Lite” plan, which offers an ad-free viewing experience at a lower price point, is being tested in more countries, including Australia, Germany, and Thailand. Priced at roughly half of the standard YouTube Premium plan, “Premium Lite” only removes ads from YouTube, without offering additional features like offline downloads, YouTube Music, or background play.

While the full Premium plan provides a completely ad-free experience, the “Lite” version only limits ads, making it a more affordable option for users who just want to reduce interruptions during videos. In Australia, the plan costs $11.99/month, compared to the $22.99/month for full Premium. Similar prices are being tested in other regions.

Google has confirmed this expanded trial, though it remains uncertain whether the plan will roll out globally. This move comes as YouTube continues to increase prices for its Premium plans, even for long-term subscribers, while also growing its subscriber base, which now includes over 100 million users worldwide.

Retirement of the Original Google Meet App

Google has officially retired the original Google Meet app, which started as “Hangouts Meet” and later transitioned to “Meet.” The original app was largely used by enterprise customers, and while it continued to function for meetings via links or codes, it has now been discontinued.

Users trying to join meetings via the old app are redirected to the new Google Meet, which has absorbed features from the popular Google Duo app. The new Meet app now supports features like real-time reactions, direct calling between Meet users, and several new updates designed to enhance personal video calling. The old Meet app is no longer available for download, and users are encouraged to switch to the updated version.

Google’s ongoing improvements to Meet include features like an enhanced user interface, live captions, and an audio-only mode for users on the go. This consolidation of the Google Meet experience aims to streamline video calling by offering a single, fully-featured app.

In summary, Google continues to refine its products to enhance user experiences. Whether it’s retaining HDR quality in Google Photos, offering more affordable YouTube plans with fewer ads, or simplifying its video-calling platform, Google’s latest updates reflect its focus on improving the efficiency and functionality of its services for users worldwide.

Up Next

Google elevates Pixel experience with advanced HDR editing and a fun Weather app update

Don't Miss

Android 15 stable update released for Pixel devices on beta 4.2

Click to comment

Google

YouTube Music adds new feature to keep song volume steady

Published

1 day ago

April 18, 2025

Tom Carter

YouTube Music is rolling out a new feature called “Stable volume” to make your listening experience better. This option helps keep the sound level the same across all songs, so you won’t have to turn the volume up or down when switching tracks.

Sometimes, songs are louder or softer depending on how they were made. This new feature fixes that by adjusting each track so that all music plays at a similar volume. It’s especially useful when you’re using headphones or listening in the car.

You can find this option in the YouTube Music app by going to Settings > Playback & restrictions, where you’ll see a switch for “Stable volume.” It works for both free and Premium users, and it’s now appearing on Android devices (version 7.07 or later). iOS support may come soon, but it’s not available yet.

This is a welcome update, as many streaming apps like Spotify and Apple Music already have similar volume balancing tools. It helps make playlists and albums sound smoother and more enjoyable without constant volume changes.

So far, the feature is being released in stages, so you might not see it right away, but it should show up soon for everyone.

Android

Android 16 beta adds battery health info, Pixel Fold gets better at detecting opens and closes

Published

1 day ago

April 18, 2025

Tom Carter

Google has released the Android 16 Beta 1 update for Pixel phones, and it brings some helpful new features. One of the key additions is battery health information, which is now available in the settings. Pixel users can now see the battery’s manufacturing date, charge cycles, and overall health score. This can help people understand how well their battery is holding up over time. While this feature is currently hidden under developer options, it might be fully added in a future update.

At the same time, Google is also working to improve the Pixel Fold. With Android 16 Beta 1, there’s a new system that better detects when the phone is opened or closed. This new method uses the hinge angle to more accurately understand the device’s position. Unlike older systems that could be affected by software bugs or slow response times, this new one seems to be more reliable and faster.

These changes are important for people who use foldable phones like the Pixel Fold, as better hinge detection can lead to smoother app transitions and fewer bugs. And for all Pixel users, having detailed battery info can help with managing phone performance and deciding when it’s time for a battery replacement.

Overall, Android 16 Beta 1 focuses on giving users more control and smoother experiences, especially for those with foldables.

Android

Android 16 could bring colorful always-on display to Pixel phones

Published

2 days ago

April 18, 2025

Tom Carter

Google is working on Android 16, and it looks like the update could bring more color to the always-on display (AOD) feature on Pixel phones. Right now, the AOD mostly shows white text on a black screen. But a new setting found in the Android 16 Developer Preview hints at the ability to add colors to this display.

The new feature is called “AOD Preview,” and it includes a switch labeled “Color AOD.” While this setting doesn’t work yet, it suggests that Google might be planning to show colorful content even when the screen is in low-power mode.

This change could make AOD look more lively, maybe by adding color to the clock, notifications, or wallpaper. So far, it’s not clear exactly what will change or how customizable it will be, but the feature seems to be in early testing.

Samsung already has more colorful AOD options on its Galaxy devices, so this update could help Pixel phones catch up. Google often introduces new features first on Pixel devices before making them available to other Android phones.

Android 16 is still being developed, and many features are not ready yet. But if Color AOD becomes part of the final release, Pixel users could get a more vibrant and useful always-on display in the near future.