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

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.