Enhanced Google Photos backup and Chrome’s ‘Listen to this Page’ feature now supports background playback

Google has introduced new enhancements for both Google Photos and Chrome for Android, providing users with easier ways to back up their media and listen to web pages. Here’s a breakdown of the latest features:

Google Photos Web Backup for Folders:

Google Photos on the web now allows users to automatically back up folders from their computer, making it easier to store photos and videos in the cloud without needing additional software.

When you visit photos.google.com, Google Photos can scan and upload media from folders you have selected on your computer. This is similar to the Google Drive desktop app on both Mac and Windows but with a more streamlined, browser-based approach.

To use this feature, go to photos.google.com and click on the Upload button in the app bar, then select Back up folders. This will allow you to choose folders on your computer that you want to sync with Google Photos. After selecting the folders, you will need to permit Google Photos to start the backup process.

You can easily manage the folders you back up by revisiting this option. The “Folder backup” menu lets you see which folders are currently being backed up, remove folders you no longer want to sync, and add new ones if needed.

This feature is available on desktop Chrome, including Chromebooks, and offers a more lightweight alternative to the Google Drive desktop app. While the Google Drive app works in the background, with Google Photos on the web, you’ll need to visit the site periodically to ensure new media gets backed up.

Chrome’s ‘Listen to this Page’ Adds Background Playback:

In addition to improvements in Google Photos, Chrome for Android has updated its “Listen to this page” feature, which now supports background playback. This tool, designed to read web pages aloud, allows users to continue listening even when they switch to other apps or close the browser.

The “Listen to this page” feature, initially introduced as part of Chrome’s text-to-speech capabilities, previously paused audio when you exited the browser. However, with the release of Chrome 130, you can now continue listening to articles even after leaving the app. This brings it more in line with Google’s Reading Mode app, which offers a similar audio experience.

When using this feature, a media player appears in the notification panel, displaying the article title and website, along with playback controls such as rewind, skip, and a timeline scrubber. Users can adjust the playback speed from 0.5x to 4x and choose from 10 different voices for narration. There is also a Highlight text & auto-scroll feature that highlights the text as it’s being read aloud, making it easier to follow along.

For quick access, users can add a play button between the address bar and tab switcher. This shortcut eliminates the need to open Chrome’s three-dot overflow menu, streamlining the listening experience. To enable this, go to Chrome Settings > Toolbar shortcut and select the option to add the play button to your toolbar.

The background playback feature and other improvements are rolling out widely with Chrome 130 for Android this week.

With these updates, Google is making it easier for users to back up their media and enjoy hands-free web browsing. Whether you’re looking to automatically sync your folders to Google Photos or listen to web content while multitasking, these tools seamlessly offer convenience and flexibility.