Google is actively enhancing user privacy on Android, rolling out new features for its core apps, and introducing improvements in Pixel Camera. These updates aim to improve user control, optimize app design, and provide advanced camera functionalities for Pixel devices.

Android’s New Photo Picker: Strengthening Privacy

Google has been promoting the use of a new photo picker system introduced in Android 13 to increase privacy when sharing media with apps. Unlike older methods where apps could request access to the entire photo library, the new photo picker allows users to select only specific photos or videos they want to share, keeping the rest of their media private.

Despite the benefits, adoption has been slow. To encourage broader use, Google is now pushing Android developers to stop using older permissions like READ_MEDIA_IMAGES and READ_MEDIA_VIDEO unless absolutely necessary. These permissions allowed apps to access large portions of a user’s media library, which posed a potential privacy risk. Google began enforcing this policy over the past month, following its announcement at I/O earlier this year. By January next year, apps that don’t comply won’t be able to update via the Google Play Store.

Apps that need broader access to user media, like social media platforms, photo editors, or image-sharing tools, will be allowed to retain this access but only after submitting a declaration form for approval. This change is likely to prompt more Android apps to adopt the new photo picker soon, especially as the January deadline approaches.

Google Search App: Simplified and Colorful Redesign

Google has also introduced a visual update to its Search app, making it more streamlined and user-friendly. Initially launched in beta, this redesign is now widely available. The update reduces clutter by replacing text-laden shortcuts with compact icons and a vibrant background, making it easier to navigate.

Previously, the app displayed five pill-shaped shortcuts below the Search bar, each paired with an icon and label. These shortcuts included options like searching from your photo library, translating text with your camera, or solving homework with Google Lens. However, the design was somewhat cluttered and difficult to navigate. The new design simplifies this interface by reducing the shortcuts to just icons, making them more intuitive and visually appealing. This change also mirrors the layout seen in the iOS version of the app.

Additionally, Google is expected to further enhance the user interface with Material You design principles, including a revamped bottom navigation bar, in future updates.

Google Messages: Your Profile Management

Google Messages has introduced a new “Your Profile” page, allowing users to customize how they appear to others when sending messages. This feature builds on the existing Profile discovery, now renamed to “Profile sharing.”

With the latest update, users can set their name and profile picture directly within the app. This profile information can be shared in three different ways:

• People you message: Your profile becomes visible after sending a message.
• Only your contacts: Only contacts will see your profile.
• No one: Your profile remains hidden.

These options give users more control over their visibility within the app. Profile sharing is currently being rolled out across devices with the latest beta version of Google Messages.

Pixel Camera 9.6: Enhanced Features for Photography Enthusiasts

With the October 2024 Feature Drop, Google has started rolling out Pixel Camera version 9.6 to supported Pixel devices. This update brings several key improvements, especially for photography lovers using the Pixel 9 series.

1. Underwater Photography: Exclusive to the Pixel 9 series, this feature enables users to capture true-color photos and videos underwater. Before using the feature, users need to enable it through the camera’s advanced settings and put their device in a waterproof case. Once activated, the camera will display a “Underwater photography/video on” message, allowing users to confidently capture underwater content. Similar functionality was previously available on older Pixel devices through a specialized app.
2. Vertical Panorama Mode: Pixel 9 devices now support vertical panoramas, giving users the ability to capture tall images instead of being restricted to horizontal panoramas. This update offers greater flexibility for landscape and architectural photography.
3. Easier Astrophotography Mode: For Pixel 6 to Pixel 8a users, entering Astrophotography mode, which is popular for night sky photography, has become easier. Instead of navigating through multiple menus, users can now switch to Astrophotography with a simple tap in the Night Sight tab, making it more accessible for night-time shoots. The update also introduces a 5-second timer for more controlled shots.

Additionally, the latest camera update includes preparations for a future feature called “Quick Access Controls.” This will allow users to quickly adjust settings like white balance, brightness, and shadows by tapping on the viewfinder, similar to the old camera UI that placed these options at the screen’s edge. Although the feature isn’t live yet, its strings are already present in the code.

Conclusion

These updates reflect Google’s ongoing efforts to enhance both privacy and user experience on Android. By enforcing stricter app permissions, simplifying core app interfaces, and introducing advanced camera features, Google is ensuring that Android continues to evolve in a way that benefits users and respects their privacy. Whether it’s through the new photo picker, the redesigned Search shortcuts, or enhanced Pixel Camera capabilities, Google is pushing Android forward with a focus on privacy, usability, and innovation.

Google’s Material You design system has been at the core of Android’s visual customization, generating dynamic color palettes that adapt to the wallpaper. However, users of Android 15 have noticed an odd issue: the color palettes generated by Material You sometimes include duplicates, which reduces the variety of options available for personalizing their devices. Despite user feedback, Google has confirmed that this behavior is “working as intended.”

The Evolution of Material You in Android

Material You was introduced to provide a more personalized and dynamic user experience by generating color palettes from the wallpaper. These colors are applied throughout the Android interface, giving users a cohesive and visually appealing experience. Typically, the system generates a dozen or more distinct color options for users to choose from, allowing for broad customization.

However, users began reporting duplicated color palettes in the Android 15 beta releases, which continued even in the final version. Instead of a full set of unique colors, users were seeing multiple identical options. While this behavior was not widely noticed in earlier versions, some users claim that Android 14 did not exhibit the same issue.

Investigating the Duplicate Color Issue

Some reports, such as those from Android Authority, suggest that this issue is unique to Android 15. Yet, on closer examination, users have also observed duplicated color palettes on devices running Android 14, particularly in later builds. This shows that the issue likely started before Android 15 and may not be limited to the latest version.

What’s unusual is that this behavior does not align with previous Android releases like Android 13, where the system generated distinct color options. It seems that the duplication problem is a relatively recent development, raising questions about what might have changed in Android 14 and Android 15 to cause this.

Google’s Response: “Won’t Fix (Intended Behavior)”

When users raised this issue on Google’s Issue Tracker, the company responded by marking the issue as “won’t fix (intended behavior)” in September 2023. Google acknowledged the feedback but stated that the duplication of color palettes is, in fact, how the system is designed to function.

While this explanation has left many users puzzled, it seems that Google believes the system is operating correctly despite the reduction in palette variety.

Possible Reasons for the Duplication

Although Google hasn’t provided a detailed explanation for this decision, one theory is that the system is programmed to display a certain number of color options—typically around 12. If the system doesn’t generate enough unique palettes based on the wallpaper, it may duplicate existing ones to fill the list. While this isn’t an ideal user experience, it would explain why users are seeing duplicated colors instead of more distinct options.

The decision to leave this behavior unchanged has disappointed some users who expect more from Android’s customization options. The lack of variety in the generated palettes could limit the personalization that Material You was designed to enhance.

Will Google Address This in Future Updates?

While Google has marked this issue as resolved for now, there’s still hope that it might be reconsidered in future Android updates. Android 15 is still in its early stages, and updates could potentially address the duplicate palette issue if enough feedback from users and developers is received.

For now, however, users experiencing duplicated color palettes will need to work within the current system or explore third-party customization options.

Conclusion

The duplication of Material You color palettes in Android 15 may seem like an odd quirk, but according to Google, it is intentional. While this reduces the variety of color options for users, it appears to be a deliberate choice, at least for now. As Android evolves, there is always the possibility that Google will revisit this design decision, but for the time being, users may need to adjust their expectations for how much customization they can achieve through Material You.

By addressing the concerns of both users and the tech community, this article provides a clearer understanding of why Google has taken this approach, while also leaving room for potential improvements in future Android releases.

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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.