Google has announced a few notable updates to its Photos app, with some new features powered by its machine-learning technology.

The app can now automatically generate animated GIFs from videos you upload to the service. Google says its technology looks for video segments that capture activity – "a jump into the pool, or even just an adorable smile" – and creates short animations that can then be easily shared over email or social media.

Google Photos
In addition, Photos now uses facial recognition to surface older pictures of people that appear in your most recent uploads, and can also serve up what it considers to be picture 'highlights' from each month – similar to Apple's Memories feature in its native Photos app.

Last but not least, Google Photos now detects sideways photos in your uploads and offers to rotate them in one batch, saving you from having to correct their orientation yourself one by one.

Google Photos is a free download for iPhone and iPad from the App Store. [Direct Link]

Top Rated Comments

JaySoul Avatar
91 months ago
It genuinely gets better every couple of months.

It's one of Google's Top 10 best products they've ever released.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
0038396 Avatar
91 months ago
Apple really needs to catch up. iCloud Photo Library is really embarrassing next to this free service that's better in every way.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dwsolberg Avatar
91 months ago
My hope is that we'll drift back to the good old days when Apple was supplying the hardware and system software, and Google was providing the services. If Apple continues to open up to third party integrations, this could actually happen.

---
Search 800 photos in Apple's Photos app for "dog": 4 results, all dogs.
Search same 800 phones in Google Photo for "dog": 38 results, all dogs.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
balamw Avatar
91 months ago
This app keeps getting better and better, their face and object recognition algorithm is so good it's almost scary...
I recently had the experience of having my 15 year old meet up with friends he had not seen in 7 years. Google identified all three kids as being the same people as when they were kids. Scary indeed!

B
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rudychidiac Avatar
91 months ago
This app keeps getting better and better, their face and object recognition algorithm is so good it's almost scary...

Though I have 2 feature suggestions that would make the app a lot better... The first is a duplicate finder. The second feature is "smart albums" that allows you to add filters, for example an album that automatically detects all photos taken at a certain place, or an album that detects all photos that includes Person X and person Y together.

Apple has a lot of things to learn from Google Photos...
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JaySoul Avatar
91 months ago
My hope is that we'll drift back to the good old days when Apple was supplying the hardware and system software, and Google was providing the services. If Apple continues to open up to third party integrations, this could actually happen.

---
Search 800 photos in Apple's Photos app for "dog": 4 results, all dogs.
Search same 800 phones in Google Photo for "dog": 38 results, all dogs.
Always thought this will naturally occur, but now Google appear to finally be taking phones seriously, so they may wish to start (slowly) eroding Apple.

Google is really amazing at the actually coding aspect of software. Innovation is pretty good as well (creativity in new features, etc.) but their delivery of products is very lackluster. Apple is much better at delivering products and services; providing a much more complete package (ecosystem, all features working hand in hand, etc.).

In this manner, I think google is a much smarter company, and appreciate their work very much.
The problem with Google is they release some amazing products/services, then some other really good ones which suddenly die after 18 months, or get incorporated into something else entirely.

That's why Google Photos is a surprising hit on every level. It's as revolutionary as Gmail was. But something like this awesome new app Google Trips? I'm not going to get too attached to it!!
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

BMW Logo iPhone 15 Pro

Warning: BMW Wireless Charging May Break iPhone 15's Apple Pay Chip

Sunday October 1, 2023 6:14 am PDT by
If you have an iPhone 15 and drive a BMW, it might be best to avoid charging the device with the vehicle's wireless charging pad for now. Over the past week, some BMW owners have complained that their iPhone 15's NFC chip no longer works after charging the device with their vehicle's wireless charging pad, according to comments shared on the MacRumors Forums and X, formerly known as Twitter. ...
Multi Display CarPlay 1

All-New Apple CarPlay Launching Later This Year With These 5 New Features

Friday September 29, 2023 11:29 am PDT by
At WWDC 2022 last year, Apple previewed the next generation of CarPlay, promising deeper integration with vehicle functions like A/C and FM radio, support for multiple displays across the dashboard, personalization options, and more. Apple said the first vehicles with support for the next-generation CarPlay experience would be announced in late 2023, but it has still not shared any additional...
Apple Watch Edition Gold 2015

Original Apple Watch is Now Obsolete, Including $17,000 Gold Model

Monday October 2, 2023 9:15 am PDT by
All first-generation Apple Watch models released in 2015 were added to Apple's obsolete products list on September 30, according to an internal memo obtained by MacRumors. As a result, these outdated "Series 0" watches are no longer eligible for repairs or other service at Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Provider locations. The list of obsolete models includes the first-generation...
iPhone 15 Pro lineup

Apple to Address iPhone 15 Pro Overheating Issue With iOS 17 Update

Saturday September 30, 2023 9:28 am PDT by
Apple plans to release an iOS 17 update to address a bug that may contribute to the reported iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max overheating issue, according to a statement the company shared today with MacRumors and Forbes reporter David Phelan. Apple also says some recent updates to third-party apps have overloaded the system and contributed to the overheating issue. The report notes that...
Apple Logo Spotlight

Mac Trade-In Changes May Indicate New Model to Launch This Month

Tuesday October 3, 2023 6:30 am PDT by
Apple may be proceeding with plans to release a new Mac model this month, according to potentially related information obtained by MacRumors. Details pertaining to imminent changes to Mac trade-ins provided to MacRumors by a verified source suggest that Apple will likely begin accepting new models for trade-in this month. Similar changes in June coincided with WWDC, when Apple began accepting...
iphone se 4 modified flag edges

iPhone SE 4 Details: Action Button, USB-C Port, Face ID, and More

Wednesday September 27, 2023 1:34 pm PDT by
Significant changes are expected to arrive with Apple's fourth-generation iPhone SE, in terms of both design and hardware, MacRumors has learned. The iPhone SE 4, known internally under the codename Ghost, is expected to receive a new design derived almost entirely from the base model iPhone 14. According to our sources, the iPhone SE 4 will use a modified version of the iPhone 14 chassis...