Google Photos gets Live albums, new depth editor

As part of yesterday’s Pixel 3 presentation, Google also announced a new update for one of its most popular services, Google Photos.

The app just gained a few new features starting with Live albums, which is a tool that helps you share your photos as you snap them with the people you really want to be sharing them with.

Now users will be able to turn any album into a live album. To do so, you only have to select the people or pets you wish to see and then Photos will automatically add them to the album. Then invite the friends and family you want to share the pictures with.

The new feature is currently rolling out to a number of countries on Android, iOS and web, although Google did not specify exactly which ones.

Another new feature will enable future Pixel 3 users to make better use of the Top Shot camera option included with the phone. Top Shot takes a burst of HDR images and automatically detects the best shot using machine learning. Once it does, these recommendations will show up in the Google Photos app, so users can save the ones they like best.

Next, Google has a new depth editor for portrait shots that allows users to adjust things like background blur, and even change the focus of the photos. What’s more, the tool enables you to make the subject of the photo pop by leaving them in color, while the background is turned into black & white.

Last but not least, Google also introduces the Home Hub smart display during the event, which seamlessly integrates with Google Photos. Users can say things like “Hey Google, show my pictures from Chicago” to see the specific images show up on the display. Basically, the Home Hub also doubles as a fancy photo frame.

Source: Google