Google Photos Introduces Video Speed Controls, Develops Immersive Grid View
Google Photos is rolling out new video playback speed controls for its Android application, while simultaneously developing an immersive grid view feature to declutter photo libraries.
These enhancements aim to provide users with greater control over their video playback and a more streamlined viewing experience for their photo collections.
Video Playback Speed Controls Now Live for Android
The highly anticipated video playback speed functionality is now rolling out to Android users. This new feature empowers users to adjust the speed at which videos play directly within the Google Photos application.
Users have a choice of five distinct speed settings: 0.25x, 0.5x, 1x (original speed), 1.5x, and 2x. This range allows for both slow-motion analysis and accelerated viewing.
Accessing this feature is straightforward: simply open a video, tap the three vertical dots located in the top-right corner of the screen, and then select "Playback speed." A convenient aspect of this control is its persistence: once a speed is set for a video, it will be automatically applied for all future viewings of that specific video.
Currently, the video playback speed control is exclusive to Android devices. Google has not yet disclosed plans for its availability on iOS or web platforms.
Google has indicated that this has been a frequently requested feature by its user community.
Its development was initially identified during an APK teardown of Google Photos v7.58, hinting at its testing phase prior to public release.
Development Underway for Immersive Grid View
Alongside the new playback controls, Google Photos is actively developing an "Immersive Photo Grid" feature aimed at enhancing the visual experience of the photo library.
This upcoming feature will introduce a toggle to hide date labels from the main Photos grid view. The primary objective is to cultivate a less cluttered and more visually continuous display of photos within the application, allowing users to focus purely on their imagery.
Similar to the video speed controls, the Immersive Photo Grid was first discovered via an APK teardown of Google Photos v7.58. It remains in a testing phase and is not yet accessible to the public. Current reports suggest the grid view toggle is not fully functional, indicating its early stage of development.
It is important to note that features found in APK teardowns are not guaranteed to be included in a final public release.