Google Photos revamps Memories and adds a collage editor

Google Photos isn’t just an online cloud storage service, it offers so much more than just being able to store your photos and videos. Over the years, the service has introduced different kinds of tools and also features that allowed users to experience their photos and videos in a different way. When Memories made its debut nearly three years ago, it gave users a chance to revisit the past. Now, Google is revamping Memories, giving users a new way to reminisce about the past.

Starting today, users will now see snippets from videos in Memories. The video snippets will be taken from longer videos that are stored in Google Photos, which could make for a nice and unexpected surprise. Furthermore, a subtle zoom effect will now be added to photos shown in Memories, which should make for a new kind of viewing experience. While these additions are rather tame, Google does have more ambitious plans, like adding instrumentals to Memories. Although the music could be interesting, let’s hope it isn’t similar to what is found in the sample video above. If all goes to plan, Google Cinematic Memories will roll out to users starting next month.

In addition to the revamped Memories, Google is also rolling out a feature called Styles. Styles will automatically add graphic art to Memories with the intention of mimicking old scrapbooks. There will be several designs at launch and even some limited additions from artists like Shantell Martin and Lisa Congdon. Furthermore, going forward, users will now be able to share private Memories with friends and family members. The feature will first arrive to Android devices and will later roll out to iOS and web users. For those that want to be a little more hands-on, Google will also introduce a new collage editor that will allow users to pick photos, arrange them in a layout, apply edits and share them. With more than 30 different designs, the possibilities are endless.

Google Photos (Free, Google Play) →

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Source: Google Blog 

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Google Photos revamps Memories and adds a collage editor

Google Photos isn’t just an online cloud storage service, it offers so much more than just being able to store your photos and videos. Over the years, the service has introduced different kinds of tools and also features that allowed users to experience their photos and videos in a different way. When Memories made its debut nearly three years ago, it gave users a chance to revisit the past. Now, Google is revamping Memories, giving users a new way to reminisce about the past.

Starting today, users will now see snippets from videos in Memories. The video snippets will be taken from longer videos that are stored in Google Photos, which could make for a nice and unexpected surprise. Furthermore, a subtle zoom effect will now be added to photos shown in Memories, which should make for a new kind of viewing experience. While these additions are rather tame, Google does have more ambitious plans, like adding instrumentals to Memories. Although the music could be interesting, let’s hope it isn’t similar to what is found in the sample video above. If all goes to plan, Google Cinematic Memories will roll out to users starting next month.

In addition to the revamped Memories, Google is also rolling out a feature called Styles. Styles will automatically add graphic art to Memories with the intention of mimicking old scrapbooks. There will be several designs at launch and even some limited additions from artists like Shantell Martin and Lisa Congdon. Furthermore, going forward, users will now be able to share private Memories with friends and family members. The feature will first arrive to Android devices and will later roll out to iOS and web users. For those that want to be a little more hands-on, Google will also introduce a new collage editor that will allow users to pick photos, arrange them in a layout, apply edits and share them. With more than 30 different designs, the possibilities are endless.

Google Photos (Free, Google Play) →

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Source: Google Blog 

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YouTube Shorts integrates with YouTube Music with a shared playlist

For the past few years, short-form videos have been a dominating force, requiring video streaming and social media platforms to adjust. While YouTube is predominantly known for its long-form videos, the company has done a pretty good job incorporating short-form videos on its platform with YouTube Shorts. Since its inception a little over a year ago, the platform has evolved to add several features and quality-of-life improvements. Today, YouTube Shorts will not only give users a new way to save music, but it will also offer light integration with YouTube Music.

Going forward, YouTube Shorts will give users a better way to save the music that they hear on the platform. When watching a video, users can currently tap on the sound button in the bottom right-hand corner to pull up a group of other Shorts that are using the sound. While this option has pretty much been available from the start, YouTube will now add a Save button that will let users save music from a Short to a playlist called “Sounds from Shorts.” These items will exist inside the YouTube Shorts section of the YouTube app, but what makes this feature exciting is that the playlist will also show up in the YouTube Music app as well. Furthermore, if you’re a YouTube Music listener, you will have the option to save some of your favorite music to the Sounds from Shorts playlist and later use it in a Shorts video.

This could become a big deal for users of both platforms, making it easier not only to find good music but also to create with good music. While the ability to save music to a special location is similar to what is found on TikTok, the latter feature of having a shared playlist that integrates with YouTube Music is an interesting twist. If you are interested in YouTube Shorts, you can check out some videos using the YouTube app.

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YouTube Shorts integrates with YouTube Music with a shared playlist

For the past few years, short-form videos have been a dominating force, requiring video streaming and social media platforms to adjust. While YouTube is predominantly known for its long-form videos, the company has done a pretty good job incorporating short-form videos on its platform with YouTube Shorts. Since its inception a little over a year ago, the platform has evolved to add several features and quality-of-life improvements. Today, YouTube Shorts will not only give users a new way to save music, but it will also offer light integration with YouTube Music.

Going forward, YouTube Shorts will give users a better way to save the music that they hear on the platform. When watching a video, users can currently tap on the sound button in the bottom right-hand corner to pull up a group of other Shorts that are using the sound. While this option has pretty much been available from the start, YouTube will now add a Save button that will let users save music from a Short to a playlist called “Sounds from Shorts.” These items will exist inside the YouTube Shorts section of the YouTube app, but what makes this feature exciting is that the playlist will also show up in the YouTube Music app as well. Furthermore, if you’re a YouTube Music listener, you will have the option to save some of your favorite music to the Sounds from Shorts playlist and later use it in a Shorts video.

This could become a big deal for users of both platforms, making it easier not only to find good music but also to create with good music. While the ability to save music to a special location is similar to what is found on TikTok, the latter feature of having a shared playlist that integrates with YouTube Music is an interesting twist. If you are interested in YouTube Shorts, you can check out some videos using the YouTube app.

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Flickr adds a new category supporting virtual photography

While many have chosen Instagram as their home for posting photos, some still rely on the services that are a little more scaled back. Flickr is an image and video hosting service that has been around for nearly two decades. It first launched back in 2004, and while it has changed hands through numerous parent corporations, it still retains a majority of its core values when it comes to the services it offers. Today, the platform is launching something a bit unique, a dedicated category for virtual photography.

According to Flickr, virtual photography is “an emerging art form” that has to do with photos that are taken within a virtual environment. Now, this can be photos actually taken in VR or photos that were taken in a video game. Previously, Flickr offered users three different categories to choose from when uploading photos: illustration/art, photos, and screenshots. But to embrace this new form of virtual photography, Flickr is adding a new category to its platform called virtual photography. It states that while there is a “screenshots” category already on the platform, it “didn’t quite meet the needs of this creative and growing community.”

Now, users on the platform can filter content using the new category to more accurately find what they are looking for. Furthermore, the new category allows users to choose how their art can be best categorized. However, Flicker states that when they created this category, that they envisioned it for “video game photography and content shared by the Second Life community.” The new update will also allow group admins to allow the new category as an “accepted content type.” If you’re interested in the platform and want to try it, but it seems a little confusing, you can get an in-depth walkthrough by Flickr on how to set your content type.

Flickr (Free, Google Play) →

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Source: Flickr

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Apple plans to introduce new ads to the App Store by this holiday season

Apple fans might be riding the high from the iPhone 14 Pro, Apple Watch Series 8, and Apple Watch Ultra announcements. But, there is some bad news for iOS users, as it looks like Apple has solidified its plans to deliver more ads to its users through the App Store.

We first heard about this during the summer, but now it looks like we are getting more details about Apple’s plans, and it looks like it will come by the year’s end. According to CNBC,  Apple has plans to implement new ad placements by the holiday season. The source states that this message was sent to developers, encouraging them to buy ads and join an online session. The new ads will apparently focus on expanding the ad space found in the App Store. Currently, Apple only shows one ad on the App Store search page and one ad on the App Store search results.

I’m unsure if a timeline for Apple’s new ad placements in the App Store had previously been announced, but it appears that they’ll be live for the “holiday season” pic.twitter.com/drcgIAYlTo

— Eric Seufert (@eric_seufert) September 13, 2022

 

Apple will most likely give developers more details when the event takes place on September 21, 2022. But it has been reported previously that Apple could look to expand ad placement to the Today tab and also under the suggested app section. Apple spoke with CNBC, stating:

“Apple Search Ads provides opportunities for developers of all sizes to grow their business. Like our other advertising offerings, these new ad placements are built upon the same foundation—they will only contain content from apps’ approved App Store product pages, and will adhere to the same rigorous privacy standards.”

While Apple certainly generates a lot of revenue from its hardware business, it also makes quite a bit from its services business, reporting $68 billion for 2021. It remains to be seen when and if the new ads will arrive, but Apple is sure to have a very good holiday season regardless, with the release of its newly designed iPhone 14 Pro and also its Apple Watch Ultra.

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Source: Eric Seufert (Twitter), CNBC

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Apple plans to introduce new ads to the App Store by this holiday season

Apple fans might be riding the high from the iPhone 14 Pro, Apple Watch Series 8, and Apple Watch Ultra announcements. But, there is some bad news for iOS users, as it looks like Apple has solidified its plans to deliver more ads to its users through the App Store.

We first heard about this during the summer, but now it looks like we are getting more details about Apple’s plans, and it looks like it will come by the year’s end. According to CNBC,  Apple has plans to implement new ad placements by the holiday season. The source states that this message was sent to developers, encouraging them to buy ads and join an online session. The new ads will apparently focus on expanding the ad space found in the App Store. Currently, Apple only shows one ad on the App Store search page and one ad on the App Store search results.

I’m unsure if a timeline for Apple’s new ad placements in the App Store had previously been announced, but it appears that they’ll be live for the “holiday season” pic.twitter.com/drcgIAYlTo

— Eric Seufert (@eric_seufert) September 13, 2022

 

Apple will most likely give developers more details when the event takes place on September 21, 2022. But it has been reported previously that Apple could look to expand ad placement to the Today tab and also under the suggested app section. Apple spoke with CNBC, stating:

“Apple Search Ads provides opportunities for developers of all sizes to grow their business. Like our other advertising offerings, these new ad placements are built upon the same foundation—they will only contain content from apps’ approved App Store product pages, and will adhere to the same rigorous privacy standards.”

While Apple certainly generates a lot of revenue from its hardware business, it also makes quite a bit from its services business, reporting $68 billion for 2021. It remains to be seen when and if the new ads will arrive, but Apple is sure to have a very good holiday season regardless, with the release of its newly designed iPhone 14 Pro and also its Apple Watch Ultra.

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Source: Eric Seufert (Twitter), CNBC

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