Smartphones & Tablets | October 19, 2023
Photography has become the distinguishing feature of Pixel smartphones, setting them apart from other high-end mobile devices available. What’s intriguing is that Google has achieved this without opting for large and expensive sensors, relying entirely on algorithms. As demonstrated by the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, this is sufficient to offer an exceptional photography experience.
Another crucial aspect of this experience lies in the software, specifically the camera app, possibly the best on the market. Google Camera began as the default option for Android phones but has evolved to become more exclusive and reliant on the new features of Pixel phones.
Finally, this evolution has led to an inevitable destination: complete exclusivity of the Google Camera on Pixel smartphones. To signify that this camera is designed only for these devices, Google has decided to implement a name change and impose more restrictions.
Indeed, Google Camera is now called “Pixel Camera.” The change is already reflected in the Play Store and all promotional materials, such as screenshots. However, it’s important to note that users who already have it installed won’t see much of a difference because the icon is identical, and the app’s name in the properties remains simply “Camera.” Therefore, this name change is more aimed at users of other smartphones who may be searching for the Google Camera app in the hope of installing it, making it clear that they need a Pixel phone.
In fact, Google wants to ensure that this new Pixel Camera app is exclusive to Pixel users. One of the limitations of the latest version of the app is that it can only be installed on Pixel phones running Android 14, i.e., those that received the update when the system was launched. Undoubtedly, methods will emerge to install the app on more devices, but they won’t be official. Wear OS devices also have a Pixel Camera app, which only works on Wear OS 3 and Wear OS 4 when connected to Pixel phones.
The new Pixel Camera app brings the interface changes introduced with the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. The most significant change is that now photos and videos are separated, with a selector at the bottom that allows you to switch between them. The major advantage of this system is that it makes it easier to switch between different photography modes, instead of interleaving them with video modes or storing them in a menu. This should help users discover and use features like night mode.
Another change related to our photos arrives in Google Photos, which has adopted the new image selector from the Android 14 sharing menu. When you press the share button, a list of thumbnails with images will now appear, which you can select and share with your apps or contacts.
