google: Google Photos is testing new quick toolbar: What it means for users – Times of India

Google is reportedly testing a new chip toolbar UI for its photos app, Google Photos. According to a report in 9to5Google, the aim is to help speed up the process of using Lens and other image editing tools specifically with text-based images. The toolbar will come handly for quickly accessing commonly used controls when viewing images like screenshots and those with prominently visible text. Rather than needing to dive further into the ‘Edit’ section, if users open an image with a large volume of text, they will get a floating toolbar with Google Lens, ‘Copy text’, ‘Crop’, ‘Markup’ and other similar chips in toolbar. This means that users don’t need to enter another menu within the Photos app on Android. As tapping any of the options will open up right into the dedicated section. While the feature is still in testing stage, this means that Google wants to further build on the utility of its Lens app and make it easier for users to use it.
When browsing pictures in Google Photos, users can see the Google Lens icon in the bottom of the window. Tapping on the icon brings the scanning dots on your picture and then Google will serve up suggestions, including: Translate, Text, Shopping and Places.
Recently, Google tweaked Lens to make browsing phone for images easier. On the Google Lens homescreen is a new chevron icon which when tapped opens a drop-down showing all image folders in the users’ device. Selecting an album opens it as a fullscreen grid. With this change, most Google Lens users will now see the pictures they want in the default ‘Screenshots’ or ‘Images’ views.
For those unaware, Google Lens allows users to search what they see, get things done faster, and understand the world around — using just their smartphone’s camera or a photo on it. Announced in 2017, Google Lens is an AI-powered technology that uses smartphone camera and deep machine learning to detect an object in front and offer actions such as scan, translate, identify, shop and more. Initially, Google Lens was a Google Pixel exclusive feature.
You can use Google Lens from:
* Google Photos
* Google Assistant on most Android phones
* Google Search app on your phones
* Google app on some Android phones, like Pixel