Google Photos launches “Ask Photos” early access, adds natural language and Google Maps crashes for some Android users
Top 3 Key Points:
- Ask Photos: Google Photos introduces a conversational search powered by Gemini AI to find specific memories using natural language.
- Classic Search Enhancements: Google Photos upgrades with natural language search and a new “Best Match” feature to refine results.
- Google Maps Issue: Some Android users report Google Maps crashing on newer app versions across various devices.
Google Photos is rolling out its new feature, Ask Photos, to a limited number of users in the U.S. on Android and iOS. This feature was first announced at I/O 2024 and is now in early access.
What is Ask Photos?
Ask Photos is a conversational tool that uses AI models (Gemini) to understand the context of your photo gallery. It helps you find specific memories or details by analyzing images and answering questions in everyday language. For example, you could ask, “Where did we camp last time we went to Yosemite?” or “What did we eat at the hotel in Stanley?” The AI can detect details like locations and objects in your pictures, providing an intuitive way to look up past events.
Once enabled, a new “Ask” tab appears in Google Photos. Users can type natural language queries, similar to chatting with a virtual assistant. You can also switch back to the traditional “classic search” if needed.
Google emphasizes privacy and security, assuring that your Google Photos data is not used for advertising. Human reviews of search queries are disconnected from user accounts to ensure privacy.
Classic Search Improvements
In addition to Ask Photos, Google Photos’ classic search has been updated with new features like “Best Match” and support for natural language queries. For example, you can search for phrases like “Alice and me laughing” or “Emma painting in the backyard” to find relevant photos more easily. Instead of showing results in reverse chronological order, it now surfaces the best-matching photos first, while still allowing you to view the most recent images if needed. These updates are available in English and will expand to more languages soon.
Google Maps Crashing on Android
In the past few hours, many Android users have reported crashes with Google Maps. The app opens normally but closes unexpectedly within seconds, rendering it unusable. This issue is being seen on app versions 11.144.x and 11.145.x across multiple devices, including Pixel and Samsung Galaxy phones. The problem seems to affect both stable and beta versions of Google Maps, with Android 15 Beta users experiencing it more frequently. Some users have resolved the issue by uninstalling updates and reverting to older versions of the app.
These updates represent a significant step forward in improving user experience but with some technical challenges along the way.
Google’s May 2025 Android updates bring exciting changes to improve how your phone works and how you message. These updates focus on making devices faster, safer, and more user-friendly.
One big change is to Android’s memory system. By increasing the memory page size from 4KB to 16KB on newer devices, apps can load quicker and use less power. This helps phones, especially those with modern chips, run smoothly and save battery life. Older devices will stick with the smaller page size to avoid issues.
The Google System Updates for May also add new features. Google Wallet now supports more card types and makes transit passes easier to use in apps like Google Maps. The Play Store now shows video previews of apps, helping you decide what to download. There are also fixes to improve battery life, storage, and network performance, making your phone more reliable.
For Google Messages, a new “delete for everyone” feature lets you remove sent messages from group chats within 15 minutes. This works for both RCS and SMS, so you can fix mistakes easily. Other messaging upgrades include better scam detection and the ability to send high-quality photos and videos. These updates show Google’s effort to make Android devices faster, more secure, and better for communication. Keep your phone updated to enjoy these improvements!
Google Maps is making driving more fun with a new feature for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Now, you can pick different car icons to show your vehicle on the map. Choose from options like a sleek sedan, a rugged SUV, or a cool arrow.
This small change adds a personal touch to your navigation and is rolling out to all users soon. Meanwhile, Ecobee’s Smart Doorbell Camera is getting a big upgrade with Google Home support. You can now see who’s at your door right from the Google Home app, view live video, and even talk to visitors.
If you have a Nest Hub, the doorbell feed pops up automatically when someone rings. This feature, already available for Ecobee’s thermostat, makes your smart home setup smoother and is available now for all users. On the AI front, Google’s Gemini app is getting smarter with the Gemini 2.5 Pro preview.
This update improves coding skills, helping developers create better apps and websites. It also handles video and text tasks more effectively. The preview is out for everyone to try, with Google planning to share more at its I/O 2025 event. These updates from Google and Ecobee bring small but meaningful improvements, making your car rides, home security, and digital tasks easier and more enjoyable.
Google is rolling out exciting updates to make browsing, searching, and downloading apps smoother and safer for Android users. These changes focus on improving Chrome’s security, redesigning the Google Search bar, and enhancing the Google Play Store’s download process.
Chrome’s Improved Security
Google Chrome now offers stronger protection with “Enhanced Safe Browsing” powered by Gemini Nano, an AI model that works directly on your device. This feature checks websites in real-time to spot phishing attempts and other online threats, keeping your data safe without relying on cloud servers. It’s a step up from the standard protection, giving users more peace of mind while browsing.
Redesigned Google Search Bar
The Google Search bar on Android is getting a fresh look. It’s now simpler and easier to use, with a modern design that fits better with your phone’s home screen. The updated widget lets you access Search, Lens, or voice commands quickly. The new layout is clean and user-friendly, making searches faster and more intuitive.
Better Play Store Downloads
The Google Play Store is improving how it shows app download progress. A new notification design displays a progress bar right in your notification panel, so you can track downloads without opening the app. This small but helpful change makes managing app installs more convenient.
These updates show Google’s focus on creating a safer, simpler, and more efficient experience for Android users. They’re rolling out gradually, so keep an eye out for them on your device!
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