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Google enhances Photos with complex HDR edits, expands YouTube premium lite, and retires original Meet app

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Google has introduced several significant updates across its products, including enhanced editing capabilities for Pixel devices in Google Photos, the expansion of the YouTube “Premium Lite” plan to more countries, and the retirement of the original Google Meet app.

Advanced Editing in Google Photos with Ultra HDR Retention on Pixel

Google Photos now supports complex image edits while retaining Ultra HDR quality on Pixel 8 and newer devices. Previously, editing beyond basic cropping or rotating would convert the image into SDR (Standard Dynamic Range), losing the HDR (High Dynamic Range) quality. The main challenge was dealing with the metadata called Gain Map, which records brightness information for HDR images. Without addressing the Gain Map, editing could result in noticeable artifacts like “ghosting.”

Google’s solution is a machine learning (ML) model that predicts and reconstructs the missing HDR metadata after editing. The model is based on a large dataset of HDR and SDR images, enabling it to generate an accurate Gain Map. This ensures that tools like Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur, and Magic Editor can now work seamlessly with Ultra HDR images. Google’s approach to training this lightweight model has made it possible to run it efficiently on mobile devices, and it uses less than 1MB of space.

This update provides users with the ability to make advanced edits on their Pixel devices while maintaining the full quality of Ultra HDR images, improving the overall photo editing experience for Pixel 8 and newer devices.

YouTube Expands “Premium Lite” Plan with Limited Ads

YouTube’s “Premium Lite” plan, which offers an ad-free viewing experience at a lower price point, is being tested in more countries, including Australia, Germany, and Thailand. Priced at roughly half of the standard YouTube Premium plan, “Premium Lite” only removes ads from YouTube, without offering additional features like offline downloads, YouTube Music, or background play.

While the full Premium plan provides a completely ad-free experience, the “Lite” version only limits ads, making it a more affordable option for users who just want to reduce interruptions during videos. In Australia, the plan costs $11.99/month, compared to the $22.99/month for full Premium. Similar prices are being tested in other regions.

Google has confirmed this expanded trial, though it remains uncertain whether the plan will roll out globally. This move comes as YouTube continues to increase prices for its Premium plans, even for long-term subscribers, while also growing its subscriber base, which now includes over 100 million users worldwide.

Retirement of the Original Google Meet App

Google has officially retired the original Google Meet app, which started as “Hangouts Meet” and later transitioned to “Meet.” The original app was largely used by enterprise customers, and while it continued to function for meetings via links or codes, it has now been discontinued.

Users trying to join meetings via the old app are redirected to the new Google Meet, which has absorbed features from the popular Google Duo app. The new Meet app now supports features like real-time reactions, direct calling between Meet users, and several new updates designed to enhance personal video calling. The old Meet app is no longer available for download, and users are encouraged to switch to the updated version.

Google’s ongoing improvements to Meet include features like an enhanced user interface, live captions, and an audio-only mode for users on the go. This consolidation of the Google Meet experience aims to streamline video calling by offering a single, fully-featured app.

In summary, Google continues to refine its products to enhance user experiences. Whether it’s retaining HDR quality in Google Photos, offering more affordable YouTube plans with fewer ads, or simplifying its video-calling platform, Google’s latest updates reflect its focus on improving the efficiency and functionality of its services for users worldwide.

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Android

Google’s May 2025 Android updates: better performance and messaging

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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!

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Smart home and navigation upgrades for easier living

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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.

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Google updates Chrome, Search, and Play Store for better user experience

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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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