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Google Photos is expanding its feature set and has launched Memories, a slideshow feature that works in a similar way as Instagram stories. Memories is designed to highlight special events, such as birthdays, trips and holidays, and let you remember those special moments without having to sift through stacks of duplicate images.
Photos and videos from previous years will be pinned to the top of your gallery for you to browse. Google uses machine learning to curate your Memories and pick the best shots out of many similar ones. Certain people or time periods can be blocked in case you´d rather not be reminded of them, and you can also deactivate the feature completely.
Memories can also be shared with people who appear in them and others. Google says that in the coming months it will make this process even easier. Shared photos will be added to an ongoing, private conversation which should make it easier to keep count of the images you have shared with each other.
In addition, you can now search for text that appears in photographs or screenshots via the standard search function. This could be useful for those who store recipes or other text documents in image format in Google Photos.
U.S. users can now also order both standard photo prints and canvas prints directly from the app. Individual photo prints can be ordered directly through Google Photos and are available to pick up from your local CVS Pharmacy or Walmart that same day at over 11,000 locations. Canvas prints are available in 8x8in, 12x14in, and 16x20in formats and prices start at $ 19.99. The app suggests the best photos to print and the canvas prints will be delivered straight to your home.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)