Abstract
- Google Photos version 6.76 for Android now asks some users to set a “Favorite Shortcut” for easier sharing.
- Once enabled, you can set a specific person to appear on the sharing table for quick access.
- Google remains focused on organization, with features like Photo Stacks and AI integration for categorization.
Google Photos is a valuable tool that can help you organize all your pictures and access them in the cloud. However, it may take more than one tap to share these images with people on your phone. Back in 2023, Google was seen testing features that could streamline the sharing process for app users. Now, at least one of them appears to be rolling out for Android device owners.
Google Photos is getting some handy new library organization features
Photo Stacks will group similar shots together, while AI will magically sort your screenshots into relevant albums
As reported by 9to5Google, Google Photos version 6.76 for Android now asks users to set a “Favorite Shortcut” for easier sharing. The feature seems to depend on a server-side flag, so not all users will see it on Google Photos 6.76, but if you’re one of the lucky few, you’ll find it under Library → Utilities → Add favorite shortcut.
Source: 9to5Google
Once enabled, you can set a specific person to appear in the Google Photos sharing table — this appears when you long-press a photo within the app’s main grid. You’ll notice that, after creating a favorite shortcut, the person you selected is the first option you see in the “Send” menu. Although you can only have one favorite selected, you can change or remove your selection by going to Google Photos Settings → Share Favorite Shortcuts. So far, it doesn’t appear that the option has been rolled out for iOS users.
Google focuses on organization
While Google has its fair share of competition in the photo app arena, it still seems to be focused on organization, one of the biggest benefits of using Google Photos. In 2023, the company launched Photo Stacks, for example. This feature automatically organizes similar images according to human faces, and arrays are fully customizable after generation. Google has also integrated AI to help organize screenshots within the app. With artificial intelligence, your images can now be categorized by type, such as documents and invoices. This can make it easier to search for specific images later.
There are certainly several options available to you if you want to store your photos digitally. Whether you opt for Google Photos or another option, all the features are worth considering — with everything now available, from artificial intelligence to editing tools, developers are differentiating their products using these tools. Depending on your specific needs, it’s worth exploring all the options.