Google is apparently reconsidering its app lineup and while some get the boot, others join the party.
Getting the boot is the old Gchat, also known as Google Talk, which gets permanently replaced by Google Hangouts (no surprise there). Google also has two communication apps called Allo and Duo and it keeps adding more features to them, but the company is reportedly working on at least one other social app.
Google Social App For Collaborative Photo Editing
According to a new report from TechCrunch, Google is quietly working on a new app that would allow small groups to work together to edit, organize and share photos. This could make group photos more fun and exciting, turning photo editing into a social task.
"[T]hink Path meets Snapchat-style filters and edits meets Google's imaging smarts," TechCrunch points out.
Google confirmed to TechCrunch that it is indeed working on such an app, albeit it said it's still in an experimental stage at this point. On the other hand, the publication learned from another source that Google may actually be planning to release the app at its Google I/O 2017 event in May, just like it launched Allo and Duo at I/O 2016.
News of Google's purported social photo editing app comes hot on the heels of Apple Clips, Apple's new video editing app that will tap artificial intelligence, speech and image recognition.
Google Photo Editing For Groups: What To Expect
While the purported app's name remains undisclosed for now, TechCrunch learned a few details on what the experience will entail. First off, the goal is to offer something different than just another messaging app. Instead, Google wants to make a social photo app that promotes collaboration and interaction, allowing users to create groups for sharing pictures, then edit and tag the photos within the groups.
In addition, Google would lend its computer vision technology and prowess that currently powers popular services such as Google Photos, YouTube and Google's own image search. This indicates that Google's upcoming photo editing app will enable users to easily identify objects in a picture for tagging and organizing purposes, which would make photos easier to find upon searching one's library. At the same time, the technology should also go a long way in terms of editing and applying filters.
Google Social Media Efforts
Google hasn't had much luck with its social apps so far, but it keeps trying. Google Spaces shut down after less than a year on the market, Google+ is still around but it's trailing far behind other social media apps such as Facebook and Twitter, while Google Allo and Duo are relatively new to the scene and it remains to be seen whether they'll make it in the long run.
Nevertheless, Google seems intent on making it to the social scene and it's apparently banking on a range of different apps to see what sticks. Social media has been gaining momentum over the past several years and Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and the likes not only serve as a venue for communications, but also host a lot of advertising and information.
Google needs at least one successful social app to keep up and it's trying to find the perfect recipe. Do you think this social photo app will be the hit it needs?
