Google had already announced that it would be bringing Ultra HDR to its Google Photos, which would reportedly allow compatibility with Android 14. It was noted that the feature would allow compatible apps to show higher-quality photos including a wider range of tones and colors.
Code Strings Reveal the Addition of Ultra HDR Features to the Google Photos App
According to the story by Forbes, code strings were revealed when it came to the Google Photos app, specifically for version 51.0.561138754. As revealed in the code strings, it looks like Ultra HDR compatibility could be coming to the app.
Some of the code strings discovered in Google Photos include "Ulta HDR disabled," which is not the only line that mentions the inclusion of an "Ultra HDR." Another line was revealed saying "UltaHdrPreviewFragment" with the two remaining strings of code also pointing to Ultra HDR.
The Code Strings Mention Abilities having Something to Do with Ultra HDR
According to the story by Phone Arena, the last two code strings were EDITOR_ULTRA_HDR_PREVIEW and the last was photos_mediadetails_details_ultra_hdr. The article then highlighted how the Google Photos addition of Ultra HDR could unlock new doors.
It was noted that the addition of Ultra HDR support for Google Photos could provide future Android phones' camera app to be able to shoot in Ultra HDR. The article then stated that the first cameras to potentially have the Ulta-High Dynamic Range camera abilities could be the Pixel 8 devices.
Ultra HDR Would Work On Top of the Standard JPEG Image
The article also previously explained that the Ultra HDR capabilities would add another layer of information known as a "gain map," which works on top of the standard JPEG image. The added improvement when it comes to photo quality in Ulta HD would be like watching TV in standard SDR with the added improvement.
It was noted that the apps that already exist are capable of processing and displaying Ultra HD pictures as they would when processing regular JPEGs. This would mean users would be able to easily take photos through the Ultra HD without any worries about how they would be processed or how they would show up.
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New Ultra HDR Feature Would Still Support Backward Compatibility
It was also revealed that Ultra HDR is actually backward compatible, meaning the photos that are shot with the help of the feature would still be able to show up on the apps that aren't equipped with any support for the latest standard.
It was also revealed that in these types of apps, the images show up in SDR exclusive. Although the code strings come ahead of the supposed Google Photos app version, the company would still have to officially activate the update in order for the Ultra HDR to be enabled for users.
The article noted that the feature might be quietly enabled ahead of the launch of Google's upcoming Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. According to The Verge, the Pixel 8 smartphone will launch on October 4.
