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In a recent update Google introduced a user interface (UI) tweak to its Messages app, aiming to simplify the process of sharing photos. This update prominently places a camera icon directly on the Google Messages home screen. It provides users with a quick and accessible way to initiate the photo-sharing process. The camera icon is positioned adjacent to the search icon on the top right of the app.
The camera icon in Google Messages’ home screen aims to make photo sharing more convenient
Previously, sending photos through Google Messages involved navigating to the conversation. Then users were to click on the ‘Add’ button or capture a photo separately in the camera app. Then they would be able to select it from the conversation.
In contrast, the newly introduced camera shortcut makes this process a bit faster and easier. It now allows the user to directly capture the photo from the app’s home screen.
Upon tapping the camera icon, the app seamlessly transitions to the camera app UI and viewfinder. Once you take the photo, Google Messages prompts you to select a recipient. Then it automatically attaches the photo to a new message for the recipient you choose. You still get the option to add additional text before sending it, notes PhoneArena.
However, this feature appears to have another scope for improvement. The ‘Select recipients’ prompt doesn’t yet provide the ‘New message’ option. That means you will have to start the chat first before you try to share photos directly from Messages’ home screen. Nonetheless, Google has seemingly focused on its ‘Messages’ app for a while now and this is also expected to be fixed in the near future.
Google continues to improve ‘Messages’ to keep up with the competition
The camera shortcut is part of the app’s ongoing efforts to introduce experimental features. These include an animated emoji, an updated voice recorder, and Google Account login capabilities for the web version.
The camera shortcut was initially in a limited rollout phase. However, it is now being widely deployed to Google Messages users. This new addition reflects Google’s commitment to continuously improving the Messages app’s functionality to keep up with alternatives like WhatsApp. It also ensures that people who have been using Google Messages don’t have to shift their usage to another unfamiliar app just to make use of available new features.
