Google Photos is developing a new Group Camera feature that could make sharing photos and videos from social gatherings easier. The feature would allow friends and family members to capture pictures through a dedicated camera interface and contribute them to a single shared album. It aims to reduce the hassle of collecting images from multiple people after an event.
The feature was spotted in Google Photos version 7.97 for Android during an examination of the app's code. Google has not officially announced the feature or confirmed when it will become available to users.
Google Photos Group Camera: How it Could Work
The proposed feature would let users create a shared camera session for occasions such as birthdays, weddings, family gatherings and holidays. The host could invite participants and schedule when the camera becomes available.
Once the session begins, invited users would receive notifications prompting them to join. The session would reportedly last eight hours by default. However, hosts could customize the start and end times to suit their plans. The schedule would follow the user's current time zone, according to details found in the app.
Dedicated Camera Interface and Settings
Group Camera would feature its own camera interface, allowing participants to switch between the front and rear cameras and choose between photo and video modes. The interface would also provide access to several camera settings.
Google also appears to be developing a temporary lock screen shortcut for Group Camera. App code suggests that participants could access the camera directly from their device's lock screen while the session remains active.
This could help attendees capture moments quickly without navigating through the app. However, the shortcut has not been fully activated during testing, so its final functionality remains uncertain.
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