Google Photos Updates Gets a Refresh: New Sharing Feed and Bell Icon in App Bar
Google Photos is making another subtle but impactful change to the user experience. Following the already rolled-out switch from "Library" to "Collections" tabs back in August, Google Photos is now replacing the dedicated "Sharing" page with a new "Updates" feed.
Previously, Gmail and other Google services boasted a dedicated “Sharing” page. It featured quick access to “Create shared album”, “Share with partner”, and a carousel of "Albums and Memories." Additionally, you would find a list of "Conversations".
Now, you’ll find a notification bell icon in the app bar for "See recent sharing updates, including conversations and shared links." This opens an "Updates" feed. This can be accessed directly from the newly replaced bell icon, which replaces the previous Sharing icon.
- Sharing activity: Shared links, Shared memories, and Conversations
- Conversations
The most recent update is indicative of Google’s direction with Photos, favoring a more streamlined approach. The Conversations feature seems to be getting de-emphasized, which is supported by the bell icon in the top bar.
This is a common UI convention across other Google platforms, like Home, the Play Store, and YouTube.
Currently, the "Updates" feature is rolling out to Android users. There’s no word yet on when or if it will arrive on iOS.
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