Google Messages introduces new custom camera

 Google Messages introduces

 the default viewfinder with new camera UI

Google Messages is rolling out its own camera UI that replaces your phone’s default viewfinder. You can access the built-in camera from within a conversation or the shortcut that appears on the home screen next to search.  Previously, Google Messages just used the system camera app. On Pixel devices, you could adjust Exposure, White Balance and set a Timer. Following are the important points:-

Google Messages is pushing out an update that introduces a new camera UI.

The new viewfinder loses many of the camera options present in the system camera app.

Users can now directly switch between photo and video mode.

Google has started rolling out a server-side update to the Google Messages app. Discovered in the latest beta version (20240312_00_RC00), that update is introducing a new viewfinder. Taking photos or videos within the Google Messages app is going to look a little different soon. Google update will give the app its own custom built-in camera. This new viewfinder, which is built with Compose, is more basic. You can still adjust the zoom level with three defaults above the shutter and pinch to zoom beyond that, but the only other settings are flash in the top-right corner and switching between the front and rear-facing cameras. There are no grid options.

For context, Messages formerly used the default system camera app when attempting to use the camera shortcut next to the text field. After the update, however, Messages is now reportedly using a built-in camera. One new feature is directly switching between the Photo and Video modes from the bottom of the camera. Previously, Google Messages made you choose before entering the full screen UI. This just started rolling out via a server-side update and we’re seeing it with the latest beta version. A custom UI should allow Google Messages to add more expressive features down the road, but the loss of camera controls by not using the default view is the new feature.

This new viewfinder differs from the default camera. Most notably, the new viewfinder strips away some of the camera controls that were available before, like choosing the exposure level and the white balance. But you still have the zoom presets, the flash toggle and you can switch between the rear and front cameras. It does, however, add the convenience of being able to swap back and forth between photo and video mode at will. Previously, the app would ask whether you wanted to take a photo or a video before opening up the full screen UI. To switch to the other mode, you had to exit out of the UI you were in and select again for next action.