Google is adding a new camera UI for Google Messages that Android users can use instead of relying on their phone's default viewfinder. The camera UI is accessible from a Google Messages conversation using the camera icon in the text field. Before
Google started introducing this change, those using the Google Messages app had to use the system camera app for a preview.
Before the update, Pixel users accessing the system camera app could customize white balance and exposure, and set a timer if they wanted. The new viewfinder for Google Messages users is built using the Compose toolkit that Google recommends for creating Android user interfaces, and it is more simplified than the system camera app UI currently used . The controls will allow users to adjust the zoom using three default settings and pinch-to-zoom. There is also a button to turn the flash on or off, located in the upper right corner, and a button to switch between using the rear and front cameras.
A new feature added to the Google Messages camera UI appears at the bottom of the screen and allows users to switch between taking a photo and recording a video. With this new feature, you can choose between capturing an image or recording a video After by opening the camera app. Previously, it was the user who had to make this decision Before opening the Google Messages camera UI.
On the left is the system camera UI which is replaced by the new Google Messages camera UI on the right.
By
9to5Google, the new Google Messages camera UI is released today via a server-side update and appears on beta version 20240312_00_RC00 of the Google Messages app. To see which version of the Google Messages app you're running on your Android phone (if you're using the app), go to
Settings >
apps and tap “See all xxx apps”. Scroll to Messages and tap it. This takes you to the Google Messages app information page. Scroll to the bottom to see which version of the app you're using.
On my Pixel 6
Pro running Android 14 QPR3 beta 2, the version of Messages I have is 20240126_04_RC00, which means I don't have the new Messages camera UI at the moment. You can see if updating to the latest version is in your app's update queue by opening the Play Store and tapping the profile icon in the upper right corner. In the menu that appears, click Manage apps & devices, and under App Update, tap the blue link to Update All and hopefully the new feature is part of an update sent to Google Messages waiting to be installed.
