Tech that...

A ROUND-UP OF THE LATEST NEWS IN THE DIGITAL WORLD

NEW FROM GOOGLE

GOOGLE Photos is probably the most popular photo app out there… and it’s getting a big upgrade this week.

The big goal seems to have been simplification – the main tab is now called simply Photos and is a place to see your recent images, as well as shots from the past that Google thinks you’d like to see again.

It brings the Memories feature more to the fore – introduced last year it lets you view a curated set of images from a day in the past in an Instagram-story style carousel.

The other big update to the app shows a streamlined search tab, which for the first time adds what Google says is the app’s mostrequested feature – a map view.

You’ll be able to see on the map where you have taken photos and zoom in to see more detail, as well as accessing the photos themselves.

The upgrade is rolling out across the iOS and Android version of the Google Photos app now.

Meanwhile Google is preparing an update to another of its flagship products – its Nest smart home ecosystem.

Having cancelled its annual developer conference Google I/O in May, Google has now revealed plans for a shorter, more focussed online event to show off its latest smart home developments.

The event – the “Hey Google” Smart Home Virtual Summit – will be held on July 8, and anyone can register to attend (virtually, of course).

Google says the show will see Michele Turner, product management director of the Smart Home Ecosystem, share Google’s “recent smart home product initiatives and how developers can benefit from these capabilities”.

There will also be a panel discussion on the impact of Covid-19 on the tech industry.

■ To register for the event visit: eventsonair.withgoogle.com/events/ heyg-smart-home-summit