When it launched over a decade ago, Photo Sphere was a simple but fun photo mode that allowed users to take 360-degree photos of their surroundings and then upload them to Google Maps or Google Street, or to view them in a Google Cardboard headset.
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This feature was popular with fans for a while and was present on every Google smartphone, from the Nexus to the Pixel 7, until it was quietly removed late last year and was removed from all devices.
But now it appears that Photo Sphere is back – for some users.
It’s rare that having an older phone is an advantage
It’s rare that having an older phone is an advantage when it comes to new features, but that’s what’s happening here. Phones that already had Photo Sphere are suddenly available again. For phones that never had it — the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro — it’s still missing.
This makes sense considering the mode was removed from Camera 9.1, the version the Pixel 8 shipped with. But with the power of AI that the Pixel 8 has, stitching together a series of photos to make a large, seamless image seems to be possible. The newer Pixels have a somewhat similar panning mode, but only from side to side and not all the way around.
The feature isn’t perfect and produces distorted images if you don’t move exactly where the app indicates, but it’s a fun mode you can play with to get unique images.
A temporary or permanent return?
It’s unclear whether this is a temporary or permanent return, but the feature works exactly as it always has. By moving your phone in a specific pattern, you can take multiple photos that will be stitched together to get a view that completely captures a scene from all angles.
If you have a Pixel phone older than Pixel 8 and don’t have Photo Sphere, make sure you have the latest version of the camera app – 9.2.113.604778888.19. If you are not using this version, check if an update is available.
Source: “ZDNet.com”