The Google Clips camera was conspicuous by its absence at Google I/O this week, especially given its reliance on artificial intelligence.
However, that doesn’t mean Google has forgotten its intriguing smart snapper, which learns your favourite faces and recognises good lighting and framing.
The company has announced a number of updates for the camera, including the ability to recognise those cute moments of human interaction and affection.
Related: Google I/O 2018
Whether it be with kids or pets, the company says the camera is getting better at grabbing those spontaneous moments that can’t be staged.
“To help capture these moments, we’re adding improved functionality to Clips so that it’s better at recognising hugs, kisses, jumps and dance moves. All you need to do is find the best vantage point as you go about your day, and turn Clips on,” Google writes in a blog post.
“Clips’s improved intelligence can help you capture more of the candid and fleeting moments that happen in between those posed frames we are all so familiar with.”
Google is also responding to feedback from users who want to use Clips with more than one smartphone.
Coming this month, more than one family member will be able to connect with the camera via the companion app. Here’s where the best photos, videos and animations are made available, with users able to save the best to their accounts.
The device, which also has a manual shutter, is only available on a limited number of phones. It runs on Android 7.0 and requires a Pixel smartphone, Samsung Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S8 running Nougat or up. iPhone 6/6s/6s Plus/7/7 Plus running iOS 10+ is also compatible.
It’s currently $50 off as part of Google’s Mother’s Day sale.
Will you be buying the Clips camera when Google launches it in the UK? Let us know @TrustedReviews on Twitter.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.