Google Messages app prepares photo sharing via Google Photos, hamburger menu may return

A new report from 9to5Google shows that the Google Messages app might be prepping to integrate Google Photos for sharing images and videos through MMS rather than be sent over the antiquated platform.

The APK Insight post from the outlet shows some screenshots of the feature as if it were active. When trying to share a video inside a chat, a card will suggest a new method for sharing videos and photos by uploading them to Google Photos.

Share videos as they’re meant to be seen[…] Preserve video clarity when you send Google Photos links in MMS conversations

It’s worth noting that the feature seems to make the suggestion when composing a message for media through an MMS chat. This means the other person either doesn’t have RCS chat enabled, or (more likely) the recipient is using an iPhone. The recipient would receive a link to view or download the media.

Source: 9to5Google

In addition to the Google Photos feature, Google is seemingly walking back its decision to slowly phase out the “hamburger menu”, also known as the “navigation drawer”, from most Android apps by just stuffing all the menu items behind a profile photo icon.

The decompiled APK shows Messages, Starred, Archived, and Spam & blocked tabs are all within what looks to be the return of the navigation drawer.

Source: 9to5Google

It does appear, however, that Google may only be doing this for the Messages app and perhaps won’t walk back the Material You guidelines to include the navigation drawer.

In any case, neither the Google Photos upload nor the navigation drawer are official feature yet since they are disabled within the APK.

Source