We’re all sick of video calls by now, so Google Meet is spicing things up with new filters, effects, and augmented reality masks on iOS and Android.
Tap the sparkle icon in the bottom right corner of your screen during a chat to scroll through options like color or black-and-white filters, lens flare effects, and AR disguises. Most selections, The Verge noted, are available only for personal Gmail accounts; Workspace users are currently limited to blurring and virtual backgrounds.
Throughout the COVID pandemic, Google Meet has rolled out a series of video-friendly features, including improved layouts, better security, noise cancellation, and custom backgrounds. Now the company is turning its focus from business to personal use, targeting mobile users having a catchup with friends, family, and maybe the occasional coworker. The move, as 9to5Google previously reported, likely marks Google’s first steps toward replacing its Duo video chat app with Meet.
Live on iOS and Android, filters are accessible through the dedicated Meet app or when starting a call via Gmail. There is no word on whether they will eventually expand to the web; Google did not immediately respond to PCMag’s request for comment.
Google in 2019 replaced hangouts with two services: Chat for instant messaging and Meet for video chat. The latter, which required a business or education account, became free last year; all you need to use Meet is a Google account.
The battle for video chat dominance continues to rage, with Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet all vying for users’ attention. Even Tinder and Fortnite have jumped on the bandwagon, introducing video chat abilities for daters and gamers, respectively.
