Google is determined to make its messaging system even better thanks to the possibilities of the RCS protocol. Although in Spain we use apps like Telegram or WhatsApp rather than native Android or iOS messaging apps, there are countries where ‘old-fashioned’ text messaging is still the norm.

But if we are using WhatsApp, there might be a Google Messages option worth using. And it has been discovered that Google has updated the Android messages app. Take advantage of RCS and send UltraHDR photos without losing metadata.

Google messages app is slightly better

One of the new features of Android 14 is UltraHDR photo support. It’s something that Google started implementing in Google Photos before the system was released, and it’s a format that the Pixel 8 can capture.

This is a very interesting thing because What the UltraHDR format does is add HDR metadata to a standard JPEG image. This way, when photos are viewed with all their metadata and original quality on a device with an HDR display, these format improvements are applied with more detail in shadows and highlights, as well as greater brightness.

If a photo with UltraHDR metadata is viewed on an SDR screen, it will be displayed as a normal JPEG in the SDR range.. Therefore, it is a file that has the best of both formats. Obviously you need to capture it with a compatible device, but when it comes to sharing the footage you also need tools that don’t eliminate that metadata.

As we read on Android Authority, the team at TheSpAndroid discovered that Google had quietly updated one of its apps to support UltraHDR images. This time, we have Google Messages, an Android messaging application compatible with RCS protocols. does not destroy an image’s metadata.

It appears to be implemented for Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro users now, and it basically allows for what we’re talking about: thanks to more weight per file supported by RCS messages, When you send a photo with UltraHDR metadata via a messaging app, the photo reaches the recipient with all metadata intact.So you can appreciate the HDR improvements.

We’ll see what happens with the app on other devices, but the point is These photos can only be seen on phones with Android 14, because it is the system that supports this format. Once Apple decides to turn on iMessages in RCS, it will be intriguing to see what happens when a photo with HDR metadata is sent to the iPhone (or vice versa).

Cover image | Analysis of Pixel 7 Pro from Xataka

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