GoKawiilJoe Maring / Android Authority
TL;DR Google Photos has been working on a new AI video tool codenamed “Soba.”
With Google’s latest update, we can see that Soba will arrive as “Video remix.”
Users will be able to restyle videos, change lighting, and much more.
Earlier this month, when we were checking out Google’s work on some new collage template options for Google Photos, we spotted another work-in-progress feature, one much more mysterious: something codenamed “Soba.” The icon we found associated with Soba sure seemed to imply that this would be some manner of AI-powered video feature, but at the time we really didn’t have anything else to go on. Soba’s still not ready to make its public debut, but it looks like we’re already getting to the bottom of what it’s set to do.
⚠️ An APK teardown helps predict features that may arrive on a service in the future based on work-in-progress code. However, it is possible that such predicted features may not make it to a public release.
Last year, Google gave us a pair of new AI tools for Photos: Photo to video, and photo remix. And now as we look across some of the new text strings present in version 7.80.0.929302933 of Google Photos for Android, it suddenly becomes clear what Soba is going to be: remix for videos.
Code Copy Text <string name="photos_editor_bluejay_phototovideo_soba_backup_message_text">Back up this video to generate a video</string> <string name="photos_editor_bluejay_phototovideo_soba_create_title">Video remix</string> <string name="photos_editor_bluejay_phototovideo_soba_intro_text">Get cinematic relighting, immersive background swaps, and beautiful stylization for your video in one tap. Sounds may also be generated. Enjoy daily limited generations at no charge. Upgrade to a Google AI subscription for more generations.</string> <string name="photos_editor_bluejay_phototovideo_soba_intro_title_text">Remix your video</string> <string name="photos_editor_bluejay_phototovideo_soba_invalid_duration_too_short_message">This video is too short. Please select a longer video.</string> <string name="photos_editor_bluejay_phototovideo_soba_picker_subtitle">Stable and steady videos work best</string> <string name="photos_editor_bluejay_phototovideo_soba_playground_title">Remix your photos and videos</string> <string name="photos_editor_bluejay_phototovideo_soba_policy_violation_message">Couldn’t generate the video. Try choosing another video.</string> <string name="photos_editor_bluejay_phototovideo_soba_select_video">Choose video</string> <string name="photos_editor_bluejay_phototovideo_soba_tip_expect_unexpected">Experiment: Every generation is unique—explore different templates.</string> <string name="photos_editor_bluejay_phototovideo_soba_tip_less_is_more">Simplify the shot: Focus on just one or two subjects.</string> <string name="photos_editor_bluejay_phototovideo_soba_tip_match_vibe">Match the vibe: Pair indoor clips with indoor effects.</string> <string name="photos_editor_bluejay_phototovideo_soba_tip_minimal_camera_shake">Keep it steady: Use videos with minimal camera movement.</string> <string name="photos_editor_bluejay_phototovideo_soba_tip_not_quite_right">Iterate: Don’t like the result? Try a different video.</string> <string name="photos_editor_bluejay_phototovideo_soba_title">Remix your videos</string>
We’re still too early to get a look at any of this in action, or even preview much of the UI under development for this tool, but we can finally check out the button with its “Video remix” label:
AssembleDebug / Android Authority
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