Google Photos can quickly get a boost to its social aspects with the recently discovered sharing feed and UI improvements trying to clear some space

This revelation comes after a recent update by Android Authority and assembleDebug that enabled the functionality of version 6.85.0.637477501 of the Google Photos app for android. The APK comes from teardown. The first change replaces the current share icon with the notification icon. Tap this new icon to take you to a new "Share activity" page that acts as a social notification feed.

The new feed alerts users when an album or image receives likes or comments, and when someone adds a new image. The code string found suggests that the feed notifies the user when it is added to the group, and the name of the person who added you. It's unclear if this includes being added as a favorite contact. 

Note that the current "shared links" page does not appear to have been removed. You can still use this option by selecting the 3 dots in the upper right corner. 

APK teardown has also revealed a new way to track how much storage space users can store in their apps. According to the report, a new meter appears every time you select a category in the "Review and Delete" section of the Manage Storage page. The purpose of the meter is to show you exactly how much space you can save by following the app's suggestions on what to remove. 

This is the second storage storage feature that has been found in the code line of the Google Photos app on Android phones. This feature is currently only available on the desktop version of Google Photos, reducing the quality of backed up images and reducing overall space. However, the quality changes are persistent and may alienate some users. 

Google has been working to add new features to Google Photos since its inception and a slow push to make it more social helps to draw in new users We have a guide on how to use Google Photos if you want to try the app. However, if you don't like the changes, here's a list of the best alternatives to Google Photos.