Apple's revised iOS26 Camera App; Google to turn photos into Video

A week of changes

Imagine cranking open Apple’s Camera app on an iPhone and not being asked to make multiple decisions, like whether or not you were interested in timelapse, slomo or spatial photos.

You just want to take the damn picture.

This week Apple unveiled the beta of what your Apple Camera app will look like in September in iOS26, a streamlined, glorious update that I believe will make most of you very, very happy. Others will be very frustrated at first when they discover that many of their favorite features are hidden, and seemingly gone forever. But don’t worry—we can help you. Just scroll down to the Pro Tip section for the solution.

The iOS operating system upgrade happens every September, usually a week before the release of the new iPhone, and what’s cool about them is that the update is free, and can put a fresh sheen on older phones along with the new model. (You’ll need iPhones starting with the 11 series to use iOS26. The iPhone X and XR and anything older won’t be supported.)

Meanwhile, the old way for the Camera app: a string of confusing options spread across the menu. The new way: only two choices, period: photo or video.

This is an unusual move for Apple, which over the years has added more and more features to the iPhone (thank you for that!) but they’ve also perplexed consumers who don’t either know about them, or get flustered with the ever-growing menu.

In iOS26, the new name for the operating system, Apple is going the opposite direction and beyond the front fix, there are others that will make the Camera app a better experience for users.

The new six dot menu at top right

For years, I’ve been recommending that people use the timer function for their selfies, but it’s been a bear to access, by clicking the arrow on the top middle of the screen and then scrolling through a long menu. But in IOS26, you click the six dot visual at the top right screen, and all the old choices are there, way easier to find: Flash, Live, Timer, Exposure adjustment, Styles, Aspect Ratio and Night Mode.

Night Mode is still most misunderstood of the choices, as it only comes out (automatically) when it’s dark, Styles put Instagram like filters on your photos, and sorry Apple, but I don’t share the enthusiasm—I’d rather tweak the photo in editing and flash should always be off, as it makes people look like they were lit by a blow torch.

PRO TIP

In Video Mode, you click the menu at the top left to choose your frame rate and whether you want to record in HD or 4K.

That’s good, but here’s something that is going to drive consumers crazy.

Where did Slow Motion, Time Lapse and Cinematic Mode go? They appear hidden. And so do Portrait Mode and Panoramic in the Photo offering. What happened?

You’ve got to slide the menu to find them. On Video, put your finger on the Video tab and then slide to left to find Slow Motion, Time Lapse and Cinematic, and with Photo, slide right for the other offerings.

If you like to take your photos in the 16:9 aspect ratio, instead of the traditional 3:4, like I do, you’ll now need to go to the Camera menu in the Settings app and adjust it there. You can also shoot in square.

Overall, I applaud Apple for making these long overdue changes, but I sure hope they spread the word about how to find the now hidden features.

The iOS 26 beta is available to consumers now in the Settings app, by going to General/Software Update and opting in for the Beta update. Otherwise, you’ll need to wait for mid-September.

Google Photos to Video

I told you in a recent newsletter about how Google’s Gemini AI service was offering the ability to create 6 second video clips from your photos, if you paid $20 monthly for the premium service.

Now Google is bringing the feature to Google Photos and YouTube for free. The company put out a release this week touting it, but don’t be surprised if you can’t find it.

As with most Google announcements, these are ones being rolled out, slowly, to consumers. A spokesman tells me they’ll start showing up in August—which is actually next week folks! When they do arrive, look for a Create tab in Google Photos, or try the "+" menu at the top right of the app to access it. You’ll be able to create in YouTube Shorts as well, and that one is “rolling” out slowly as well.

Animate Me!

How would you like to create a talking avatar that uses your voice in an animated video?

This isn’t something I’ve sought in the past, but I was intrigued when I watched my friend Chris Raney’s Yellow Productions video about a Thailand tailor scam. He created a talking avatar in the voice of the woman who got scammed, but she didn’t want to appear on camera, so he put in a script and made her words come out of a digital character.

Chris Raney’s talking avatar in his Yellow Productions video

How did he do it, I wanted to know.

The Descript app, which many use for text based editing, was the savior. And it’s so easy, as Chris noted. There’s a Create with AI button. Click it, upload an audio file, or suggest a prompt, and Descript does the work for you.

And it’s free. At least it is the first time you try it. After that, you’ll pay $35 monthly, or just under $300 yearly.

I spoke to Scripps News about it this week, in my weekly tech segment for the channel. You can see the quick avatar video I made in it, but if you want to see the master at work, check out Chris’s video. Link above.

When last we met, it was the best holiday of the year, National Ice Cream Day, and in case you’re wondering, I celebrated with a triple scoop Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownie chocolate covered waffle cone with sprinkles from Handel’s of Manhattan Beach, California. Every bite was a masterpiece.

I wish every day was National Ice Cream Day. And National Grilled Cheese too. But hey, I don’t need a special holiday to celebrate. I can partake every day, right?

Meanwhile, on that note, thanks as always for taking the time to watch, read and listen with today’s newsletter! I’ll be back at you tomorrow with more from my recent midwest Photowalks trip.

Jeff