Android 14 & PhotoSphere (removed in Pixel 8)

[Latte]

Hi, as many probably have heard Google removed Photosphere modus in the new Pixel 8 phone.
I was wondering if that means it is connected to the Pixel 8 (hardware), or if that means it is connected to Android 14 (software).

My Google Pixel 7 pro got the announcement that it’s ready to update to Android 14 and I’ve been trying to figure out if my ‘Google Camera’ which will be replaced by ‘Pixel camera’, will still have the 360 Photosphere mode when I update.

Has anyone already done the update to Android 14 and know if I’m at risk of losing the Photosphere mode?

Note: this is not a technical question about the ‘quality of Photosphere’, ‘GSV’ or ‘better’ tools. I know a lot of amazing hobbyist will offer these suggestions. Neither about the reasoning why it is removed, that’s a shame but not up to us to decide…I am simply trying to hear from other peoples experiences if the photosphere modus will be in Android 14 for a Google Pixel 7 Pro.

[jacob_c]

Hi Latte,

I can confirm that it’s with the Pixel 8 Hardware as I had a beta version of Android 14 running on my Pixel 7 Pro and I still had photosphere. It’s funny you mention this as I have the Pixel 8 Pro and didn’t even realize it was missing until I saw this post.

[Latte]

Thanks @jacob_c that’s reassuring. Keep the 7 Pro at hand

[Rednewt74]

@Latte ,

I have the Pixel pro 7 and updated to Android 14 last week. The photo sphere is alive and well.

New camera features are great. Only thing I hate is they reversed the selfie button and the review photos button.

[Latte]

@Rednewt74 double confirmation, thank you so much Always nice to hear it from multiple sources.

[JustJake]

@Latte I updated my 7 Pro to Android 14 just before shutting it down to trade in. On the 7 Pro, Photosphere was there.

I traded it in for an 8 Pro. On the 8 Pro – Photosphere is NOT an option. Panorama, yes, but that only give left to right options. No 360 to be found.

[MortenCopenhagen]

@Latte

I’m running Android 14 on a Pixel 7a and Photospheres are still available.

Please make sure that you scroll all the way to the right in the camera submenu. It is no longer a sub-sub-menu but directly on the camera submenu.

All the best

Morten

[Latte]

@JustJake I heard a rumour that the Photosphere is back in the latest Pixel Camera app update on your Pixel 8. Can you confirm?

Perhaps someone can check on a Pixel 7 Pro as well?

Still.to scared to update the Pixel Camera app on my own 7 Pro

[Latte]

Thanks @MortenCopenhagen I overlooked your reply. Going to wait for a confirmation for the 7 Pro too. The Facebook group had different results based on the type so I’d rather take no risks.

[MortenCopenhagen]

@Latte

Why don’t you inquire about this in the pixel help forum?

Cheers

Morten

[Latte]

Just to clarify, Google did a lot of updates and some of them the photosphere was not in it and others it was, It was different for different types of models and it was also different for different regions.

The pixel camera app is currently what it is about. Only one person said that on his seven pro, the latest version of the pixel camera app has photosphere restored. Othere that I spoke to say that after updating the pixel camera app the photosphere is not back.

My region is Thailand.

My version (with photosphere) is unknown from October 5th

The app is called Pixel Camera, but there is now also something called Pixel Camera Services (1,2) which is assumed to be the AI cloud service. I haven’t updated that either.

[Latte]

@MortenCopenhagen I’m unaware of that forum. I’m registered here and on Facebook. Is this on another platform?

Some of the people on Facebook are keeping eyes out on https://support.google.com/pixelphone/community?hl=en but It feels like the support also doesn’t really know the answer because it changes ever so often.

[MortenCopenhagen]

@Latte

Correct forum. Do a search then make a post in the community if needed

.

Cheers

Morten

[Rednewt74]

@Latte ,

I have done the latest updates on my pixel 7 Pro. Where it goes from Google camera to pixel camera.

Photosphere is alive and well.

[JustJake]

@Latte No, sir. It’s still just the Panorama. I checked the settings for any hidden options, and even went through some of the video options to see if it was hiding. Not showing on my Pixel 8 Pro. @Rednewt74 may have info from the Pixel 7 side.

[Rednewt74]

@Latte ,

I had another update for Pixel camera on my pixel 7 Pro.

still working for me.

Have you been tracking the version s