The Gallery app on Chrome OS is one of the few native apps stuck since Google launched the operating system nearly a decade ago. Like the file manager, its existence felt like an afterthought and dust accumulation as the company continued to update the operating system. Although it got a significant visual overhaul and a name change in the “Media app” in 2020, it still does not have essential photo editing features. However, that will change soon, as Google is experimenting with three new features that will really add value.
As recently seen in the Chrome OS Canary channel, the new Media app offers a whole host of quality of life features, such as annotation tools, EXIF support, color filters, and subtle UI customizations that make it even more useful. Some of these features require you to insert a Chrome flag, which you can now (to some extent) test on the Dev channel. If you do not want to mess around with your Chromebook, check out the changes you can expect in the near future.
Annotation tools
After years of half-baked implementation, Google is eventually to add a proper image recording system to Chrome OS. If you need to start running dead on your photos, you need to enable them chrome: // flags / #media-app-note. After restarting your Chromebook, you can access the new note-taking tools from the Media app toolbar. Let’s take a closer look below.
Doodling on an image using the recording tool.
Recording an image with the new tool is dead simple. The drawing tools are neatly organized on the right side of the Media app. You have access to three media: pen, highlighter and eraser. The size of the ink varies from ‘extra thin’ to ‘extra thick’ and a small handful of color choices. I noticed almost no latency when I pulled out my Pixelbook Pen, which matches Chrome Canvas’ ink performance. After using it for a few days, I find it incredibly useful to record notes after a screenshot. You can also create PDFs in the Media app if you enable it chrome: // flags / # media-app-pdf-in-ink, but I recommend that you use Chrome’s built-in PDF viewer or the Squid Android app instead.
Color filters
Need a quick way to apply Instagram color filters to your photos? The native Media app will soon be offering a variety of overlays to give your photos a dramatic feel. To try out color filters, choose “Enable colorFilterTool” from the Media app’s experiment menu.
A handful of color filters to choose from in the Media app.
The app offers twelve different filters, ranging from monochromatic to striking color puppet. Interestingly, the filters offered are identical to those found on the Google Photos web version, except for the lack of an “Auto”, which I find useful for some images. Although I probably will not use this feature, I can see that it is useful in a pinch.
EXIF support
Being able to read camera metadata in Chrome OS is a feature I’ve been waiting for ever since always. Since Google recently added EXIF support to the file manager, it was only a matter of time before the developers transferred it to the Media app. Like color filters, EXIF support can be turned on by going to the “Experiments” menu in the Media app and then selecting “Enable displayExif”.
The feature does not work in the Media app yet, but I think the layout will be similar to the one found in the Chrome OS file manager. There can be a row for the dimensions of the photo, the making of the camera, the settings used to capture the image (aperture, ISO, lens size, etc.), and the location of the photo . While browsing through the “Experiments” menu, I came across an interesting string called “Enable saveExif” that allows you to edit the metadata information on photos when the feature starts working.
After many years of neglect, I’m glad the Media app is getting the attention it deserves. With these three features available soon, the new tool is becoming the excellent photo viewer and editor that Chrome OS desperately needs.