Coming this winter
Google today presented its new smartphones Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, but, as usual, not only the devices themselves are interesting, but also the software solutions. One of them is Video Boost.
This function is worth special attention since it is implemented unusually, and the effect should be a very impressive one.
As you can see, video quality with Video Boost should be much higher than that of the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Moreover, it is higher in many directions at once: better detail, wider dynamic range, and higher contrast. At least according to Google’s presentation.
The Pixel 8 Pro shoots video, and then artificial intelligence in Google’s data center improves it.
But it’s not that simple. If you just take the Pixel 8 Pro and shoot a video with it, it won’t be as impressive. What exactly is unclear, since Google, unfortunately, did not show a comparison of regular video and video with Video Boost processing, but there will be a difference. The bottom line is that Video Boost is actually the processing of video shot on a smartphone using artificial intelligence, and after the video has been shot and not even using the capabilities of the smartphone itself. The video will need to be uploaded to Google Photo, where the search giant’s data center will handle processing. As Google itself says, Video Boost combines Tensor G3 with powerful data centers to apply the latest processing technologies to video. The feature adjusts color, lighting, stabilization, and grain, resulting in stunning videos that look realistic.
As a result, the smartphone will later notify the user that his video is ready, and the improved version will replace the original. Is it fair to say that the Pixel 8 Pro in this case shoots video better than the iPhone 15 Pro Max? It’s an open question. But the solution itself is unique and very unusual. It also shows how heavily software-dependent the photo and video capabilities of smartphones have become in recent years.
By the way, the function, firstly, will be available only on the Pixel 8 Pro, and secondly, it will not be available immediately from the moment the smartphone enters the market, but will be released later this winter.
