Google is reportedly testing Augmented Reality in its messaging app. Five special camera effects which are namely plane, balloons, fireworks, confetti, and an angel–are present in the camera viewfinder, so when someone goes to send a picture they can select the effect tab for one of these images. The Android Messages effects can even recognize the person’s face by adding the AR images in front and behind the person in the picture. The Halo effect screenshot, for example, will be used for tracking the person, so it will always appear just above the head. In another example, the colors of the fireworks will reflect on the person’s face.
The Snapchat-like filters found in Android Messages were revealed by XDA Developers, which reports that “a total of five filters are present in the app at this time”.
The above video demonstrates how these filters are found within the camera viewfinder and work in a quite similar way to pulling up filters on Snapchat. Effects are located in a seperate dedicated tab and can be applied only to pictures that are taken with the camera from within the Android Messages app. The same effects aren’t available in the phone’s regular camera app.
The feature will go well with Google’s RCS rollout, which will offer you the ability to send and receive high-quality media and get read receipts in the Messages app, among other features. However, it may take some time before it becomes available to the public since it is still in testing phase. When it does, we hope you’re ready for a barrage of Snapchat-like animations flooding your Messages.