Google Drive is about to get much better at video and search — and it's about time

Ezra Bailey/Getty Images - GettyImages-557715991.jpg
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Google is leveling up Google Drive with several shiny new improvements, such as speeding up the loading times of videos and introducing search filters.

The speedier loading times will come thanks to Google’s addition of DASH transcode technology, which lets Drive adapt video quality based on the user’s network conditions. The improved search filters for Drive, which have been in development since at least October 2023, are limited to iOS for now - but Android users can look forward to these very soon. 

For the uninitiated, Google Drive is a popular cloud file storage service and it’s an integral part of Google’s suite of productivity apps known as Google Workspace. Google Workspace apps like Drive and Docs get a lot of praise for being intuitive and interfacing well with one another, as well as for their overall functionality. One of the features that gets a lot of love is Google Drive’s uploading and sharing capabilities for video, in part thanks to the sharing tools in the Android share sheet.

Unfortunately, Google Drive’s video playback wasn’t up to the same high standard as the rest of Google Workspace - and this stuck out like a sore thumb since Google also runs the video hosting giant, YouTube

Faster video for Google Drive incoming

That looks like it’s about to change, with the Google Drive team announcing these new features and improvements in a Google Workspace blog post. It will be adding DASH (Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP) transcodes to help process any videos hosted on Drive. This technology helps facilitate adaptive bitrate playback (the rate at which data is processed and sent during video and audio playback), which is adjusted to offer higher or lower-resolution video based on factors like the quality of the local network connection of the user. This development should result in improved “join times,” which refers to the time taken from the user clicking on the video to the start of playback.

The newly applied DASH transcodes will affect new videos that are applied to Google Drive from here on out, while existing videos will be updated to comply with this change by the end of the year, according to Google. 

Google Drive

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

But wait! Better search filters are being added, too

Along with the boost to video loading times, another feature that’s coming soon is the souped-up search filters that will soon be included in the Google Drive app for Android and iOS. These were spotted by Android Police back in October, hidden under code flags, with the web version receiving them first back in November.

Now, these improved search filters are being introduced to the Drive app on mobile devices. The filters are coming to iOS first, and “coming soon” to Android, although an exact date hasn’t yet been given. Google does clarify in its blog post that an update for the app on Android will be available when these search filters are added to it. The new filters will show up when you tap the search bar, and include Type, People, and Date Modified, and are already available to many Google Workspace users on Apple devices.

These are positive updates for everyone who uses Google Drive for video storage and file organization (and will help it achieve some parity with competitors: we already see sophisticated search parameters in cloud storage services like Microsoft OneDrive). 

The video processing improvement also seems somewhat overdue, considering Google’s video hosting expertise and resources. Changes and updates like this may not be the flashiest, but good, intuitive, and functional products like those we’ve come to expect from Google are what ultimately win and keep users.

You might also like

TOPICS
Computing Writer

Kristina is a UK-based Computing Writer, and is interested in all things computing, software, tech, mathematics and science. Previously, she has written articles about popular culture, economics, and miscellaneous other topics.

She has a personal interest in the history of mathematics, science, and technology; in particular, she closely follows AI and philosophically-motivated discussions.

Read more
Google Sheets
Google Sheets is getting faster and more effective, and I can't wait to ditch Excel for good
Google Meet on phone
Google Meet is finally giving you the tools to create better AI-generated video backgrounds
the YouTube logo on a screen in front of other YouTube logos covering a black background
Gemini AI can now watch YouTube videos for you, and this changes everything
The bottom left corner of an Android phone, showing the Phone, Messages, Google icons and Google Search bar
Google Messages will soon get a big upgrade for photo and video quality – and I’m going to use this a lot
YouTube Veo 2
Look out, AI video could soon flood YouTube Shorts
Google Meet create custom backgrounds
More AI features are coming to Google Workspace
Latest in Cloud Computing
A hand holding an iPhone with the iCloud logo on screen.
Apple tipped to give us new ‘Confetti’ iCloud feature, but we’re still stuck with a measly 5GB storage
A hand holding an iPhone with the iCloud logo on screen.
Apple hit by huge iCloud 'lock in' lawsuit that accuses it of 'rip-off prices'
PC Gamer looking happy
Nvidia’s GeForce Now Priority membership has upgraded to ‘Performance’ - introducing a 1440p resolution and ultrawide support
Two phones on a pink and purple background showing the Google Photos app
Google Photos is rolling out AI-powered search now – and it could be its biggest upgrade in years
Two phones on a pink and purple background showing the Google Photos app
Google Photos gets a massive search upgrade – and opens its waitlist for Black Mirror-style ‘Ask Photos’ feature
Image of AI data centres created using generative AI
5 ways AI is going to disrupt the data center as we know it forever
Latest in News
A young woman is working on a laptop in a relaxed office space.
I’ll admit, Microsoft’s new Windows 11 update surprised me with its usefulness, providing accessibility fixes, a gamepad keyboard layout, and PC spec cards
inZOI promotional material.
inZOI has become the most wishlisted game on Steam, but I wouldn't get too caught up in the hype
Xbox Series X and Xbox wireless controller set to a green background
Xbox Insiders are currently testing a new Game Hub feature that looks useful, but I've got mixed feelings about it
A stylized depiction of a padlocked WiFi symbol sitting in the centre of an interlocking vault.
Broadcom warns of worrying security flaws affecting VMware tools
Nespresso Vertuo Pop machine in Candy Pink with coffee drinks and capsules
My favorite Nespresso coffee maker just got a fresh new makeover, and now I love it even more
Microsoft Surface Laptop and Surface Pro devices on a table.
Hate Windows 11’s search? Microsoft is fixing it with AI, and that almost makes me want to buy a Copilot+ PC