Enhanced Google Photos Backup Trial - A Necessary Update We Urge for Immediate Implementation
Google Photos, the popular photo management and storage service, is testing a new feature that allows users to automatically back up only their "favorites" photos and videos. This move is aimed at helping users declutter their Google Photos library and save on cloud storage space.
With this new feature, users can select photos and videos as Favorites within Google Photos. Instead of the default auto-backup of all camera roll content or selected folders, the app will now upload only these favorited items to the cloud. This prioritizes intentional selection of photos for cloud storage, giving users more control over exactly what is saved remotely.
The impact of this feature on cloud storage usage could be significant. Backing up just Favorites can help users avoid quickly filling their Google Drive quota or incurring higher fees for additional storage. This makes storage more efficient, especially for users with large photo collections.
Google Photos already supports auto-backup of entire libraries or selected folders, along with smart organization and editing features. The Favorites-only backup adds a new option focused on minimal and meaningful cloud storage.
However, there are a few key details that are yet to be clarified. It is unclear whether users will still be able to back up individual (non-favorite) photos, what happens when a photo is unfavorited that has already been backed up, and whether enabling the feature will back up all previously favorited images or only those favorited after the feature is enabled.
Google is also reportedly working on a low-cost AI plan to rival ChatGPT, according to Forbes. The publication also reported that this new feature for Google Photos is part of a larger AI upgrade the service has received. This update offers a middle ground between backing up everything or nothing, giving users more control over their photo library.
While the new feature could help users declutter their Google Photos library, it's important to note that Google Photos community support pages show that users are still losing photos when trying to clear cloud storage. This indicates that more work may be needed to ensure the smooth operation of the service.
In summary, the new feature in Google Photos offers users a more storage-efficient and cost-effective option for cloud photo backup. By favouring quality and personal significance over quantity, it provides greater control over what is saved in the cloud, allowing users to maintain large photo libraries locally while only syncing priority images online.
[1] Google Photos Help: Manage your photos and videos [2] Google Photos Help: Free up storage space [3] Google Photos Help: Backup and sync [4] Google Photos Help: Organize your photos and videos [5] Google Photos Help: Edit your photos and videos
- Paul Monckton, a technology enthusiast, can benefit from the new upgrade in Google Photos as it allows for selective photo backup by tagging Favorites, reducing cloud storage costs and optimizing photo organization, especially for large collections.
- The new feature in Google Photos brings an integration between data-and-cloud-computing and technology, enabling users to manage their photo storage more efficiently, and offers a middle ground between backing up everything or nothing.
