This June, Google launched its "Photos" web and mobile app which allows users to store an unlimited amount of pictures and videos, all for free. The launch was held in Google's I/O 2015 developer conference. Android, iOS, and desktop users may all enjoy the app. To further sweeten the deal, the company set "Photos" separately from Google+, its flagship social media site.

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Unlimited Space

Most of the best cloud-based media storage apps have up to 1TB storage capacity, which is already insanely huge, even for high-resolution photos and videos. However, Google takes it to the next level by offering limitless storage potential for free. Of course, users run the risk of having stored media compressed. VentureBeat explains that any photos larger than 16 mp will resolution exceeding 1080p will be compressed. Fortunately, the same article also mentions that the ciompression will be almost invisible to the naked eye.

Stylized Photos

One of the great things about this new app is that Google doesn't just let users' photos sit idly by in storage. Instead, it produces random personalized effects with them, even without the user prompting it. These effects includes panoramas and animated gifs. gifs are generated through the Assistant feature, which collects similar or 'repeat photos' and generates the animation. The app even creates timeline and map 'stories', from photos with user-provided descriptions which includes the locations of where the shots were taken. These stories may be shared with friends using shareable links.

Good Searchability

Google's "Photos" also gives uploaded and stored pictures high searchability. Users have to input simple data such as locations, dates, iconic places, names, and other content that could help users who have already thousands of pictures in their drive easily find what they're looking for. Unfortunately, for now, people will have to make use of the search bar to sift through the photos, as there still isn't a comprehensive dashboard available.

Licensing

As with any internet-based photo storage system, many users are worried that they might be inadvertently giving their pictures away for free when they use "Photos". Thankfully, Google, through its Terms of Service, assures everyone using the app that they will retain full ownership of any intellectual property rights that comes with the photos and their contents.

Tagsphotos, cloud-based storage, video storage, Review