Google Photos Gets New Paywalled Editing Features For Google One Subscribers (theverge.com) 13
An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Verge: Google is adding some of its fancy, Pixel-exclusive editing features to Google Photos today for all Android users to enjoy, but there's a catch -- if you don't have a Pixel, you'll have to be a paying Google One subscriber to use them. The paywalled editing features have been rumored for some time, but today marks the official announcement of the new program. Specifically, Google is offering some of its more recent machine-learning powered editing tools, like its enhanced Portrait Blur, Portrait Light, and Color Pop features that it started offering alongside the Pixel 5 last fall to a broader audience.
As Google clarified to The Verge when the paywall was first discovered, the company isn't taking away existing versions of features like Portrait Blur or Color Pop from free Google Photo users. The current iteration of those features -- which work with newer photos that offer depth data, such as a portrait mode shot -- will still work for everyone. But the new Pixel- and subscription-only version promises to take things a step further and allows users to apply those effects (through the power of machine learning) to older photos that don't have that existing depth data. Pixel users will still get access to the features for free, whether or not they subscribe to Google One.
As Google clarified to The Verge when the paywall was first discovered, the company isn't taking away existing versions of features like Portrait Blur or Color Pop from free Google Photo users. The current iteration of those features -- which work with newer photos that offer depth data, such as a portrait mode shot -- will still work for everyone. But the new Pixel- and subscription-only version promises to take things a step further and allows users to apply those effects (through the power of machine learning) to older photos that don't have that existing depth data. Pixel users will still get access to the features for free, whether or not they subscribe to Google One.
I have heard of Android One. (Score:2)
Google clearly wants to turn Android into the Apple Pay model.
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I can't say I blame them. Apple has done well by it, and if it works for apple, it should work for them. Right?
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You know how Amazon Prime turned from cheap fast shipping into a clusterfuck of completely unrelated services of which you only actually want maybe two? Same thing, but with Google Drive.
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Google One is mostly extra cloud storage for your google accounts. But also includes a VPN service and some extra coupons on the app store. (And apparently now some photo processing-in-the-cloud features).
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What is Google One?
Something that will go away in a couple years.
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FTW
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FTW
Google has introduced many different services over the years that they drop. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... [wikipedia.org]
56 cancelled services on the wikipedia listing, and they note that really recent ones might not be on their list.
So I tend to shy away from their services.
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The effect they've had on email and web sites is a curse on everyone even if you don't use their services.
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The effect they've had on email and web sites is a curse on everyone even if you don't use their services.
Funny you should mention that. I've had to use Google forms - which is actually pretty good. But had to have Google email - ptui!
But I'm keeping my eye out for something better. It's not likely they'll cancel that, but just in case.
just 20$ a year (Score:2)
Meh (Score:1)
I have a Pixel and I don't use it.
Give it 18 months and it will be gone.
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