Today Google has updated the Photos link in their navigation bar, pointing the link away from their Picasa photo service towards Google+ Photos. The newly updated link now sends you to the Photos section within Google+ which includes photos from your circles, your Android phone, images you have tagged, and your list of Picasa Web albums. Does this mark the end of Picasa as we knew it?
The Transition from Picasa to Google+ Photos
The shift from Picasa to Google+ Photos represents a significant change in how Google envisions the future of photo sharing and storage. Picasa, which has been a beloved service for many users due to its robust features and ease of use, now seems to be taking a backseat to the more integrated Google+ Photos. This transition aligns with Google’s broader strategy to consolidate its services under the Google+ umbrella, aiming to create a more unified and social experience for users.
You can still access Google’s Picasa, but to do so you have to bookmark the old URL or manually type it in the address bar. The new Google+ feature also doesn’t include many of the Picasa features you have come accustomed to such as batch editing, entering an album description, ordering prints, and creating album maps to name a few. But maybe these will be added by Google at a later date making the Google+ photo area a little more useful.
What Users Can Expect
For users who have been loyal to Picasa, this change might come as a bit of a shock. Picasa offered a range of features that catered to both casual users and photography enthusiasts. Batch editing, for instance, allowed users to apply changes to multiple photos at once, saving time and effort. The ability to enter detailed album descriptions helped in organizing and categorizing photos, making it easier to find specific images later. Ordering prints directly from Picasa was a convenient feature for those who wanted physical copies of their digital memories. Creating album maps was another unique feature that allowed users to tag photos with geographical data, adding a layer of context to their photo collections.
Google+ Photos, on the other hand, is more focused on social sharing and integration with other Google services. Photos from your circles, your Android phone, and images you have tagged are all seamlessly integrated into one platform. This makes it easier to share photos with friends and family, and to see photos that others have shared with you. However, the lack of some of the more advanced features from Picasa might be a drawback for some users.
Google has a history of evolving its services based on user feedback and technological advancements. It is possible that the features missing from Google+ Photos will be added in the future. Google+ Photos already offers some advanced features such as automatic photo enhancements, the ability to create stories and movies from your photos, and powerful search capabilities that use Google’s image recognition technology.
In conclusion, while the transition from Picasa to Google+ Photos marks the end of an era, it also opens up new possibilities for photo sharing and storage. Users will need to adapt to the new platform, but they can also look forward to potential new features and improvements in the future.
Source: Google Operating System : TNW
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