This isn’t a shocker – we knew this was coming eventually. But Google has just set a kill date for Google+ Photos.
Google will begin to shut down the photo feature inside its struggling social network on August 1st. The death will happen first on Android and then soon after on the web and iOS.
Google unveiled its new Google Photos app at its I/) conference in May – which simply takes all the best part of Google+ Photos and strips the “plus” out. Since then, we knew Google+ Photos weren’t long for this world.
Google says you should start making the switch now.
“If you’re still using Google+ Photos, now is a great time to make the switch. You may have seen a prompt in Google+ Photos on Android with a link to download the new Google Photos. Don’t worry, all your photos and videos will still be saved and available after you switch to the new, stand-alone Google Photos app. With the new app you’ll still be able to backup, edit, and share your photos and videos, with unlimited storage, automatic organization, and more.”
Photos were always one of the best parts of Google+, but Google is doing what it can to turn Plus into something useful. Google says it wants Plus to be about connecting people with shared interests through its various communities – and photos just aren’t a part of this new direction.
And for those who just love Google’s photo editing and organizational tools, Google Photos takes the annoying Google+ aspect out of the picture. Let’s frame this as a win-win.
Image via Google+