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Google+ Photos Is Shutting Down

techcrunch.com

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Re: Google+ Photos Is Shutting Down

#3

Post by jeffgreco »

jaytaylor wrote: post #2

I am curious why they aren't automatically migrating all existing user content from "+Photos" to the new "Photos" service? Seems like it would be an easy win.

I'm not sure they aren't. All of my Google+ photos wound up in Google Photos without any work on my part, other than maybe actually accessing photos.google.com.

Re: Google+ Photos Is Shutting Down

#4

Post by chimeracoder »

I really don't understand Google products sometimes. Google+ Photos is different from Google Photos? Google Docs, Google Drive, and Google Sheets[0] are all separate things, though somehow interconnected?

And I'm a technical user. I literally don't understand how (or if) non-technical users are expected to be able to understand how these work.

But seriously, this has to take the cake. "Google Photos" is replacing "Google+ Photos", though "Google+" is still around, and you can use Google+ to share photos from "Google Photos" (but not "Google+ Photos", at least not anymore).

[0] Going to drive.google.com and then clicking "New Sheet" will redirect me to docs.google.com, even though Google Sheets was (at least at one point) presented as a "new" product distinct from Google Docs. At least that's how it seemed to me when they launched it.

Re: Google+ Photos Is Shutting Down

#5

Post by ars »

chimeracoder wrote: post #4

I really don't understand Google products sometimes. Google+ Photos is different from Google Photos? Google Docs, Google Drive, and Google Sheets[0] are all separate things, though somehow interconnected? And I'm a technical user. I literally don't understand how (or if) non-technical users are expected to be able to understand how these work. But seriously, this has to take the cake. "Google Photos" is replacing "Go…

See here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9888387

"Google’s product strategy: Make two of everything"

Re: Google+ Photos Is Shutting Down

#6

Post by blintzing »

jeffgreco wrote: post #3
jaytaylor wrote: post #2

I am curious why they aren't automatically migrating all existing user content from "+Photos" to the new "Photos" service? Seems like it would be an easy win.

I'm not sure they aren't. All of my Google+ photos wound up in Google Photos without any work on my part, other than maybe actually accessing photos.google.com.

Isn't it funny that we're even having this conversation? That Google can offer two products, differentiated by a single character (Google+ Photos and Google Photos), with few obvious indicators as to which I should use?

It's confusing to me, but trying to explain it to my mom is absolutely impossible. I wonder whether the average user even knows there's a difference between the two. It's a perfect example of unnecessary redundancy.

Re: Google+ Photos Is Shutting Down

#8

Post by aesthetics1 »

I imagine in the coming months (years?) we will see Google transition away from Google+ as a catchall platform, and back to standalone solutions similar to their offerings from the pre-Google+ days.

A bit off-topic:

I think it's the right move for them. Google+ was (and still is) a pretty cool platform. It has a lot of neat features that existing social networks lack. Facebook just somehow holds on to their userbase -- probably due to familiarity and complacency -- and Google just can't disrupt that.

Facebook has turned into a pretty strange place compared to its early years. I don't see much but 'news' posts, spammy pictures/articles, and clickbait ("DOCTORS HATE HIM, CLICK TO SEE WHY!").

Other platforms are much better for connecting with friends and colleagues, but no one is leaving Facebook. Feels like Microsoft's 90's/2000's stranglehold. Personally, I hope to see a Facebook exodus sooner rather than later.

Re: Google+ Photos Is Shutting Down

#9

Post by aiiane »

blintzing wrote: post #6
jeffgreco wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not sure they aren't. All of my Google+ photos wound up in Google Photos without any work on my part, other than maybe actually accessing photos.google.com.

Isn't it funny that we're even having this conversation? That Google can offer two products, differentiated by a single character (Google+ Photos and Google Photos), with few obvious indicators as to which I should use? It's confusing to me, but trying to explain it to my mom is absolutely impossible. I wonder whether the average user even knows there's a difference between the two. It's a perfect example of unnecess…

Why else do you think we're turning down the old one? :)

Re: Google+ Photos Is Shutting Down

#10

Post by richdougherty »

jeffgreco wrote: post #3
jaytaylor wrote: post #2

I am curious why they aren't automatically migrating all existing user content from "+Photos" to the new "Photos" service? Seems like it would be an easy win.

I'm not sure they aren't. All of my Google+ photos wound up in Google Photos without any work on my part, other than maybe actually accessing photos.google.com.

Glad to hear it. The announcement sort of suggests that photos are automatically migrated:

https://plus.google.com/+googleplus/posts/d1XubVAZ5hV

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.

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