Google Docs, Drive, and Sheets are among the most popular online productivity tools. These tools have been continuously updated with new features and enhancements to help users work smarter, faster, and more efficiently. According to a new report, Google is giving a fresh makeover to Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides with Google’s Material Design 3.
Google’s Workspace apps are getting a makeover, and the new design will borrow a lot from Gmail’s recently upgraded look. The toolbar and comments area seem to be getting additional dark colours from the search engine giant to stand out against the white style. With the latest version, the Share button now has more rounded edges.
The business has also improved Drive to make it easier for consumers to execute frequent tasks. After the revamp, users will see Share, Download, and Delete Multiple Files at Once in-line whenever they hover over a file in their Google Drive. The new interface will enable users to filter their content by type, owner, and last edited date using a search chip option, providing them with faster and more efficient access to their files.
The technology giant has announced additional smart chip functions to assist users in making data-driven decisions. Smart chips have a reputation for providing consumers with context-setting data straight from Sheets. Google is expanding the categories of data and information accessible throughout Workspace to help various projects.
Google has announced several new features to be released on its interface in the coming weeks, including Custom Building, Calendar Invite Template, Variables, Emoji Voting chips, and third-party smart chip capabilities. These updates are expected to enhance user productivity and provide a more efficient and effective working experience.
Google Photos has a new plan, which will make it simpler for clients to find and share photographs. Google said it will begin carrying out new updates to its well-known assistance to simplify clients to “sort through your collections, import photographs and recordings you have saved elsewhere, see your common substance and find screen captures.”
First and foremost, the tech behemoth is revamping the app’s interface so that you may view collections of photos as a lattice or a list that you can sort by kinds, such as collections, shared collections, top selections, and on-device envelopes. Then, in the primary menu, you’ll see a new “import images” section that will help you move photographs from several administrations, such as Facebook and iCloud. The new tool will also simplify copying files from a camera and digitizing old photos and videos. It also features a feature that allows you to scan tangible images with your phone. Starting this week, you’ll discover more defined sections labelled “partner sharing,” “shared albums,” and “conversations” under the sharing menu on Android. Soon, the parts will be added to the iOS app.
Google Photos makes it easy to share with people and control those sharing permissions and is one of the most fantastic photo editing tools. The revamped sharing menu now includes areas for partner sharing, shared albums, and even conversations that began after an album was shared. The brand new variations of Google Photos for each Android and iOS had been launched on March 17, so if it has been some time because you are up to date with the app, then now is a great time to seize the modern build.
Last year during November, Google announced a modification in its storage policy for Photos and confirmed that it would be ending support for unlimited storage of high-quality images for their users. As per the new policy, the 15GB free storage that comes with every Google account will also include Google Photos, which really annoyed people as it was one of the best features. After 1st June, users will be limited to the 15GB free Google storage that the company allows for all accounts, divided across Photos, Gmail and Drive storage.
Google has also confirmed that future Pixel phones won’t get the same perks as they currently have, where they’re allowed to store unlimited original quality pictures in its Photos app. The current Pixel owners (Pixel 5 and earlier models up to Pixel 2) will be the last to enjoy Google Photo’s best feature.
Now, for those without an eligible Pixel smartphone, you’ve only got a few days left to do the action because after the policy comes into effect, users will be bound to a limit of 15 GB, and if they want additional storage, they have to opt for Google’s subscription-based storage plans that start from Rs 130 per month for 100GB storage or delete some photos for some extra space. Nevertheless, suppose you don’t want to spend extra money on cloud storage. In that case, you should spare the time now to clear unwanted data and upload important images-videos you haven’t put on Google’s cloud before the deadline kicks in.
Why is Google changing the storage policy?
Cloud storage doesn’t just appear out of the clouds, and free backups are costing big to Google as the more data people store on Google Photos, the more hard drives worth millions of dollars shoot in the Google backup storage system. Along with hard drives, the company has to make the payment to keep the data safe and secure in storage buildings which also costs tons of electricity charges and wages of workers.
According to Google, there are more than four trillion photos in its cloud storage and over 1 billion users backup their 28 billion photos and videos to Google Photos each week. An authorised Google person also said that 80% of users would not hit the primary 15 GB storage mark in the next ten years after the policy comes on board.
How to clear up unwanted data?
You must have cared about cleaning your surroundings during the pandemic, but now, you have to apply the same as it’s time to clean your digital room and to do that, you will need the Google One app. In the app, open the storage tab, and you will be able to see how much of your free 15GB storage is utilised across your Gmail, Google Drive files and Google Photos data.
If you want to clear up unwanted data, tap on the ‘Free up account storage’ button, and you’ll see all the usage details, including draft-discarded emails, emails with large attachments, and unsupported file types on Google Drive and more. Take a fresh look at your Google Photos library and remove all unwanted, duplicate and blurred images. You can either select the categories you want to get rid of or select each item manually, whichever is suitable for you.
How to use most of the Google Photos app before 1st June?
Now that you’ve cleared all the unwanted data, it’s time to back up the rest and upload the new high-quality images. You can add as many high-quality photos as you want to Google Photos before 1st June as it won’t impact your Google account storage. If you haven’t converted your original quality images to high quality, it’s time to do the same to ensure it is not counted in your 15GB free storage.
In case if you’ve too much data and use a phone with ample internal storage capacity (256GB or 512 GB), then download all the data on your phone before the deadline. After finishing the download process, create a new Gmail account, just for the photos and upload all the data, pictures, and videos folder-wise to the newly created account’s Google Photos. By following this process, you don’t have to worry about running out of storage due to Gmail and Google Drive files, as it’s null already. Apple iPhone users can move their data to iCloud with a 75 per month plan, which offers 50GB storage.
Other alternative cloud storage options:
DigiBoxx, India’s very own cloud storage platform, offers 20GB of free cloud storage. The free plan supports Gmail integration and unlimited external collaborations, along with end-to-encryption. DigiBoxx is offering 100GB of cloud storage space per month for just Rs 30, which is pocket friendly for everyone.
Along with Digiboxx, there are several other storage providers available in the Indian app market, including Microsoft OneDrive, Degoo, and yet to be launched Amazon Photos, but all of them are offering a limited storage space, which is even shorter than Google Photos. Then why not use our very own and trustworthy Google Photos instead of others.
We can’t deny the fact that we live a life either in our way or Google way; this is the level of impact Google has on our lives. Right from searching for something to paying someone online, Google apps surround us; without any doubt, we can say Google is the best friend we haven’t seen yet but been with it all the time.
In a recent I/O 2021 event, Google announced many more things, including Android 12 preview beta, a futuristic 3D video calling booth, lots of health-focused apps, and a foldable phone with the name Passport, but most of these things are associated with the future and currently limited for a few specific devices. But there’s no need to panic out as Google has more than 100 apps issued on the Play Store and Apple App Store that can make your day to day life better, and here, we’ve enlisted a few of the most incredible and must-have apps from Google.
Google Drive
Google Drive is a cloud-based storage option that lets you store your images, videos, documents, files, and almost every sort of material allowed with your phone on their cloud server. The default Android app provides you with 15 GB of free storage, with that you can access, edit and share materials from anywhere to anyone, that too, in a super-smooth way. You can work on Microsoft Word or Excel documents in Google Drive and collaborate with your teammates with an easy to use interface. Google Drive arrives with a safe option where you can set access levels for who can view, comment or edit your data; also, the app lets you share your data materials with anyone using a custom link.
Snapseed
Snapseed is a Google-owned photo-editing application that allows users to beautify photos and apply pre-loaded digital filters. If you’re trying your hands at smartphone photography and wishing to get an impressive number of followers on Instagram, then you should Snapseed right away; it’s a kind of application even professional photographers recommend to others and use to enhance their photos. When compared to other photo-editing apps, Snapseed is way too easy to learn, and once you understand its inner beats, there’s no coming back.
Google Forms
Google Forms is a web-based app that’s completely free with a Google account, and you can access it anywhere, anytime. If you’re running an NGO, a registration campaign, questionnaires, or any kind of survey, Google Forms is the app that’ll help you in every way to know better about what your clients want. The application allows you to create professional-looking forms/surveys using themes and can be shared with respondents by sending a link, or you can even embed them on your webpage or blog.
PhotoScan
Have you ever thought of turning your old physical photos into digital form? If yes, then you must have known about the Google PhotoScan app. The app uses your smartphone’s camera to let you scan and save your preferred printed photos. The app doesn’t just take a photo of your physical photos; instead, it creates advanced digital scans, and about the results, you know how good Google is with its camera software.
Google Ads
Google Ads, also called PPC (PayPerClick), is an online advertising platform developed by Google to show paid ads, product listings, or videos on Google search results. If you’re an advertiser who wants to grab the attention of your clients to grow your business, then Google Ads is the only app you’ll ever need. The app is an effective way to quickly generate a ton of qualified traffic toward your site, product, or online stores. Google Ads work better than SEO and even lets you target a specific audience from specific countries for better business opportunities. Once you learn how to use Google Ads, particularly about listings, then the app can be your major source to get the businesses.
Google Meet
Google Meet is an essential and secure video conferencing application for those who want to conduct video meetings online. The app lets you create, join and share high-quality video meetings with up to 1,00,000 viewers. The app allows you to create events directly from the calendar and offers security on every connection, be it audio or video. Google Meet is extremely easy to use and authorises you to share your video, desktop, and presentations with others.
Google Photos
If you click tons of selfies or photos on a daily basis and always run out of storage every other week, then you should consider backing up your old photos with a pre-loaded Google Photos app. The app lets you store, share, view and edit photos and videos with an automatic backup, you just have to select the particular folders. Google Photos also notifies you when about photo memories along with date and location. The app is straightforward to use, and it comes with AI-boosted editing and organisation features, including facial recognition, automatic collages and auto-created movies.
Google Pay
Google Pay is one of the most popular apps developed by Google. The app offers paying-requesting money, bills, recharges, and other online transactions when you add your bank details linked with your current mobile number. The app provides lots of offers and reward points, so next time before you pay via Google Pay, look for the ongoing offers; you might end up earning a hefty cashback or discount after a successful transaction.
Google Arts & Culture
Google Arts & Culture is an excellent app that allows its viewer to visit historical and cultural artworks virtually, but it hasn’t been in the main flow due to less traction and lingered behind. Like its name, it is developed for people who are fond of Art & Culture; the app lets you explore arts, historical wonders and more from thousands of archives, museums and other history organisations. If you’re tired of indoor-travelling on Google Maps and want to go further in these pandemic days, then Google Arts & Culture is the app for you.
