This one might be a bit confusing due to product naming weirdness, but here we go:
Google+ Photos, the photo sharing solution built into Google’s social network Google+, is shutting down.
However: Google Photos (note the lack of +) — as in the excellent, unlimited free photo host that Google launched back in May — will live on.
The shutdown of Google+ Photos will start on August 1. According to Google, the Android version will go first; shortly thereafter, the web and iOS versions will go dark.
Google is offering a tool that’ll transition Google+ Photos users over to Google Photos; you can find it on your Google+ account photos page. Even if you miss the deadline, Google says your photos will still be available by way of Google Takeout.
So why kill off Google+ Photos? For most, the existence of the standalone Google Photos makes Google+ Photos redundant, and perhaps a bit confusing (Example A: this post.) Alas, there are a few tricks from Google+ Photos that haven’t made it into the non-plus Google Photos app yet — things like pushing pictures to Chromecast, or support for PhotoSphere hosting.
With that said, the standalone Google Photos does bring a lot of rad new stuff to the table, even beyond the whole unlimited free storage thing. Check out my breakdown of some of its best tricks right over here.
