Google came up with a new idea to rope you into paying for their premium services. This time, it’s the Google One subscription that gives you 100GB Google Drive space for only £1.59/month, and just in case the offer isn’t tempting enough, Google decided to restrict previously available options in Google Photos to subscribers or Pixel users.
Subscribe to crop images
I haven’t noticed this at first, but overnight (or over the air update) Google Photos added an array of options exclusive… I’m sorry, Google has reduced the image processing options and put some of them behind a subscription wall. In order to access:
- Dynamic
- HDR
- Colour Pop
- Blur
- Colour Focus
- Portrait Light
options on qualified pictures, you have to either use a Google Pixel phone or be a Google One subscriber. I’m using Xiaomi Mi 11 (review) and I had the displeasure of updating the Google Photos app and find that from now on some of the processing options for images in Google Photos are not available.
What’s even more annoying, I was already paying for increased storage via legacy plan ($5/year for an extra 20GB – it was all I needed). During my investigation of why would my legacy plan wouldn’t qualify, I discovered that the plan was cancelled by Google (they have added that extra 20GB permanently to my allowance).
We are all paying Google in data to access the services, provide valuable marketing information and now, Google is forcing the subscriptions to use options available before.
What’s next? A subscription requirement to YouTube premium to enable silent mode on an Android phone? Google already have an image problem thanks to constant data extraction from Android users, now this. I’m sorry but this is now how you provide valuable services to your customers.
Bad google, bad.
Want to vent, here is the Reddit thread for comments.
