Download the Google Photos Desktop Uploader to back up your photos with ease
The new Google Photos app is a great way to keep all of your pictures and videos backed up to the cloud. Not only does the service offer up tons of new features and improvements over Google’s previous Photos application, the company is also letting you back up all of your photos and videos for free. Although there are a few caveats that come with the term ‘unlimited storage’ in this case, Google is still providing a great way for users to easily store important media in the cloud.
The mobile Photos application is convenient, but what if you have the majority of your photos saved on your computer? If you have more than a few images that need backing up, we’d suggest trying out the new Google Photos Desktop Uploader application, which is now available for download on both Mac and Windows computers.
Read more: A quick look at the new Google Photos app
To grab the application, head over to photos.google.com/apps and click ‘Desktop Uploader’ on the left-hand side. Once the app is downloaded and installed, the setup process is quite easy. Simply log in to your Google account, and you’ll be presented with this folder selection page:
From here, you can select which folders Google Photos will automatically upload to the cloud. If you don’t see your desired folder on the list, just click the Add button and navigate to the correct one. Similar to the setup process on the mobile application, you’ll also be able to choose the size in which your photos and videos are uploaded. Remember, photos have a 16MP cap, and videos have a maximum resolution of 1080p, so be sure to keep that in mind before choosing the “free unlimited storage” option. If you want your photos to keep their original quality, select the “Original” upload option.
Once you’re done with this page, all you need to do is wait for your photos to back up to the cloud. If you need to add or remove folders after completing this process, just reopen the Photos app on your desktop and alter the list, just like you did before.
If you have any questions about Google Photos or the new Desktop Uploader app, be sure to let us know in the comments below. And if you haven’t yet, check out our video walkthrough and setup of the new Google Photos mobile app! Have you tried Photos yet? If so, how are you liking it?
WWDC 2015 Decorations Going Up at Moscone Center Ahead of Monday’s Keynote
Apple is set to kick off its 2015 Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday with a keynote event that begins at 10:00 a.m., and as it does every year, the company has begun decorating the Moscone Center in San Francisco where the conference will be held.
As of this afternoon, work crews have begun placing the iconic Apple stickers on the outside of the building, while also preparing to begin erecting banners in the lobby of Moscone West. As can be seen in photos shared by MacStories, the first leaves of the logo are visible.
In a few hours, we’ll likely see the first banners for the 2015 event, which may sport the tagline “The epicenter of change.” Apple will continue decorating the center throughout the week, adding additional signage both inside and outside.
Oftentimes Apple’s banners reveal hints on upcoming operating system changes, suggesting potential names and feature sets, but those revelatory banners will likely be kept under wraps until later this week. In 2014, we didn’t see signs for iOS 8 and OS X 10.10 until Friday.
This year’s keynote will include the debut of iOS 9 and OS X 10.11, along with a new streaming music service, a revamped version of iTunes Radio, a new Apple TV set-top box, and a rewards program for Apple Pay. For more details on what to expect, make sure to check out our WWDC roundup.
Apple plans to provide a live stream of the WWDC keynote on the Apple TV and through its website. MacRumors will also provide live coverage of the event for those unable to watch, both on MacRumors.com and through our MacRumors Live Twitter account.
Review: The Twelve South HiRise is an Ideal Stand for Apple Watch [iOS Blog]
Twelve South is an accessory company that’s known for its high-quality stands for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, so it’s no surprise that it was one of the first to announce a dock for the Apple Watch.
The Twelve South HiRise for Apple Watch follows in the footsteps of the company’s other HiRise docks, offering an Apple Watch storage and charging solution that’s attractive, well-designed, and suitable for use in a wide range of locations, from a desk in an office to a nightstand in a bedroom.
I’ve been using the HiRise for Apple Watch for over a week now, as have a few of my colleagues both at MacRumors and TouchArcade, and the universal consensus is that it’s a great stand, albeit with a premium price tag.
HiRise for Apple Watch is made from brushed metal and is available in black or silver to match the finishes of the Apple Watch Sport and standard Apple Watch. It also matches the company’s HiRise products for other devices, if you happen to own any of those.
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Comcast’s new Chief Product Officer hails from Xbox, Nike
As Comcast keeps trying to turn around the negative reputation that it (and the rest of the pay-TV industry) has, it has a new Chief Product Officer to help. Enter Chris Satchell, who comes from Nike where he was the Consumer Technology Officer working on products like the FuelBand. According to Satchell, Nike ditched that gadget because sensors proliferated in other devices, and it chose to focus on building systems to track and handle its customers workout data. Other than the distinctive light up bangle, Satchell also previously worked at Microsoft where his work included leading its XNA game development program through the Xbox 360’s early days, plus talking smack about Nintendo and Sony on the side.
He once said Sony should “copy Xbox Live a little more closely”, advice he can now bring to Comcast’s next-gen cable boxes and apps. They could probably use a dash of that style, not to mention the performance, although the X1 has some impressive features like cloud DVR and the talking guide it just rolled out. Now that Sony has a TV service of its own, he may find them as competitors once again — to go along with Sling, Apple and the rest — we can’t wait to hear what he has to say then.
[Image credit: Web Summit/Flickr]
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
Source: Comcast (1), (2)
Instagram is opening its advertising floodgates
Today Instagram announced sweeping changes to its 18-month old advertising scheme in an effort to monetize all those loyal sets of eyeballs. The company is essentially opening its platform to advertisers big and small, rather than the “select” partners it’s been pairing with during the past year and a half long pilot project. The plan is to push ads in more formats that are targeted towards people with relevant interests. All that means is that as it rolls out, the next Sponsored post you see is probably based on what IG (and its owner Facebook) think you like.
Specifically, “direct response” ads will now integrate action buttons that will prompt viewers to click through and buy, subscribe, or install whatever the ad is hawking. Instagram hinted at this feature back in March but made it official today. On the back end, Instagram is granting advertisers more granular data on users than the standard age, gender and location metrics they previously had access to. It’s using demographics and interests, plus the data businesses have about their customers.
Filed under: Internet
Via: ReCode
Source: Instagram
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