Google Photos' New Feature: Delete All Offline Copies

Last quarter, a seemingly innocuous app earned the ire of cloud-dependent users as soon as they discovered a glitch: Even though the app had been uninstalled, it still synced to the cloud. It was even more shocking when it hits the user which tech company was behind the app. Google Photos caused quite a stir when Google failed to spot that potential security risk.

Business Journal Assistant News Editor David A. Arnott sounded the alarm regarding Google Photos, and the Web was quick to notice. Google had since reminded users that the sync settings were in their separate “Google Settings” app, and Tech Crunch updated their article to include a statement from Google.

Read David Arnott’s viral article on the Google photos bug: https://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/blog/2015/07/google-photos-uploads-images-without-app.html

Read Tech Crunch’s article on the Google Photos glitch: https://www.theverge.com/2015/11/17/9749552/google-photos-android-can-now-delete-device-copies-after-backup

A guide on how to turn off the Sync function through the Google Settings app: https://www.droidreport.com/google-photos-glitch-it-syncs-your-photos-web-even-after-you-uninstall-it-10275

While David Arnott disliked the fact that the app synced to the cloud in spite of how the app itself was no longer on his device, some other users actually appreciate the sync and backup function that the app offers. On Nov. 17, The Verge’s Jacob Kastrenakes reported an update to the Google Photos app, stating that there is now a function for Google Photos to let the user delete the photos on their device in one full swoop.

As Jacob Kastrenakes relates why he loves the sync function on the app, he also gives an idea to owners of devices who prefer backing up their data and media to the cloud instead of storing them locally. For those who, like Kastrenakes, prefer to use entry-level and limited-space devices, this new Google Photos function is the perfect way to manage those copious amounts of selfies, food porn snaps and those albums upon albums of one's cats.

Read Kastrenakes’ love for Google Photos, cloud sync and 16 GB devices here: https://www.theverge.com/2015/11/17/9749552/google-photos-android-can-now-delete-device-copies-after-backup