Google Photos to offer extra features to One users? Google clarifies

Is Google putting some Photos features for One members? Here is what Google has to say.

Google Photos could add paid color pop editing feature (Google)

Google Photos has fast grown as the go-to application for storing and managing photos. Its built-in editing features are also quite good, much better than other native editing tools on default gallery or photos app on Android phones. Even as the service has remained free, users were shocked when a report revealed Google is planning to reserve some Photos editing tools for its paid One members. Google has now clarified what is actually planning with Photos.

Google said that it is not locking a certain feature behind a paywall. Instead, it is offering a new version of the tool that can be used for more photos. The tool in question is “Color Pop.” XDA Developers and Android Police had highlighted that the company was asking users (spotted inside the code for the latest version) to get Google One membership in order to get extra editing features.

In a clarification, Google said, “In Google Photos, color pop is a feature that continues to be available for anyone to use, at no cost, for photos with depth information (such as portrait mode). As a part of an ongoing roll out that began earlier this year, Google One members can apply the feature to even more photos of people, including those without depth information.”

Shortly after we published this article, a reader informed us that Google Photos' Color Pop feature is locked behind a Google One paywall. I reached out to Google for confirmation but haven't heard back yet. https://t.co/99dsMWcKe1 pic.twitter.com/NOWepbpXkH

— Mishaal Rahman (@MishaalRahman) November 6, 2020

The Verge in its report pointed out that Google did not reveal which other editing tools or features the company could keep exclusive for Google One members. The company said it had “nothing to share” at the moment.

That said, Google's decision to keep aside some Photos features for One subscribers is a bummer. Not that users will not be willing to pay for a premium Photos app, but the app is free and quite comprehensive in terms of features and tools is the biggest reason it became so popular.

Just in case you are contemplating getting a premium Google One membership, prices in India start at ₹130 per month. The subscription plan gives you extra cloud storage, extra benefits from other Google products, and a new VPN feature.