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Android 14 still doesn’t calculate device storage utilization correctly
Samsung is cleaning up after Google, though
The amount of onboard storage available on the best Android phones has increased significantly in the last few years, with several OEMs discontinuing the affordable 64GB models even on entry-level models. That’s partly because the storage requirements for the Android OS and the app ecosystem it supports have increased too. However, Android worryingly miscalculates the amount of storage space taken up by system components, and uses non-conventional units of measurement too.
Google is ending free unlimited (compressed) Photos storage tomorrow. The company first announced the move in November 2020 and later confirmed that even upcoming Pixel phones aren't going to be exempt from the adjustment later. But what does that change mean for you, and what can you do about it if you're not happy with the decision Google made? We've gathered some alternatives, some arguments for sticking with Photos, and everything else you need to know about the transition.
Google Photos version 3.23 just started making the rounds, but there doesn't appear to be anything immediately changing with the update. However, the traditional clues about upcoming features are certainly there to be seen. We can look forward to applying some of those smooth bokeh effects of portrait mode, and this time, we'll control the intensity of the blur. There will also be a new option to downgrade your already backed-up photos to high quality so you can get back some of that cloud storage. I've also included a couple of other teardown sections for earlier versions that were slated to appear in the next Update Notes post, but this is the better place for them.
Google launched a pretty cool promotion in 2016 with the offer to store every photo and video taken on Pixels at original quality. The same promotion will apply this year with the release of the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, but it now comes with a catch: The promotion expires in the year 2020.
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Most cloud storage apps have a few things in common these days. One: free online storage measured by the gigabyte. Two: an Android app. Three: a feature that automatically uploads new photos taken on your phone or tablet to the service. Microsoft really wants you to take advantage of that last one, and to encourage users to do so, they're giving them even more of the first one.
Update: It looks like users with qualifying phones who have already redeemed their free storage are automatically getting bumped up to 100GB. Thanks to reader Aaron Blecher for letting us know!
The guys behind the official Dropbox Android app have an enticing present for everyone to check out. They just released an experimental beta v2.0.9 that includes a brand new automatic Camera Upload feature. There are definitely third party apps out there that offer this same service, but it's nice to see the official version updating with some fresh new features.
