Google Launches 'Backup and Sync' Mac App for Google Photos and Google Drive

Google today announced the launch of Backup and Sync, a new app for Macs and PCs that's designed to back up files and photos safely in Google Drive and Google Photos. The new app is meant to replace the existing Google Photos desktop uploader and Drive for Mac/PC.

To use Backup and Sync, Google Drive/Photos users just need to download the app and then choose the folders they want to back up. From there, the selected folders will be continually backed up to Google's services, providing an alternative to Time Machine and making it easier to automatically store important files in the cloud.

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In addition to specific folders on a Mac or PC, Backup and Sync can also automatically import files from SD cards and USB devices when a camera, SD card, or other device is connected to a computer.

There are also specific options users can set to dictate how file deletions are handled, and users can choose to upload photos at a lower quality if space is a concern.

Backup and Sync is available starting today through Google Drive and Google Photos.

Tags: Google, Google Drive, Google Photos

Top Rated Comments

bigjnyc

114 months ago

Nooooo thank you

Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)

szw-mapple fan

114 months ago

From there, the selected folders will be continually backed up to Google's services, providing an alternative to Time Machine and making it easier to automatically store important files in the cloud.

Time Machine is more than just backup though. It also has versioning, which is very handy when I want to go back to an older version of something.

Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)

benz240

114 months ago

I'm surprised Google has not come out with an app equivalent to Photos.app for MacOS and Windows.

Android users don't have a nice app like we do that stays synced automatically and keeps a constant local copy of your library. They can only view their photos on the website.

Google would do well releasing a Photos.app equivalent. I wonder why they won't.

I miss Picasa

Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)

canadianreader

114 months ago

iCloud is good enough

Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

G0OGLE

114 months ago

OK Google, how much do you know about me now?

ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT YOU NEED TO STOP BUMMING AROUND AND START DOING SOME ACTUAL WORK, CITIZEN.

Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

subrandom

111 months ago

iCloud is expensive and doesn't give nearly the same amount of free storage. Also isn't friendly with non Apple products. Big difference.

You're partially right. iCloud doesn't play with Android at all, and Windows minimally. But cost-wise, Apple is the better deal. 2TB of iCloud = $9.99/month. For that price, Google gives you 1TB, which is...well, half.

At lower levels, $2.99/month gets you 200GB on iCloud vs 100GB for $1.99/month on Google (or $3.98 for 200GB if you're math challenged).

So no, iCloud is not in any way the more expensive option.

Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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