Ok, something has changed on Picasa after Google introduced Google+ (or Google Plus). BTW, if you are still not sure what is Google+, check this out. Back to Picasa, it is Google Web Album that gives user 1GB free or unlimited storage. So, what has changed with Google+?
Ok, this screen grab was from Picasa (desktop software ) and not Picasa Web Album. But anyway, they are linked.
Back to Picasa Web Album. After you joined Google+, you will see this when you access Picasa Web Album.
Picasa Web Albums and Google+
When you sign up for Google+, you’ll see all of your Picasa Web albums on your Google+ photos homepage. Click an album to view it, share photos, or edit your album visibility. Picasa Web Albums and Google+ are connected in several ways:
Share in Google+: Post to Google+ circles – like ‘Family,’ ‘Work friends,’ or ‘Book club’ – directly from Picasa Web Albums. Creating circles lets you easily share with the right group of people at the right time.
Name tags are better with friends: Your friends can now add name tags to your photos from Google+. The person tagged will receive an email to approve the tag and see the album they were tagged in. Learn more
Photos make great conversation: Comments on photos are shared across Picasa Web Albums and Google+.
More free storage: Google+ provides free storage for your photos, which are automatically resized to 2048 pixels. Like Picasa Web, video uploads 15 minutes or shorter are free.
Showcase the real you: Picasa Web Albums and Google+ link to your Google profile make it easier for people to find the photos you’ve shared with them.
Album privacy: Your albums’ visibility settings aren’t changed, but people they’re shared with can now share them with others.
This is not all. With Google+, you have unlimited storage (with terms and conditions). However, after checking, I realize that before Google+, there is already unlimited storage. So, what is the difference?
Unlimited Storage
Without Google+
Picasa Web Albums offers 1 GB of free storage for photos and videos. However, files under certain size limits don’t count towards this free storage limit. This applies to uploads for other Google product that store photos and videos in Picasa Web Albums, including Blogger and Google Maps.
The free storage sizes are good for sharing photos on the web, but if you prefer to upload your images at a larger size for better quality (archival or print), you can buy more storage at any time. Learn more
Here is the size limit if you don’t have Google+
If you haven’t signed up for Google+
Free storage limits
Photos up to 800 x 800 pixels and videos up to 15 minutes won’t count towards your free storage.
Automatic resizing
All photos uploaded over the free size limit will count towards your 1 GB of free storage. When you reach your storage limit, any new photos you upload to Picasa Web larger than the free size limit will be automatically resized to 800 pixels (on their longest edge).
So, you see, without Google+, when you upload from other Google products, you are limited to 800 pixels (longest side) and it will resize automatically.
With Google+
If you’ve signed up for Google+
Free storage limits
Photos up to 2048 x 2048 pixels and videos up to 15 minutes won’t count towards your free storage.
Automatic resizing
All photos uploaded in Google+ will be automatically resized to 2048 pixels (on their longest edge) and won’t count towards your free storage quota.
All photos uploaded to Picasa Web Albums over the free size limit will count towards your 1 GB of free storage. When you reach your storage limit, any new photos you upload to Picasa Web larger than the free size limit will be automatically resized to 2048 pixels (on their longest edge).
But that doesn’t change anything. This will take effect when you upload via Google+. If you upload from other Google products, it will still be limited (correct me if I am wrong).
Click Here to Read about Picasa Web Album
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