Google is changing the way apps tin entree Google Photos libraries, which is creating problems for owners of immoderate integer photograph frames. While the alteration is designed to make your photograph room much private, it’s besides breaking really integer photograph frames — specified arsenic those made by Aura and Cozyla — automatically update slideshows connected their devices.
Aura makes cloud-connected photograph frames that show integer images you aliases anyone you’ve granted entree to the framework adds. While the institution offers several ways to get photos onto the device, 1 neat characteristic is that you tin create a Google Photos medium with, say, pictures of your kids and past move connected auto-sync to automatically adhd immoderate caller photos successful the medium to your frame. So, you could stock the medium pinch Grandma’s Aura frame, and she’d get a changeless watercourse of caller pictures of her grandkids.
However, according to Jenisse Curry, elder head of communications astatine Aura, connected March 17th, 2025, Aura will disable its Google Photos auto-sync feature. While Grandma will still person that medium connected her frame, it will nary longer auto-update pinch immoderate caller photos you adhd to it. Instead, you’ll person to manually adhd photos to it via the Google Photos app.
Having functionality removed from a instrumentality you paid for is ne'er nice.
Aura has to do this because Google is changing its Google Photos API, a move the institution announced last September that goes into effect connected March 31st. Curry says Aura is getting up of the alteration to thief customers transition.
The alteration limits really apps tin entree your photograph room and nary longer allows integrated entree to your full library aliases the guidance of shared albums. Instead, apps tin only entree photos aliases albums done the caller Google Photos Picker API, which requires users to manually “pick” each photo.
“We had a deeper integration pinch Google Photos that enabled nonstop entree from wrong the Aura app and the expertise to auto-sync a Google Photos album,” Curry said successful an question and reply pinch The Verge. “That will spell distant because our app tin nary longer pass pinch your unreality library.”
According to this Reddit thread, Cozyla has besides informed its users that its Google Photos auto-sync characteristic is ending. The Verge reached retired to Cozyla but had not heard backmost from them by the clip of publication.
If auto-sync was your favourite feature, Curry says Aura’s iCloud integration useful successful a akin way. “You tin prime your Favorites album, for example, and past each clip you bosom a photo, it will show connected your frame,” she says. There’s besides the action to move connected auto-add pinch native albums successful your camera rotation connected iOS aliases autochthonal albums successful folders connected Android, she says. Still, having functionality removed from a instrumentality you paid for is ne'er nice.
Last month, Google announced that Google Photos slideshows would soon beryllium disposable arsenic ambient displays aliases screensavers connected much third-party devices. The characteristic is presently disposable connected Google Nest displays and Google TVs. In a blog post, Google said it was moving to grow the characteristic to smart TVs, tablets, fridges, and integer photograph frames.
However, Google hasn’t responded to The Verge’s follow-up petition for much accusation astir which devices this will beryllium disposable connected and really it tin beryllium enabled. Curry of Aura said that, arsenic acold arsenic they were aware, this caller usability would not switch the auto-sync characteristic that’s being removed.
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