After being named the 2011 App of the Year, popular iOS photo editing app Snapseed was acquired by Google when the company purchased Nik Software.
Google today dropped the price of Snapseed, making the app free to download. Previously, the iOS version of Snapseed cost $4.99. The update also brings new filters, Google+ integration, and a new icon. From the App Store description:
New Retrolux filter! Use one of the newly created film styles, combined with a range of different scratches and textures as well as light leaks to create a truly retro look for your photos.
Updated Frames filter! Now includes a wide range of new, high quality photographic frames. Colorize the frame edges to match the look of your image or switch to square mode with a single tap.
Aside from the filters, the free version of Snapseed appears to be the same as the previous paid version, but there is a new splash page which refers to the app as “Google+ Snapseed.”
The iOS version of Snapseed [App Store] is currently available in the App Store at no cost. The Mac version of the app [Mac App Store] has yet to be updated and is still a $19.99 download in the Mac App Store. Google also released an Android version of the app, which is available for free in the Google Play store.
Top Rated Comments
I guarantee you... if it's from Google, it ain't free. Oh, you may not have to pay upfront for it, but you'll pay... SOMEthing...SOME way, eventually. I'm sure it's yet another scheme by Google to get your personal information. I'm staying clear of it like I do now from all things Google.
$4.99 seems cheap to have Google NOT snoop on everything you do, NOT to feed you adverts, NOT to "accidentally" bypass your security/do not track settings and have then say sorry later for it.
Google has become untrustworthy in my books, their motto should be changed to "Don't be caught being evil"
Apple doesn't sell your personal information, whereas that is Google's primary business.
The difference being that Google makes nearly ALL their money from tracking users. It’s what makes ads worth so much to buy. Subtracting Google from your privacy problems is no empty gesture: others may have some of your data... but Google won’t have it and won’t be renting it out (anonymized or otherwise). Same goes for Facebook. I’d rather have the NSA track me than NSA + Google + Facebook.
Whereas other companies aren’t so focused on that—such as Apple, who makes nearly ALL their money by providing a good experience that keeps customers returning.
That said, if Google does anything sneaky with Snapseed, they’ll get caught before too long, so I don’t feel the need to avoid the app. (I won’t sign in to Google with it, though.)