Skip to main content

Google rebranding continues: Picasa and Blogger up next

photos and blogsFor far too long Google struggled to bring a viable social platform to the field. There were missteps and downright disasters, but plenty of its issues could also be attributed to the dreaded F word: Fragmentation. With its Chrome browser and OS, various Google web properties, and Android mobile operating system, Google struggled to showcase brand unity and steer consumers in the right direction.

Fortunately, it looks like Google+ is getting the company on the right foot. While its staying power remains to be seen, the new social network has caused quite the stir and is getting some positive feedback from industry veterans. And Google arguably deserves the praise: Earlier this year, as we all critically eyed Google, waiting for the rumored Facebook Killer, its layered approach to social seemed too little, too late. The addition of the top bar (now blackened and including the +You signage), updated login system (the right-hand side gear icon), improved Google Profiles, and socialized Gmail interface have actually come together to offer a competent and competitive platform.

And Google recognizes a good thing when it sees it. Gmail recently underwent a makeover, unifying the layout with Google+, and now the remodel will continue. According to Mashable, Google will rename its web properties Blogger and Picasa, Google Blogs and Google Photos, respectively. Google’s various web applications are also likely to get the unified treatment, especially the more social-friendly elements that will tie in nicely to Google+. The switch is likely to come within the next six weeks, as Google prepares to bring Google+ out of beta and will coincide with the elimination of all private Google Profiles.

It’s a step towards folding all of its outer features into Google+, making it clear that the social service isn’t meant to stand on equal ground with Google’s other applications. It just more proof that Google is really serious about Google+, and that this is a major investment of its time and resources. What else will be rebranded is unknown, we wouldn’t be surprised to see a variety of properties tied into Google+.

Molly McHugh
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Before coming to Digital Trends, Molly worked as a freelance writer, occasional photographer, and general technical lackey…
5 things I want to see in the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and S Pen stylus on its screen.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is definitely one of the best smartphones on the market right now, no doubt about that. You get incredible performance with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, plenty of RAM and storage, a whopping 200MP camera, two telephoto lenses for 3x and 5x optical zoom, S Pen integration, and more. It’s certainly an impressive package.

But it’s not perfect. In fact, some weaknesses could be improved in the next version, the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Here’s what I hope to see next year.
A new design
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (left) and Galaxy S23 Ultra Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Read more
The Galaxy S24 just got a big camera update. Here’s what’s new
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra in Titanium Orange and in Titanium Silver.

Samsung Galaxy S24 owners just received some great news. Samsung recently released an April software update that addresses various camera issues. Unfortunately, this update is only available in South Korea, but according to information posted on the Samsung Korea forum, it is expected to be released in other regions soon.

Firmware version S928NKSU1AXCA is almost 800MB in size. It includes improvements for lowlight images and image colors in Samsung's Expert RAW app, improved text clarity when zooming in photo mode, and support for 480 x 480 resolution when recording Instant Slow-Mo videos. The Galaxy S24 update for April builds on the improvements from the previous February release, which included enhanced zoom, portrait mode, night mode, and rear camera video capture capabilities.

Read more
Apple just announced the dates for WWDC 2024
WWDC 2024 banner.

Apple has just announced the dates for its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024. WWDC will take place from June 10 through June 14, 2024. A special event will be held at Apple Park in Cupertino, California, on June 10, and we expect to see the reveal of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, watchOS 11, tvOS 18, macOS 15, and visionOS 2.

WWDC will be free for all developers online. Developers will be able to access a variety of online sessions and labs that will showcase the latest advancements in software across all of Apple’s hardware.

Read more