Google To Consolidate File Syncing Into One Drive App

July 13, 2021

Google will replace its two file syncing desktop apps with a new unified app called Drive for desktop, which will be available to all users.

Drive for desktop automatically syncs local files with the cloud in the background, either on Google Photos or Google Drive, as well as external storage devices with the cloud, including flash drives and external hard drives.

Google currently has two file syncing services: Backup and Sync, aimed at consumers, and Drive File Stream, aimed at business users.

Google consolidated the apps into one unified app, with the goal of creating a client that could bring people the best and most widely used features of the two older apps.

The launch of Drive for desktop has begun, with Drive File Stream users already getting access to the new unified app.

For Backup and Sync users, Google said users should soon see prompts to move them to Drive for desktop in the coming months.

Drive for desktop will be available for Windows and macOS devices.

Google also announced support for various brand logos such as AOL, Fastmail, Mailchimp, Twilio SendGrid and Yahoo through a new agreement between Google and the AuthIndicators Working Group, which created the Brand Indicators for the Message Identification (BIMI).

BIMI was already available to Yahoo users but is now being extended to Gmail users, making BIMI available to more than 2 billion inboxes.

To have a logo appear, the organization must pass DMARC authentication tests.

For more information, read the orignal story in ZDNet.

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Jim Love

Jim is an author and podcast host with over 40 years in technology.

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