Google

Backing up photos & videos with Google Photos

vschwoebel Google, iPad

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Back in June, Google came out with a new app, Google Photos, and it has only gotten better over the last few months. We are recommending all students download and use Google Photos with their FCS account.

Besides being great at organizing, managing and searching photos, Google Photos also has a handy backup feature for all of the photos and videos you take with your Android, iPhone, or iPad. And because you have free unlimited storage as part of your FCS Google Apps account, it is a great place to ensure photos and videos are backed up for safe keeping.

How to enable back up & sync in Google Photos: a student’s guide

First, make sure you download the Google Photos app from the App Store. After it is downloaded, open the app and sign-in with your FCS Google account. You are allowed to sign in with multiple accounts, but be aware you can only backup to one account at a time. You can view photos from your other accounts. We will go over how to choose the default later.

If this is the first time you are using the Photos app, Google will ask you some questions about accessing your “Camera Roll”. Make sure you allow Google Photos access to your camera so that your photos can be backed up. If you have already installed the app but denied access to the camera roll, you will need to turn it on again from the app settings.

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Touch the hamburger icon in the upper left of the app to see the settings panel. Touch Settings. On the next screen, touch Back up & sync.

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After touching Back up & sync, there is a toggle to turn on backups. Also on that page are settings related to the backup account, the Upload size, and when to backup your photos and videos.

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  • If you are signed in with multiple accounts, tapping your email address will show you the other accounts you have signed in with and would like to use as the backup location.
  • You can choose the upload size of your photos and video. If you are using your FCS account for backups, you can choose Original since you have unlimited storage. If you are using your personal account, you need to be mindful of the storage you have available. If you choose free unlimited storage, Google will maintain the original resolution up to 16MP for photos, and 1080p high-definition for video. Not an issue on iPads or iPhones.
  • If you don’t have an unlimited data plan with your carrier, be mindful that you will use cellular data if you are not on wireless.

After backing up successfully, you will now have a new Google Photos folder in your Google Drive which makes it easy when you want to insert images from your phone or tablet into other Google Apps products.

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In addition to photo backup and management, you can also create animations and collages, create and edit stories, and create and edit movies in Google Photos.

Recent important iPad app updates to Google apps

Image vschwoebel Docs, Google, iPad, Mail

Google has pushed out recent updates with improved features for many iPad apps. These are important updates that can help your child complete their work, collaborate in the classroom, and provide an improved experience on the iPad!

Updates include:

  • Chrome: stability updates and bug fixes
  • Docs: spell check and performance enhancements
  • Slides: grouping objects together for quicker editing

Please advise your child to go into their App Store app, click up Updates, and Update all apps.

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Alternatively, you can set your child’s iPad to automatically download any app update when it is available. To do this, simply go into the iPad settings app, and click on iTunes & App Store. Make sure the slide icon is green next to Updates. This will prompt automatic updates.

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Protecting Your Child’s Data

Kyle Google

When it comes to safety and protecting your digital content online, Google has one of the best track records. Google has recently created a website(http://www.google.com/edu/trust/) to address how they keep you and your children’s data safe from people who would like to steal or use the data for their own profit. Google has vowed that they do not use the data from their educational customers to sell ads.

The main areas they strive to protect their educational customers are:

  1. Family safety – this page, which provides detail on the security of our services to schools, you can find guidance and tips for keeping families safe online in our Family Safety Center.
  2. No ads in Google Apps For Education services – There are no ads in Google Apps for Education services and they have no plans to change this in the future. Additionally, K-12 Google Apps for Education users do not see ads when they use Google Search and are signed in to their Apps for Education accounts. Read more about this topic.
  3. Data ownership – Google does not own any of the data that your child is uploading to Google. Students can always take their data with them.
  4. Data protection – Google does not sell data to third parties. Read more about Information Sharing

And much more. Google is committed to keeping your child’s Google Apps data contained within the Google ecosystem. Read all about their commitment to safety here: http://www.google.com/edu/trust/