14 DAY TRIAL // The few (?) people still using the Picasa desktop software now have one more reason to worry or one less reason to use it, depending on how you look at it. Google has now enabled full-size photo uploads to Google+ on the desktop site.
"Today we're making it possible upload full-size photos from your desktop -- whether you're updating your profile photo, creating a new album to share, or backing up pictures from a recent vacation," Google's Jon Emerson explained.
This means that you'll be able to upload your photos at huge resolutions and not lose any details. However, any photo over 2048 x 2048 pixels will take up space on your Google Drive.
Google+ Photos and Picasa Web Albums allow users to upload any number photos up to 2048 x 2048 pixels for free. Any photo larger than that is automatically downscaled.
If you want to preserve the original photos, you won't be able to store them for free. What's more, the option to upload full-sized photos has to be enabled manually, it's not on by default.
A nice benefit of enabling full-size photo uploads is that you'll be able to upload RAW images as well without having them converted to JPGs.
Android app users have been able to store photos at their native resolution and the option has now been added to the desktop site, you'll find it in your Google+ Settings page, under the Photos section.
"To enable full-size desktop uploads, just visit your settings at www.google.com/settings/plus, and check 'Upload my photos at full size.' Afterwards, any files larger than 2048px will count towards your Google storage (up to 5GB free). Photo storage at 2048px or smaller remains free and unlimited," Emerson added.
This update fits in nicely with the pan and zoom feature recently added to Google+ photos. With pan and zoom, you can check out a lot more details in a photo, especially useful in high-resolution shots.
