Google changes the method of access to the Google Photos Library of applications, which negatively affects brands such as Aura and Cozyla. This change, which aims to increase user privacy, also disables the automatically updated slide show feature of these devices.
As a company that produces internet -connected digital photo frames, Aura allows users to view their photos and images added by the people they give permission to share. While users can manually upload their photos to the device, one of the most preferred methods was sync with their Google Photos albums. For example, the parents, who created an album containing photographs of their children, were able to share this with the grandmother/grandmother and grandfather with the aura frame and allow each newly added photo to be reflected in the frame.
However, as of March 17, 2025, the automatic synchronization feature will be disabled by Aura’s communication director Jenisse Curry. Although users will be able to continue viewing their existing albums, it will not be possible to automatically reflect the newly added photos to the frame. Instead, the photos will need to be added manually through the Google Photos application.
The main reason Aura makes this change is the update of Google’s Google Photos API. Google, September 2024 announced this change on March 31, 2025 will put into effect. The new update significantly restricts the access of third -party applications to users’ access to photo libraries.
Previously, third -party applications were able to access users directly to all photo archives or shared albums. However, with the new system, applications will only be able to access photos via Google photos Picker API. This requires users to select each photo one by one and prevent albums from being automatically updated.
Aura official Curry said, “We had a deeper integration with Google photos, so that we could access Google Photos albums directly from the application and make automatic synchronization. However, with the new change, our application will no longer communicate with your cloud library ”.
On the other hand, Cozyla made a similar statement and announced that Google photos will be removed. However, the company has not shared more details on the subject.
Alternatives for Google photos integration are on the agenda
Aura plans to offer some alternatives for its users. Curry says the iCloud integration in the Apple ecosystem offers a similar function. For example, users can select the album “Favorites” and allow them to display the photos they like directly in the frame. In addition, photos available in local albums on iOS devices or in certain folders on Android devices can be added automatically.
Nevertheless, the removal of an important feature of a device they purchase for users is not welcome. In particular, this change is seen as a major disadvantage for people who use digital photo frames to share photos with family elders.
Last month, Google announced that Google photos will be brought to more third -party devices. This feature, which is currently on Google Nest screens and Google TVs, can also be used on different devices such as smart televisions, tablets, refrigerators and digital photo frames.
However, no clear explanation has yet been made about how this new feature will work. While Google does not answer the questions on the subject, Aura official Curry says this new function will not replace the abolished automatic synchronization feature.