🤖 Team Android: If you have pics like your driver’s license on your phone, set up a locked folder in Google Photos. Open the Google Photos app > Utilities > Set up Locked Folder. Follow the on-screen directions to finish up.
Tech how-to: Remove duplicate photos and declutter your digital library
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If your photo library feels out of control after the holidays, you’re not alone. Between taking multiple shots to get the perfect one and sharing images with friends and family, duplicate photos pile up quickly. Here’s a simple guide to declutter your digital photo collection.
1. Start with built-in tools
Try the free tools already available on your device. These can help you quickly locate and remove duplicate photos.
iPhone or iPad: The Photos app makes this easy‑peasy.
- Open your Photos app and select Albums.
- Scroll down and choose Duplicates. (I just looked at mine and had 2,933 duplicate photos and 49 videos!)
- Hit Select > Select all, then tap the Trash icon to delete them. You can also select Merge to combine your dupes into one great shot.
For Android: Don’t delete your duplicates manually; open the Files by Google app, select Clean, then:
- Tap Confirm and free up > See junk files and select what you want to clear.
- When you’re ready, tap Clear > Clear. That’s all it takes to remove screenshots, memes, duplicates and other junk mixed in with your important photos.
For Google Photos: Sorry, there’s no built-in duplicate-cleaning tool here, so it’s up to you.
- Log into Google Photos, and click Photos in the left panel.
- Select any photos you no longer need (or want), and click Delete.
2. Get an app made for the job
If you have thousands of duplicates, deleting them manually takes forever. A third-party app like Duplicate Photos Fixer Pro is a quicker solution. None of these apps are perfect, but take any help you can get!
3. Go beyond duplicates
5 ways to connect when you’re apart for the holidays
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Christmas Eve is here. It’s a time for joy, laughter and cherished moments with loved ones. I know how busy this day can get, but a little bit of tech-savvy can help make it even more special.
Here are five quick and simple ways to use technology to connect with family and create memories without taking up too much time.
July 15th, 2023
In this week’s show, are we alone? I chat with Dr. Seth Shostak, Senior Astronomer for the SETI Institute, about all things extraterrestrial. Plus, a man banned from Facebook sues to regain access to his account — and wins. Google Photos now recognizes people from behind, a Twitch streamer’s car is set on fire, and a 16-year-old gamer is the fastest typist alive. That and much more, plus all your calls and questions.
Picture in picture: You’re at your sister’s house and she’s bringing out the old family photos. There’s a better solution than scanning them or taking a crappy photo of them. PhotoScan by Google Photos is free and gives you a high-res digital copy without that weird glare.
10 privacy-friendly Big Tech alternatives
Nextcloud.com, play.google.com, Notesnook.com
Amazon uses your Alexa voice commands to train its AI, Dropbox had a breach in April that exposed customers’ passwords, and apps like Facebook and Google make billions of dollars gathering and sharing every little detail about you. I could go on (and on).
June 17th, 2023
In this week’s show, are we alone? I chat with Dr. Seth Shostak, Senior Astronomer for the SETI Institute, about all things extraterrestrial. Plus, a man banned from Facebook sues to regain access to his account — and wins. Google Photos now recognizes people from behind, a Twitch streamer’s car is set on fire, and a 16-year-old gamer is the fastest typist alive. That and much more, plus all your calls and questions.
Stop your ex from popping up in Google Photos Memories
Sick of seeing pop-ups of your ex on Google Photos? Listen now to hide old pictures without deleting them.
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