Snapseed Adds New Filters, Goes Free

After being named the 2011 App of the Year, popular iOS photo editing app Snapseed was acquired by Google when the company purchased Nik Software.

Google today dropped the price of Snapseed, making the app free to download. Previously, the iOS version of Snapseed cost $4.99. The update also brings new filters, Google+ integration, and a new icon. From the App Store description:

New Retrolux filter! Use one of the newly created film styles, combined with a range of different scratches and textures as well as light leaks to create a truly retro look for your photos.

Updated Frames filter! Now includes a wide range of new, high quality photographic frames. Colorize the frame edges to match the look of your image or switch to square mode with a single tap.

Aside from the filters, the free version of Snapseed appears to be the same as the previous paid version, but there is a new splash page which refers to the app as “Google+ Snapseed.”

The iOS version of Snapseed [App Store] is currently available in the App Store at no cost. The Mac version of the app [Mac App Store] has yet to be updated and is still a $19.99 download in the Mac App Store. Google also released an Android version of the app, which is available for free in the Google Play store.

Top Rated Comments

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musser

81 months ago

'Free' from Google?

I guarantee you... if it's from Google, it ain't free. Oh, you may not have to pay upfront for it, but you'll pay... SOMEthing...SOME way, eventually. I'm sure it's yet another scheme by Google to get your personal information. I'm staying clear of it like I do now from all things Google.

Rating: 19 Votes

sir1963nz

81 months ago

Why...

I hope the Mac app store version goes free too. I paid $4.99 for the iOS long ago. :mad:

$4.99 seems cheap to have Google NOT snoop on everything you do, NOT to feed you adverts, NOT to "accidentally" bypass your security/do not track settings and have then say sorry later for it.

Google has become untrustworthy in my books, their motto should be changed to "Don't be caught being evil"

Rating: 12 Votes

iWe

81 months ago

I guarantee you... if it's from Google, it ain't free. Oh, you may not have to pay upfront for it, but you'll pay... SOMEthing...SOME way, eventually. I'm sure it's yet another scheme by Google to get your personal information. I'm staying clear of it like I do now from all things Google.

Same here.

Rating: 9 Votes

qtx43

81 months ago

Bypass what security? The people who's network got accessed by Google didn't have their WPA security on and left the door wide open. Not saying that's an excuse, but I'm wondering why you're making things sound worse than they are.

And please tell me which company doesn't track their users. Apple serves ads too.

What about Google's javascript malware which circumvented Safari's "do not track" option. They wanted official blessing from Apple via their maps app, but didn't get it. If they behave true to form, they'll be doing everything they can to circumvent iOS's security restrictions too.

Rating: 8 Votes

DesterWallaboo

81 months ago

Apple doesn't sell your personal information, whereas that is Google's primary business.

Rating: 8 Votes

nagromme

81 months ago

If you are that worried you might as well just get off the internet right now. Cut the cord and play outside, oh yeah, can't do that either because someone is watching you there as well.

Your phones are tapped, your computer is tapped, your entire life is tapped.

Welcome to the new world. And if you don't think every single communication is being watched, you haven't seen the HUGE facility the NSA is building here in Utah to do so even better than before

Yes, there are many privacy threats... but they are not all equal.

The difference being that Google makes nearly ALL their money from tracking users. It’s what makes ads worth so much to buy. Subtracting Google from your privacy problems is no empty gesture: others may have some of your data... but Google won’t have it and won’t be renting it out (anonymized or otherwise). Same goes for Facebook. I’d rather have the NSA track me than NSA + Google + Facebook.

Whereas other companies aren’t so focused on that—such as Apple, who makes nearly ALL their money by providing a good experience that keeps customers returning.

That said, if Google does anything sneaky with Snapseed, they’ll get caught before too long, so I don’t feel the need to avoid the app. (I won’t sign in to Google with it, though.)

Rating: 6 Votes

John.B

81 months ago

As a photographer, my concern isn't for Snapseed. I'm hoping Google doesn't kill off the excellent Nik software toolsets such as Viveza, Dfine, Sharpener Pro, etc. that it got in their acquisition of Snapseed.

Apple's apps are sandboxed and what they can potentially do with an iOS app is minimal. With 75% of so called market share of Android phones, I'm sure Google is more interested in their data than ours.

Nothing is off limits when a company lacks ethics:

Google Circumvents Safari Privacy Protections - This is Why We Need Do Not Track (https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2012/02/time-make-amends-google-circumvents-privacy-settings-safari-users)

Rating: 4 Votes

BJMRamage

81 months ago

I feel it is FREE as a way to get people to download it and in the news since it is a new Android App. it will most likely go back to full/normal price later. and the more people get it free, the more people "might" start using google+

oh and i HATE HATE HATE the new icon. i wish you could go back to older icons. loved the black but the white is no on.

Rating: 4 Votes

taxiapple

81 months ago

Fake

This app has been changing it's price back and forth between $4.99 & free
since it was released.
Since June of 2011 it has flip floped 14 times.....more than most politicians.

Rating: 3 Votes

John.B

81 months ago

Wish iOS/iTunes had a way of marking apps as "do not upgrade" as it now becomes a chore to manually update apps one by one...

This!

Rating: 2 Votes

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