Picasa

Picasa is a photo editing and management program that also lets you take advantage of Google+ integration to back up your photos automatically. With a nice array of editing functions and other features, this program is a good photo management alternative for users of varying experience levels.

PROS

Automatic backup: Through this app, you can automatically back up all of your photos to Google+. All you have to do is log in with your Google account, and the backup will run in the background. Any new photos added will be automatically backed up as well, but none of these files will be public unless you choose to make them that way. If you do want to share any photos, though, having them in Google+ already makes it much more convenient to share them.

Editing tools: This app contains a nice set of editing tools that allows you to crop and straighten images, eliminate redeye, add contrast, and apply all kinds of filters. Many of the editing tools come with sliders to control the intensity of the effect they deliver, giving you the ability to find just the right balance for each image.

CONS

Import options: When you first open the app, it asks you whether you want to search only select preset folders and locations for photos to import or if you want to search your entire computer. While this is convenient when you want to add all of the photos on your computer to the app, it’s not helpful if you only want to selectively add files to edit. You can’t, for example, choose individual images or only certain custom folders, as the program selects the preset folders for you, and there’s no way to stop the automatic import once it starts.

BOTTOM LINE

Picasa is a capable photo editing program with a nice set of additional features, including Google+ integration. It doesn’t contain the types of advanced editing tools that power users may be looking for, but casual and novice users will likely find all they need through its intuitive interface. It is free to download and use and includes 1GB of storage for no additional charge.

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