Google rolled out a brand-new cloud storage subscription service today, replacing its old Google Drive subscription service. The new one is cheaper, features more options, and comes with a brand-new, well, brand. This is Google One.
If you have a Google Drive or G Suite subscription, don’t worry, you’re not going to see any major changes to your service. If you’re on Drive, you’ll be transitioned to a comparable Google One plan soon, and if you’re on G Suite, your plan and storage will be totally unaffected.
“We’re introducing Google One, a simple plan for expanded storage that includes extra benefits to help you get more out of Google,” the announcement states. “In the next few months, all paid consumer Google Drive storage plans will be upgraded to Google One. This change doesn’t affect G Suite business customers.”
All right, so what does Google One offer that Drive didn’t? Well, it marries Google’s philosophy as evidenced in its Project Fi cellular service: Simplicity, scalability, and no hidden fees.
Google One plans start at $2 per month for 100GB, $3 for 200GB, $10 per month for 2TB. Current Drive subscribers at the 1TB tier will automatically be upgraded to 2TB at no additional cost. You’ll also be able to share that storage space with up to five family members via Google’s Families program.
In addition to storage, Google One subscribers will receive 24/7 access to support personnel via chat, phone, or email. This effectively brings to the masses a tier of service previously reserved for enterprise users on G Suite. Now if you have any issues with your storage, missing files, or sync issues, you can take them up with an actual person.
“People who use a lot of storage tend to use a lot of other Google products, too. So with Google One you get one-tap access to experts for help with our consumer products and services,” the announcement stated. “Plus, you’ll gain access to extras from other Google products, like credits on Google Play or deals on select hotels found in Google Search. And we’ll be adding more benefits over time.”
All together Google One is a shot across the bow for rival cloud storage providers like Dropbox and iCloud. It remains to be seen, however, whether Google One ends up being a hit like Gmail, or a dud like Google Plus. Google’s announcement claims the service will be rolling out soon.
Apple is less than a day away from launching its highly anticipated OLED MacBook Pro with a touch-sensitive screen. But it appears that the upgrade is going to cost a pretty penny. According to a report by Bloomberg, Apple is reportedly eyeing a starting price of $2,899 for the 14-inch MacBook Pro, while the 16-inch version could start at $3,399 in the US.
"At $2,899, the 14-inch model would mark the highest starting price for a new MacBook Pro model, surpassing the $2,799 Apple charged for a 17-inch version introduced in 2006," says the report. The report claims that Apple is targeting a minimum price hike of $400 for its upcoming redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models.
I've spent a good amount of time digging into the spec sheet of the new M6 MacBook Pro (14-inch), and for all intents and purposes, this is a classic Apple "chip and connectivity" refresh. It's not a full redesign. The chassis, Liquid Retina XDR panel, speakers, ports, and battery, all of them carry over unchanged.
However, the M6 brings more cores, stronger on-device AI, higher memory bandwidth on the larger configs, and modern wireless. Here’s the practical rundown of what actually improved, and whether those gains are worth your money.
Two new highly requested iCloud plugins just got added to ChatGPT, giving people who rely on Apple’s Mail and Calendar services a way to search emails, check appointments, and manage their schedules directly through the chatbot.
The integration is rolling out to all ChatGPT plans, including the free tier. You can access it on the web, desktop, and iOS.