Hadlee Simons / Android Authority
TL;DR
- Google Photos is reportedly working on a “My Week” feature that would enable users to share the highlights of their week with friends and family.
- The co-founder of retro, a pioneering photo-sharing app, highlights striking parallels between Google’s functionality and its own proprietary features within its eponymous personal assistant app.
Discovering a fresh endeavour by the Google Photos team, dubbed “My Week,” we recently gained access to this feature, enabling us to offer our audience an early glimpse into how it will function. Retro, a popular photo-sharing app, is drawing parallels between its platform and the latest feature rolled out by Google.
While it’s not officially announced, our APK teardowns suggest that My Week is a forthcoming feature within Google Photos, enabling users to privately share their weekly memories with loved ones. As an exclusive, invitation-only event, attendees can carefully curate their guest list, allowing them to share their video content with a precise selection of individuals. The purpose is to keep family and friends informed about your life by automatically sending updates to them on a regular basis.
It appears that this statement has little distinction from the Retro app’s function. While it may not fully replicate the retro app’s original concept, the new iteration appears to share a similar aesthetic.
On X, where nostalgia reigns supreme, retro gaming pioneer Ryan Olson, co-founder and CTO, dropped a thought-provoking observation: “I feel like I’ve seen this somewhere…”, punctuated by a witty emoji face sporting a monocle.
Olsen also showcased a split-screen comparison above, juxtaposing the features of Retro’s app with those of its My Week counterpart.
Imitation being the sincerest form of flattery, you already know what they’re saying. While many of us might view retro culture with nostalgia and fondness, it’s hardly pleasing to see large technology companies profiting from ideas that aren’t even their own.
Retro’s CEO, Nathan Sharp, assuredly stated to the outlet that he is not concerned about Google’s upcoming product, hinting that it could potentially be released before its official public debut. Moreover, Sharp mentioned:
Initially, the sight of this phenomenon sparks feelings of slight offense, as though certain problems have been arbitrarily raised above others. Transporting something entirely different? They’re not asking to be judged based on fleeting trends and ephemeral moments that capture the attention of the Twitterverse in its current iteration. It appears to be a crew in progress, possibly with two distinct steps already outlined.
Without fail, if the function doesn’t undergo significant changes prior to going public, Sharp emphasizes that he will not underestimate Google’s ability to adapt and compete. According to Sharp, he believes that Retro’s customer base appreciates the specific purpose his app serves.
We’ve contacted Google to provide insight into this article. If we receive a response, we will update the information with the newly provided details.
