With a new web tool, a media library can no longer just be downloaded, but passed on straight away.
Apple has created a new way of extracting data for iCloud. Using the function that previously only allowed packed photos and video media libraries to be downloaded from iCloud, a direct transfer to a competing service will also be possible in the future: Google Photos. The recordings can then be further stored and processed there. This should be particularly interesting for users who switch from an iPhone to an Android device, where Google’s in-house photo and video hosting is the standard offer.
Available on privacy website
The new feature is described by Apple in a help document released this week . Like the normal download, the offer is available from the Apple privacy website , where users have to log in with their Apple ID. You are not forced to delete the data stored at Apple if you want to transfer it, as is normally the case with the data extraction that is offered to the user when switching off iCloud Photos. Instead, only a copy is sent to the other service and the existing data is not changed, explains Apple. (Also Read: Apple is expanding customer service and offering free online courses on iPhone & Co.)
Requirements and supported formats
Furthermore, the two-factor authentication must be active, which, however, should now be the case for most customers; A Google account is of course also necessary. In addition, it must be ensured that there is sufficient space for the iCloud data on Google Photos. The formats that are transferred are .jpg, .png, .webp, .gif, some RAW formats, .mpg, .mod, .mmv, .tod, .wmv, .asf, .avi, .divx,. mov, .m4v, .3gp, .3g2, .mp4, .m2t, .m2ts, .mts and .mkv.
What is missing in the data
The file names of albums and videos are appended “Copied from” by Google. Sometimes “some metadata” is missing, writes Apple, and shared albums, smart albums, photo streams and live photos are not transferred. Google Photos also has a limit of 20,000 photos per album – users may have to pre-sort photos in iCloud. Apple insists it is working “hard to maintain accuracy and consistency” in the transfer.
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