Google will start rolling out the new icon and thumbnail-rich web and mobile interface of their cloud-based storage Google Drive.
According to PCWorld, who first broke the news, Google Drive will now show thumbnails and icons rather than just the file names of stored files. The vibrant Google colors will stay, though, and users can organize their files according to the file types (photos, documents, audio files, etc.).
Google's text-based Drive interface is very useful for document files, yet it gets difficult if photos are uploaded on the Drive, since most photos, which are automatically stored in the Drive when uploaded from a smartphone, use the default file names (Photo001, Image003, etc.). With the new interface, users can distinguish each file type from the others.
Google has also announced "faster and easier to use" Drive in web and mobile through a Youtube video, where a preview is shown of the visual makeover for the Drive.
The update does not only focus on the visual design change, but valuable integration to add functionality will also make its way to the new Google Drive. Expect QuickOffice Suite to run vis-a-vis the Drive as Google gradually notifies users to "Try the new Drive", while a drag and drop function is practical to re-arrange files. Other Google web office apps are also set to be added in the new Drive features and a file creation option are also included in the menu.
Despite the big news, it seems like not everybody is convinced of the update Google brought to the table. Geeksided.com's Jacob Long says that the Drive update "isn't Material Design". "By that, I mean it doesn't follow the new web and mobile design cues revealed at Google I/O", he added.
Want to try out the new Google Drive? You may just want to wait a little longer before the notice to "Experience the new Drive" pops up in your Google notification. Google is not on the full roll out of the update just yet.
Google Drive is also available to Windows OS users, however, it is most recommended to use the Google cloud storage using the Drive app.
