When Google's new photos app (appropriately called Photos) first appeared, you could almost hear the collective groan of longtime Android users.

As with email and text messaging apps, the Android ecosystem is just maggoty with preinstalled OEM Gallery apps, subscription-based backup services like Amazon's, and smaller third-party viewing apps -- all nearly identical, none offering quite everything you want, and half of them likely wasting space right now, never touched, on your smartphone.

But Google's new Photos is different. It's the solution to the problem of Androids fragmented, dissatisfying zoo of gallery apps. And that's because it's easy to browse, has unlimited cloud backup, and works so automatically, there's almost nothing you need to set up.

It's also free, and available on both Android and iOS devices -- as well as on the web, with a desktop uploader app for Mac and PC. Here's what Photos has to offer that makes it the only gallery app you'll need on Android, and finally a challenge to Apple Photos.

Easy Browsing

The first thing about Photos is that Google has clearly updated gestures, scrolling and selecting for your pictures.

As a pure gallery app, it's as well organized as Apple Photos -- achieves an easy overview of your picture library without resorting to any weird tiny thumbnail-collage-zoom tricks.

Look through collections, look for people, browse by type, date or location, or search using that floating "Material Design" round button. Hold down on a photo to automatically go into select mode, and you can now just swipe over other photos nearby that you'd like to select as well. It's all fluid and fast.

Unlimited Backups

This is not unique to Photos, but Google has made backing up your pictures far easier across devices than other services like Amazon's Prime Photos, and it offers unlimited cloud storage for free -- without needing anything but a Google account.

When you first open the Photos app, it'll ask you which Google account to use (if you have multiple accounts on your phone), and gets to work -- in the background.

There was no noticeable slow-down on the device while uploading photos, though it's a good idea to make sure you're connected to WiFi during the process even though you can set the app to backup over cellular data as well.

You'll have two options to back up your pictures, the first of which is perfect for the vast majority of casual shutterbugs: 1. Back up high quality, but compressed, photos and videos for free with unlimited storage, or 2. Back up the uncompressed original files, though it counts against your Google Drive total storage allotment. That means unless you're willing to pay for more storage, photography purists are going to want to find a different way to back up their galleries.

But for the rest of us, free unlimited storage for all of your Android and desktop-stored photos will not only offer piece of mind, but will likely free up some needed storage space. Google also made it a point to show how its high-quality compression isn't noticable to all but the most discerning eyes. 

If you have a Google Plus account and previously used its photo backup feature, you'll see all of your galleries cloud-synced across your devices, all together.

No Google Plus Integration

That brings up another great feature of Google Photos. It's detached everything "Google Plus" from the app, and makes it clear your backups are private by default.

The previous Google Plus-based system was confusing for people to tell if they were just storing their photos or sharing them with the social network. Now it's clear that Photos just connects only to your Google account, as with Gmail or Drive apps, and it's your prerogative to share or not to share.

On top of that, there are no ads, and according to CNN, no plans from Google to integrate any ads based on your photo data.

So Automatic, It's a Little Creepy

As mentioned above, you can browse through your library by various filters, including people and places. And for the vast majority of those identifiers, you don't have to tag or even confirm a suggested tag -- Google uses its world-wrapping cloud brain to do all that for you.

Google also uses its creepy know-it-all abilities to create slideshows, movies, and "Stories" -- for example, a collage made from a road trip you took, replete with auto-created GIFs from rapid-fire photo series, identified landmarks and people, and Maps-based arrows showing your trip across the country.

It's very cool, and a great way to create something sharable without any input required -- but a little shutter inducing (pardon the pun), if you think about it too long. 

Tap That App

Yes, you'll want this app, unless you're already incredibly satisfied with something else like Apple's photo ecosystem. But for everyone else (sorry, Windows), with Photos, Google has finally made an app that sets the standard for its own platform. Finally!