Thanks for this announcement. I just updated my Google Drive (mac) client to Backup & Sync. It took about 30 seconds, and really just seemed like an update to Google Drive. The folder on your computer remains named Google Drive. Quick and simple.

Why am I hearing about this on lifehacker and not from google itself?

I never used the desktop app for Drive (I guess I wasn’t alone since they are doing away with it). I always went to the site and started and ended everything there. Also, the only photos I take are on my phone, which backs up to Drive automatically.