Apple has finally released Photos, the replacement app for iPhoto, bringing a number of new features and abilities.
The new app is part of the update to OS X 10.10.3 on Apple computers, and is free for OS X users. Here are some of the biggest improvements in the app.
iCloud Photo Library
As users begin turning to cloud storage, a good way of organizing photos will be important. While Google users can use Google+ photos, Apple is taking a little more of an integrated approach. iCloud Photo Library essentially keeps photos completely synced across OS X, iOS and the iCloud website, including any edits that users make on these systems. Not only photos and edits are saved to iCloud, but so are any favorites markings, as well as any rearrangements that users make of their photos.
Photo Sharing
An important feature of the Photos app is the fact that it can easily share photos among other users. Users can either share single photos or they can share collections of photos to other iCloud users that they trust. These users can then like the photos and comment on them. What this does is that it essentially makes Photos, to an extent, a social media experience.
Users can, of course, also share photos through social media networks like Facebook and Twitter. Not only that, but Apple also support extensions to the Photos app, enabling developers to create new ways to share photos.
Photo Editing
One of the biggest improvements that is certainly welcomed by many users is the fact that the Photos app includes much improved photo editing features. While it's not Photoshop, Photos is certainly capable of making edits for most general consumers, enabling users to dive far deeper than simply applying filters. For casual users, of course there is the ability to apply great looking filters. However, for those that know what they're doing, there are more complex features too.
Organizational Tools
Photos basically takes an organizational cure from the iPhone app for photos. Images are grouped by location and by time, essentially meaning that they're automatically organized even if the user doesn't want to take the time to organize them themselves. If they do, however, users can organize photos into albums if they want to.
Conclusions
Photos has really taken things a step further than iPhoto ever did, offering borderline advanced editing features and organizational tools to rival any photo apps before. The app is available for free to any OS X user, and should be installed in an update in the next few days.