First Impressions Indicate Photos for OS X is a ‘Vast Improvement’ Over iPhoto

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Posted February 6, 2015 at 10:56pm by iClarified

With the pre-release version of 10.10.3, Apple finally included a beta of its all new Photos app for OS X. Photos for Mac was first announced at WWDC 2014 and is a replacement for iPhoto and Aperture. Photos will also be shipped with all Macs and included in OS X Yosemite 10.10.3, so a separate download will not be required.

Apple has provided select media outlets with a preview of Photos for Mac so they can post their first impressions of the revamped software. We've rounded up some of their thoughts below...

Recode
Based on my experience so far, Photos for OS X looks to be a huge improvement over iPhoto in all aspects, even if it lacks some of the advanced tools that will appeal to Aperture users and professional photographers.

Wired
Advanced users, particularly those operating on 5K iMacs or Mac Pros, may be happier eventually switching to Adobe Lightroom—though most of them probably have done so already. But for most of us, particularly recent Mac converts and people who may not fancy themselves serious photographers, Photos is a welcomely humble way to approach image editing. It will be available free as part of an OS X Yosemite update this spring.

Mashable
For now though, we're impressed with what Apple has done with Photos. It's a brand new app that manages to be powerful and fast. It's editing options are great and the iCloud Photo Library integration actually works.

Engadget
It's all very impressive (and pretty), and generally a welcome upgrade from the aging iPhoto. For some people, the editing tools won't be enough to replace Photoshop, much less Lightroom, but for everyday users, it should fit the bill, and be easy to use, too. And hey, who can argue with a free app?

Wall Street Journal
Apple is a master among tech companies at creating an ecosystem that rewards people for buying and using more of its stuff. At a time when we have strong, growing options for storing and managing all our files online, Photos is the best reason I’ve seen yet to consider ponying up for iCloud storage.

Yahoo Tech
Even in its pre-public-beta version, Photos is fast, slick, and very easy to learn and navigate (partly because it’s so stripped down).If you’re happy with iPhoto and Aperture now, you should feel no hurry to switch over when Photos comes out this spring (as part of the free Yosemite10.10.3 update), unless you want that iCloud Photo Library feature. Which would be understandable.

The Verge
Even though the Photos app we used was not yet finished, we're quite impressed with what's here, and it's clear that this is a pretty giant leap forward over iPhoto.If what we've seen so far is anything to go on, Apple Photos offers a lot of potential, and it should make a lot of Mac users quite happy.

If you've been using the new Photos app for Mac, let us know what you think in the comments.

First Impressions Indicate Photos for OS X is a ‘Vast Improvement’ Over iPhoto

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phil_B - April 10, 2015 at 5:13am

I am a working artist and use iPhoto to store not just photos but images created. I use independent iPhoto Libraries as a databases for the images for various websites I manage. I keep these images in a number of independent and different iPhoto Libraries. Eventually I suppose I'm going to have to go through the mind numbing experience of converting all 43 different iPhoto Libraries to the new all singing and dancing Photos. My 2¢ - if it ain't broke don't fix it

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Coline - February 9, 2015 at 12:16am

I arrived here after an hour working on Aperture. It is an inexplicable tragedy that a company once a world leader in the imaging world has dumped it's once loyal customers. Aperture has not been maintained with features for several years and with a shrug they are expecting us to slope off and work with the ugly un instinctive adobe products or dumb down even further to this super happy snaps programme. With an up to date Aperture program I would have already bought a 5K iMac but now I just cannot get up the enthusiasm...

gamerscul9870 - February 9, 2015 at 1:02am

once a world leading company? That has lived to this day, but Apple doesn't Fck around with business. I always walking in to Apple stores and greeted into how heveanly walking in feels. My point is they care about me like anyone else and I never changed the way I saw Apple which is good since Jobs had died, but aside from that, their service is by far the best of any out there.

Coline - February 9, 2015 at 11:07am

Apple IS clearly a world leading company and their style and service are beyond reproach. I am sorry that you were not able to read and understand my clear and perfect English... Apple was the go to company for image makers and had decided that to abandon making photography software for higher end users in favour of the masses. Their attempts to upgrade iPhoto through the years has often been by removing previous functionality, present Aperture users are left with NO Apple software option. It is a great shame that with all their billions in cash reserves they are not able to put some of that to use maintaining a once standard program. Photos for OS X may be praised as an improvement over a basic iPhoto program but it is not a tool for someone seriously working with photographic images. Apple my care about you but they do not care about someone like me who has been an exclusive Apple customer for fifteen years...

Dilshan karunarathne - February 8, 2015 at 7:32am

add more filter like aviary photo editor

Reg of Arabia - February 8, 2015 at 6:05am

The Photos app is HORRID !!

gamerscul9870 - February 8, 2015 at 6:07am

more like enchanting!!!

iAmMe - February 8, 2015 at 1:07am

I love this line: "Apple is a master among tech companies at creating an ecosystem that rewards people for buying and using more of its stuff." ~WSJ

Ren - February 7, 2015 at 2:12pm

lots feature been copied again from developer and other apps. shame on you apple

Micke H - February 7, 2015 at 5:12am

Is it safe to update to 10.10.3 if I'm not a developer?

gamerscul9870 - February 7, 2015 at 12:20pm

Go ahead.

Sundar Rajamani - February 7, 2015 at 2:15am

Is this have slideshow like iPhoto?