With the new macOS Catalina update, the Photos app has also seen some improvements. We list the 5 most important ones for you.
Improved features in the Photos app
The Photos app’s interface generally looks the same, but in this new version there are some useful improvements. When you start this new app for the first time, it may take a while for the app to view all your photos. Once this is done, the app will independently compile an overview for you.
1. Machine learning chooses the best photo
The Photos app now uses machine learning. This means that the program uses artificial intelligence to analyze how you use the app, and based on that it can better organize your photos. If you have a number of photos from a certain event, for example a wedding or a birthday, they will be automatically sorted. The app then monitors the location of your photos and the time the photos were taken. They are sorted chronologically. The app can also better recognize people and situations in the photo and can also make a collection of them.
Thanks to machine learning, the app also chooses the best photos for you. For example, did you take ten pictures of your cat that are all about the same? Then the app chooses which one is the best. The rest you can of course still see, but are hidden in the overview.
2. Featured Image
Once the photos are sorted, the Photos app creates a nice featured image. Machine learning is also used for this. The app then chooses a photo from the event, crops it and enlarges it. Live Photos can also be used for featured photos. These move automatically as you scroll through the app.
3. Tabs
In previous versions of the Photos app, photos were simply sorted by date, time, and location. But now a few more tabs have been added: Years, Months, Days and All Photos. This makes it even easier to see an overview of all your photos. For example, you can see all the photos from your birthday every year. Under the All Photos tab, you’ll see a grid of all the photos you have in the app. You can also zoom them in to see a preview of the photo.
4. Live Photos
Live photos and videos now play automatically when they come into view. This makes your overview really come to life. Also handy: you can immediately see which videos are involved. If you don’t like this, you can also turn this off by going to Photos, preferences at the top of the screen and unchecking “play videos and Live Photos automatically” at the bottom.
5. Reminders
It was already possible on the iPhone and iPad, but now you can also watch a movie in Memories with your Mac. You can adjust the duration, title and atmosphere of the video yourself in the app. You can also sync your custom video to all your other Apple devices, as long as they are connected to iCloud.
Curious about our take on the Catalina update? Read our review about macOS Catalina here. If you want to know more about the improvements and new functions of the macOS update, you can also read all about it in this overview.
Learn more about macOS Catalina
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