Free alternative to iCloud Photos

Using offline photo library management software

Aug. 31, 2020 - Willem L. Middelkoop

After encountering the umpteenth ‘magic’ bug while managing my iPhone’s photos, I was done with it. Apple came a long way since it launched iPhoto (the predecessor of iCloud Photos). But for something as valuable as my personal memories, I want to be in full control. Read along to learn how I migrated my photo library away from the iCloud, using free, open source software.

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No vintage photo filters applied: this is an untouched original digital photo from 2001. (Lake Garda, Italy, 2001)

Yesteryear’s memory cards - note that they are sized in MB, as in mega, not gigabyte!

Importing all photos into Shotwell caused my tablet to run a little hot (as it generated new thumbnails) - a problem solved using an rather analogue solution: a ventilator

What seems normal today, was futuristic in 2008: browsing the web on a full touch screen device (while drinking beer)

Importing new photos from my camera is easy - very much like the Apple iPhoto ad from 2002!

Drinking happy beers: I found myself an iPhone! (2008)

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