When Apple pushed out iOS 18, it trumpeted big changes to the Photos app (though it already rolled some back after negative feedback). Now, with the app’s public release, many users’ initial excitement has turned to disappointment and even anger on social media. The iOS 18 Photos app backlash is real — some people really hate it.
And amid that angst — and for that audience — developer LateNiteSoft put out the new Photon Library app designed along the lines of Apple’s old Photos app.
“We’re bringing back tabs, basic photo grids, a list of albums you can simply scroll through, and we even added some quick access to your Favorites!” Noël Rosenthal, a product manager atLateNightSoft, told Cult of Mac.
New Photon Library app aimed at users who loathe iOS 18’s redesigned Photos app
Amid a flurry of user grumblings about the new look, feel and navigation of the redesigned Photos app in iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, LateNiteSoft released Photon Library for disgruntled Photos app users. It goes along with the developer’s other photography apps designed for intuitive use — Photon Camera (manual controls), Photon Enhance (editing) and Photon Studio (flexible viewing options).
During the beta testing phase leading up to release of iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, various reviewers sounded alarms about the new Photos app’s cluttered and potentially confusing design — including Cult of Mac‘s own D. Griffin Jones. His early look warned users the confusing changes might need some tweaking and later his deep dive explained how use the revamped app, noting “it takes some getting used to.”
iOS 18 Photos app backlash on social media
Once users started experimenting with the redesigned Photos app in iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, many found a lot to loathe and appeared unwilling to get used to anything. (One post we caught a glimpse of even called the gallery update “the worst thing since 9/11.”)
Here are some choice posts where they express their displeasure with the app:
Whoever designed the new iOS 18 photos app needs to be fired pic.twitter.com/fQPXSgzTzF
— Shishir (@ShishirShelke1) September 17, 2024
Photos app update on iOS18 is one the worst things Apple has produced up to this date
What an utter shit. It is horrendous. Too much clutter too many sections and categories. Apple used to be about simplicity and easy navigation. The new Photos app is a complete mess wtf#ios18
— Gaýgysyz Myradow (@GaygysyzMyradov) September 17, 2024
I don’t get the design update for the photos app in iOS 18 .
The previous design gave us horizontal navigation, which I thought was quite nice.
New update gives us a flat vertical design which I suppose is also nice.. but is it an improvement? ♂️ Only affordance I see is… pic.twitter.com/8DWRhbsDO6— Joey Slomowitz (@JoeySlomowitz) September 17, 2024
Baby this photos app on this new iOS 18 is chaotic! It’s just photos every damn where! pic.twitter.com/vmTk2a0Di9
— Ken™️✨ (@__ItsKen_) September 19, 2024
The only thing that I would consider "bad" about iOS 18 is this new Photos app.
It doesn't look bad (it looks great). It's just that they ruined the usability.
Why would they change a perfectly working app? pic.twitter.com/1CvQzMeXTF
— Alvin (@sondesix) September 17, 2024
But not every single user hates the new Photos app
But not everyone hates the newly redesigned Photos app. Here are the two people who seem to like it (just kidding, there might be more than two):
Absolutely! The iOS 18 Photos app is a game-changer. The thoughtful design and customizability make organizing photos so intuitive.
— Omar.Tech.Master (@otechmstr) September 19, 2024
New Photon Library app: Key features
Photo: LateNiteSoft
Here’s how LateNiteSoft described the main features of Photon Library:
- Clean, modern interface for easy navigation
- Smart album organization
- Calendar view for quick date-based browsing
- Favorites section for your most cherished memories
- Smooth, responsive performance
Download Photon Library from: App Store
