Recent versions of iPhoto and Aperture have ditched the open folder system for a more secure "Library" format and, in Lion, Photo Booth takes the plunge as well.

Photo Booth Library
The main reason for the switch from an open folder system to a closed, self-contained library is to keep more inexperienced users from breaking iPhoto by trying to "clean up" their computers.

The old iPhoto library was a mass of confusing folders, with dozens and dozens of folders. There were folders organized by date, with thumbnails, by master versions and more. Users who didn't know any better would frequently try to delete photos by going directly to the iPhoto Library folder and erasing files en masse. All they would do was break iPhoto.

Now all Apple's photo apps: iPhoto, Aperture, and Photo Booth have self-contained "libraries" to keep users out. The photos inside are only supposed to be opened by the applications that created them -- it's just like the file system on the iPad. Invisible, unalterable, and only to be opened by the application that created them.

Steve Jobs' quest to eliminate the file system continues.

Thanks Henry!

Top Rated Comments

kjs862 Avatar
180 months ago
I think Apple should have just used iPhoto to manage photos taken with Photobooth with an Photobooth album, and also use the iPhoto library to store them.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mal Avatar
180 months ago
I dislike the idea if it's just for "keeping people out" since it's a less flexible system, but if it conserves space on the hard drive, it could be an improvement.

Apple has always made things to "keep people out" unless those people knew what they were doing. They've never removed access for those who wanted a way in, however. "Show Package Contents" is still a right-click away. I'm all for throwing out our outdated file system metaphor, however. I'd much rather the computer simply keep a database of files, and offer you a presentation of groupings of files based on what program you're using to access it. Apple's headed in the right direction with iOS, and I think Mac OS X has been headed there slower but for a long time. If the whole concept of the folder-based hierarchy could be eliminated, I feel that computing as a whole could move forward with a better approach. It only remains to be seen who will come up with the next metaphor that will be used.

jW
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
VPrime Avatar
180 months ago
I like the concept. Hide the filesystem on an app basis.
I just hope they don't make it OS wide... Ever ;)
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
PatrickCocoa Avatar
180 months ago
Wait for it . . .

This thread is over a half hour old and the "you'll take my file system away when you pry it from my cold, dead hands" crowd hasn't shown up yet?

Maybe they're too busy rearranging their files or defragmenting.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
asdf542 Avatar
180 months ago
I can see the Finder (or just the filesystem in general) going the way of Terminal. Still going to be there for those who need it, but the mass majority of consumers won't bother with it.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jowie Avatar
180 months ago
As long as they don't do it with iTunes...
Why not?
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 19 Mock WWDC25 Feature

iOS 19 Expected to Run on These iPhones

Monday March 31, 2025 5:28 pm PDT by
iOS 19 will not be available on the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, or the iPhone XS Max, according a private account on social media site X that has accurately provided information on device compatibility in the past. The iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max all have an A12 Bionic chip, so it looks like iOS 19 will discontinue support for that chip. All other iPhones that run iOS 18 are expected...
watchOS 11 Thumb 2 1

Apple Releases watchOS 11.4 With Sleep Alarm Update

Tuesday April 1, 2025 10:34 am PDT by
Apple today released watchOS 11.4, the fourth major update to the operating system that runs on the Apple Watch. watchOS 11.4 is compatible with the Apple Watch Series 6 and later, all Apple Watch Ultra models, and the Apple Watch SE 2. watchOS 11.4 can be downloaded on a connected iPhone by opening up the Apple Watch app and going to General > Software Update. To install the new software,...
AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4

Monday March 31, 2025 11:27 am PDT by
Apple today released new firmware updates for all AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2 models. The new firmware is version 7E93, up from the 7B21 firmware that was installed on the AirPods Pro 2 and the 7B20 firmware available on the AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with ANC. It is not immediately clear what new features or changes are included in the new firmware, but we'll update this article should we find ...
maxresdefault

Apple Releases iOS 18.4 With Priority Notifications, Ambient Music, New Emoji and More

Monday March 31, 2025 10:03 am PDT by
Apple today released iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4, the fourth major updates to the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 operating system updates that came out last year. iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 come two months after Apple released iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to...
Apple Card iPhone 16 Pro Feature

Visa and American Express Vying to Win Apple Card Deal in 'Fierce' Fight

Tuesday April 1, 2025 1:50 pm PDT by
Visa wants to pay Apple approximately $100 million to be the new payment network for the Apple Card, reports The Wall Street Journal. As of right now, the Apple Card is on the Mastercard payment network, but that is set to change because Apple is ending its partnership with Goldman Sachs. Both American Express and Visa are vying to replace Mastercard as Apple's card services provider, while...
iPhone 17 Pro 34ths Perspective

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 10 New Features

Sunday March 23, 2025 10:00 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of March 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone ...
iOS 18

Apple Seeds First Beta of iOS 18.5 to Developers

Wednesday April 2, 2025 10:11 am PDT by
Apple today seeded the first betas of upcoming iOS 18.5 and iPadOS 18.5 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming just two days after Apple released iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4. iOS 18.5 and iPadOS 18.5 can be downloaded from the Settings app on a compatible device by going to General > Software Update. We don't yet know what Apple is introducing in the iOS 18.5...