Difference between iCloud Photo Library and Upload to My Photo Stream?

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Difference between iCloud Photo Library and Upload to My Photo Stream?

What is the difference between the iCloud Photo Library and the Upload to My Photo Stream options in the iCloud settings on my iPhone / iPad? Is it that uploading to the iCloud Photo Library uploads the images to iCloud (for viewing via browser) and using the Photo Stream only syncs the images between iOS devices?

I've had an iPad for awhile but I just got my first iPhone and I'm trying to understand the sync behavior. It seems that with both options enabled (iCloud and Photo Stream), every single image, screenshot, picture downloaded from Twitter, etc is all getting lumped together in the All Photos album and then synced everywhere. I absolutely do not want this. Can I have just a Camera Roll folder that syncs between devices, and then downloads / screenshots / etc stay local to the device without syncing?

I'm coming from Windows Phone, which worked exactly how I just described. Pictures taken with the phone went to the Camera Roll and the Camera Roll synced to OneDrive, and then images downloaded via other apps, or screenshots, went to separate albums that did not sync (unless I configured those albums to sync). This way everything was logically separated, easy to find, and I had complete control over the syncing behavior. This is what I'm trying to replicate on my iPhone.

Oh, is it true that every image *has* to be in the All Photos albums? There's no way to move screenshots and downloads to separate albums so they don't get cluttered with pictures I take? Or can I enable a separate Camera Roll folder?

Jason

iPad Air, iOS 8.1

Posted on Dec 8, 2014 10:06 AM

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Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

362,053 points

Dec 8, 2014 10:11 AM in response to CincyTriGuy

See:

Apple's iCloud Photo Library

iCloud Photo Library — Everything you need to know! | iMore

Apple's iCloud Photo Library: A Quick How-To Guide | Re/code

Photo Stream is not a permanent method to store photos. There are storage limits imposed. Photo Library stores your photos in your iCloud Data Storage area that you pay for. Photo Stream is free.

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Answer 2

CincyTriGuy Author

Level 1

29 points

Dec 8, 2014 11:24 AM in response to Kappy

Thanks! That info helped.

So if I'm understanding it correctly, iCloud Photo Library is all or nothing? Every single screenshot and image download from any app will be synced to iCloud and all of my devices, and there's nothing I can do about it? What if I start running out of space on iCloud? My options are either a) buy more space, or b) delete the image? I can't simply choose a batch of images that I don't want to store in iCloud?

So far my brief experience with an iPhone is that image management / syncing / backup is definitely subpar compared to what Windows Phone and OneDrive offers. This is very disappointing.

Jason

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Answer 3

Kappy

Level 10

362,053 points

Dec 8, 2014 1:42 PM in response to CincyTriGuy

I believe that is correct. It is essentially a backup solution for using iCloud Storage. It replaces the Camera Roll and Photo Stream, and unlike Photo Stream it imposes no limitations on storage. Don't activate it unless you have enough space for all your photos. Image management and syncing is handled in iTunes and iPhoto.

No one is twisting your arm to use the products. There are other alternatives such as Drop Box. But most will require you buy more storage space if your photo library is over 2 GBs.

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Answer 4

CincyTriGuy Author

Level 1

29 points

Dec 8, 2014 1:59 PM in response to Kappy

I realize no one is twisting my arm to use anything. But that doesn't stop me from being disappointed about iOS's photo management capabilities compared to what I was used to in Windows Phone.

I already have unlimited OneDrive storage per my Office 365 account so that's not an issue. I just assumed that iCloud would be a more elegant photo syncing solution since it's built into the OS so that was the path I wanted to pursue. However now that I have a better understanding of the iCloud solution, it's clear that I'll stick with the OneDrive app for iOS to automatically back up my photos there instead of iCloud.

Not trying to be snarky and I do appreciate the info and links provided - those definitely helped.

Jason

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Answer 5

Kappy

Level 10

362,053 points

Dec 8, 2014 2:06 PM in response to CincyTriGuy

Not a problem. Nothing wrong with using other solutions.

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