Why SO many random DCIM Folders? I want ONE!

I am in no way offended by your contribution here. I just disagree. Strongly.

My bad if you think refuting your position is cold or mean. Not my intent.

To throw off a comment like "a few good ideas" is, IMO, much colder and ignores reality. End it up with a veiled threat to walk to Android and I'm the mean one? "Won't be the first time they blew it?" "do it the Apple way?" Sorry, but your post is a rant. One of many we see here when an Apple process, feature or "way of doing" things is considered anti-user. Truth told, for every user left wanting for control, there are 1000s who are very content just using their devices. In a way that Apple has decided works best.

You can't forget that Mr. Jobs was known for dismissing technologies and features "he" considered dated or obsolete. He alone pushed users away from established standards many times. Floppy drives, SCSI, Firewire, Adobe Flash.

You didn't answer my questions though about your users rooting around in your tables. There is a system in place in your databases to ensure data integrity. If you don't like Apple's implementation of data integrity, don't use it.

Apple does watch what "we" say and how we feel.

Tell them what you feel here >>> http://www.apple.com/feedback/

Why are you using an iPhone as you don't like or agree with the restrictions it imposes. Go buy a Windows phone and use whatever you want in Windows. Apple is clearly not for you.

When I want my data sold to anyone who can pay I'll go Android, until then not.

Then my work is done here.

Sheryl34 wrote:

Or am I mistaken? Is there an easy, convenient way to get a copy of the entire iCloud photo archive downloaded to my PC?

Import photos and videos from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to your computer - Apple Support

Yes it does, and has for a while

flow3rbell wrote:

ONE folder per photo is extremely annoying....

It's annoying because it's not the advocated way to do it.

Hi.

I agree that using Windows Explorer is not the correct way to copy images.

I've read

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201302

and it redirected me to

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/get-pictures-camera-computer

You said that it is not necessary copy all files, but I could not find any way to copy only the last photos. The link above has following text:

Why can't I choose which pictures or videos to import?

Windows detects your newest pictures and videos and doesn't import duplicate versions of older pictures or videos that you've already copied to your computer, so you can import your pictures and videos in a single step. You can then review and organize your pictures in the Pictures library.

I'm using Windows 7. Do you know how to copy a single image? When I use import wizard it copy all files. What am I doing wrong? I know that if it is not possible without using Itunes, it is Microsoft's fault, not Apple. I'm not complaining.

Thanks in advance.

I don't believe anyone has suggested using iTunes to transfer photos from your device ... if they did they don't understand. iTunes does not do this, never did.

What has been suggested are tools like:

• Adobe Photoshop Elements
• Google Picassa
• Microsoft Camera and Scanner Wizard
• Microsoft Office Picture Manager
• Microsoft Live Photo Gallery
• Apple iPhoto or (new) Photos

No one's saying to use only Apple software that I can see, much less iTunes.

Your method will help users find photos on their device, but what it will miss (as mentioned previously) are the "sidecar" edit tracking files which may exist if you edited the photo on your device.

Nice try, but your straw-man analogy is flawed. The can of beans I'm opening doesn't open with my standard, universal can opener. And it opens badly with Apple's add-on to my standard can opener.

This isn't rocket science, but let me try to take you through it.

1. People overwhelmingly use IOS for their smartphone, not Windows. (Android dwarfs both).
2. People overwhelmingly use Windows for their desktop/laptop, not IOS. (something like 91% versus 7%)
3. People overwhelmingly use the File Explorer built into Windows to access and manage files on their PC.
4. People overwhelmingly access their USB photo-storing devices by plugging it into the PC and opening File Explorer.
5. Apple chose not to make their IOS devices work with built-in Windows drivers.
6. Apple specifically spent the time and money to make a Windows driver for their IOS devices, but chose not to make it display/index the files with the same file structure as the device.

Conclusion: Apple decided not to make IOS devices and their Windows drivers friendly with how people overwhelming use their device with their PC.

Translated into your analogy: Apple expects me to get their can opener (or modify my can opener) to open a can from Apple, even though the overwhelming majority of people use my standard can opener to successfully open the overwhelming majority of cans.

Yes, we know it's possible. I provided two alternatives myself. But we shouldn't have to bother.

Csound1 wrote:

Apple expects that you will use software compatible with their services, if you do not wish to why use them at all? I am sure that Windows phones work the way you want to work.

Ugh, the fallacies keep coming. Yours is called "false dilemma".

1. Apple's Windows driver is their own software intended to be used with their devices. Should Apple software be compatible with Apple devices?
2. Apple does not "expect" anyone to use Apple for everything. They might prefer it, but they don't expect it. I already explained above how Apple mobile devices are far more popular while Windows PCs dominate the desktop/laptop market. There is no reason why they shouldn't work well together for this simple purpose.
3. I use an iPhone and a Windows PC because they have apps, tools, and features that a Windows phone or Mac doesn't have. And the marketplace overwhelmingly feels the same. (Of course, I prefer Android over either, but my wife wanted an iPhone, so that's what we got.)

drume wrote:

Csound1 wrote:

Apple expects that you will use software compatible with their services, if you do not wish to why use them at all? I am sure that Windows phones work the way you want to work.

Ugh, the fallacies keep coming. Yours is called "false dilemma".

1. Apple's Windows driver is their own software intended to be used with their devices. Should Apple software be compatible with Apple devices?
2. Apple does not "expect" anyone to use Apple for everything. They might prefer it, but they don't expect it. I already explained above how Apple mobile devices are far more popular while Windows PCs dominate the desktop/laptop market. There is no reason why they shouldn't work well together for this simple purpose.
3. I use an iPhone and a Windows PC because they have apps, tools, and features that a Windows phone or Mac doesn't have. And the marketplace overwhelmingly feels the same. (Of course, I prefer Android over either, but my wife wanted an iPhone, so that's what we got.)

So what, your choice is to use the wrong tool, no need to obfuscate that,

How's that choice working out for you?

tab1075 wrote:

...They all get their own folder according to the month the photos were taken. I have 46 sub-folders within the DCIM consisting of 46 separate months that those photos were taken.

Unfortunately, it doesn't stay that way. A new folder can be generated by a number of factors, including:

• photo numbering past a new set of thousands (or past 9999)
• saving a photo from a message or email.
• modifying photos
• deleting photos
• etc, etc, etc

I feel your pain on this, especially since the examples above aren't consistent, so it's very hard to predict when iOS will decide it wants a new folder. But right now Apple takes Lawrence's attitude that "there is no need". ...except that so many people are screaming for it. ...and the fact that Windows File Explorer is the single most commonly used file management tool. ...on the most common operating system. But hey, no need, right?

Import them, then delete the DCIM folders.

I have 673 photos saved on my phone and 29 DCIM folders. Each folder has any where from 1 to 90 some files.