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The cancellation of AirPower came at a time when Apple began to lose its charm. It is now confirmed that there won’t be any AirPower on the Apple website for the next one or two years. For this reason, consumers are looking for the options of AirPower. But hold on! Your choice of wireless charging pad should include a product that can charge your three Apple devices simultaneously.
1. Pitaka MagDock
Even if Apple had come up with its AirPower, the product wouldn’t have surpassed the excellence of Pitaka MagDock. Pitaka has made the grade at every level – whether it is design, performance, or price. The wireless charging dock is built for iOS and Android devices as well.
If you look at the price, output, and other features of this charging dock, it is a clear winner and leaves Apple far behind. The dock boasts several features like adjustable viewing angle, portable design, zero-light emittance, and others.
2. Milletech
Get secure wireless charging with Milletech’s four-in-one wireless charging station for your iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods. This multi-functional charging dock is designed to charge your three essential devices at one place and at the same time. A glaring feature of this charger is it keeps your nightstand tidy and neat.
The elegant design creates a fashion statement and enhances the beauty of your surroundings. You can place this charging dock anywhere in your home – nightstand, kitchen, dining table, living room or other places.
3. Belkin BOOST UP
If you are looking for an able alternative to AirPower, you should keep Belkin BOOST UP in mind. With the lightweight and compact design, it’s made to be ultra-portable. 7.5W transmitter coil delivers faster wireless charging than standard 5W wireless chargers.
This wireless charging pad securely charges your iPhone and doesn’t overheat or shut down abruptly. Another important quality it possesses is that it works with most slim cases. Hence, you won’t need to remove cases to power up your smartphone wirelessly.
4. Samsung
Considering the quality Samsung wireless charger boasts, it would have a mistake not to include it in this elite list. It features a very functional design that allows you to place your device vertically. That means you can enjoy your favorite videos while your device is being charged.
Smooth surface offers needed care to the device, while anti-skid mat endows it more stability. The built-in LED indicator light alerts you when the device is not properly aligned. Moreover, you can pick this wireless charging stand in four colors: black, white, silver and gold.
5. Fresh Air
Charge your iPhones 30 minutes faster with Fresh Air’s wireless charging pad, which quickly identifies your device with its intelligent technology. Compatible with all Qi-enabled devices, this charging pad has an anti-slip design to keep your iPhone stable while charging.
The charging pad sends out little light, giving you comfortable and sound sleep during the night. Before you place your iPhone on the pad, make sure you have removed the metal case and magnetic objects from the back of your device.
6. JETech
As for reliability and offering secure charging, JETech can go toe-to-toe with the best. It has a simple yet very pragmatic design. The 5V/2A input and 5V/1A output make it a safe bet. With the idle mode, it stops charging your device the moment it’s juiced up.
The smooth pad doesn’t let your device slip away. By providing a complete safeguard against overcurrent and overvoltage, it ensures your device has secure charging. Protection aside, JETech comes with a 6-month manufacturer warranty.
That’s it!
Your favorite?
Unlike AirPower, these wireless chargers lack multi-device charging technology. However, they are fully capable and offer an efficient charging solution. They may require the versatility of Apple’s wireless charging pad; they are convenient in living up to the task.
Rest assured, I will keep on updating this post to include more capable wireless chargers as they arrive on Amazon and elsewhere.
Author Profile
Dhvanesh
The founder of iGeeksBlog, Dhvanesh, is an Apple aficionado, who cannot stand even a slight innuendo about Apple products. He dons the cap of editor-in-chief to make sure that articles match the quality standard before they are published.
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Best Microsoft Office Alternatives For Pc In 2023?
Best Microsoft Office Alternatives for PC in 2023?
NOTE: Changing suites can be a bit of hassle as files created on one suite may pose problems. Because very often, the files created on one suite don’t look as good and refined on another suite; they editing you did on one suite may not work on another, etc. Everything is fine if you are using an office suite just for yourself and you don’t have to export the files to anyone. However, if you work in collaboration, you have to consider what your colleagues use. Though this problem isn’t pervasive, it is an important thing to consider.
Best Microsoft Office Alternatives 2023 1. LibreOfficeCompatible with most file formats
Much more toolbar options than Microsoft Office
Tons of available Add-ons
Free-to-use
Cons
Misses a few features
MS Office customized files may not look the same when imported
No Cloud Storage options
Why LibreOffice?
Because LibreOffice is a Free-to-use tool with an equally productive interface and working style. In some ways, it even surpasses Microsoft Office in the game of functionality such as it supports many more formats than Microsoft Office does. Though it lacks some of the features, there are tons of add-ons available that can make up for it. Hence, LibreOffice is an amazing tool and a great alternative to Microsoft Office.
Why Not?
Though it offers all the similar functionality, it lacks the elegance and charm of Microsoft Office. Apart from this, you can’t edit files on LibreOffice with your mobile device because it only allows you to read documents on its mobile app. Also, it doesn’t offer a cloud storage to save documents.
Microsoft Office vs LibreOffice (Verdict)
LibreOffice is a free-to-use tool unlike Microsoft Office which you have to pay for. Though Microsoft Office looks elegant, LibreOffice doesn’t leave behind any feature that you may require. Also, you can save files on OneDrive and Google Drive to make for missing cloud storage features.
In short, the only reason to ignore LibreOffice would be your comfort with Microsoft or your need of collaboration with other people who use MS Office.
Download: LibreOffice
2. WPS OfficePros
Available for all operating Systems
High Compatibility with MS Office
Supports multiple file formats
Has a dedicated PDF Reader
Cloud Storage
Cons
I can’t help but say it is near perfect
Why WPS Office?
WPS Office is a great free to use tool. It is available for all your devices be it Mac, Windows, Android, or iOS. There is also a web-based version available for WPS Office where you can create files and collaborate with others in real-time. It also offers cloud storage to help you save your documents and use them anywhere. WPS Office has great compatibility with Microsoft Office and Google Docs and Sheets. WPS Office is the true alternative to Microsoft office available in the market.
Why not?
WPS Office is the worthy competitor of Microsoft Office. It lacks a few features that Microsoft Office holds. The smart art in Microsoft Office is a tad bit better than WPS Office.
WPS Office vs Microsoft Office
WPS Office is a free software and lacks just a couple of features that you may never notice. It offers great functionality and interface. The application is pretty lightweight on all the operating systems.
On the other hand, Microsoft Office is a tad bit better in functionality than WPS Office. Also, OneDrive offers 5GBs free space instead of just 1GB in WPS Office.
Download: WPS Office
3. Google Office Suite:Pros
Elegant Interface
Free of Cost
All you need is a working Internet Connection
Tons of Features
Great for Students and people who don’t require much customization
Files can be exported in multiple formats
It uses the widely used file extensions that can be used with all variety of Office suites
Cons
Lacks the features of an Installed Suite
Offline Editing requires a browser Plug-in
Only the files saved in drive can be edited offline
Why Google Office Suite Apps?
Also, because it is a cloud-based platform, it is easier to collaborate with people on the same document at the same time which can be pretty useful for small businesses.
Why not Google Office Suite Apps?
Google Office apps like Google Docs, Google Sheet, and Google Slide aren’t as powerful as Microsoft Office Suite installed on your Desktop. Though the online version Microsoft Office Apps aren’t any better than Google Apps, you have the option to customize your files later in the Desktop app with Microsoft.
I too use Google Docs for collaborating on blogs and I have to use MS office on my PC often for the customization.
MS Office Suite vs Google Suite (Verdict)
If you require productivity tools for basic purposes and don’t require heavy customization, there is hardly any office suite better than Google.
However, for creatives, MS Office would be the Right choice.
4. FreeOffice:Pros
Free Version
Supports a lot of File Formats
Easy Toggling between Ribbon mode and classic mode
Touch Screen Compatibility
Easy-to-use Interface
Cons
No Cloud Storage
Not available for Mac
Why FreeOffice?
FreeOffice has both paid and free versions. FreeOffice holds all the functionality a user would require from an office suite and supports a large number of file formats including that of Microsoft Office. It features all the necessary customization options. It also offers some amazing perks such as availability of Touch mode. Touch Mode helps make the interface more usable for touch enabled devices. FreeOffice also allows you to make all the basic changes to your document with the Android version of it. Hence, it is a marvelous alternative to Microsoft Office.
Why Not?
FreeOffice offers a lot of features in the free version but has reserved some of the useful features for its premium users (Paid). Also, it doesn’t feature a cloud storage which is one of the essentials for people who work in collaboration.
FreeOffice vs Microsoft Office (Verdict)
However, more people would ignore it than not. Absence of Cloud storage renders it useless for anyone looking to work in collaboration. Also, add-ons and plug-ins aren’t easily available for any feature it misses.
Download: FreeOffice
5. Apache OpenOfficePros
Free-to-use
Dedicated Extension store
Supports over 40 Languages
A lot of built-in templates
Cons
No application for Mobile Devices
Interface is bit outdated
No Cloud Storage
Why Apache OpenOffice?
Apache OpenOffice is free to use unlike Microsoft Office which you have to pay for. Apache OpenOffice holds all the features a user would require. Even if a user feels the need of a functionality, it has its own dedicated extension store for different add-ons which can add to its functionality.
Why Not?
Apache OpenOffice looks outdated when compared with its very polished and elegant competitor. Also, it doesn’t offer cloud storage which renders it useless for people who work in collaboration.
Apache OpenOffice vs Microsoft Office
Apache OpenOffice offers all the functionality a user would require for free. It has its dedicated extension to add more functionality to the app. However, it doesn’t feel as crisp as Microsoft Office. If a polished looking user interface is what you need, OpenOffice isn’t the right alternative. However, if you are looking for the functionality and want to work on some project which you don’t have to collaborate for, OpenOffice can be a great tool.
Download: Apache OpenOffice
So, this was our list of Best Microsoft Office alternatives available in the market. Do let us know your experience if you have tried any of these.
Next Read:
How to Fix Microsoft Office Activation Errors
All You Need to Know About Microsoft Office Picture Manager
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Sagar Kapoor
9 Best Alternatives To Keepass Password Manager (2023)
There are so many passwords to keep track of these days, we all need some help—an app to help us manage them all. KeePass is often highly recommended, but is it the best password manager for you?
We’ll go through the challenges you may have with the program, and list some good alternatives.
But first, let me say that KeePass has a lot going for it. It’s open-source and very secure. In fact, it’s the application recommended by a number of important security agencies:
the German Federal Office for Information Security,
the Swiss Federal Office of Information Technology, Systems, and Telecommunication,
the Swiss Federal IT Steering Unit,
the French Network and Information Security Agency.
It’s been audited by the European Commission’s Free and Open Source Software Auditing Project and no security issues were found, and the Swiss federal administration chooses to install it on all of their computers by default. That’s a huge vote of confidence.
But should you install it on yours? Read on to find out.
Why KeePass Might Not Fit You
With all of that going for it, why should you hesitate to install it on your own computer? Here are some reasons that it’s not the best app for everyone.
User interfaces have come a long way in the last decade or two, and a number of password managers have had substantial improvements made to the way they look and feel. But not KeePass. Both the app and its website look like they were created last century.
Using chúng tôi I found a screenshot of KeePass from 2006. There’s no surprise that it looks quite dated.
Compare that to the screenshot you’ll find on the website today. It looks very similar. In terms of the user interface, KeePass hasn’t significantly changed since it was released in 2003.
If you prefer a modern interface, with all of the benefits it brings, KeePass may not be for you.
KeePass Is Very Technical
Ease of use is another thing expected of apps today. For most users, it’s a good thing. But technical users can feel that ease of use gets in the way of the functionality of an app. They’re the sort of users that KeePass was designed for.
KeePass users have to create and name their own databases and choose the encryption algorithms used to protect their data. They have to decide how they want to use the app and set it up that way themselves.
If the app doesn’t do what they want, they’re invited to create plugins and extensions that add those features. If they want their passwords on all of their devices, they have to come up with their own solution to sync them. They may find that it takes more steps to accomplish something compared to other password managers.
To some people, that sounds like fun. Technical users may relish the level of customizability that KeePass offers. But if you prefer ease of use, KeePass may not be for you.
KeePass Is Only “Officially” Available for Windows
KeePass is a Windows app. If you only want to use it on your PC, then that won’t be an issue. But what if you want to use it on your smartphone or Mac? It is possible to get the Windows version running on your Mac… but it’s technical.
Fortunately, that’s not the end of the story. Because KeePass is open-source, other developers can get hold of the source code and create versions for other operating systems. And they have.
But the result is a little overwhelming. For example, there are five unofficial versions for the Mac, and no easy way to know which one works best. If you prefer apps where the developers provide an official version for each operating system that you use, KeePass may not be for you.
KeePass Lacks Features
KeePass is quite full-featured and may have most of the functionality that you need. But compared to other leading password managers, it is lacking. I’ve already mentioned the most significant issue: it lacks synchronization between devices.
Here are a few more: the app lacks password sharing, the storing of private information and documents, and auditing of the security of your passwords. And password entries offer little customization.
By default, KeePass can’t fill in web forms for you, but third-party plugins are available that offer this functionality. And that raises one of KeePass’s strengths—savvy users can add the features they need.
Dozens of plugins and extensions can be downloaded from the official website that allows you to backup your passwords, use color codes, generate passphrase, create password strength reports, synchronize your vault, use Bluetooth key providers, and more.
Many technical users will love how extensible KeePass is. But if you prefer the features you need to be offered by default, KeePass may not be for you.
9 Alternatives to KeePass Password Manager
If KeePass isn’t for you, what is? Here are nine password managers that may suit you better.
1. The Open-Source Alternative: Bitwarden
KeePass isn’t the only open-source password manager available—there’s also Bitwarden. It doesn’t offer all of the technical benefits that KeePass does, but it’s much easier to use, and a better solution for many users.
The official version works on more platforms than KeePass, including Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android, and your passwords will be automatically synchronized to each of your computers and devices. It can fill in web forms and store secure notes out of the box, and if you like, you can host your own password vault online.
But there’s a limit to what you get for free, and at some stage, you may decide to subscribe to one of Bitwarden’s affordable paid plans. Among other benefits, these allow you to share your passwords with others on your plan—whether that’s your family or workmates—and receive comprehensive password auditing.
If you prefer open-source software and also value ease-of-use, Bitwarden may be the password manager for you. In a separate review, we compare it in detail with our next suggestion, LastPass.
2. The Best Free Alternative: LastPass
If KeePass appeals to you because it’s free to use, have a look at LastPass, which offers the best free plan of any password manager. It will manage an unlimited number of passwords across an unlimited number of devices and offers all of the features most users need.
The app offers configurable password auto-fill and syncs your vault across all of your devices. You can share your passwords with an unlimited number of users (paid plans add flexible folder sharing), and store free-form notes, structured data records, and documents. And, unlike Bitwarden, the free plan includes comprehensive password auditing, warning you of which passwords are weak, repeated, or compromised. It even offers to change your passwords for you.
If you’re looking for the most usable free password manager, LastPass may be the one for you. Read our full LastPass review or this comparison review of LastPass vs KeePass.
3. The Premium Alternative: Dashlane
Are you looking for the best-in-class password manager available today? That would be Dashlane. It arguably offers more features than any other password manager, and these can be accessed just as easily from the web interface as the native applications. Personal licenses cost around $40/year.
It offers all of the features LastPass does, but takes them a little further, and gives them a little more polish. They both fill in your passwords and generate new ones, store notes and documents and fill in web forms, and share and audit your passwords. But I found Dashlane provides a smoother experience with a more polished interface, and it only costs a few dollars a month more than LastPass’s paid plans.
Dashlane’s developers have worked hard over the last few years, and it shows. If you’re looking for the most elegant, full-featured password management out there, Dashlane may be for you. Read our full Dashlane review.
4. Other Alternatives
But they’re not your only options. Here are a few more, along with the subscription cost of the personal plan:
Conclusion
KeePass is the most configurable, extensible, technical password manager that exists. It’s distributed under the Free Software’s GPL license, and tech geeks are likely to find it perfect for their needs. But other users are very likely to struggle with the application and would be better served by an alternative.
For those who prefer to use open-source software, Bitwarden is the way to go. The free version is also distributed under the GPL, but some features require that you obtain a paid license. Unlike KeePass, Bitwarden places an emphasis on ease of use and covers the same range of features as other leading password managers.
If you’re open to using closed-source software, there are quite a few other alternatives. LastPass offers a very full range of features in its free plan, and Dashlane arguably offers the most polished password management experience available today. I recommend them.
7 Lightroom Alternatives For Raw Photographers In 2023
As much as photographers love Adobe Lightroom for its smooth RAW workflow, many of us were caught completely off-guard by Adobe’s surprise announcement at the end of 2023.
Instead of simply updating Lightroom CC to a new 2023 release alongside all the other Creative Cloud apps, Adobe launched a completely revamped version of Lightroom CC focused on the cloud and mobile devices.
The old desktop-based Lightroom CC we have come to know and love is now known as Lightroom Classic but retains all of its existing features while gaining a few new ones.
Adobe has confused a lot of people by switching around the names like this, and there doesn’t even seem to be a good reason why they didn’t release the new Lightroom CC under a different brand name – but it’s far too late to change it now.
Now that our surprise has passed and Lightroom CC has taken the training wheels off, I’ve given it another look to see if it’s finally ready to take over from Lightroom Classic.
But if you’re looking to escape the Adobe Creative Cloud ecosystem entirely, we’ve also got a list of great Lightroom alternatives from other developers.
Best Lightroom Alternatives
One of Lightroom Classic’s most appealing aspects is that it combines excellent library management and editing tools in a single streamlined package, and there aren’t many alternatives that provide this complete workflow.
If you’re not convinced that Lightroom CC is for you and you’re worried that Adobe may eventually abandon Lightroom Classic, here are a few of the other RAW workflow editors that we’ve reviewed here that are worth exploring.
1. Luminar
Shown with the ‘Professional’ workspace enabled
Luminar is one of the newer entries to the world of RAW editing is Luminar by Skylum. It has now reached version 4, but it’s still making waves by combining some powerful tools and clever automated adjustments in a user-friendly package. Of course, professional editors don’t usually want to let the computer decide what to adjust, but there are some times when it can be handy for more basic tweaks.
You don’t need to rely on their AI, thanks to the excellent adjustment tools found in Luminar – but you may have to dig a little to uncover them. The default interface places a heavy emphasis on filters and presets, but you can change to a more capable set of tools by switching your workspace to the ‘Professional’ or ‘Essentials’ option.
Available for PC and Mac for a one-time purchase price of $70, although there is a free trial available to see if Luminar is right for you. You can also read our detailed Luminar review here.
2. Capture One Pro
If you want the absolute best in terms of RAW rendering quality and editing capabilities, Capture One Pro is widely regarded as the best available on the market. Originally developed for Phase One’s high-end cameras and eventually adapted to handle all RAW formats, CaptureOne is aimed specifically at the professional market. It’s not intended for amateur or casual users, and it does not go out of its way to cater to these markets, so don’t expect social media sharing options or step-by-step wizards.
There are excellent tutorials available, and if you take the time to learn it properly you’ll be rewarded with the very best in RAW image editing. Capture One Pro is available from PhaseOne starting at $179 USD as a perpetual license purchase, or for a recurring subscription from $13 per month, as long as you have one of their supported cameras.
3. DxO PhotoLab
If you want excellent RAW editing power with a more user-friendly approach, DxO PhotoLab has a great series of quick automatic adjustments that can dramatically speed up your editing process. DxO is a renowned lens tester, and they use all the data they have acquired to identify your camera and lens combination and instantly correct for the full range of optical aberrations that can occur.
Combine this with solid RAW exposure editing tools and an industry-leading noise reduction algorithm, and you’ve got a great Lightroom replacement. The only drawback is that its library management tools are a new addition, and aren’t quite as robust as what you’re used to in Lightroom.
DxO PhotoLab is available for Windows and Mac in two editions: the Essential Edition, or the ELITE edition. See our detailed PhotoLab review for more.
4. Serif Affinity Photo
Affinity Photo is the first photo editing program from Serif, and it’s been eagerly anticipated by photographers as a Photoshop replacement. It’s still fairly new, but it already has some excellent RAW editing features that rival what you can do in Lightroom and Photoshop in a single program. It claims to be extremely optimized for working with large RAW files, but I found that even 10-megapixel RAW files had some performance issues.
The real selling point for Affinity Photo is how affordable it is. It’s available for Windows and Mac in a perpetual license edition at a one-time purchase price of $49.99 USD, and Serif has promised free feature updates for all users until version 2.0 is released. Read our full review of Serif Affinity Photo here.
5. Corel Aftershot Pro
If you’ve ever chafed at slow performance in Lightroom, you will be happy to know that Corel’s RAW editor has made a specific point of highlighting how much faster it is.
It remains to be seen how Aftershot Pro will compete with the new performance updates found in Lightroom Classic, but it’s definitely worth a look. It also has some of the best library management tools of any of the alternatives on this list, and it doesn’t force you to work with imported catalogs if you don’t want to.
Corel Aftershot Pro is available for Windows and Mac at a one-time purchase of $79.99, although it is currently on sale (and has been for some time) at a 30% discount, bringing the cost down to a reasonable $54.99. Read our full Corel Aftershot Pro review here.
6. On1 Photo RAW
Despite its lackluster name, On1 Photo RAW is also an excellent Lightroom alternative. It offers solid library management and excellent editing tools, although it could definitely use some optimization on the performance side of things.
The interface is a bit difficult to use, but it’s still worth a look if you’re in the market for an all-in-one RAW workflow package. On1 is going to be releasing the new version shortly, so hopefully, they have addressed some of the issues that I had when I reviewed the previous version of the software.
On1 Photo RAW is available for Windows and Mac at a cost of $119.99 USD, although it is only compatible with 64-bit versions of both operating systems. Read our full On1 Photo Raw review here.
7. Adobe Photoshop & Bridge
This workflow requires two different programs, but since they’re both parts of the Adobe Creative Cloud they play quite nicely together. Adobe Bridge is a digital asset management program, essentially a catalog of all of your media.
It doesn’t have quite the same degree of flagging flexibility as Lightroom Classic or CC, but it does have the benefit of stability and universality. If you’re a subscriber to the full Creative Cloud and use a number of the apps regularly, Bridge allows you to maintain a single catalog of your media no matter where you want to use it.
Once you’re done flagging and tagging and you’re ready for editing, you can simply edit images in Photoshop using Camera Raw. One great aspect of using Camera RAW is that it uses the same RAW conversion engine as Lightroom, so you won’t have to redo any edits that you’ve made previously.
The Bridge/Photoshop combo isn’t as elegant as the all-in-one system offered by Lightroom, but you’ll be able to develop a new workflow with a catalog and editor that Adobe isn’t likely to scrap any time soon – although there are never any guarantees in software.
What’s New in Lightroom CC
The Lightroom CC is a completely different approach to photographic workflow management, based around the idea that everything should be stored in the cloud. This has the potential to be incredibly liberating for those of you who work on multiple editing devices regularly, but it may also be frustrating for those of you who don’t have reliable, unlimited high-speed internet everywhere you go.
For any of you who have ever lost photographs due to a hard drive failure, worries about backups will never trouble you again – at least, not until you run out of storage space on your cloud account. All of the images you add to Lightroom CC get uploaded in full resolution to the cloud, giving you a handy backup copy managed by a professional data center. Of course, it would be foolish to use this as the only backup copy of your photographs, but it’s always nice to have a bit of extra peace of mind.
In addition to storing your photos in the cloud, all of your non-destructive edits will also be stored and shared, allowing you to quickly resume editing on a mobile device or different desktop no matter where you started the process.
Probably the most exciting feature of Lightroom CC is that it can search the contents of your photos without using tags. Yes, you read that right – no more time-consuming tagging when you’d really rather be shooting and editing! Powered by recent developments in artificial intelligence and machine learning, Adobe has developed a new service dubbed ‘Sensei’ that provides a range of services across all of their Creative Cloud apps. You can learn more about Sensei and what it can do here.
AI-based searching is incredibly cool (assuming it works properly and doesn’t miss important photos) but it’s not really enough to drive adoption. No matter how many buzzwords Adobe crams into their marketing materials, the truth of the matter is that Lightroom CC still isn’t ready for professional use just yet.
The latest Lightroom CC update solves one of the larger issues by adding support for default import presets, but I find it a bit concerning that they’re only getting around to fixing that now, years after the first release.
We can expect to see Lightroom CC receiving fairly frequent updates as the development process continues, so hopefully, it will eventually live up to its promise. For those of you who are interested in how the migration from Lightroom Classic to Lightroom CC will work, Adobe has prepared a quick guide with tips here.
Has Lightroom Classic Changed Much?
Lightroom Classic still offers the same functionality that we’ve come to expect. Adobe has added a couple of new features in the latest release such as local hue adjustment tools and updated support for the latest RAW formats, but the real changes being touted by Adobe are under the hood. Lightroom users have long complained about slow performance when importing, creating previews, and other edits, although at least one program (Corel Aftershot) makes a point of how much faster it is than Lightroom.
I’m not sure if this is just limited to my unique combination of images and editing computer, but I’ve actually noticed a bit of a reduction in responsiveness after the June 2023 update for Lightroom Classic – despite the fact that Adobe is claiming improved performance. I find it pretty frustrating, overall, although I still find Lightroom to be one of the simplest combinations of library management and RAW editor.
When you look back at the history of new Lightroom features, the latest update is a pretty small set of changes, especially considering that the promised performance improvements don’t really seem to be helpful.
Admittedly, Lightroom was already a pretty solid program and there wasn’t too much to improve upon in terms of major features – but when companies start focusing on optimizing instead of expanding, it usually indicates that they’re done making large changes.
Should I Switch My Workflow?
This is a very difficult question to answer, and it will depend a lot on your current setup. Completely changing your photo processing workflow can be a huge time investment, especially for those of you who have an extensive flagging system for your photo catalog. Not all programs interpret ratings, flags, and tags in the same way (if they recognize them at all) so it’s always a bit nerve-wracking to think about losing all of that data.
Many of you who have invested heavily in Lightroom in terms of your workflow and catalog will be resistant to changing everything up, and very understandably. But is it possible that Adobe will eventually drop support for Lightroom Classic the way they have for Lightroom 6, eventually leaving it by the wayside as new features and camera profiles are released for Lightroom CC? Adobe hasn’t made any statements about the future of Lightroom Classic, but that isn’t necessarily reassuring.
Unfortunately, Adobe has something of a history of saying one thing and doing another when it comes to the future development of their applications. In this blog post from 2013 when the Creative Cloud brand and system were being launched, Adobe attempted to calm down Lightroom 5 users who were confused by the changes:
Q. Will there be a different version of Lightroom called Lightroom CC?
A. No.
Q. Will Lightroom become a subscription-only offering after Lightroom 5?
A. Future versions of Lightroom will be made available via traditional perpetual licenses indefinitely.
Adobe then later announced that Lightroom 6 would be the last standalone version of Lightroom available outside of the Creative Cloud subscription model and that it would stop receiving updates after the end of 2023. This means that as time goes on, a perfectly acceptable editor will grow less and less useful as the range of unsupported camera RAW profiles increases.
My personal workflow doesn’t benefit from the new cloud-based features, but I’m definitely keeping an eye on Lightroom CC as it matures to see whether or not it grows into a better option. At the moment, the storage plans available don’t fit either my budget or my workflow, but storage is always getting cheaper.
So What Should I Do?
If you’re happy with your current workflow, you can continue using Lightroom Classic without any disruptions other than the slightly confusing new name. You may want to prepare yourself for the possibility that it will eventually be left behind in favor of the cloud-based Lightroom CC, although it’s quite easy to make the shift to the new workflow if you want to.
If you don’t like the idea of storing all your photos in the cloud, many of the other alternatives that we discussed above are just as capable as Lightroom. This may be a good time to see if any other software can fill your RAW photo editing needs – you might even find a program you like better than Lightroom!
The Best Alternatives To Google Photos
That’s a blow for many people who use (and love) the service. Not only is it a simple way of storing your photos in the cloud, it’s also great for finding photos thanks to Google’s powerful search, as well as for showing you photos from ‘this day’ in past years.
You can carry on backing up photos and videos to Google Photos for free, but now they’ll start using up your Google storage until it’s full.
When that happens, the backups will stop, and you’ll have to decide what to do. The obvious option is to pay for more Google storage. As standard you have 15GB, but you could pay a small monthly fee (£1.59/$1.99) for 100GB, or £2.49 / $2.99 for 200GB. If you want to store your whole family’s camera rolls, the 2TB Premium plan could be the one you need, but it does cost £79.99 /$99.99 per year.
However, you can share any paid-for plan with your family. And while it may sound crazy, paying for Google Photos is the best alternative to (free) Google Photos for most people!
But if you were never that bothered about the service itself and are determined to find an alterative, here are five options, one of which is ‘free’.
1. Back up to your computerIf you don’t mind the inconvenience, you can set a reminder every so often to copy the photos and videos you’ve taken on your phone to your PC or laptop. As long as you have plenty of spare hard drive space, this is the cheapest option since you already own the storage.
If storage is lacking, you could buy an portable USB drive and copy the photos and videos via your computer to that drive instead.
It’s not the greatest alternative, and becomes labour intensive if you have to do all your family’s devices.
2. Buy a NAS driveThese are essentially hard drives that attach to your home network and become your own ‘personal cloud storage’.
The good ones, including those from Synology, have mobile apps which will back up photos and videos from your phone(s) to the NAS automatically. Synology’s DS Photo app for Android and iOS can do this.
It’s a much more convenient solution to connecting phones to a computer. NAS prices start at under £100/$100 but you’ll usually have to buy the hard drives separately.
3. Use an ‘on-the-go’ USB driveIf a NAS seems too expensive and too much hassle, a simpler option is a USB drive which can plug into your phone and backup its camera roll. One example is SanDisk’s iXpand Flash Drive Luxe.
It comes in capacities up to 256GB and has an iOS app which can automatically back up your photos and videos when you plug it in. It isn’t the best app ever, and certainly no substitute for Google Photos, but it does mean you have a back up of your camera roll which you could also copy to a computer, albeit one which has a USB-C port, since the drive has no standard USB connector or an adapter.
If you have only Android phones, you may be better off with an OTG flash drive since they’re cheaper for an equivalent capacity. Indeed, SanDisk’s own Ultra Dual USB Flash Drive (which has micro- and full-size USB connectors is under £20/$20 from Amazon.
4. Use a cloud storage serviceIf you pay for Google One storage, that covers all Google services, not just Google Photos. So you can use it to store documents and files as well. But if you’re against the idea of a subscription, there are cloud services which offer a one-time payment for lifetime access, a bit like buying an online hard drive.
An example is pCloud, which has an app that will automatically back up photos and videos to your cloud storage when you take them.
So it really depends upon whether you value the way Google Photos surfaces your photos, or if you simply want them stored safely somewhere that isn’t eating up your phone’s storage space.
If you are tempted by a lifetime cloud storage deal, pCloud offers 500GB for a one-off payment of £159 or 2TB for £309.
For £4.66/$6 per month,
The benefit is unlimited storage, so you can upload your entire photo library and not worry about how long it will be before your storage is full.
6. iCloudThis is mainly because the Photos app on iPhone is already very good at displaying and searching for photos, and has several AI-boosted features which do useful things such as automatically creating highlights videos.
iCloud seamlessly works in the background to store those photos and videos without taking up space on your iPhone. Apple still only offers a paltry 5GB for free – the stingiest of all cloud services – but the prices to upgrade to more substantial figures are reasonable – and certainly in line with the costs for Google One storage.
Related articles for further readingBest Apple News App Alternatives For Iphone
Users who do not belong to the USA can get Apple News App outside the US on their iPhone or iPad. But once they change their Country and Region, they won’t be able to access the News app. So what is the solution? Well, there are many cool news apps, which can give Apple’s News app a good run for their money.
1. CNN
CNN is undoubtedly one of the leaders in electronic media. Download this app on your iPhone or iPad and get breaking news alerts and chase the top stories. You can personalize 12 categories and take a glance at the news on your Apple Watch. You can also watch live CNN TV events and shows, provided your cable or satellite provider offers you this facility.
Stay tuned with the latest happenings in international politics, opinions, tech and environment stories. You can also share news items, photos, and videos with CNN by using iReport section on the app.
2. Flipboard
Since 2010, Flipboard has garnered immense popularity among iPhone and iPad users; the app was included by Apple in 2010, and now Apple certainly wants to find a way to say goodbye to this app. The reason is simple: Apple has its own News app, and since Flipboard is there, nobody would like to sing up Apple News app.
3. Google News
Want to get news stories from thousands of publications? Download Google News on your iOS device. Get a complete and personalized angle of every news story and weather. For easy access, sections are categorized in Top Stories, Technology, Sports, and Weather; just swipe to read your favorite stories. Lastly, like most of the Google products, this too is free to use.
4. The Wall Street Journal
If finance is your forte, download this app right away on your iPhone or iPad. Experience extraordinary visual treat as the app offers you excellent photo slideshows, full-screen video, and interactive graphics. In this digital age, everyone wants quick news stories, and this app does the job; WSJ offers enhanced performance that ensures faster load times and stability. You can also view top stories on your Apple Watch; and if you don’t want to watch the stories now, save them for reading later on your iPhone. With the help of Push notifications, you get the latest news as soon as it breaks.
5. The Guardian
The Guardian has a long history of serving readers with fresh news and unbiased journalism. Now get the same quality and content in the app. Download this app on your iPhone or iPad and stay tuned for live news and sport. The app gives you access to complete Guardian content, nicely designed for iOS devices.
Moreover, you can also read offline; select your favorite news topics and sections, and those will be shown on your device’s home screen. Get breaking news alerts on your iPhone, iPad and your Apple Watch too. Also get personal notifications for your favorite stories, series, writers and football teams.
6. Yahoo News
Yahoo’s News is a powerhouse and has got all the features you’d want to remain at peace with the breaking news, stories you like to catch up with. To get started, all you have to do is just select the topics you like and then let the app deliver the top-notch stories from renowned sources.
You can share your reaction or feedback to any news and join the never-ending discussion. Explore any type of story or news that sets you on fire. Also, get personalized alerts about local news or any other important thing to ensure you remain updated.
Microsoft News is a worthy alternative to Apple’s News app. It provides top stories and breaking news from well-known sources. You can also fine-tune it to instantly get the sort of stories you enjoy reading.
With the breaking news alerts, it helps you stay up-to-date. Above all, this news app has the support of many languages like English, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian and more.
8. The Huffington Post
This app has begun to receive much attention from the web and mobile users. Download The Huffington Post on your iPhone or iPad and enjoy the latest articles, videos, photos, and blogs in a very dynamic and personalized experience.
Once you download this app, you can customize it to be a part of the conversation on your choice of topics – from politics, business, technology to fashion, lifestyle, entertainment, and health. Receive real-time updates from countries like UK, Canada, Brazil, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Japan, Korea, and the Maghreb.
9. BBC News
Any list of best news apps would be incomplete without BBC News. It delivers trusted news and stories from all around the world. If you want to get the most out of this app, you can also personalize it to easily access the stories that you like reading.
It also suggests stories depending on what you love reading to ensure you don’t have to spend a lot of time in finding out what instantly catches your eyes. You can access Live BBC world service radio and watch videos of trending stories. Besides, you can also subscribe to push notifications to stay in tune with everything that matters to you.
Author Profile
Jignesh
Jignesh Padhiyar is the co-founder of chúng tôi who has a keen eye for news, rumors, and all the unusual stuff around Apple products. During his tight schedule, Jignesh finds some moments of respite to share side-splitting content on social media.
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