[jceeetle]

iPhoto can be shared across multiple accounts. Move your iPhoto Library file to the /Users/Shared directory. Everyone has access to it there. I've been doing this with my wife for the last 6 years. It works. You don't need to create a separate Shared account.

[colorfan]

Why no mention or comparison with Picasa for Mac? The Picasa application (along with its online photo site Picasa Web Albums) has face recognition, and geotagging. Picasa also has support for Facebook, SmugMug, Flickr, etc. How does the new iPhoto compare with Google's offering?

[ShutterbugDoug]

I've heard it said that iPhoto can be thought of as a plug-in for Aperture.

[drwatcher]

I use Aperture. It is essentially the same as Lightroom. The reviews are good for both. However, you can purchase Aperture on Amazon for about $180 and Lightroom costs at least $50 more.

Both Aperture and Lightroom are RAW image editors and have fairly extensive cataloging and metadata attributes. The one comment that made me finally decide on Aperture was the workflow and price. While Lightroom's workflow is step by step, Aperture's is open, meaning, you can adapt your workflow to Aperture. I have a friend who has been using Lightroom since it was released and he loves it.

[hmurchison]

Picasa's a PC port and while it support facial recognition and geotagging it doesn't automatically search your pictures and find other similar facial features for grouping. Their facial recognition aids in removing red eye and other features.

iPhoto '09 is vastly superior to Picasa but Picasa if free and a good choice for older Macs. New Macs will come with iLife '09 and there are few reasons to use Picasa over iPhoto. Remember most apps use the media browser which pulls photos from iPhoto not whatever photo app you have installed.

[rab777hp]

Picasa web albums automatically searches your pics to find other faces of the same person.

[dwd3885]

not sure how you can say iphoto 09 is vastly superior to picasa. '09 hasn't even came out yet... While iPhoto 09 is probably very good, you can't say that.

[rab777hp]

a very intelligent statement to say, possibly the most logical post yet posted in this thread- you cannot compare software you have not yet tried, especially when it has not even been released yet. The fact is, iPhoto '09 has not yet been released, so speculation is only possible.

[hmurchison]

My reasoning is simple.

Picasa PC was in a dead heat in iPhoto '08 IMO. I find the only people who preferred Picasa were
the people who were finicky about file structure (i.e they wanted to keep photos on a shared library)

I think Apple's grouping by events and the ability to easily hide photos amongst other things really improved
the program.

With iPhoto '09 Apple has created the next logical extension and best use of Geo tagging of photos that I've seen
thus far. So I will re-state my comment for more clarity.

"if the Faces feature works as promised and the Facebook and Fickr integration is smooth then I see little reason
to use Picasa as the primary photo management tool on a newer Mac "

I'll stand by that statement. Picasa's a good choice for older Macs and I'm glad to see it on the Mac. I figure Picasa 4 will have the nifty Google Earth features a la iPhoto '09.

[drumrobot]

Sorry, I'm a little confused...
Is it possible to get iPhoto '09 separately?
Thanks

[rab777hp]

drumrobot: no

hmrutchinson: the best geotagging you have yet seen? you haven't seen iPhoto '09 yet, 2nd, picasa has Great geotagging, with google maps integration, might I remind you the Google's Picasa and Google's Maps are both from the same company, picasa has amazing geotagging features.

[webraider]

Picasa is on the mac now but the only thing it has that iPhoto doesn't is collages. It may have some different editing juice, but it has some frills editing that I can take or leave and it's not near as easy to navigate as iPhoto and lacks the organization of iPhoto (what iPhoto was initially intended to do) The only other photo editor that I use it Photoshop which does put iPhoto to shame as I'm sure light room does too.. Picasa Is a joke compared to iPhoto though.

[webraider]

I've used Picasa for the Mac. It's not near as "intuitive" or as easy to organize as iPhoto. It's editing tools are not as good. It does have the features you are talking about but I did not get a chance to compare it to the new iPhoto yet. The only thing that I see that Picasa has to offer that's better than iPhoto is Collages. Everything else is not as intuitive or as fast as iPhoto.

[webraider]

We're comparing it to iPhoto '08...Even iPhoto '08 to me if a much better Photo organization tool than Picasa. Has stronger editing, and organizes better. It's just missing collages.