iOS 14 brings in the new PHPicker API for importing photos and videos. Up until iOS 13, the available photo picker to use had been the UIImagePickerController; a familiar view controller that made its debut many years back.
This controller, however, carries along two disadvantages; the first is that it provides a relatively limited environment to pick media items from. Users can select one photo or video at each time only, while there’s no option to search for specific items when there are many of those stored in user’s library. The second downside is that developers are required to ask from users for their consent in order to present it, and therefore add new entries in the app’s Info.plist file with a description of the intended use.
PHPicker changes all that, and makes importing photos and videos an easier and faster task. This week, Gabriel has written up a complete guide to PHPicker. If you want to learn the API, don’t forget to check out the tutorial.
Talk soon,
Simon