Lap v0.3.0 is a major library-management and browsing update. It adds Smart Albums, persistent Collections, native Apple Live Photo support, and a four-pane comparison viewer. The release also makes large libraries faster to browse and search, while bringing a broad round of refinements to grouping, thumbnails, metadata, video, and selection workflows.
This version focuses on helping you find, review, compare, and organize more of your library without breaking the folder-first workflow that Lap is built around.
Highlights
- Smart Albums — Create rule-based albums. Smart Albums support configurable grouping, sorting, ordering, and file-type filters, so saved views can match the way you work. (#29, #179)
- Collections — Create persistent Collections tray and drag files into them from anywhere in your library.
- Apple Live Photos — Lap now recognizes HEIC/MOV Live Photo pairs, displays a LIVE badge, plays them in the viewer, and keeps linked MOV and AAE sidecars together during rename, move, copy, and delete operations. Companion videos stay out of normal file lists, and pairing is incrementally refreshed during scans. (#123)
- Four-Pane Comparison — Compare up to four images side by side in the image viewer, making culling and detailed review much easier. (#121)
- Faster Large-Library Workflows — Improved virtualized viewport loading, grouped browsing, semantic-search result loading, and similarity-search calculations reduce work when browsing or searching large libraries.
- Flexible Library Browsing — The new Library sidebar brings together all files, favorites, ratings, subjects. Automatic grouping adapts to the active view, including folders, dates, locations, cameras, and lenses.
New Features and Improvements
- Added configurable media-information badges on thumbnails, including format, ISO, shutter speed, aperture, focal length, and exposure. (#174)
- Added AI PNG prompt import during scanning for Automatic1111, InvokeAI, ComfyUI, and NovelAI images; imported prompts fill empty comments without overwriting your own notes. (#197)
- Added file-type filters to AI Search and Smart Albums, and clearer visual grouping for filename and visual-search results.
- Added background options and a shortcut for the image viewer. (#173)
- Added hover playback for videos and Live Photos in file info, with improved Live Photo playback in the viewer.
- Added multi-file opening in an external application, including confirmation before opening more than 100 files. (#194)
- Added collection-scoped and selected-file-scoped duplicate scans, so deduplication can be targeted to the files you are reviewing.
- Added responsive Calendar columns and clearer grouped thumbnail views, breadcrumbs, sidebar sections, and preview badges.
- Added the current commit hash to the About dialog and a setting for automatic update checks. (#185)
- Refreshed app branding, navigation icons, thumbnail layout, Manage Libraries, and other sidebar and grid controls.
Bug Fixes
- Fixed duplicate-file creation during concurrent album scans. (#190)
- Fixed stale grouping and selection after moving or deleting files, including search-result filenames and visual groups.
- Fixed several Live Photo edge cases, including stale sidecar associations and incorrect sidebar counts.
- Fixed a crash caused by null virtual-scroll thumbnail placeholders. (#203)
- Fixed JPEG capture metadata recovery, lens-model priority, and inconsistent RAW metadata formatting. (#204)
- Improved video playback compatibility and fixed video preview zoom in the file-info panel. (#186)
- Fixed album-folder grouping and selection-restoration flicker. (#199)
- Fixed grouped dedup navigation, multi-select keyboard behavior, filmstrip layout, temporary-view counts, and library loading feedback.
- Improved selection and external-open safeguards for mixed or large selections.
Downloads
Choose the correct package for your platform:
| Platform | Architecture | Package | Download |
|---|---|---|---|
| macOS | Apple Silicon | DMG | Lap_0.3.0_aarch64.dmg |
| macOS | Intel | DMG | Lap_0.3.0_x64.dmg |
| Windows | x64 | MSI | Lap_0.3.0_x64_en-US.msi |
| Windows | ARM64 | MSI | Lap_0.3.0_arm64_en-US.msi |
| Linux | x64 | DEB | Lap_0.3.0_amd64.deb |
| Linux | ARM64 | DEB | Lap_0.3.0_arm64.deb |
| Linux | x64 | AppImage | Lap_0.3.0_amd64.AppImage |
| Linux | ARM64 | AppImage | Lap_0.3.0_aarch64.AppImage |
Auto Update
If you already have Lap installed, you can update directly in the app using the built-in auto-update feature.
Thanks
Thanks to everyone who reported issues, shared workflow feedback, and helped validate this release. Your feedback continues to shape Lap's library, browsing, and media-management experience.
New Contributors
- @gurkengraeber made their first contribution in #171
- @joaquinlarroca made their first contribution in #187
- @akelagercrantz made their first contribution in #194
- @Florlet made their first contribution in #203
Full Changelog: v0.2.4...v0.3.0