How to create a shared photo stream album on iOS 6

You can share a Photo Stream album on iOS 6 with other iOS users, or through the iCloud Web site. Here's how.

September 19, 2012 4:33 PM PDT Follow @MrCippy

(Credit: Apple Inc.)

As if there aren't enough ways to share your photos with friends and family members, Apple has introduced yet another sharing method in iOS 6: Shared Photo Streams.

Shared Photo Streams allow you to post and share photos to a Photo Stream album hosted by iCloud. The photos stored there don't count against your iCloud storage allotment, and will work over Wi-Fi and cellular data. You're able to share photos with fellow iOS users as well as by creating an iCloud.com Shared Photo Stream album for non-iOS users.

(Credit: Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET)

To create a Shared Photo Stream, launch the Photos app on your iOS device, and select the Photo Stream option at the bottom of the screen. In the upper-left corner is a + sign; tap on it.

(Credit: Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET)

Enter the iCloud e-mail address of the person (or people) you'd like to share your album with. Enter a name for the album. If you want people without an iCloud account to be able to view the album on the iCloud Web site, toggle the Public Website switch to On. Select Create when you are done. Regardless of whether the album is shared with iOS users or via the iCloud site, you'll be the only person able to upload a photo to the album. Anyone else will only be able to "like" and comment on the photos.

(Credit: Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET)

You can now send photos to the album, either when viewing the album, or by viewing photos in the Photo app and tapping on the share button. You can then select Photo Stream from the list of options, leave a comment, and submit it.

(Credit: Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET)

Anyone invited to share the album can then comment or like the photo by using their iOS device. You'll receive alerts of each each new comment or like.

The ability to have shared photos uploaded to a Web site, free of charge, will be a popular feature to share photos with family or friends who aren't using iOS and iCloud. Then again,

Are Shared Photo Streams a welcome addition to iOS? Or is it a feature you're soon to forget?

Big features, tiny tweaks: Up close with iOS 6

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