iOS 8 Photos framework. Access photo metadata

Question

I\'m looking at replacing ALAssetsLibrary with Photos framework in my app.

I can retrieve photos, collections, and asset sources just fine (even write t

Answer 1

You can modify the PHAsset (e.g. adding location metadata) using Photos Framework and the UIImagePickerControllerDelegate method. No overhead from third party libraries, no duplicate photos created. Works for iOS 8.0+

In the didFinishPickingMediaWithInfo delegate method, call UIImageWriteToSavedPhotosAlbum to first save the image. This will also create the PHAsset whose EXIF GPS data we will modify:

func imagePickerController(picker: UIImagePickerController, didFinishPickingMediaWithInfo info: [String : AnyObject]) {

    if let myImage = info[UIImagePickerControllerOriginalImage] as? UIImage  {

        UIImageWriteToSavedPhotosAlbum(myImage, self, Selector("image:didFinishSavingWithError:contextInfo:"), nil)
    }    
}

The completion selector function will run after the save completes or fails with error. In the callback, fetch the newly created PHAsset. Then, create a PHAssetChangeRequest to modify the location metadata.

func image(image: UIImage, didFinishSavingWithError: NSErrorPointer, contextInfo:UnsafePointer)       {

    if (didFinishSavingWithError != nil) {
        print("Error saving photo: \(didFinishSavingWithError)")
    } else {
        print("Successfully saved photo, will make request to update asset metadata")

        // fetch the most recent image asset:
        let fetchOptions = PHFetchOptions()
        fetchOptions.sortDescriptors = [NSSortDescriptor(key: "creationDate", ascending: true)]
        let fetchResult = PHAsset.fetchAssetsWithMediaType(PHAssetMediaType.Image, options: fetchOptions)

        // get the asset we want to modify from results:
        let lastImageAsset = fetchResult.lastObject as! PHAsset

        // create CLLocation from lat/long coords:
        // (could fetch from LocationManager if needed)
        let coordinate = CLLocationCoordinate2DMake(myLatitude, myLongitude)
        let nowDate = NSDate()
        // I add some defaults for time/altitude/accuracies:
        let myLocation = CLLocation(coordinate: coordinate, altitude: 0.0, horizontalAccuracy: 1.0, verticalAccuracy: 1.0, timestamp: nowDate)

        // make change request:
        PHPhotoLibrary.sharedPhotoLibrary().performChanges({

            // modify existing asset:
            let assetChangeRequest = PHAssetChangeRequest(forAsset: lastImageAsset)
            assetChangeRequest.location = myLocation

            }, completionHandler: {
                (success:Bool, error:NSError?) -> Void in

                if (success) {
                    print("Succesfully saved metadata to asset")
                    print("location metadata = \(myLocation)")
                } else {
                    print("Failed to save metadata to asset with error: \(error!)")
}