An application’s move to a whole new version number is normally accompanied by much publicity, as the authors boast about the many exciting new features they’ve included.

Popular photo sharing package Jalbum 9.0 appears to be a rare exception, though, with the release slipping out so quietly that it didn’t even rate a mention on the company blog.

And that’s a pity, because while this isn’t as nearly as revolutionary an update as the move to Jalbum 8.0, the latest version does include some useful enhancements that will make a real difference to anyone who uses the program.

One interesting addition is the new high resolution (2048×2048) image linking option, for instance: if your visitors want to download a printable version of your best pictures then they can now do so at a click.

When you add images to your projects then the program will now default to copying, rather than linking them. And so if you move or delete your original photos then you will no longer break an existing album.

If you’ve ever built a huge Jalbum project then you’ll know how much work can be involved, and how annoying it is if you accidentally lose the project files. But not any more. Publish with Jalbum 9.0 and the program will by default save a lifeboat.zip that contains all your captions and program settings, so even if the worst happens you can still restore your project details in just a few moments.

Elsewhere, there are some welcome usability improvements. So when you launch the program for the first time, for instance, it won’t display a sign-in window that you’ll probably have to cancel: instead you’re only asked to sign in when you opt for a particular online service.

And a range of under-the-hood tweaks help to enhance performance, improve reliability, and generally ensure Jalbum 9.0 is a little better than its predecessor.

It’s not going to change your life, then. But Jalbum 9.0 adds welcome features to an already excellent program, and if you currently use the service then you should upgrade as soon as you can.