diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 809cc9b..09c7ea2 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -1552,7 +1552,7 @@ checksum = "13dc2df351e3202783a1fe0d44375f7295ffb4049267b0f3018346dc122a1d94"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "loupe"
-version = "48.1.0"
+version = "49.0.0-alpha"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "arc-swap",
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 16729ea..8e79728 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "loupe"
-version = "48.1.0"
+version = "49.0.0-alpha"
 edition = "2021"
 rust-version = "1.81"
 license = "GPL-3.0-or-later"
diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 5be83d9..f757a4e 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,3 +1,17 @@
+## 49.alpha (2025-07-02)
+
+### Changed
+
+- Use glycin loaders with API 2+
+
+## 48.1 (2025-04-11)
+
+### Fixed
+
+- Crash when closing the window, probably in the exact moment when the animnation for hiding controls starts.
+- Editing does not work correctly if PNGs or JPEGs are already rotated via an Exif orientation entry before editing.
+- Printed pages don't contain anything or garbled output. This is a temporary workaround for <https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gtk/-/issues/7464>, using the cairo renderer for the rotation and scaling of the image in the print preparation.
+
 ## 48.0 (2025-03-14)
 
 ### Fixed
diff --git a/data/org.gnome.Loupe.metainfo.xml.in.in b/data/org.gnome.Loupe.metainfo.xml.in.in
index b5189d9..1702e5b 100644
--- a/data/org.gnome.Loupe.metainfo.xml.in.in
+++ b/data/org.gnome.Loupe.metainfo.xml.in.in
@@ -74,6 +74,11 @@
   </categories>
 
   <releases>
+    <release version="49.alpha" date="2025-07-02">
+      <description>
+        <p>Update to better image loaders.</p>
+      </description>
+    </release>
     <release version="48.1" date="2025-04-11">
       <description>
         <p>This release fixes issues with editing images that are already rotated via metadata, printing sometimes resulting in empty pages or garbled output, and rare crashes when closing a window.</p>
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index ea002b1..0685f77 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 project(
   'loupe',
   'rust',
-  version: '48.1',
+  version: '49.alpha',
   meson_version: '>= 0.59.0',
   default_options: [
     'warning_level=2',
diff --git a/news.d/49.alpha/changed-use-glycin-2 b/news.d/49.alpha/changed-use-glycin-2
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..37b9f7c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/news.d/49.alpha/changed-use-glycin-2
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Use glycin loaders with API 2+
diff --git a/news.d/49.alpha/released b/news.d/49.alpha/released
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8de9181
--- /dev/null
+++ b/news.d/49.alpha/released
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+2025-07-02