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Alternative to Photobucket

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Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Sunday, July 2, 2017 2:10 PM

Rich, I suspect the infrastructure cost to run Photobucket is way more per user than the cost to run AOL for example (yes silly me still uses AOL).

At the same time, the income streams for Photobucket seem dramaticly more limited than those for AOL.

Photobucket provides a more expensive service, yet has less opertunities to "sell" something.

Personally, I don't play games, or go on facebook, so free or not none of them put ads in front of me or make money on me.

Years ago in my career as an electrical project manager I helped build the internet. Most people have no idea the massive infrastructure of computer servers, and the electrical power infrastructure, needed to power the web. 

One job we did required more than trippling the electrical service into an eight story downtown building so that one floor of the building could be an internet server hub - millions of dollars just for that one little hub in downtown Baltimore.

Best example of poor quality free crap on the internet - Yahoo, and all their "free" "groups". In most every case, their software is so clunky, convoluted, full of ad catches and popups, I have complelely given up on every Yahoo group.

Daddy was right, in most cases you get exactly what you pay for.....

Sheldon

PS - one more point - in 1/10 of the time it would take me to relocate and relink the 400 images I have on Photobucket to some other provider, I can earn the money Photobucket charges. For some people "playing" with a computer is a hobby, for me it is just a tool, the faster, easier and simpler it does what I want the better.  

    

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Posted by peahrens on Sunday, July 2, 2017 1:52 PM

Guy, would you please advise how you adjusted settings in imgbb "settings" so only those persons with the link (vs the whole internet) can see your photos.  Does achieving that depend on which way the link or photo itself is inserted in the Forum thread?  I looked but don't see that option (or understand the lingo).   

Paul

Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent

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Posted by richhotrain on Sunday, July 2, 2017 1:05 PM

ATLANTIC CENTRAL

Now for a different point of view.....

Well, I have been paying the modest fee at Photobucket for some time now. I hate the ads on that and similar run sites.

I have an extensive collection of tractor photos that are linked to a forum in a thread that has been ongoing for 5 years. It is the second longest and most viewed thread on the GRAVELY section of that forum.

The forum does not allow editing of posts after about 24 hours, so replacing the photo links would be an administrative nightmare with the moderators.

This thread is a very popular and helpful tool to other tractor owners, it would be a shame for that info to be lost or damaged right now.

I realize that day might come, but for now I'm happy that it can stay up intact.

Similarly, all the photos I have posted on here are the same way.

I find it interesting that a service like Photobucket was ever "free" and I'm not sure I like that idea. Free implies that the provider does not owe me "good service", just like we are seeing now with this policy change at Photobucket.

Obviously the original business model of providing the free service to sell ads and other goods and services is not working. How long will the next guy with "free" photohosting last?

Everytime someone gets something for nothing, someone else does something for nothing. Which is fine in some aspects of life, but not so good in others.......

Happy to pay my way........

Sheldon 

 

I'm not so sure about all of that, Sheldon. A lot of websites are free on the Internet, and not just image hosting sites. What about your email account? Mine is free. What about gaming web sites, chess web sites, puzzle web sites, etc., etc., etc.  All of these web sites and email sites may make money through advertising. It has yet to be revealed why Photobucket did what it did.

Rich

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Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Sunday, July 2, 2017 11:49 AM

ROBERT PETRICK

 

 
Sir Madog

Sheldon,

I am afraid I have to agree to your statement. There are a number of services in the Internet we think are for "free", but only as long as these sites generate sufficient advertising revenue, which, in the days of ad blocking software, is most unlikely.

What we see happening with our formerly free PB accounts will be the role model for all free services. Hopefully other providers are a little smarter and don´t ask an arm and a leg.

I think PB will not stay in business much longer and they deserve to go belly up!

 

 

Yes, and it's a similar situation with this website and this forum. Steven Otte and MRR and Kalmback and who knows who else go to a lot of bother and expense to provide this service and this courtesy to subscribers and others interested in the World's Greatest Hobby. But the day may come (and it may come with little or no warning) when they decide it is not worth the effort. In the meantime . . . eat, drink, and be merry.

Robert 

 

And just for the record, that tractor fourm I mentioned above is user owned and run, and also has a small fee if you want to enjoy it ad free, again which I happily pay.

But since I limit my web activities, a few fees for a good experiance if well worth it to me.

I only frequent this form and the one tractor forum on any reqular basis.

Sheldon

    

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Posted by fmilhaupt on Sunday, July 2, 2017 10:05 AM

ROBERT PETRICK

  But the day may come (and it may come with little or no warning) when they decide it is not worth the effort. In the meantime . . . eat, drink, and be merry.

Robert 

 

 
Case in point: When Atlas dropped the forums that they used to host.

-Fritz Milhaupt, Publications Editor, Pere Marquette Historical Society, Inc.
http://www.pmhistsoc.org

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Posted by C&O Fan on Sunday, July 2, 2017 10:02 AM

SNIP >

 

That is just wrong. It is like a ransom. 

 

 

[/quote]

Its Very Simlar to the Ransome Virus Software Hackers Use ~!

TerryinTexas

See my Web Site Here

http://conewriversubdivision.yolasite.com/

 

 

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Posted by ROBERT PETRICK on Sunday, July 2, 2017 10:01 AM

Sir Madog

Sheldon,

I am afraid I have to agree to your statement. There are a number of services in the Internet we think are for "free", but only as long as these sites generate sufficient advertising revenue, which, in the days of ad blocking software, is most unlikely.

What we see happening with our formerly free PB accounts will be the role model for all free services. Hopefully other providers are a little smarter and don´t ask an arm and a leg.

I think PB will not stay in business much longer and they deserve to go belly up!

Yes, and it's a similar situation with this website and this forum. Steven Otte and MRR and Kalmback and who knows who else go to a lot of bother and expense to provide this service and this courtesy to subscribers and others interested in the World's Greatest Hobby. But the day may come (and it may come with little or no warning) when they decide it is not worth the effort. In the meantime . . . eat, drink, and be merry.

Robert 

LINK to SNSR Blog


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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 2, 2017 9:28 AM

Sheldon,

I am afraid I have to agree to your statement. There are a number of services in the Internet we think are for "free", but only as long as these sites generate sufficient advertising revenue, which, in the days of ad blocking software, is most unlikely.

What we see happening with our formerly free PB accounts will be the role model for all free services. Hopefully other providers are a little smarter and don´t ask an arm and a leg.

I think PB will not stay in business much longer and they deserve to go belly up!

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Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Sunday, July 2, 2017 9:07 AM

richhotrain

 

 
NYBW-John

 

 
hon30critter

So I guess if we close our Photobucket accounts all our pictures will disappear from our previous posts. Do I have that right?

I'm also guessing that the only way to restore those photos to the threads would be to go back through the picture files on my computer, find the same photo, copy it to another photo hosting site, and then re-post the photo in the original thread. Correct?

That's a bummer!

To me, this is a breach of business ethics of the highest order!

Dave

 

 

 

I see nothing unethical about what they are doing. They are making a business decision. We as consumers have the right to accept their new terms or look elsewhere for similar services. Time will tell if they made a wise business decision. Generally speaking, when you start charging a consumer for a service that they had been getting for free, it doesn't work out well.

 

 

 

No, it is not ethical. Dave is correct. It is a breach of business ethics of the highest order.

 

No notice in advance. In many cases, including my own, no notice after the fact.

What Photobucket has done is to hold its members hostage for ransom, pure and simple.

Whatever business decision it is that they are making, it is not apparent to me. In exchange for free storage, members were subject to viewing ads. Advertisers paid Photobucket to pst their ads. That was Photobucket's source of revenue. As members leave in droves rather than pay fees, so will advertisers. So where is the business decision other than to commit economic suicide?

Rich

 

I certainly agree Photo Bucket is being extremely unethical.

 

They are blocking photos that were posted prior to their decision until you pay them money.

 

That is just wrong. It is like a ransom. 

 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

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Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Sunday, July 2, 2017 9:01 AM

Now for a different point of view.....

Well, I have been paying the modest fee at Photobucket for some time now. I hate the ads on that and similar run sites.

I have an extensive collection of tractor photos that are linked to a forum in a thread that has been ongoing for 5 years. It is the second longest and most viewed thread on the GRAVELY section of that forum.

The forum does not allow editing of posts after about 24 hours, so replacing the photo links would be an administrative nightmare with the moderators.

This thread is a very popular and helpful tool to other tractor owners, it would be a shame for that info to be lost or damaged right now.

I realize that day might come, but for now I'm happy that it can stay up intact.

Similarly, all the photos I have posted on here are the same way.

I find it interesting that a service like Photobucket was ever "free" and I'm not sure I like that idea. Free implies that the provider does not owe me "good service", just like we are seeing now with this policy change at Photobucket.

Obviously the original business model of providing the free service to sell ads and other goods and services is not working. How long will the next guy with "free" photohosting last?

Everytime someone gets something for nothing, someone else does something for nothing. Which is fine in some aspects of life, but not so good in others.......

Happy to pay my way........

Sheldon 

    

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Posted by SouthPenn on Sunday, July 2, 2017 8:58 AM

Although everybody is testing new hosting sites, these are some great pictures of awesome railroads.

 

South Penn
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Posted by floridaflyer on Sunday, July 2, 2017 8:58 AM

Hard to see the economic benefit for FB. They are only one of many choices for photo postings. Initially there was angst among some of the posters on this forum but it took only a short time for many alterative methods that can be used to show up on this site, many better than FB. All PB will end up doing is reducing the number of eyeballs viewing their site, and that will effect advertising revenue, as many folks nationwide adjust to the new reality.  

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Posted by peahrens on Sunday, July 2, 2017 8:50 AM

tPardon my experiment with imgbb.  I will try just righ click on image and "copy picture", then just right click and paste into the thread.

Edit, that worked, but I can see the image itself in the thread itself when editing, which is huge and makes it hard to add text below it (lots of scrolling).  I'm going to try next going to the Embed Codes list / Direct Codes / Image URL.  It looks the same, starts "https://......, ends ".jpg ".  This I will copy / paste below (above the first photo).

https://image.ibb.co/gLLTCv/IMG_4511.jpg

EDIT: No good, just provides the link you see.  Next will try, directly below, the "full image / BBCode". It starts with: "[img".

Edit, that seemed to work nicely.  Just go to Embed Codes / Full Image / BBCode, and hover and click "copy".  Then in your thread just right click, paste, enter to skip to next line.  No image in your editing to have to type around.  For clarity, the first image above is from the BBCode paste in, while the lower image is the one that came from just "copying" from the image in imgbb. 

Now I need to figure out the pros / cons of imgur and imgbb for me.

 

 

Paul

Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent

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Posted by richhotrain on Sunday, July 2, 2017 5:16 AM

I just deleted almost all of my albums and photos on Photobucket.

It was quite a challenge because ads were popping up all over the place, more than ever before. The further along I got, the more urgent did the pop up ads become.

It was like watching a Fourth of July fireworks show. At the beginning, the fireworks were impressive but by the end, the bombardment was awesome. I had ads popping up over ads. It was as if Photobucket sensed that I was leaving it. Just before I signed off, the pop up ads were going nuts.  Laugh

Bye, bye, Photobucket.

Rich

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Posted by richhotrain on Sunday, July 2, 2017 4:55 AM

Let's see if this works.

Alton Junction

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Posted by richhotrain on Sunday, July 2, 2017 4:51 AM

doctorwayne

I've not yet received anything from photobucket in way of a "cease and desist", but I notice that I can link pictures from some of my 80 albums but not from others.

I'll wait to hear from them directly, but if the cost is too high, I'll remove all of my photos from their site.  And with no photos to post, I don't see much point in sticking around here, either.  

Wayne, once you delete your photos from their web site, why would you take the unnecessary step of abandoning this forum?  Set up your photo albums on another website and stick with your friends here. You are one of the most important members of this forum.

Shame on you.  Stick out tongue

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by richhotrain on Sunday, July 2, 2017 4:48 AM

NYBW-John

 

 
hon30critter

So I guess if we close our Photobucket accounts all our pictures will disappear from our previous posts. Do I have that right?

I'm also guessing that the only way to restore those photos to the threads would be to go back through the picture files on my computer, find the same photo, copy it to another photo hosting site, and then re-post the photo in the original thread. Correct?

That's a bummer!

To me, this is a breach of business ethics of the highest order!

Dave

 

 

 

I see nothing unethical about what they are doing. They are making a business decision. We as consumers have the right to accept their new terms or look elsewhere for similar services. Time will tell if they made a wise business decision. Generally speaking, when you start charging a consumer for a service that they had been getting for free, it doesn't work out well.

 

No, it is not ethical. Dave is correct. It is a breach of business ethics of the highest order.

No notice in advance. In many cases, including my own, no notice after the fact.

What Photobucket has done is to hold its members hostage for ransom, pure and simple.

Whatever business decision it is that they are making, it is not apparent to me. In exchange for free storage, members were subject to viewing ads. Advertisers paid Photobucket to pst their ads. That was Photobucket's source of revenue. As members leave in droves rather than pay fees, so will advertisers. So where is the business decision other than to commit economic suicide?

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Saturday, July 1, 2017 10:26 PM

In effect, Photo Bucket is asking for ransom if you want your photos posted in forums.

 

What a bunch of greedy jerks ! 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

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Posted by NYBW-John on Saturday, July 1, 2017 7:49 PM

hon30critter

So I guess if we close our Photobucket accounts all our pictures will disappear from our previous posts. Do I have that right?

I'm also guessing that the only way to restore those photos to the threads would be to go back through the picture files on my computer, find the same photo, copy it to another photo hosting site, and then re-post the photo in the original thread. Correct?

That's a bummer!

To me, this is a breach of business ethics of the highest order!

Dave

 

I see nothing unethical about what they are doing. They are making a business decision. We as consumers have the right to accept their new terms or look elsewhere for similar services. Time will tell if they made a wise business decision. Generally speaking, when you start charging a consumer for a service that they had been getting for free, it doesn't work out well.

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Posted by doctorwayne on Saturday, July 1, 2017 5:32 PM

I've not yet received anything from photobucket in way of a "cease and desist", but I notice that I can link pictures from some of my 80 albums but not from others.

I'll wait to hear from them directly, but if the cost is too high, I'll remove all of my photos from their site.  And with no photos to post, I don't see much point in sticking around here, either.  
In an exchange of information, a picture is supposedly worth a thousand words, and I've usually attempted to give both the photos and a thousand words, too. Smile, Wink & Grin
I will likely remain on Big Blue, though, as re-sized photos can be used there as attachments:  the photos appear large enough, it's simply the file size that's reduced.

Wayne

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Posted by richhotrain on Saturday, July 1, 2017 3:33 PM

scribbelt

Rich

You upload your photo on the "imbb"web site and then in the drop down menu you select HTML full link, then click COPY then paste link into the "insert link" on the MRR forum Post Boby box.

For some reason, that does not work for me. What does work is to right click on the image and "Copy Image".

Rich

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Posted by -E-C-Mills on Saturday, July 1, 2017 2:49 PM

I have been using flickr for years.  At first just to post photos to here.  Since then flickr has kind of taken on a life of its own for me.  Its sort of a photographer's social media site.  People post some amazing photos there on every topic which you can follow.  Also with flickr, you retain the copyrights unless you want to release it to the commons.  I beleive with facebook, they get the copyright to your images?  Its been a long time I could be wrong.

To post to the MR forum from flickr, bring the image up by itself in flickr.  Locate the share icon (an upper curving arrow) to the lower right of the image.  Select bbc code.  Decide on the image size.  Copy the code (I use ctrl c).  Paste it right into the MR forum post directly (ctrl v).  You should see a bunch of code.  You wont see the image until you preview it.

 Chrysolite Metals Mine and Mill by Eric Miller, on Flickr

Sometimes I replace the text links with spaces in the code to make them invisible.  Its a lot easier than it sounds.

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Posted by Darth Santa Fe on Saturday, July 1, 2017 2:24 PM

cx500

In a somewhat related subject, one poster's comment stood out for me:

"......I have been moving all my pic's to my hard drive."................

On-line storage provides many benefits, but always remember that should that hosting service disappear (corporate downsizing, bankruptcy, etc.), anything stored there could also suddenly evaporate.  External hard drives are now very affordable insurance.  I have a couple of duplicates, one of which is stored at a friend's house as an additional precaution.  I don't want to lose 50 years of pictures.  Of course the files are not available on line, so those I wish to have accessible on the net are copied to an appropriate location.

John

 

 

Very true!  I try to keep all my pictures saved offline so I don't lose them if a website suddenly has problems.  Online storage is convenient, but I don't trust it that much.

_________________________________________________________________

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Posted by scribbelt on Saturday, July 1, 2017 2:15 PM

Hello Lonewolf here's another interior scene of the Jazz Club using https://imgbb.com/

 

Rich

You upload your photo on the "imbb"web site and then in the drop down menu you select HTML full link, then click COPY then paste link into the "insert link" on the MRR forum Post Boby box.

P1220888_Forum

Serge

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Posted by Guy Papillon on Saturday, July 1, 2017 2:06 PM

As I only use those photos hosting sites for MR Forums, I don't want my photos to be accessible for everyone on the Internet. I then changed my settings in imgbb to be viewed only by those who had the link. Here is a final try to see if it's working for posting in the forums.

Guy

Modeling CNR in the 50's

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Posted by richhotrain on Saturday, July 1, 2017 1:57 PM

Guy Papillon
 
richhotrain

Which "embed code" did you use? 

For whichever reason I can't comment, imgbb site decided I was French speaking and acted accordingly so the menu I see is in French. I just selected the first line in the menu which could be translated as " Direct Link to Picture (image, photo, etc.)"

The file name with .jpg extention then appears with the "copy" option. 

Thanks, Guy. I wound up right clicking on the image and then clicked on 'Copy Image'.  Then, I simply pasted the image in the reply.

Rich

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Posted by Guy Papillon on Saturday, July 1, 2017 1:51 PM

richhotrain
 

Which "embed code" did you use?

For whichever reason I can't comment, imgbb site decided I was French speaking and acted accordingly so the menu I see is in French. I just selected the first line in the menu which could be translated as " Direct Link to Picture (image, photo, etc.)"

The file name with .jpg extention then appears with the "copy" option.

 

Guy

Modeling CNR in the 50's

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Posted by RR_Mel on Saturday, July 1, 2017 1:35 PM

I’ve had a blog on Google Blogger for about 12 years and it has worked almost flawlessly, about every two years the Google Web guys have to make an upgrade then things go bonkers.  Another learning curve and I’m good to go for another couple of years.
 
I found out I can post pictures on the Forum with a link from my blog and it’s very simple and fast, much better than Photo Bucket even when it was working correctly.
 
I’ve also had an unknown account at Google Photo for the same amount of time because I was using Google Picasa for uploading.  Rather surprising to find my pictures on Google Photo when I went to signup for an account.
 
When I tried to upload new pictures it allowed one OK but the second try was denied.  I said to download an app to upload pictures, I did then came the second surprise.  The Google app uploaded every picture in my Windows 10 Picture folder to my Google Photo Album.
 
I removed the app then spent two hours deleting pictures I didn’t want on Google Photo.
 
I tried to upload new pictures this morning and they went OK even though I removed the app.  So bottom line is if it continues working I’m going to use Google Photo for my picture host for Forum pictures.
 
I just thought I would keep you guys updated on Google Photo.  Its 1TB free image and video backup and it works for hosting.  As almost everything I attempt there is a learning curve (no Google help) but I finally have it working.
   
 
 
 
Just checking, it works.
 
 
 
 
 
Still Checking, still working.
 
 
Mel
 
Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951
 
My Model Railroad   
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
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Posted by richg1998 on Saturday, July 1, 2017 12:56 PM

Happening to many. Google, photobucket blocked 2017

The MRH site is discussing this now. You can upload pictures to them for free but viewing them only at their forums from what I understand.

Rich

If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.

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Posted by Lone Wolf and Santa Fe on Saturday, July 1, 2017 12:48 PM

scribbelt

P1220883_Forum
bb code img

This is a test with ImgBB since Photobucket does not permit me to use their services any longer.

Thank you

 

That is nice. I like creating scenes like that. I see someone playing guitar. Can you show more of the interior please?

Modeling a fictional version of California set in the 1990s Lone Wolf and Santa Fe Railroad

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