I take this to be a good sign, Smugmug is a photographer's site, not Instagramish, and hopefully won't ransom my pix like another site that will remain nameless.

Thoughts?

I did not know this, but since I never liked Yahoo, it makes me happy. I have been content with Flickr, but now maybe it will achieve its potential.

Good article, Yahoo now AOL and Oath yikes
https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/...ath/537377002/

Bold prediction: free hosting = gone

I'm just apprehensive that all the content (organization into Albums, captions) will at some point either disappear or that the links I've used in forums such as this will be broken. I have all the photos on my computer. Plus, as someone who's a paid user, there's apparently no option to opt out and get a refund of the "yet unused" term of my year's rent.

I don't know Smugmug from Adam. The name itself does not inspire confidence -- I get tired of sharing the world with people who can't be bothered to grow up, or even act grown-up. Don't really care either way about Yahoo/Oath/AOL -- they were essentially invisible to me, which suits fine. I've been a Flickr user for quite awhile. When it was iPhoto on the Mac, there were hooks so that you could manage the stuff on your Mac and Flickr would automatically sync with those. That was the high point. No longer with Photos; or at least I haven't found how to do it. Apple wants you to keep everything on their cloud. I'm not an iCloud guy.

Why can't people just do what I want, and stop messing with things? Instead it's this constant churn of changes (ownership, "features" that evaporate, replaced by others that don't answer) without demonstrable enhanced utility for the user. Not in an optimistic mood about this.

I am hopeful my photos won't be ransomed and that perhaps they will learn from the p**** bucket fiasco.....

You won't say "Pee Bucket?"

If you cleverly allude to it, you can call it a "bucket of urine."

Oh, they learned from Photobucket alright. "Ransoming" is the new business model.

I made this up a while ago, feel free to share:

It seems that nothing good ever comes from these changes. AOL recently updated their site, and before now, I could click on my toolbar shortcut, login on one screen, then view my mail. 3 steps, that's all. Now, over the past couple of weeks with their upgrades, I had to replace my shortcut, which takes me only to AOL.com, not AOL mail (which doesn't shortcut anymore), then I have to click on "mail", then 2 separate screens for login, which takes me back to AOL.com, where I then have to click on "mail", which then takes me to my mail folders. 6 steps now, and I've had uncountable times over the 2 weeks where it freezes and I get a message saying "Oh Snap! Something went wrong."

I do realize that each separate additional step in the process allows me sufficient opportunity to view more promotional material that I would not be aware of had these changes not been made on my behalf, for which I suppose I should thank AOL. But, I won't.

I believe that monetizing everything will be the new normal. It may happen suddenly or slowly, but it will happen. Even if it is "free" it is not - look at our own site. I don't mind paying a small fee for no ads, but i don't know where my data is being sold.

Im shocked someone still has AOL email.

You still rocking those free 40 hours of internet cds too?

Hmmmmm...from the new Terms and Conditions:

5. Hyperlinks

You may create a text hyperlink to the Site, provided such link does not portray Flickr or SmugMug or any of its Products or Services in a false, misleading, derogatory or otherwise defamatory manner. This limited right may be revoked by SmugMug at any time.

Maybe somebody with more legal experience can explain what this means:

10. Third Party Services

SmugMug may make third party content and services available on or through the Services (“Third Party Services”) solely as a convenience to its users (for example, links to third party websites, software and other services). When you leave the Services, you should be aware that these Terms of Use and all other SmugMug policies no longer govern your use of such websites and services or any content contained thereon.
SmugMug does not imply affiliation, approval, or control of any Third Party Services by making such Third Party Services available via the Services. SmugMug makes no claim or representation regarding, and accepts no responsibility for, the quality, accuracy, nature, ownership or reliability of Third Party Services. YOUR USE OF ANY SUCH THIRD PARTY SERVICES IS SOLELY AT YOUR OWN RISK AND SUBJECT TO THE APPLICABLE TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICIES APPLICABLE TO SUCH THIRD PARTY SERVICES.


I'm still reading through it; it's quite long, as you might imagine.

DD

I’ve been using SmugMug for years with absolutely no problems. My only complaint would be that the tools have taken me a while to get used to, but I am far from a ‘power user’. Also, the SmugMug app on phone and iPad seem to be useful only for viewing. When I want to do anything with photos, including organizing and getting a link for these forums, I go to the full web site.

I found the purchase interesting, wondered about the price and what infrastructure came with as that amount will drive the urgency to profit.

Drilliumdude is correct to read the terms of service and think of the implications. I suspect flickr also had lots of terms that were not exploited. The overall business model problem that photob' found itself in is I'm sure not unique.

Smugmug is privately owned. Purchase price undisclosed. Eventually a value can be devined from the seller's 10k report.

Are you talking to me? I can't know if you don't quote or mention me.

No, but my vintage Tracfone flip-phone gets double minutes when I buy a new card.

Ooooooooo...

A hand-wringing thread. I predict 5 pages of speculation, innuendo and angst.

Not from me! I already shot everyone in my family dead, and burned down my house ala Keyser Söze.
.

Think I got my bases covered, alright. Anything else?

Just make sure everything you have on Flickr you have on your own computer, flash, or other means.

Cuz you're above it all!

Huzzah!




(I predict legal threats, again)

Did you leave the door to the chicken coop open?

I've considered getting AOL mail, just to have an AOL address. Y'know... for the fun of it.



EFFING BRILLIANT!

I have been a satisfied Smugmug user for several years now. Their service has been reliable, and I opted for a paid membership. Zero regrets with the service. Can't speak to the free user experience, though.

Smugmug does integrate nicely into WP blogs, which is a plus if you need that.