Thank you, Photobucket !!!

[MickT]

Hi Graham,

Sorry you've been nobbled by botophuket as well!

Here's my advice at least for the interim:

1. Only upload COPIES of any images you want to post and keep the originals on your own PC (with backups to external hard disk, "pen" or DVD's or all of them!! For convenience I personally keep my images in folders on my PC but keep the them and the reports I do backed up on DVD's. Periodically (not often enough!) I back up all my data folder by folder onto an external hard drive for added peace of mind.

2. I have migrated myself onto Imgur for the simple reason that I find Flickr, which most people seem to prefer, to be cumbersome and in my case impossible to log in to! I tried to register an account and learned that as I'm registered into Yahoo, then I am already automatically registered on Flickr. However when I tried to log in using my flickr user name and password I was told it was incorrect, so in the end I lost patience and tried Imgur out based on recommendations from others.

3. Registration is very easy and straightforward the only difficulty I experienced was convincing the process that I am not a robot, but I got there in the end after 3 attempts! Once registered, I have found it to be very smooth and easy to use, quick and clear. Imgur have confirmed to people who have queried with them that they are fine with using it to host photos for posting on forums, they don't allow commercial usage which includes hosting photos for use on eBay etc.

4. I've used it already a number of times on NGRM and found that photos can be posted from very clear and straightforward copy of BB code via a selection window that opens with each photo and pasted into the forum. Recommended provided you take the common sense precaution of keeping your original images safe!

Hope this helps a bit

Mick

[Oztrainz]

Hi all,
I noticed in passing today when reviewing my Randim Stackum & Wrackem thread that one of the photos in that posting has turned into a PB black blob. Unfortunately that photo was by Steve Bennett. I suspect that all Steve's photos across this forum (and there are a lot of them) have gone the same way. This will have punched as enormous hole in the knowledge base of this forum. THANK YOU PHOTOB####IT - I don't think....

[DCRFAN 3]

I have been trying to research a vehicle model project. Google identified lots of hits across numerous websites unfortunately when I go to them all the pictures the pictures have been Photobucketed. Just makes you realise just how many photos they were hosting.

[chris stockdale]

Hi all,
I noticed in passing today when reviewing my Randim Stackum & Wrackem thread that one of the photos in that posting has turned into a PB black blob. Unfortunately that photo was by Steve Bennett. I suspect that all Steve's photos across this forum (and there are a lot of them) have gone the same way. This will have punched as enormous hole in the knowledge base of this forum. THANK YOU PHOTOB####IT - I don't think....

Sod, damn and bugger!

I don't often swear online but I've just checked the last posts that Steve did and it looks as if he used P Bucket right to the end, so everything's gone.

Gloom

[Thorness]

Tebee posted this on NGRM:
"For chrome users you can try adding this extension - it seems to work for me but for how long I don't know as PB may block it. Would be a good tool for anyone who wants to download pictures from there.

https://chrome.googl...mfegnfnflicjjgj

Tom"

It seems to work (for now at least) you do need to restart Chrome and then press "Ctrl" and tap the "F5" key if you are using a PC, or press "CMD" and tap the "R" key if you are using a Mac.

This info is all borrowed from NGRM online, I hope I am not breaking any rules.

I have tested this on another forum (non railway) and it seems to work most of the time.

Cheers

[Bilco]

Don't look now, but Photobucket have restored all those lost photos 'for a limited time'. They are offering some 'packages' - so they still want to charge us, but they must be suffering from the loss of all the people who went elsewhere.

Anyway, a chance to see all those photos again ...

[chris stockdale]

It would appear that P Bucket’s current management have undone the enormous screw up of the previous lot.

Wikipedia entry:

On May 17, 2018, Photobucket restored all of their 3rd party hosted images and introduced new plans, including $24.99/year that includes 3rd party hosted images. [15]

On May 29, 2018, The $24.99/year plan expired. They introduced two plans that include 3rd party hosted images, $29.99/year with 2GB or $69.99/year with 20GB.

[rue_d_etropal]

I wonder how many will take them up on their offer. Two problems. Firstly, when you try to charge for something that had previously beeen free, then takeup is not that high. Secondly when you have upset so many potential customers by messing around with their photos,why should they trus you any more and pay for it. They might come back if it is still free, but unlikely to be prepared to pay anything for it.
Better to add advertising, not that everyone likes it, and many can block it, but easy enough to ignore, as long as it is simple pictures, and not annoying video/sound. They could even make adverts relevant to pictures being displayed.
Alternatively,buy some webspace(it is not that expensive), and you can then not only create your own website, but also have full control on your photos. Group together with others, and split the cost.