Comments on: I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues http://blog.phanfare.com/2008/03/i-speak-for-the-trees-for-the-trees-have-no-tongues/ Phantastic thoughts from Phanfare, the best online photo and video sharing service in the universe. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:20:56 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: J.P. http://blog.phanfare.com/2008/03/i-speak-for-the-trees-for-the-trees-have-no-tongues/comment-page-1/#comment-55290 J.P. Thu, 22 May 2008 15:26:22 +0000 http://blog.phanfare.com/2008/03/i-speak-for-the-trees-for-the-trees-have-no-tongues/#comment-55290 I considered emailing Andrew with my comments on Phanfare 2.0, but realized that this decision has been made and that I wasn't going to change his mind. Phanfare is a business and will respond to the market. If their new model works better for them, it would be foolish for them to return to their old model, no matter how much I prefer it. That said, I have a few thoughts about the new Phanfare: -The vast majority of my friends have Facebook accounts. I know one who has a Phanfare account. With all the many sites that require registration, I don't think most people are going to rush out to join another. When I want to control who sees my pictures, Facebook does a great job of it. I'll accept the less-than-aesthetic layout in order to save my friends the hassle. -When I want comments and critique on my work, Flickr has a much larger community of active photographers and groups that are directed at my specific photographic interests than I expect I'll ever see on Phanfare. The groups feature, again, gets my work exposure beyond my friends and family but targets it to those who have a higher likelihood of being excited by my pictures. -To simply create a gallery and open it to anyone, Flickr, Facebook, and even Blogger offer simple solutions. -Previously, Phanfare filled a place that the other sites did not: they offered aesthetically-pleasing galleries with controlled access that wasn't a hardship to my friends and family. Phanfare was _the best_ for that. What are they the best at now? I considered emailing Andrew with my comments on Phanfare 2.0, but realized that this decision has been made and that I wasn’t going to change his mind. Phanfare is a business and will respond to the market. If their new model works better for them, it would be foolish for them to return to their old model, no matter how much I prefer it. That said, I have a few thoughts about the new Phanfare:

-The vast majority of my friends have Facebook accounts. I know one who has a Phanfare account. With all the many sites that require registration, I don’t think most people are going to rush out to join another. When I want to control who sees my pictures, Facebook does a great job of it. I’ll accept the less-than-aesthetic layout in order to save my friends the hassle.

-When I want comments and critique on my work, Flickr has a much larger community of active photographers and groups that are directed at my specific photographic interests than I expect I’ll ever see on Phanfare. The groups feature, again, gets my work exposure beyond my friends and family but targets it to those who have a higher likelihood of being excited by my pictures.

-To simply create a gallery and open it to anyone, Flickr, Facebook, and even Blogger offer simple solutions.

-Previously, Phanfare filled a place that the other sites did not: they offered aesthetically-pleasing galleries with controlled access that wasn’t a hardship to my friends and family. Phanfare was _the best_ for that. What are they the best at now?

]]> By: Andrea http://blog.phanfare.com/2008/03/i-speak-for-the-trees-for-the-trees-have-no-tongues/comment-page-1/#comment-50665 Andrea Mon, 24 Mar 2008 23:46:59 +0000 http://blog.phanfare.com/2008/03/i-speak-for-the-trees-for-the-trees-have-no-tongues/#comment-50665 Although I find this upgrade user-friendly..I too am not happy about having my friend/family login with their e-mail and register with phanfare. main reason ...most of them don't speak English..this was the reason why I register with phanfare initially..the first version was VERY USER FRIENDLY..just type in the address and password. Now I had to spend hours of translating the steps into 3 languages...grrrr Reason #2 the not-so-computer litterate English speaking family and friends (aka my dad, uncle, mom and husbands grandparents..ARE LOST!!!!! Although I find this upgrade user-friendly..I too am not happy about having my friend/family login with their e-mail and register with phanfare. main reason …most of them don’t speak English..this was the reason why I register with phanfare initially..the first version was VERY USER FRIENDLY..just type in the address and password. Now I had to spend hours of translating the steps into 3 languages…grrrr
Reason #2
the not-so-computer litterate English speaking family and friends (aka my dad, uncle, mom and husbands grandparents..ARE LOST!!!!!

]]> By: Mart http://blog.phanfare.com/2008/03/i-speak-for-the-trees-for-the-trees-have-no-tongues/comment-page-1/#comment-50570 Mart Sun, 23 Mar 2008 13:15:11 +0000 http://blog.phanfare.com/2008/03/i-speak-for-the-trees-for-the-trees-have-no-tongues/#comment-50570 Don't be fooled, the ONLY reason phanfare is going social in their 2.0 version is for MONEY...nothing else. So do like I will and 60 % of phanfare clients and go elsewhere. If you do some searching you will find something that suite you. Don’t be fooled, the ONLY reason phanfare is going social in their 2.0 version is for MONEY…nothing else. So do like I will and 60 % of phanfare clients and go elsewhere. If you do some searching you will find something that suite you.

]]> By: Techphobic Family/Friends http://blog.phanfare.com/2008/03/i-speak-for-the-trees-for-the-trees-have-no-tongues/comment-page-1/#comment-50546 Techphobic Family/Friends Sun, 23 Mar 2008 05:30:08 +0000 http://blog.phanfare.com/2008/03/i-speak-for-the-trees-for-the-trees-have-no-tongues/#comment-50546 For those who haven't upgraded and who are wondering what the fuss is about (see post from Chris on 3/17) and if they need to do anything, or for those who are simply in denial and hope the new service will work out fine: you can test things out by creating a new account in Phanfare with an alternate email address, uploading a few photos, and trying to share them. If you don't have several email accounts to pick from already, get a new one for this test. Create a new phanfare account and upload 2-3 photos. The backend is actually very nice, a big improvement. Now, try to SHARE you photos with a few guinea pig immediate family members or very tolerant friends --- someone who can give you feedback ASAP. (Or, "share" with another of your lesser-used email accounts.) This experience will most likely be the make-it-or-break-it point for most users, I think. For those who haven’t upgraded and who are wondering what the fuss is about (see post from Chris on 3/17) and if they need to do anything, or for those who are simply in denial and hope the new service will work out fine: you can test things out by creating a new account in Phanfare with an alternate email address, uploading a few photos, and trying to share them. If you don’t have several email accounts to pick from already, get a new one for this test. Create a new phanfare account and upload 2-3 photos. The backend is actually very nice, a big improvement. Now, try to SHARE you photos with a few guinea pig immediate family members or very tolerant friends — someone who can give you feedback ASAP. (Or, “share” with another of your lesser-used email accounts.) This experience will most likely be the make-it-or-break-it point for most users, I think.

]]> By: Techphobic Family/Friends http://blog.phanfare.com/2008/03/i-speak-for-the-trees-for-the-trees-have-no-tongues/comment-page-1/#comment-50539 Techphobic Family/Friends Sun, 23 Mar 2008 01:19:10 +0000 http://blog.phanfare.com/2008/03/i-speak-for-the-trees-for-the-trees-have-no-tongues/#comment-50539 For those of you looking for something for simple for non-technical family/friends, I suggest dropshots.com over smugmug. Dropshots service is not as slick as smugmug, but it's way easier to set up and use, and you still get a password-protected URL. The service was inspired by the experience of a guy who realized that his parents had a hard time with their digital camera. Smugmug is NOT the old phanfare. It's doable, but it's a pain. If you want an easy experience, and can live without different colored backgrounds, etc., and you want the EASIEST experience for your techphobic relatives or those with language barriers, then go for dropshots.com. Given that none of these services have mature business models and even smugmug could revise their service or be bought out, I figure the onus is on us the photo-taker to archive everything in our own external drives, etc. and just to use these sites for photo sharing over the short-term. For those of you looking for something for simple for non-technical family/friends, I suggest dropshots.com over smugmug. Dropshots service is not as slick as smugmug, but it’s way easier to set up and use, and you still get a password-protected URL. The service was inspired by the experience of a guy who realized that his parents had a hard time with their digital camera. Smugmug is NOT the old phanfare. It’s doable, but it’s a pain. If you want an easy experience, and can live without different colored backgrounds, etc., and you want the EASIEST experience for your techphobic relatives or those with language barriers, then go for dropshots.com. Given that none of these services have mature business models and even smugmug could revise their service or be bought out, I figure the onus is on us the photo-taker to archive everything in our own external drives, etc. and just to use these sites for photo sharing over the short-term.

]]> By: Techphobic Family/Friends http://blog.phanfare.com/2008/03/i-speak-for-the-trees-for-the-trees-have-no-tongues/comment-page-1/#comment-50442 Techphobic Family/Friends Fri, 21 Mar 2008 17:28:28 +0000 http://blog.phanfare.com/2008/03/i-speak-for-the-trees-for-the-trees-have-no-tongues/#comment-50442 Sending a link via email is all fine and well for many, but one of the awesome points about Phanfare for us was that we could verbally state our URL to family/friends, many of whom are very old, and they could write it down and type it in. We feel lucky that they can figure out how to input a website address. These are the type of people who have email but don't use it often or at all, and for whom one more change becomes a major issue for the "tech support" photo takers/posters. I'm sure Phanfare is looking to the future and doesn't care about my antiquated relatives who don't fit their business model, but now we are potentially in a real bind, because we're talking about people who don't just "click through." Sending a link via email is all fine and well for many, but one of the awesome points about Phanfare for us was that we could verbally state our URL to family/friends, many of whom are very old, and they could write it down and type it in. We feel lucky that they can figure out how to input a website address. These are the type of people who have email but don’t use it often or at all, and for whom one more change becomes a major issue for the “tech support” photo takers/posters. I’m sure Phanfare is looking to the future and doesn’t care about my antiquated relatives who don’t fit their business model, but now we are potentially in a real bind, because we’re talking about people who don’t just “click through.”

]]> By: Andrew Erlichson http://blog.phanfare.com/2008/03/i-speak-for-the-trees-for-the-trees-have-no-tongues/comment-page-1/#comment-50261 Andrew Erlichson Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:41:51 +0000 http://blog.phanfare.com/2008/03/i-speak-for-the-trees-for-the-trees-have-no-tongues/#comment-50261 The benefits come when you can see what is going on with all your friends and family at a glance, and control who can see what content. Phanfare makes signing up for the service very easy. You send them an invite, they click through. If you like Phanfare, just keep using it! I promise you it will continue to improve. The benefits come when you can see what is going on with all your friends and family at a glance, and control who can see what content. Phanfare makes signing up for the service very easy. You send them an invite, they click through. If you like Phanfare, just keep using it! I promise you it will continue to improve.

]]> By: Curt http://blog.phanfare.com/2008/03/i-speak-for-the-trees-for-the-trees-have-no-tongues/comment-page-1/#comment-50259 Curt Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:29:22 +0000 http://blog.phanfare.com/2008/03/i-speak-for-the-trees-for-the-trees-have-no-tongues/#comment-50259 Smugmug looks decent (though I agree w/ Tanya - not as clean as Phanfare) but they don't seem to offer the audio slide show option which I was a huge fan of. Anyone have recommendations? It's a bummer that everyone in this 2.0 era thinks they have to be a social network of some sort to make $. I would think simplicity of use (if marketed appropriately) would be as -if not more - advantageous from a business standpoint. But what do I know... Smugmug looks decent (though I agree w/ Tanya – not as clean as Phanfare) but they don’t seem to offer the audio slide show option which I was a huge fan of. Anyone have recommendations?

It’s a bummer that everyone in this 2.0 era thinks they have to be a social network of some sort to make $. I would think simplicity of use (if marketed appropriately) would be as -if not more – advantageous from a business standpoint. But what do I know…

]]> By: Tanya http://blog.phanfare.com/2008/03/i-speak-for-the-trees-for-the-trees-have-no-tongues/comment-page-1/#comment-50199 Tanya Mon, 17 Mar 2008 23:08:25 +0000 http://blog.phanfare.com/2008/03/i-speak-for-the-trees-for-the-trees-have-no-tongues/#comment-50199 My sister's Phanfare site has upgraded, and now no one in the family can see her photos, nor can any of her friends, unless they sign up. And no one wants to sign up. It sucks. I'm still looking for a new site for my needs now that Phanfare is all locked up (mine has not been upgraded yet, so family can still see my photos). I actually want to share my photos with my friends and family, not lock them away. Smugmug looks okay, but the display just isn't as clean as Phanfare is (was), and uploading isn't as easy. I may have to suck it up, though, just so I can share my photos with family and friends. This "upgrade" is horribly disappointing. My sister’s Phanfare site has upgraded, and now no one in the family can see her photos, nor can any of her friends, unless they sign up. And no one wants to sign up. It sucks.

I’m still looking for a new site for my needs now that Phanfare is all locked up (mine has not been upgraded yet, so family can still see my photos). I actually want to share my photos with my friends and family, not lock them away. Smugmug looks okay, but the display just isn’t as clean as Phanfare is (was), and uploading isn’t as easy. I may have to suck it up, though, just so I can share my photos with family and friends.

This “upgrade” is horribly disappointing.

]]> By: Chris http://blog.phanfare.com/2008/03/i-speak-for-the-trees-for-the-trees-have-no-tongues/comment-page-1/#comment-50178 Chris Mon, 17 Mar 2008 14:23:28 +0000 http://blog.phanfare.com/2008/03/i-speak-for-the-trees-for-the-trees-have-no-tongues/#comment-50178 Boy, I sure would love to see my account upgraded so that I can see what all the fuss is about! I'm enthusiastic and optimistic about the changes, but frankly I'm sort of tired of waiting to see them in my own account. I've got a lot of photos to upload, and I'm trying to decide whether to keep investing in Phanfare (as I have been for the last two years). Boy, I sure would love to see my account upgraded so that I can see what all the fuss is about! I’m enthusiastic and optimistic about the changes, but frankly I’m sort of tired of waiting to see them in my own account. I’ve got a lot of photos to upload, and I’m trying to decide whether to keep investing in Phanfare (as I have been for the last two years).

]]> By: Bo http://blog.phanfare.com/2008/03/i-speak-for-the-trees-for-the-trees-have-no-tongues/comment-page-1/#comment-50161 Bo Mon, 17 Mar 2008 10:09:29 +0000 http://blog.phanfare.com/2008/03/i-speak-for-the-trees-for-the-trees-have-no-tongues/#comment-50161 Besides all the rest... The invitaions are send in English and I, family and friends in Sweden. I have tried the new Phanfae and I have to say the old one was much better and easier! I will move to snugmug as well. I realy can't understand why Phanfare are doing this changes. Other sites say "no registration needed". Many of my friends don't want so register on the net if it's not necessary for securiy and personal reasons Besides all the rest… The invitaions are send in English and I, family and friends in Sweden.
I have tried the new Phanfae and I have to say the old one was much better and easier! I will move to snugmug as well.
I realy can’t understand why Phanfare are doing this changes. Other sites say “no registration needed”. Many of my friends don’t want so register on the net if it’s not necessary for securiy and personal reasons

]]> By: Liz http://blog.phanfare.com/2008/03/i-speak-for-the-trees-for-the-trees-have-no-tongues/comment-page-1/#comment-50124 Liz Sun, 16 Mar 2008 22:23:19 +0000 http://blog.phanfare.com/2008/03/i-speak-for-the-trees-for-the-trees-have-no-tongues/#comment-50124 I am one of the many unhappy customers who are sadly departing Phanfare to a more user-friendly service (hmmm, like Phanfare used to be...). You mention in your post that you are helping us to "land safely somewhere else." Well, my "somewhere else" is www.smugmug.com, and as an FYI to other soon-to-be former phanfare users, they are offering a 50% off your first year coupon. The code is "phanfare." I have already emailed their customer support to ask specific questions about their service and possible changes and "upgrades" similar to those undertaken by Phanfare. I received a personal response within about 20 minutes, and ample reassurance that their service would meet my needs for the long haul. Now, I am simply waiting to hear from Phanfare as to when (and in what form) I will receive all of my uploaded media. I too will miss the ease and service of the "old" Phanfare, but I feel confident that SmugMug will meet our family needs just fine. I am one of the many unhappy customers who are sadly departing Phanfare to a more user-friendly service (hmmm, like Phanfare used to be…). You mention in your post that you are helping us to “land safely somewhere else.” Well, my “somewhere else” is http://www.smugmug.com, and as an FYI to other soon-to-be former phanfare users, they are offering a 50% off your first year coupon. The code is “phanfare.”

I have already emailed their customer support to ask specific questions about their service and possible changes and “upgrades” similar to those undertaken by Phanfare. I received a personal response within about 20 minutes, and ample reassurance that their service would meet my needs for the long haul. Now, I am simply waiting to hear from Phanfare as to when (and in what form) I will receive all of my uploaded media.

I too will miss the ease and service of the “old” Phanfare, but I feel confident that SmugMug will meet our family needs just fine.

]]> By: Andrew Erlichson http://blog.phanfare.com/2008/03/i-speak-for-the-trees-for-the-trees-have-no-tongues/comment-page-1/#comment-49941 Andrew Erlichson Fri, 14 Mar 2008 03:51:02 +0000 http://blog.phanfare.com/2008/03/i-speak-for-the-trees-for-the-trees-have-no-tongues/#comment-49941 Ha, good catch. I will leave the link up for a while so your post makes sense to people. You know, Phanfare 2.0 albums look pretty much the same as Phanfare 1.0 albums, except for the nav ribbon at the top. ;-) Ha, good catch. I will leave the link up for a while so your post makes sense to people.

You know, Phanfare 2.0 albums look pretty much the same as Phanfare 1.0 albums, except for the nav ribbon at the top. ;-)

]]> By: A FORMER USER http://blog.phanfare.com/2008/03/i-speak-for-the-trees-for-the-trees-have-no-tongues/comment-page-1/#comment-49873 A FORMER USER Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:57:17 +0000 http://blog.phanfare.com/2008/03/i-speak-for-the-trees-for-the-trees-have-no-tongues/#comment-49873 For all of you wandering what the fuss is all about, simply click on the "SAMPLE ALBUM" link at the top of this very same page to see how nice the former Phanfare site used to be. (if it has not been updated yet by the time you read this) Almost made me cry now that it is no longer available... RIP, my dear Phanfare. For all of you wandering what the fuss is all about, simply click on the “SAMPLE ALBUM” link at the top of this very same page to see how nice the former Phanfare site used to be. (if it has not been updated yet by the time you read this)

Almost made me cry now that it is no longer available… RIP, my dear Phanfare.

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