Phanfare Blog - Latest Comments in Phanfare Relaunches as a Photo and Video Sharing Network for Families

Re: Phanfare Relaunches as a Photo and Video Sharing Network for Families

Stefanie Carlson — Sat, 10 May 2008 17:11:00 -0000

I agree with many of the posters here. I signed up for Phanfare so that my friends and family didn't have to sign up to view my pictures. If I wanted social networking, I would have posted my pictures on Facebook.

Re: Phanfare Relaunches as a Photo and Video Sharing Network for Families

Jeremy Enke — Fri, 09 May 2008 22:26:58 -0000

This was the worst business decision I have ever seen a company make. I have been uploading photos, music, and slideshows to phanfare since 2005 because it was simple to use and my family and friends from all around the world could see what we were up to.

If I wanted my family and friends to connect in a social network I would invite them to join facebook or myspace.

If you're smart business people, you will listen to what your customers are all saying and allow US YOUR PAYING CUSTOMERS to return to the old system.

You guys let a lot of people down with this one.

Jeremy Enke

Re: Phanfare Relaunches as a Photo and Video Sharing Network for Families

leaving — Thu, 08 May 2008 01:02:13 -0000

Just saw my new Phanfare page- I hate it. in fact it SUCKS.

If I wanted a stupid social networking site, I would have paid for one. I want my money back so I can go buy a year membership to smugmug.com

you ripped me off, and stole my TIME

"web 2.0" what are you? Dundler Mifflin?

Re: Phanfare Relaunches as a Photo and Video Sharing Network for Families

Michael — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 18:35:28 -0000

"But for your more private and personal photosharing and videosharing, try Phanfare 2.0. We think it is pretty good." No. Actually 2.0 sucks. As Andrew E. says, try flicker. They suck less than 2.0.

Re: Phanfare Relaunches as a Photo and Video Sharing Network for Families

Michael — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 18:29:02 -0000

I was a loyal customer for around 3 years, got a few people to sign up, some even for lifetime. Now I'm bitter that you decided to make it look like you have deleted my photos, and you can magically restore them if I paid for a site that I don't even want to use.

The deal breaker is making people sign up to view my photos. I could sell them AMWAY better than making someone signup here.

When you go out of business, maybe you might realize that cutting off memberships from paying customers might have been a bad idea. If I was a stock owner, I would sell the stocks out of the sheer stupidity and disgust of the decisions made.

Re: Phanfare Relaunches as a Photo and Video Sharing Network for Families

LIBBY — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:27:49 -0000

Lots of sad and unhappy people, it's all been said, now is anyone listening.

Re: Phanfare Relaunches as a Photo and Video Sharing Network for Families

Josue — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:58:50 -0000

I too am very disappointed about your changes. The simplicity is gone. You've succumbed to the masses and are trying to re-create the wheel. If we all wanted a photo version of Facebook or MySpace, we would have asked for it.

I was using Phanfare for both business and family. The new features work for neither. I will have to take my photos and business elsewhere.

Thanks for the last 3 years. They were fun.

Re: Phanfare Relaunches as a Photo and Video Sharing Network for Families

Moving out — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 13:13:04 -0000

try smugmug. not quite the same as phanfare, but they don't seem to need to change their business model: see January 2008 article on smugmug from BusinessWeek, "An Idea That Really Clicked"
http://www.businessweek.com...

there are other services out there, but most/all seem to require visitor sign-in/registration. others don't support video (yet...). if readers know of other services that are comparable to the old phanfare, please chime in.

Re: Phanfare Relaunches as a Photo and Video Sharing Network for Families

Curt — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:08:32 -0000

We have been using Phanfare for over a year and loved the simplicity. We are very bummed about the changes but so it goes. I am wondering if anyone can recommend good image hosting sites that include all the features we had come to know and love about Phanfare? (i.e. no sign in required, audio and video, options, rss feeds.) We would certainly be willing to pay for this service from another provider but I have yet to come across another site/company that offers all of these. Thnx for any leads...

Re: Phanfare Relaunches as a Photo and Video Sharing Network for Families

S. Reis — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:58:05 -0000

I live in California, but my parents don't speak english. Up to now, Phanfare had been great. My mother used to call me about the wonderful new pictures. It was all very easy for her.

Now she had to set up 2 accounts with my brother's help, I had send twice as many invites, and still she is not confident she can do it by herself. Phanfare 1.0 was awsome, but 2.0 is horrible for the older generation. How could you do something like that?

I'm moving out. Unfortunately.

Re: Phanfare Relaunches as a Photo and Video Sharing Network for Families

Josh Gibson — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 01:14:50 -0000

"Overall, Phanfare 2.0 has been received very well. In the first four weeks, we have more registerted users on 2.0 than we had on 1.0 in 4 years." DUH!!!! These aren't "new users" they are just people trying to see galleries the used to be able to see without signing in. BTW Where are all the people that are receiving 2.0 "VERY WELL"??????? Don't see many posting on here!!!!

Re: Phanfare Relaunches as a Photo and Video Sharing Network for Families

Kendall George — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 17:00:46 -0000

This change just sucks. I spent a lot of time researching a photo sharing site. And Phanfare had everything I was looking for. Now they are getting rid of the features that were most important to me. I made a commitment to Phanfare. I got the life time subscription. Now they are bailing on me. I am not just disappointed that I have to start my search all over again. I am disappointed that they are turning their backs on their first customers. I feel betrayed.

Re: Phanfare Relaunches as a Photo and Video Sharing Network for Families

Jon — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 03:04:46 -0000

Wow!

This entire process is just bizarre, and I have to say that I echo the sentiments of the majority of responses.

After my child was born, my wife wanted me to find a simple, secure site that could host the great memories of our little one. Something we could share with family and friends in a simple way, like our own personal web address.

I did the research, I spent time searching for the perfect site. Not the kind of time I spent searching for the car seat, but something that felt familial, and that's what I really wanted too.

Come to find out, there was this nice little company called Phanfare that could do all that my wife wanted. I was money, I was the man, I found the perfect place to host our memories.

I like the others have family who have friends they want to share these photos with. It's always been so simple. Here's the address, enter this password and you can see my pictures. Again, like others have stated, I loved the fact that you DIDN'T have to sign up for anything. In this day and age where everything is so obtrusive, Phanfare actually felt like it was your friend and it wouldn't let you down. It wouldn't bug you unless they had something important to tell you or wanted your feedback. They cared about you and wanted to take good care of you.

Now this... I just received the e-mail signifying "big changes" two days ago. Evidently I'm down the list of those being notified of the change. At first I was excited... "oh cool, they are doing an upgrade" ... then I read more. "They what?" And, "you have to do what to view my photos?"

I'm not sure what to do. I want to support the friend that treated me so well, but it feels like he simply sold out to make the BIG BUCKS. Part of me understands, I want the BIG BUCKS too... but it doesn't seem right that the mom and pop shop that you loved to support is becoming, or appears to be trying to become, the Home Depot.

The biggest concern is the virality of this whole process. My parents call me all the time (and I really don't mind) asking computer questions. This was something they never had to call about. Click, view and smile and then they would send an e-mail saying how much they loved the new "moments."

The process will now seem to involve much more instruction, much more time that many people don't want to give, especially if they have to give another dang e-mail address to someone they aren't sure of, no matter how cool I tell them they are.

By now, it seems like the change is imminent. Somehow I hope the crusade for simplicity continues. It's up for debate whether I will continue.

Best of luck.

Re: Phanfare Relaunches as a Photo and Video Sharing Network for Families

Kresh Ramanah — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 15:58:20 -0000

I chose phanfare to show case my photos because of easy access and no need to sign in. If visitors to my site are forced otherwise, you will leave me no alternative but to return back to imagetogo

Re: Phanfare Relaunches as a Photo and Video Sharing Network for Families

Jake — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 09:39:54 -0000

Andrew, as a business owner who works both with small businesses and Fortune 50 companies, I can appreciate your challenges. I currently use your album for personal photos. Let me provide a simple list for you to consider:
- It is NOT at all clear what 2.0 will require and provide, and not provide - I learned the most by reading blog comments.
- Forcing a signin is just silly - that makes you guys like everyone else. Why not charge MORE for someone who just wants to use it like 1.0 is now? I can tell you, I would be willing to pay more - no question.
- There seems to be this issue (can not tell from your email) that everyone gets notified about every album change? I load a lot of photos up and do not want everyone to get emails 3 times a day... or even once a day or week!
You should allow us to control that portion at least OR just post the changes to thier "home page" like Plaxo, without an email.
- Kodak, HP and the rest of the bunch are all trying to do what you are and have all failed. I do not even LOOK at the photos my mom posts on York, because it is too much of a pain to find the damn passwords... My brother uses another site... what a pain...
- If you are going to really win this game, or even stay in it, then you are going to need to win new customers- since clearly you will loose many like me (at this point - still hopeful) - I purchased BECAUSE you did not require a sign in. That was my NUMBER ONE reason for purchasing. Ease of use being #2. When you remove both of those, I have no compelling reason to continue with the service.
Let me add that Plaxo and other existing programs already allow photo sharing that is "not that customizable". I am under no illusions as to who owns Plaxo or what "could happen" with them. However of the contacts I have in my contacts database, 2/3 are ALREADY in Plaxo!! So why would I not just use them instead of your system? They allow me to at least separate things into friends and business. I do think your system is simpler to use, but if no one views it, then it is not that useful!
- An additional question is about searching the site. From a safety, security, and privacy standpoint, I would hope that my content is still not being googled, and that there is an option to hide that.

Summarizing:
- Consider charging more for folks who do not want to use the network - will this account for some of your losses
- Consider adding a program that combines people's network and referrals with the higher cost (Charge $100 a year or $150, but small discount that IF I have a few network referrals- so you still incent people like me to add a few people)
- Consider integrating at least with someone else like google or plaxo to allow people to not need to create yet ANOTHER sign in... IF you decide to force this
- You are going to have to add control on albums and emails... you can not just blast everything to everyone... that is silly...
- Ask yourself "what if all my customers left, what would I do then?"

*pardon any typos/grammar, I typed this quickly*

Thanks,
- Jake

Re: Phanfare Relaunches as a Photo and Video Sharing Network for Families

Dave — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 13:30:02 -0000

This is a great web album tool! Perhaps it can make video photo albums also?

Re: Phanfare Relaunches as a Photo and Video Sharing Network for Families

Giora Schwarz — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 14:19:03 -0000

I just had a chance to use version 1 for a short while beofre you released version 2. I like the way Phanfare works both for me as an amature photographer and for my freinds and family when they want to view my albums but not being able to share my album with people that are not registered is really a problem. I just came back from a family event. Some of the people there were my close relatives and I can register them as my family. Many others were from the family of my brother/sister in law and such. I cannot and I do not want all of them as my family members in Fanfare. Still, I like them to see my pictures.
I must say again that I like Phanfare a lot and plan to use it as my only web album, but I as long as I can not share my work with non-members I will be looking for another solution. PLEASE make it possiblefor peaple to log in as guests. I am sure that you will get more memebers when all these people see your site.

Thanks

Giora Schwarz

Re: Phanfare Relaunches as a Photo and Video Sharing Network for Families

Kelly — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 12:51:01 -0000

This stinks, I am quitting. The only reason I used you guys is BECAUSE my friends and family didn't have to hassel with sign ups to see my photos.

Wrong move.

Re: Phanfare Relaunches as a Photo and Video Sharing Network for Families

Mary — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 22:47:12 -0000

I just have a couple of questions. Today is the first I've heard of the switch to 2.0 and that was only by accident when I went into the home page to look something up for someone. I set up an album in January 2008 but it must have been before the change. Were emails sent out to 1.0 customers notifying us of this change? I didn't see one. It isn't clear how we move over to 2.0....is it an automatic as of June? or can we do it now to see what the changes are. It seems as though many of the 1.0 users have based on their comments above. It appears to require a download of the new version. Instructions on the transition posted somewhere on the home page or our indivdual accounts would be very helpful. Of course, I was just talking to our swim team board about using phanfare to share the summer swim season photos with all 400 of our swim families. It would be a link from our swim team home page. Now I am not sure if this will work if they can only see one album at a time....I would want them to see the whole season of albums. Andrew I hope you or one of your support guys will answer some of my questions. That was one of my favorite features of the previous phanfare. Direct interaction with the owners/decision makers. I plan to stick it out but hope I can make it work as I did before. Also, can someone tell me if the 2.0 will have the ability to set up folders so we can store multiple-related ablums in a category (as in the typical windows application). For instance, I take pictures of my kids sporting event....it would be nice to have one folder for say Spring Baseball 2008 on whicih viewers can click and then get a drop down of all that season's available slide shows (1 for each game). Does this make sense? maybe it's out there and I never figured out how to do it. I'd appreciate any feedback I can get and look forward to any comments.

Re: Phanfare Relaunches as a Photo and Video Sharing Network for Families

Judy — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 21:46:50 -0000

My only comment is that I think it should be optional to sign in--anyone should be able to view the site if it is unblocked. Also only seeing 1 album at a time seems silly--why have them all there if you cant see them? I dont mind the change but it does seem that this is going to be complicated. Cant you make it an option to join or to open up to all who want to see? You could incorporate this into phanfare2.0 I think if you really see the need to change.

Re: Phanfare Relaunches as a Photo and Video Sharing Network for Families

Steph — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 19:27:34 -0000

Another disgruntled user here. As to the comment of more registered users with the new program....how is this determined? I have many different e-mail addresses that existing users have used to invite to view their albums after the upgrade. So if I have 3 e-mail addresses that have been used for invites, am I now 3 registered users? Since I have an existing account, I have signed up for nothing and no one used the e-mail I have registered with my account, so am I 4 registered users (the one associated with my account & the 3 others that received invites)?

Re: Phanfare Relaunches as a Photo and Video Sharing Network for Families

Becky — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 23:16:09 -0000

Yep, another disappointed user here. I liked the fact that I could CHOOSE to make my site/galleries private if I so desired. Why make it mandatory? Unless it's just to gather email addresses of which will then be inundated with spam invites to join. There's NO choice - either join or you can't see the pictures. Oh well, you can't please them all, so I guess I'll be collecting my prorated refund.

Re: Phanfare Relaunches as a Photo and Video Sharing Network for Families

Neil Bliss — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 23:03:58 -0000

I have to say I liked it better when my friends and family were automatically logged in the first time.

Re: Phanfare Relaunches as a Photo and Video Sharing Network for Families

erlichson — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 18:31:49 -0000

Sorry for the long delay in responding to these comments. I know that for businesses and certain consumers with public sites this change is a non-starter and you think we are nuts. We feel this focuses us down better on the needs of one core audience. In the past, we were pulled in several different directions. Pros wanted to have us store RAW files. Consumers wanted more styles!

We don't have the resources to support 1.0 and 2.0 and we don't think it is a good idea to try. We are firmly committed to moving forward with this new strategy.

Overall, Phanfare 2.0 has been received very well. In the first four weeks, we have more registerted users on 2.0 than we had on 1.0 in 4 years. Families like the collaboration and the privacy and don't much care about anonymous viewers or registration requirements.

We make this change from a position of relative strength. We are providing free DVDs of content to those who want to leave, keeping the 1.0 system up until june, and provided prorated refunds in June.

If you want anonymous feedback, flickr is a better choice. If you want to run a white labeled site undery our own domain, try smugmug. But for your more private and personal photosharing and videosharing, try Phanfare 2.0. We think it is pretty good.

Re: Phanfare Relaunches as a Photo and Video Sharing Network for Families

Dustin — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 15:50:31 -0000

If Phanfare does not change back to 1.0 I will remove myself from their service. This was a bad business idea. Now phanfare is like the other web account. BOO TO YOU PHANFARE!!!