Image Hosting - for direct linking

[GoktimusPrime]

I found a way to sort of circumvent Photobucket, and that is to add "th_" in front of the image file name. So Photobucket still at least allows thumbnail size files to be shared, just not full sized. Which does suck, but what I might do is go back to threads like the G1/CHUG comparison thread, reduce the images to thumbnail size and embed hotlinks to the full sized images on those thumbnails. So people can still view the thumbnails and just click on them to view full size.

I'll be looking for another option to host future images though - but this is just an option for existing images that I've posted.

[tron07]

photobucket stop working? their service is getting from bad to worst anyway. very slow nowadays, some days doesnt even work.

test test

[Ralph Wiggum]

Just deleted my Photobucket account because I'm sck of their shitty bloated ad filled website and this 3rd party image hosting fee was the final straw.

I'm using imgur now and noticed the comments/like system. I'm ignoring it for now, but my thought is, "seriously? did I just sign up to another social media platform ?"

[DELTAprime]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned in this thread the price Photobucket wants for their "service". $400USD PER YEAR

People are calling it the "Photobucket Ransom". It's screwing over lots of people.

[DarkHyren]

lol, it could only be a ransom if there weren't other image hosts out there, people are over reacting about this big time.
It could be a lot worse, when imageshack pulled the same sort of thing they made their whole service pay to play and removed the ability for free users to even access/download their photos.
At least for now it seems photobucket users can still link to their pictures and download them even if they cant embed them on other sites, though that will probably go next.
I dont really disagree with them charging ebay sellers and online stores for image embedding since it is using their server bandwidth and all and when the service was for personal use not business, but I dont agree with the way they're handling the matter.
Then again I never liked photobucket anyway, that's why when imageshack changed into a pay site I picked imgur

[Thurmus]

Just deleted my Photobucket account as I only use it to post photos here. Will start looking around but any suggestions greatly received.

[MV75]

After 11 years as a member, not anymore, finally deleted the account. They can suck it. I really hope their planned flip of the site to a big corp fails as people leave instead of pay them.

[Borgeman]

lol, it could only be a ransom if there weren't other image hosts out there, people are over reacting about this big time.

Its being called ransom because while you can still downloads pics, any of your pics that were actively in use/embedded elsewhere were also being blocked in your photobucket library, with the idea that you HAD to pay to get those back. That was the case with the 2 pics that used to be in my sig below.

However once i stopped using them here, I checked a couple of days later and they became visible again in my photobucket library and I downloaded them.

[Megatran]

What does this mean for the First Sightings for Australia thread? Pics or it didn't happen.

[DarkHyren]

Its being called ransom because while you can still downloads pics, any of your pics that were actively in use/embedded elsewhere were also being blocked in your photobucket library, with the idea that you HAD to pay to get those back

Did not know that as I dont have a PB account, but at least people can get their pictures back after stopping sharing. To this day I still cant get any of my imageshack pictures back which is part of the reason I always keep backups now.
But I still think that most people are over reacting, and that the majority that are tossing a tanty over it in the news are ebay sellers trying to make profit off PBs bandwidth for no cost.
As I said, I understand why they are doing this I just dont agree with the way that they have handled it.

As for other free hosts I know people that used to swear by http://tinypic.com/ so if anyone wants to look into them it's another option, other then that I dont know much about the other image hosts out there.

Perhaps another option could be hosting your pictures on your facebook pages (or we could make a page for otca pictures?) and link to those, not sure of FBs terms in regards to hotlinking pictures hosted on their site but if those pictures are only shared here it might be an option as it's not for profit and would fall under personal use