Tuesday, 9th June 2009 at 1:33pm about 
PictureSync
PictureSyncPictureSync for Mac in its current form is now officially end-of-life. What this means:
Licence holders: if and when a new version of PictureSync is released, you will be offered a discount on a licence for that new version. If you bought a licence recently and PictureSync is not working for you, you may request a refund (be sure to mention your payment reference number).
On paper PictureSync is quite ambitious. One application to handle any user's needs, regardless of photo organiser and service provider—super! But in practice, although for the majority of users it fulfils their needs well, there's feature sprawl and a rather inappropriate code platform supporting it (AppleScript Studio, with Cocoa sprinkles) resulting in some users hitting un-resolvable hurdles. Furthermore PictureSync has a split personality with a strong disparity amongst the types of users, spanning from consumers to professionals. Together this has lead to a heavy testing and support burden.
The function divergence came about shortly after the first version. Some of you may remember that it just uploaded from iView MediaPro to Flickr. Simple—for a specific workflow. Later I added Webshots, and with it came throngs of users who didn't use MediaPro, or even iPhoto. Thus the single focus was lost as PictureSync needed to start providing thumbnail previews and annotation editing capabilities. To compound this, I'm not really a programmer and had negligible interest in either learning Cocoa, or pursuing leads to find suitable partners or investors that would enable a complete redevelopment of PictureSync. I do however still believe my vision for PictureSync's future (aka Lumiere) is viable.
In the past year or two I became somewhat distracted by other projects, and PictureSync's support and development have suffered. I am now embarking on a new web-based project, which may or may not leave me time to continue with PictureSync, so it would be wrong for me to keep it on life support as it is.
It's not the end-of-the-line. I rely on PictureSync myself (both via drag and drop, and with Expression Media) so it's not going away unless someone else comes up with something that works the way I need…but right now I must re-focus.
I have not yet decided what will happen to PictureSync for Windows and the .NET Client Framework.
- service provider plug-ins will be maintained where reasonable
- all functionality is free
- no further support is available
Licence holders: if and when a new version of PictureSync is released, you will be offered a discount on a licence for that new version. If you bought a licence recently and PictureSync is not working for you, you may request a refund (be sure to mention your payment reference number).
Background
I've really enjoyed working on PictureSync since it's initial inception in late 2004, and in the years since was able to introduce what I consider to be a few innovations that I hope have made it easier for its users to upload the many millions of images that they have. Thanks must certainly go to those users who supported the development by purchasing licences, and those providers who have supported and promoted it to their users.On paper PictureSync is quite ambitious. One application to handle any user's needs, regardless of photo organiser and service provider—super! But in practice, although for the majority of users it fulfils their needs well, there's feature sprawl and a rather inappropriate code platform supporting it (AppleScript Studio, with Cocoa sprinkles) resulting in some users hitting un-resolvable hurdles. Furthermore PictureSync has a split personality with a strong disparity amongst the types of users, spanning from consumers to professionals. Together this has lead to a heavy testing and support burden.
The function divergence came about shortly after the first version. Some of you may remember that it just uploaded from iView MediaPro to Flickr. Simple—for a specific workflow. Later I added Webshots, and with it came throngs of users who didn't use MediaPro, or even iPhoto. Thus the single focus was lost as PictureSync needed to start providing thumbnail previews and annotation editing capabilities. To compound this, I'm not really a programmer and had negligible interest in either learning Cocoa, or pursuing leads to find suitable partners or investors that would enable a complete redevelopment of PictureSync. I do however still believe my vision for PictureSync's future (aka Lumiere) is viable.
In the past year or two I became somewhat distracted by other projects, and PictureSync's support and development have suffered. I am now embarking on a new web-based project, which may or may not leave me time to continue with PictureSync, so it would be wrong for me to keep it on life support as it is.
Forwards
Without hypothesising about the future too much, I do intend to release an open-source framework, upon which I would build new applications and tools to supersede PictureSync, but each would be more focused on a specific workflow.It's not the end-of-the-line. I rely on PictureSync myself (both via drag and drop, and with Expression Media) so it's not going away unless someone else comes up with something that works the way I need…but right now I must re-focus.
Windows
This is another story. In 2006 I decided to invest (in as much as I could) into PictureSync myself, so I set off for Bangalore and hired some C# guys to develop a new Windows version. (I never managed to get Mac guys, otherwise the Mac story would be different!) The result has a pretty solid code base and potential, in fact I have an unreleased version with online photo browsing enabled. However as I have ceased offering software development to clients I no longer have a Windows developer on board to further it.I have not yet decided what will happen to PictureSync for Windows and the .NET Client Framework.
Updates
Stay tuned by following PictureSync on Twitter, or subscribe to the RSS feed. You may also follow myself on Twitter.Saturday, 13th December 2008 at 6:21am about PictureSync
PictureSync
Deck the halls with boughs of holly, tra-la-la la, 'tis the season to be jolly…and in the sprit of well-wishing and gift-giving (it's the thought that counts*), PictureSync licences will be free for all on Christmas day!
On Christmas day (wherever you are) simply launch PictureSync, choose 'Licence…' from the PictureSync menu and then click 'Licence Details'.
The licence will remove the limit on the number of accounts you can use at once, and is valid for use with Pro apps (Aperture/xMedia).
(* Especially if it's a genuine locally-sourced sustainable thought so sayeth the preacher!)
On Christmas day (wherever you are) simply launch PictureSync, choose 'Licence…' from the PictureSync menu and then click 'Licence Details'.
The licence will remove the limit on the number of accounts you can use at once, and is valid for use with Pro apps (Aperture/xMedia).
(* Especially if it's a genuine locally-sourced sustainable thought so sayeth the preacher!)
Wednesday, 10th December 2008 at 2:47pm about Webshots
WebshotsThis update fixes some errant bugs when used with iPhoto that could result in an error after launch, handling of .wb1 files, plus some other minor issues. It updates the logo and icon to match Webshots' new branding. [Details and Download]
As an addendum, Webshots have now realised that WBZ Helper bypasses the encryption on their Pro shots (that are licenced from suppliers who require that they be protected in this manner) in order to allow them to be used by Mac OS X's default screen saver and desktop background. At best this means that WBZ Helper will no longer be promoted directly by them, at worst it may mean WBZ Helper may have the ability to process Pro shots removed.
As WBZ Helper is currently the only solution for Mac users to use Webshots' Pro shots as their screen saver or desktop, I hope that the latter does not happen, but a dedicated screensaver module for Pro shots could be created by them within the licencing restrictions, as is done on Windows, and some other compromise may be reached to protect the interests of the photographers and agencies whose work is used by them, and enjoyed by you as a result.
For now, this update will let you continue enjoying your downloads from Webshots on your Mac.
[UPDATE 13th Dec.] Webshots are now actively looking at developing a new Mac client!
As an addendum, Webshots have now realised that WBZ Helper bypasses the encryption on their Pro shots (that are licenced from suppliers who require that they be protected in this manner) in order to allow them to be used by Mac OS X's default screen saver and desktop background. At best this means that WBZ Helper will no longer be promoted directly by them, at worst it may mean WBZ Helper may have the ability to process Pro shots removed.
As WBZ Helper is currently the only solution for Mac users to use Webshots' Pro shots as their screen saver or desktop, I hope that the latter does not happen, but a dedicated screensaver module for Pro shots could be created by them within the licencing restrictions, as is done on Windows, and some other compromise may be reached to protect the interests of the photographers and agencies whose work is used by them, and enjoyed by you as a result.
For now, this update will let you continue enjoying your downloads from Webshots on your Mac.
[UPDATE 13th Dec.] Webshots are now actively looking at developing a new Mac client!
Wednesday, 23rd July 2008 at 2:09pm about PictureSync
PictureSyncWant to check out and help test what is best described as PictureSync-in-a-cloud? Got an iPhone or Nokia N-series? Want to upload to services PictureSync doesn't support yet like Blogger, Picasa, Pikeo, Phanfare, Tumblr, TypePad, Wordpress or YouTube?
Click this link and signup for Pixelpipe. Note that this link is restricted to a small number of signups, but if you have a licenced copy of PictureSync, you may also send feedback from the Help menu and I'll send you your own invite.
What is Pixelpipe? It's a web-service that takes your uploads from disparate applications (such as our own iPhone application, or any third-party Flickr API compatible application) and sends them to your preferred photosharing and blog providers. We connect it all together.
You can use it with PictureSync or any other suitable upload plugin/application. If you're wondering how this impacts PictureSync I'll post about that soon, or for more background see my blog post on metaverse.
It's early days yet and we're working towards adding a lot more supported applications and services, plus functionality akin to what you can currently find in PictureSync itself.
Click this link and signup for Pixelpipe. Note that this link is restricted to a small number of signups, but if you have a licenced copy of PictureSync, you may also send feedback from the Help menu and I'll send you your own invite.
What is Pixelpipe? It's a web-service that takes your uploads from disparate applications (such as our own iPhone application, or any third-party Flickr API compatible application) and sends them to your preferred photosharing and blog providers. We connect it all together.
You can use it with PictureSync or any other suitable upload plugin/application. If you're wondering how this impacts PictureSync I'll post about that soon, or for more background see my blog post on metaverse.
It's early days yet and we're working towards adding a lot more supported applications and services, plus functionality akin to what you can currently find in PictureSync itself.
Now that Zooomr's made it out with a fully fledged API in their latest release, I've restored the Zooomr plugin to the services list in PictureSync for Mac [Download]. Just click Window>Accounts>+ and it'll appear (or choose Help>Check for updates if you already have a Zooomr account in your list).
The Zooomr plug-in supports location, updating, and links (that's the last icon in the information drawer). Kudos go to Kris to instantaneously fixing some bugs in the API methods!
Not to be left out, a new build of PictureSync for Windows Alpha [Download] has been released also with support for Zooomr, plus Facebook and Fotki. (No further services are likely to be added until the next milestone—sorry!)
The Zooomr plug-in supports location, updating, and links (that's the last icon in the information drawer). Kudos go to Kris to instantaneously fixing some bugs in the API methods!
Not to be left out, a new build of PictureSync for Windows Alpha [Download] has been released also with support for Zooomr, plus Facebook and Fotki. (No further services are likely to be added until the next milestone—sorry!)