Best Reviewed
Photo Sharing
- Best photo-sharing website SmugMug *Est. $40
- Best free photo sharing Flickr *Est. $0
- Free photo-sharing/photo-editing suite Picasa Web Albums *Est. $0
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- Drag and drop files directly onto AOL Pictures website
- No need for others to download software to view your files
- Easy to use
- Includes simple photo editing tools
- Photo-editing tools not extensive
- Service ends Dec. 2008
AOL Pictures works in a different way than Hello (free download, http://www.hello.com). Rather than sending photo and video files to others from your computer, this program lets you drag and drop photos directly onto the AOL Pictures website. You can then send friends and family a link to view your photos online. There's no limit to how many files you can upload, and if you use AOL Instant Messenger or AOL Blog, AOL Pictures integrates well with those services. Reviewers say this service is easy to use, with some simple photo-editing tools, and unlike some other photo sharing services it also works for Mac users. A similar service, Smilebox (basic version free, http://www.smilebox.com), offers multiple slideshow, photo album and scrapbook templates.
We found the best review of AOL Pictures at PC Magazine, whose writer compares it to other photo-sharing programs.
Our Sources
Metz reviews five photo sharing software programs, including three which were then in beta-test phase (BubbleShare, FilmLoop and SnapJot). He says AOL Pictures has benefits for AOL members, including the ability to use AOL Pictures from a cell phone or PDA. Overall, AOL Pictures receives the highest rating.
Review: Five New Approaches to Photo Sharing, Cade Metz, Mar. 15, 2006
Marshall Kirkpatrick finds the lastest version of AOL Pictures "underwhelming." He prefers Yahoo! Photos and Flickr, saying AOL Pictures "is basically no fun to use."
Review: AOL Pictures Goes Social, Marshall Kirkpatrick, Sept. 27, 2006
3. PC Advisor
This news item reports that AOL will cease to offer AOL Pictures after 2008.
Review: AOL Kills AOL Pictures Service, Lexton Snol
On this sites list of 15 photo-sharing services, AOL Pictures ranks 13th. However, the narrative review is descriptive, and there's no explanation for why AOL Pictures is rated so low.
Review: AOL Pictures Review, Editors of TopTenReviews.com
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