|
Post by oldschooldm on Jul 4, 2017 5:49:05 GMT -9
|
|
|
Post by squirmydad on Jul 4, 2017 8:46:49 GMT -9
Thanks for the heads-up, can't seem to get into my library at the moment to download everything. I suspect many users are cleaning out their libraries right now.
|
|
|
Post by Vermin King on Jul 4, 2017 9:05:56 GMT -9
Even folks who were already paying clients are getting hosed
|
|
|
Post by alloydog on Jul 4, 2017 18:17:36 GMT -9
I stopped using Photobucket to host or just store new images ages ago, because the site became slow and awkward to use and riddled with intrusive adverts. I don't mind adverts, as the host service has to generate revenue to cover its costs, but these ads, for my pc/internet connection, make the site very difficult to use.
|
|
|
Post by alloydog on Jul 10, 2017 10:42:26 GMT -9
I just noticed some of the images on my website are on Photobucket, so now I have gaping holes! Time to download it all and kill the account.
|
|
|
Post by Vermin King on Jul 10, 2017 10:48:03 GMT -9
Maybe you can fill the 'gaping holes' by doing image searches. They really threw a monkey wrench into things
|
|
|
Post by bravesirkevin on Jul 12, 2017 2:58:44 GMT -9
Finally got all the images on my various shops relinked, but I haven't touched the forums yet... Man, that was a tedious task! if any of you come across something I've missed on one of my shops while browsing, please let me know!
|
|
|
Post by Vermin King on Jul 12, 2017 4:19:51 GMT -9
I feel sorry for all these folk who have to go through that. Dave Winfield is trying to rebuild build threads for his Centurion and Saladin models that others had done. He had saved photos posted for some reason, and now he's trying to help, but there is only so much you can do
|
|
|
Post by alloydog on Jul 17, 2017 22:15:06 GMT -9
I stopped using Photobucket to host or just store new images ages ago, because the site became slow and awkward to use and riddled with intrusive adverts. I don't mind adverts, as the host service has to generate revenue to cover its costs, but these ads, for my pc/internet connection, make the site very difficult to use. Here's a screenshot of what I have to go through just to get to my account: And it isn't just those pop-ups, there are pop-ups under those pop-ups and when you close them, about 30 seconds to a minute later, more appear. AND! if that isn't enough, they don't just "pop-up", they fade in, meaning that you go to click on something and suddenly another browser tap opens and you're visiting the advertiser! AAAGH! Like I said, I don't mind adverts, the service has to be paid for, but when the adverts make the service unusable, no, that's just wrong. If you are going to offer a free service, you have to plan from the beginning how it will be funded. If you want users to pay money, you have to offer them something better than the regular service. Running for so long, then hijacking users with obtrusive adverts and cutting services is plain wrong. Bad business plan. I am in the process of downloading my folders and deleting them. Photobucket can go make sweet, sweeeeet, lurve to themselves for all I care.
|
|
|
Post by berneart76 on Jul 17, 2017 22:30:27 GMT -9
I'll try to fix my Photobuccket hosted images in some fashion, but am not sure how long it will take.
|
|
|
Post by Parduz on Jul 18, 2017 1:31:33 GMT -9
I can't even download my two albums. Good thing is that i have all that pictures. The only important image is this, which i can't remember to what post was attached.... still funny: Disco Inferno!
|
|
|
Post by berneart76 on Jul 18, 2017 2:13:03 GMT -9
I can't even download my two albums. Good thing is that i have all that pictures. Disco Inferno! I too am having isues with downloading my albums, I'm guessing their servers are getting overloaded with download requests as people flee the site. waiting for a download never happens, and when I get the e-mail link for the download it tells me that the time limit has already expired.
|
|
|
Post by bravesirkevin on Jul 18, 2017 6:45:32 GMT -9
Luckily, all my images were still on my hard drive, so no downloads were required, but it's still a massive mission to re-upload the stuff elsewhere and go fix links all over the place.
|
|
|
Post by Vermin King on Jul 26, 2017 8:00:16 GMT -9
Well, AirDave has six models ready to go, but still fighting with Photobucket. He's been a paying customer for years, and they aren't letting him download his images. You can read more about it here: www.papermodelers.com/forum/590243-post1851.html
|
|
|
Post by okumarts on Jul 26, 2017 8:58:56 GMT -9
Ahh... I sent off a VERY STRONGLY WORDED email to them. Buggers.
|
|
|
Post by Vermin King on Jul 26, 2017 9:08:21 GMT -9
I hope you feel better having done so, because that is probably the only satisfaction you are going to get.
When Photobucket made changes a couple years ago, Mauther's blog was trashed, and he was one step away from quitting his blog.
I think the landscape of our hobby is about to change
|
|
|
Post by oldschooldm on Jul 26, 2017 10:04:27 GMT -9
I am working on a solution that might work for many people... Just a few more days...
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using proboards
|
|
|
Post by Vermin King on Aug 27, 2017 18:09:31 GMT -9
|
|
|
Post by oldschooldm on Aug 27, 2017 20:39:53 GMT -9
The fix I'm working on would work for everyone, but isn't quite ready yet... You can sign up to learn more at our site: cachepix.comI'll explain more later, but drop your email there if interested.
|
|
|
Post by Vermin King on Sept 1, 2017 18:42:53 GMT -9
Holy Smokes! Everywhere I have gone, the Firefox Add-on works. Destroyed threads have new life. Outstanding!
|
|
|
Post by coreyhaim8mydog on Sept 2, 2017 4:35:46 GMT -9
So, this is what happened. I have been wondering. so many cool photos on so many minis forums were just gone.
|
|
|
Post by oldschooldm on Sept 2, 2017 8:24:41 GMT -9
With a friend we are launching a picture relay service - check out chachepix.com and drop your email to learn more.
We are open-sourcing the proxy code, if anyone wants to do this trick on their own hosted service.
|
|
|
Post by Vermin King on Sept 2, 2017 19:50:56 GMT -9
Photobucket has figured out how to block the fix. Razzum frazzum
|
|
|
Post by oldschooldm on Sept 2, 2017 22:21:09 GMT -9
Hmm. Hope that didn't break my teams solution...
|
|
|
Post by oldschooldm on Sept 2, 2017 22:49:59 GMT -9
I don't know what the script did, but our server-based approach is still working. :-) Hope to share it soon.
|
|
|
Post by alloydog on Sept 3, 2017 0:53:09 GMT -9
You know, if you have all your images still saved locally, that is, not on teh interwebs, then there are several ways to make them accessible to the outside world which are pretty easy? It puts everything under your control and not held to ransom by some web hosting service.
|
|
|
Post by oldschooldm on Sept 3, 2017 15:49:57 GMT -9
You know, if you have all your images still saved locally, that is, not on teh interwebs, then there are several ways to make them accessible to the outside world which are pretty easy? It puts everything under your control and not held to ransom by some web hosting service. I'm interested in what you mean by this, alloydog. As far as I'm aware you'll always have to have your photos accessed by webserver somewhere with an internet address. *Someone* has to keep that server running and pay for the storage, internet bandwidth and domain stuff. There's always a hosting middleman. I just wanted to make that clear. If you have specific recommendations, please share them! Everyone needs help with this.
|
|
|
Post by alloydog on Sept 4, 2017 3:42:22 GMT -9
I'm interested in what you mean by this... Put the kettle on and pull up a sandbag, good sirs. OK, maybe I was a bit sparse on details, but I was posting from my tablet and typing isn't that easy on it. Before I start, I just want to point out that I do appreciate that when you're running a commercial concern, the main order of the day is reliablity - you want oyur customers to be able to reach you and buy your products/services without any problems. So, in my book, you shouldn't rely on free services, as you usually get what you pay for, and in the case of Photobucket, are at risk of being held to ransom. If you have high visitor volume and need 24/7/365 service and back-up should it all go to pot, then you need to pay for it. Having said that... If you're feeling a little adventurous, it isn't too dificult to set up your own server at home. You don't need much tech-savvy, just the ability to read and follow instructions and maybe use google if (when) you need help. Also, I'm not talking about running your entire business from the home server, rather using it as a file-share, such as images. For example, for several years, I had the domain name for a website. Unfortunately, due to the email service I used going offline for a few months (and yes, it was paid-for service as well!), I missed the warnings about the domain name expiring. Getting it back after the experiation period was way too expensive. But, I was already running it from my own server. Now for the time being, I use a free hosting website to redirect visitors to my server's IP address. Afterall, if you have internet access, you have an IP address and in most cases, even though the IP address is probably listed as *dynamic*, it's very rare that it will change - my home IP address never changed in six years and only did so recently when I got a different service. So, what do you need? You'll need a spare computer. It can be virtually anything, such as old laptop/desktop. I ran my website from an old IBM ThinkPad from the early 2000s - from 2012 to 2015, when it then died. It ran virtually non-stop for those three years. The website has now been on an early version Raspberry Pi and has been running for nearly two years. You can find a million-and-one HOWTOs out there that say what to do. Then, when you have that up and running, you just need to set your modem/router to allow external HTTP traffic to and from that PC. I can even help. To me, the benefit of running my own server is that I have been let down so many times by free service providers - such as them switching from allowing editting your site with HTML to having to use their own templates, slapping obtrusive adverts all over it and in some cases, just going bust. I have also used it to host images which I then link to in forums that have not had image hosting services or share files with family and friends. It is easy to keep backed up, so should it crash and and worse case, I need to change hardware, then the entire site is just a copy/paste away. Also, because it is run off of donated hardware, it is virtually free. It takes next-to-bugger-all electricity and because my site visitors number in the tens per week, bandwidth requirements are pretty low. Works for me.
|
|
|
Post by oldschooldm on Sept 4, 2017 6:36:58 GMT -9
For the record, I home-hosted files and servers for over a decade and have deep personal knowledge of these challenges. Everything I mention here happened to me personally. Also, I founded several internet server technologies companies, and was CEO of the last one.
Dynamic IPs are not, in any way, warranted to behave the way you describe. You are very lucky to tell the story above. I wouldn't want people to believe that is typical and spend a lot of time on that problem.
For large IPs (such as cable companies) this is simply 1) not true, and 2) against the terms of service, which will end in your web ports being blocked or being required to upgrade to a much more expensive package.
Also, most hosting companies explicitly in their TOS prohibit file hosting. Anyone who wants to do this should check it out. Typically, if you want to host files you need to get something called "Business Internet", which supports static IP addresses, DNS routing, Email (using your domain), and specific bandwidth limits. BTW, this costs a LOT more than your typical home internet.
Oh yeah, and you really, really want to buy a domain.
And when, eventually you decide, for whatever reason, to no longer host your files (or you die and your kids unplug your network) you leave a hole where your images used to be throughout the internet.
There is no such thing as free hosting. Storing bits, referencing, and moving them requires infrastructure, and that costs something. Not a lot, but something.
If you have a provider that will share their DNS and allow you to use unlimited bandwidth and keep your IP static(ish) and has not prohibited you to host files for the broader internet and have a computer that you are willing to dedicate to 24x7 operations (including paying the power bill) and are willing to continually patch that computer against hostile bot attacks taking them over to use for DDOS attacks and don't care what happens to your stuff when your IP changes or your server disconnects forever - then go nuts!
|
|
|
Post by oldschooldm on Sept 4, 2017 14:04:17 GMT -9
www.xfinity.com/Corporate/Customers/Policies/HighSpeedInternetAUP.htmlProhibited: "Use or run dedicated, stand-alone equipment or servers from the Premises that provide network content or any other services to anyone outside of your Premises local area network (“Premises LAN”), also commonly referred to as public services or servers. Examples of prohibited equipment and servers include, but are not limited to, email, web hosting, file sharing, and proxy services and servers;" This is typical of the providers that the vast majority of U.S. household use.
|
|