We took a look at BiteMyPhoto tonight, a service to easily upload photos for use on blogs, social networks and other websites. Like CNET’s AllYouCanUpload, it is a dead simple tool that requires an absolute minimum amount of hassle – upload a photo, add metadata, set privacy, and get the URL or embed link for use on any site.
BiteMyPhoto requires registration (AllYouCanUpload doesn’t), but that also allows users to find their photos later by logging into their account. With AllYouCanUpload, if you lose the URL you have to re-upload the photo.
BiteMyPhoto was built with Ruby on Rails by Bruno Miranda. Of course, the fact that this is a one man (unfunded) show means the service could disappear at any moment. So keep a backup copy of those photos somewhere safe.
I think the registration issue is important. YouTube had a large advantage over rival video sites because the process of uploading videos was much easier. Applying the same reasoning AllYouCanUpload should be more appealing to those users that do not want to be hassled.
There are times at which a user registration is important, and times at which it is not — differentiating between the two may be most difficult for start-up businesses. For example, if you are hosting data which could potentially be retrieved elsewhere (and may most likely have a local backup), user registration may not be as important. If you are hosting data which may be critical to the user (such as user created content), this information may be very important to your user, and may warrant extra information, such as a guaranteed email address as a contact point, should the user lose his/her login information.
I do not get why a site like this gets reviewed. It’s just another site like photobucket etc..while a site like Dundoo.com which is actually something more innovative and more creative than bitemyphoto
I agree with Guk.
On other side , i wonder , with all advancements in technology and all investments in web 2.0 why we haven’t seen real efforts to build true Open-ID system , so users can have single user name for single sign-on across the web.
MSN Passport was a great idea , i wish it worked , same to openid.org.
I would also echo Guk and Faisal’s opinion. I also seriously think that there should be some real effort to bring in the OpenId concept and make it more useful.
Apart from that:
a) The website is too slow (as compared to photobucket and others) to be used regularly.
b) I registered at the site and all I get on logging in is “Application error (Rails)”
My experience was really bad and I don’t think I would ever recommend that site to anyone for any real use.
I tried the site out and I suspect they will have a tough time differentiating from the established players in this space. I use Flickr now and didn’t see any reason why I would switch.
I agree with Guk, i mean this is just another free site, with zero time invested on it.
Top photo and file storage sites ever are
http://www.box.net
http://www.orbitfiles.com
http://www.esnips.com
http://www.drivehq.com
the rest simply just exist
Mike
“Of course, the fact that this is a one man (unfunded) show means the service could disappear at any moment.”
Are you implying that because it’s a one man team that the service would disappear or that it is unfunded that the service will disappear?
One doesn’t necessarily need to be funded by a VC to stay alive…they could pull from their own funds. If anything, it like any other service, would die if his passion for the project dies.
The site is down now and Techcrunch’d
Digging more into the hosting of the site, it’s hosted on Dreamhost, one of the worst Rails hosting out there ( badly oversold).
bitemyphoto.com Private Registrant
Whois Privacy and Spam Prevention by DomainTools.com
DreamHost Web Hosting
417 Associated Rd #324
Brea, CA 92821
US
+1.2139471032
Startup needs to be lean in order to survive and but hosting your site is an a very “VITAL” aspect of your startup. Bite the bullet, go for at least a VPS hosting.
To the founder of BiteThePhoto, contact me if you think you want to change to at least a VPS Rails Hosting, I know some good people who can take good care of your needs
alfred.toh @ payscroll dot com
Michael,
When I’m ready for a PR launch for
PixelShrink.com I hope I can get coverage here. Based on everyone’s comments we should be a hit. Registration isn’t necessary but if you do you can track images in both private and public folders. Friends can post comments on the images. Have access to all (or similar) of the snappy image tools that are so popular on myspace. We like to think that we give the flexibility of imageshack (minus the bandwidth restrictions) and the features of Photobucket and Slide. Can’t wait to be out of restricted Beta.
Also one thing that sets us apart is that we’ll put a cap on the amount of members to keep the site stable and fast. -Sean
It’s a pity they show us gramatical mistakes like:
You have “sussesfully” added your images(s)!
It worked for me and was pretty easy. I think I found my new spot for images.
Thanks for the constructive criticism. The website is unfortunately hosted on dreamhost still. I have plans to move it to a more stable private virtual server at Rails Machine but those are expensive. I just wanted to mention that I have NO plans of discontinuing the site, so all your pictures are safe.
Sorry for the downtime, but once techcrunche’d, the powerful servers at dreamhost gave up on me, even with all the mem_cache and page_cache ruby on rails provides.
I created this site on my free time to provide forum/hosted blogs/myspace users with and easy to use web app to upload images and quickly use them by grabbing the tags. Sorry if you feel that is not innovative enough!
Thanks for using it.
PS. Fabricio: Sorry for the “grammatical” mistake…
Pretty cool website. I found it extremely easy to upload my photos.
I tried to use photobucket but the site is too clutter and usually slow.
Nice Site! Clean, and easy to use. I love the fact tat I can see all my images without having to search everybody elses crap!
Please dont go away BiteMyPhotos!
Vic!
Good luck Bruno!
1-click-hosts are easy money.
I run one that is funding all my other projects.
I do suggest you to read up on e-commerce and copyright laws – just so you know what you can, must and may do.
I have been using this site since it started a couple of month ago to store my myspace images. I appreciate how easy it is to upload multiple images at once.
This site certainly has its place with the MySpace crowd. But with photos and videos reportedly being blocked without notice, people may start to move away from the bare bones hosting sites like this to media sharing sites that offer a more social hosting experience. such as Flickr. Also, why only photos? We’ve all got video capability on our cameraphones and digital cameras these days…Photobucket, Webshots and Pickle (www.pickle.com) host both.
Interesting.
Techcrunch appears to post comments on sites/applications of various size/skills. As has been noted, the site appears to be simply another “me too” regarding photos. So what’s the ‘it’, or the differentiator? In other words, why did this site get attention and not any of the other apps out here in development?
The reason I ask, is due to a colum from Guy (Apple/garage.com) Kawoloski (sp???) (I know I’ve screwed up the name!!). The thesis of the colum was that it’s not easy to get the attention of techcrunch, in that techcrunch gets 30-40 posts on companies, as welll as posts from VCs, not to mention the internally driven/found companies…
So, if it’s not easy to get to techcrunch, why do we get reviews of this kind of opperation?
Comments.. Thoughts.. Critical Thoughts?
peace.
Sam, I am sorry you feel my site is not good enough for techcrunch. I created a a simple and useful service for a targeted audience. The site receives complements every day on how easy to use it is. I guess to some people is never enough.
Thank you for you comment.
brunno (20).
you misunderstand my post. it wasn’t a shot at your site. the post was intended to be a statement on how/why a particular biz gets in techcrunch.
but as i now recall, nowhere in the Guy article, did Guy discuss the merits/qualities/level of a site/biz, as being attributes that techcrunch takes into account.
in all honesty, i think it would make a good deal of sense if there was a techcrunch kind of site, that had the ability to allow people to post information, rate sites/reviews, etc…
anyway… back to the thread!!
Sam, sorry if I misunderstood you.
It is hard for me to see it as you see it since I have spend late nights working on http://www.bitemyphoto.com to provide everyone a quality free service.
I also like you idea.
If I build a site in Rails will I automatically get published on TC?
It could be BiteMyPhoto become the competitor for Photobucket and Imagehack for next days
I love bitemyphoto! It’s sites like this that stop the big guys in their tracks. Simple, fast, easy to use!!
I agree that there’s probably little need for another photo hosting site. I use Photobucket – I can’t seem to bring myself to bother with flickr, so it’s unlikely i’d roll with this new service.
but i love one man shows, and ruby on rails is very sexy right now
Bruno,
can u tell us if u want how many registered users ur site has?
thanks
Michael,
it is about time for u to do another post on the best online file storage sites
James
Uh-oh! Clicked on “latest images” link and boom, in came a picture of a naked woman. This is not cool. I’m using my work computer for heaven’s sake. That’s it Mike, I’m brining a lawsuit against you for IIED, NIED and breach of fiduciary duty!
We took the time to take a look at BiteMyPhoto and we agree with a number of the people above who seemed to find it hard to get excited about that site. We also looked at Dundoo (which was mentioned by “Guk”) and when we visited the site we felt assalted by a barrage of advertising and we had difficulty finding any photos where the time was taken to tag them, etc. It begs the question: Is anybody spending any significant time actually trying to build some personality into their photo sharing site and have a photo sharing site that has a reason for existing? We think we have and we like the results were getting.
Thomas
http://www.MYSUMMER.com
Hmm, Micheal whats happening here, tried this site and cant see any reason why it should be posted in here. Theres no real features or anything. I ve seen better site’s which have been recently launched, and worth talking about!!..
I thought this was awesome:-
http://www.thumbq.com
Thomas,
Don’t be pissed but I registered mywinter.com. I didn’t want to miss the boat. Regarding the “barrage of advertising”, when you have some traction and your bandwidth isn’t covered by a $50 RackSpace account you might be forced to put up an ad. Michael is covering a new start-up. Yes this space is very crowded, but I don’t know if it’s time to start bashing one another. Well I’m off to design my seasonal start-up.
http://www.pixelshrink.com
@Thomas
I think you are still missing terms of service
So everyone is posting links now? I figure I’ll join the party:
http://www.yourep.com (social photo network)
http://www.keepmyfile.com (generic 1-click-host)
http://www.freeimage.host (generic 1-click-image-host – started work today)
and some more coming up
I really don’t see what the big deal with this bitemyphoto site is.
Its yet another free image host with no unique features and its hosted on a $7.95 Dreamhost account.
JonD: who cares where it is hosted as long as it works.
You need something useful to do with your time.
Its interesting how Pixelshrink copied ImageShack’s front page source code
http://img111.i...resizingim8.png
I am personally flattered that ImageShack is a standard not only to image hosting but also to webpage design.
PS. http://profile....s/user/ginbaker example of new image navigation system.
You’re upset that the resizing options are similar? There are many other sites that use these same specifacations in their options menu. AllYouCanUpLoad is similar as well. I’m flattered that you’ve noticed us however. I’ll have more to show you soon. Regards
I am not upset, just flattered to be copied with such minute detail – we obviously doing something right.
i don’t know why this site is featured on techcrunch. many others offer the same thing. unless its unique and also gives a good user experiece like photobucket and thumbq it shouldn’t feature at all. many other sites and applications are more deserving