I sent a Flickr support comment this morning after recently discovering issues with the batch upload tool that they provide: Flickr Uploadr. I thought I would share it here as a warning to others.
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Hello,
First of all, I'd like to say that I love the service you provide! It says a lot when the first thing my mother actually uses a computer for is to upload her photos, organize them into sets, tag them, and share them with friends and family. If you knew my mother, you would know that this is no small accomplishment! :)
However, I think it is imperative that Flickr have a *stable* method of batch uploading photos. The current Flickr Uploadr is extremely unreliable. Many people use Flickr's services to archive their photos so they don't consume local computer drive space (myself included). The issue with this is that the current problems with the Flickr Uploadr lead one to believe that their photos are being successfully uploaded as they receive a message indicating as such:
(message presented when v2.3 Flickr Uploadr experiences a failure)
"Your photos are now online!
Tell your friends, tell your family.... tell anyone with an Internet connection."
However, in actuality, when verifying the number of photos actually stored in your Flickr account with the number that were requested to be uploaded, it is apparent that the upload was not *successful* as indicated by the tool!
(See comments made here and many other places in the Flickr Forums:
http://www.flickr.com/forums/bugs/32833/?search=Flickr+Uploadr+Win+always+interrupting+upload)
This is unacceptable. I am a software developer, and am skeptical enough of software to not trust it 100% (as it is written by fallible humans). As such, I always confirm the functionality of a tool before taking drastic steps such as deleting photos from my hard drive because a tool told me that the pictures have been successfully uploaded. Other, non-technical folks are often more inclined to trust the *success* messages being presented to them. And, why shouldn't they?!!? Flickr has established itself as a reputable service. Why should they have doubt that when a tool provided by Flickr says that their pictures are safe and sound in their new repository, this might not actually be the case?
Personally, I feel that Flickr has an ethical responsibility to make it VERY CLEAR to its users that the stability of batch uploads is not guaranteed and that all photos should be double-checked for accuracy.
However, I feel the better solution is to provide a stable solution such as FTP support and/or a batch upload tool with proper error-handling and resume functionality.
I am currently using the beta version 2.4 of the Flickr uploadr and, although I am no longer presented with a *success* message, I STILL must restart my upload every 5 minutes when the tool indicates that my network MAY be having troubles.
When I restart, I must re-set all of my "Photo Set" information as well as photo privacy levels. I don't even have any confidence that these options are even being obeyed (especially since it appears that my upload seems to be continuing from where it left off. What happened to the previous uploaded pictures' set and privacy information? I don't see any sets when I log into my account).
What I am asking for is, AT LEAST, a warning to unsuspecting users whom may naively trust a faulty application and delete precious memories after a *reputable company's* service has told them that *ALL IS GOOD. YOUR PHOTOS ARE NOW WITH US*.
Ideally, the solution would be to provide a stable AND TRUSTWORTHY application IN CONJUNCTION WITH other trusted (and proven over decades) means of file transfer such as FTP and/or SSH copy.
I sincerely appreciate your consideration and action in this matter and look forward to being able to, once again, recommend your service to my friends and family.
Thank you,
Terry Thibodeau