I'm thinking of moving to 500px instead of flickr... why? I used to log in to flickr via a 'spammy' gmail account, however flickr now seems to be forcing you sign up for a yahoo account. It's annoying to have another account to remember and manage. That in itself is not a big deal but when I try to sign up for a yahoo account, I need to register with my mobile number. I'd rather not share that information with them unless it's absolutely necessary. Maybe it's a mild case of paranoia, but I feel that these big corparations already have enough information about us. So any downsides to moving to 500px? Seems like another popular platform with photographers.
I dont see Flickr forcing you to have a Yahoo account. I can still sign in with a spammy gmail address
You can still log in with gmail at this stage, but on their home page there is a banner saying they will be removing facebook and google sign-ins, and suggest to set up a yahoo account instead.
This is in the the message below from flickr staff moderators in the flickr help forum. I don't know about you guys but I'm going to pop smoke and get out of flickr when my google login stops working.
Wow...and I was about sign up for a Flickr account to host some pics. Anyone uses Google+? Since I already have a Gmail account.
I'm clinging on to the old school Picasa, even though Google are desperately trying to Google+ify it. I like the clunky old-school, no frills approach to image hosting.
For what its worth... On the positive side, giving them a phone number (which Google asks for well) is part of their 2 stage security, and I have read articles form tech guys who say its quite helpful if your account gets hacked and your password changed. On the negative side, both Google and Yahoo are moving to a system that will automatically log your computer (or phone or tablet) in to all Google/Yahoo products if you sign into any of them. This complicates having two or more accounts (maybe you want your personal e-mail to be different than your G+, Picasa, or Youtube account to avoid spam), makes it difficult to browse anonymously, and personally, I dislike being logged into a service automatically (for a number of reasons). But this seems to be the future of the internet. Companies are making it more and more difficult to opt out of being tracked continuously.
Theyre all asking for a mob number these days; Google, MS, Yahoo, FB, Paypal etc It's actually designed for more security and reduce spam accounts.
I am using 500px and am quite happy with it. I also have a flickr account, but haven't used it much lately. In my opinion, both platforms are different in the way which content to put on. I see flickr more like an online storage for pictures (especially with the 1TB announcement last year) with attached community. 500px on the other hand is more for pictures I really want to show to other people (i.e., quality pictures). I only have a few pictures up on 500px but these are a collection out of my best shots. Whereas on flickr I also have a set of photos from a lens disassembling and cleaning I once did. Interesting and useful to some, but nothing out of my "portfolio" so to speak (even though I do not have or need a portfolio as a pure amateur).
It depends on what you want to get out of the sites. Flickr is still a much better place for social interaction, whereas 500px is a better place to show your "Best of the best" images.
Both yahoo and gmail try to trick you into using your mobile #....but look for the fine print to say "no thanks" or "remind me later" and you can bypass it. I never give out my #. I do the same thing (and I'm a follower of yours on flickr, so I'd miss your photos.
500px is a different beast compared to Flickr. I have both accounts. 500px is increasingly trying to compete with SmugMug, PhotoShelter as a portfolio for photographers. They're now also venturing into stock sales. This is where the best of your work should be posted to in full resolution glory. As a paying member you also get a real portfolio, etc. I'm not a big fan of their "Story" though, it's basically their attempt at blogging. Flickr is your photo dump. Upload a bunch of photos for quick sharing.
I've managed to sign up for a yahoo email account with a fake phone number, so I'll just stick with flickr for now. From your recommendations, I'll might also setup a 500px account for my 'best images'. Yeah google, facebook, etc have also been asking me for a phone number, but I've managed to skip doing so for now. Sure it's an additional security measure, but I'm still not keen for them to have my phone number. I'd prefer it be linked to another email, instead.
It's not a trick. Google has my phone number because my google account is pretty vital. All my accounts.. bills, health, credit, whatever... need an email address. And that's where password resets go or other various things. I protect the hell out of that account. Giving Google my phone number as a means of verification for myself makes it much easier (as does putting in a valid alternate email). With that said, you could also sign up for a google voice number and use that. It's legit, and you don't have to deal with it until you need to. Also, I would suggest using LastPass or KeePass to keep track of accounts. Makes it easier... one login for everything is a pipe dream, heh.
It's a trick when the screen makes it appear that you are required to put in your phone # to log in. Just like when they want you to sign in on youtube just to watch vids when you don't want/have a youtube channel and then they sign you up for google+. I don't want google+, I don't want to share my internet history with the world, but they keep sneaking it in. The opt out is in fine print and not readily apparent. Yahoo does the same thing. That is what I'm referring to. Not everyone wants to share their phone numbers. A phone # isn't vital. An alternate email is a perfectly fine alternative. I use an alternate email. I don't need big brother having all my info or texting me and tracking my every move.
