PANORAMIO is CLOSED

[hvbemmel]

Panoramio is closing. Learn how to back up your data.

In their infinite wisdom, arrogance and not being able to communicate in a normal manner Google is under the impression that what they offer on Google Maps is sufficient to compete with other photo sites and Panoramio. This announcement is made in a single line on your photo page as thank you for all the money you generated for Google. 

I wish you all a nice scrolling until infinity to reach the last photo on your profile.

For me, I will help those who really need help with a transition to GM, but it´s all in the link above, I will divert all questions about not being able to find photos or about statistics to this thread.

In the mean time I have better things to do, 

I don´t know how long this forum will be open, so I wish you all the best, thank you all for your support and for the nice conversations and discussions we had in the past, for me, nine years. Godspeed. 

[Stuart Smith]

I also found it unbelievable that a company the size of Google was never able to be contactable regarding Panoramio.

As the site has so many loyal followers that really appreciate its benefits and community, why can't Google sell it or maintain it even with a membership fee (reasonable level)? The coexistence with GE has helped me on so many travels to find places of beauty and interest. Maps is a poor substitute!

I add my sadness at its demise.

[Matthew Walters]

Thanks Herman. Sadly Google seems to be made up of unimaginative cowards.

[hvbemmel]

NEW In the Panoramio settings (cogwheel right of your avatar) you can break the link between Panoramio and Google+, your photos will not be transferred to GM then.

[Geosergio]

What is this bad new this morning? Again they say that Panoramio is closing! Why? I have more than 100.000 photos here! I spent years here on Panoramio to upload my photos, to share the world and culture!

Is there anything we can do to save Panoramio? In 2014 we won a petition to save it! Does it mean anything? Where is democracy in this world?

Sorry for my bad written trend but I am so angry! This morning I got so angry when I read this again!

[Christos Theodorou]

Trying Maps last month, all Panoramio photos are transferred automatically to the new site, if they are accepted in GE. I can't see my photos not accepted for any reason. That means, I suppose, photos with flowers, graffiti, macro will not be transferred to Maps.

I really hate scrolling ... to the eternity, but I prefer to keep my work alive.

[Timberwolf Studios]

[laurence_cox]

Let's all start by agreeing to boycott their 'Local Guides program'. We don't upload photos just to provide links to businesses, which is what they seem to think we are going to do (if business owners want to upload pictures showing off their businesses, they are quite entitled to do so, but it wasn't what Panoramio was set up for).

[hvbemmel]

You can link to POI´s, which would be the same as the snap to function in Panoramio. POI´s are not necessarily businesses but can be other places like churches, musea, fountains etc. It´would be the users choice to link to businesses. For the rest you can of course link your flower photos to flower shop etc. The system GM uses is as vulnerable as Panoramio once was, Google still has no idea about human nature and the way some people will corrupt the system given the chance. 

For the rest I don´t think any action to boycot the guides program will impress Google. As they said when people wanted to leave Panoramio, we will be sad to se you go, but we can not stop you. again, they are not interested in the people behind the computer. 

[laurence_cox]

If you want to carry on sharing these, you could try creating themed albums on Google+. This is one that I made on the subject of Nature:
https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipOajNSn1GphjsaslhHCJ93NpqL6CtKdtijIyMx3
Of course these will count towards your Google+ quota, while transferred photos do not.

[laurence_cox]

I agree with you that Google are too big to care about the little people now. Whatever happened to 'Don't be evil'? Sometimes you just have to accept that you have lost and have nothing to do with their replacement. For me, Panoramio was mainly about the groups of like-minded people, and this is gone forever with GM.

[bdeh]

If all Panoramio users delete all their photo's, Google map will be less interesting.

Op woensdag 5 oktober 2016 06:03:02 UTC+2 schreef hvbemmel:

[PavolG]

Few weeks ago, Google sent me a huge "Thank You" email for all my contributions. I have millions of views, some photos with more than 100 000 views, achieved Level 5 local guide badge, I've reported tons of errors in maps and now? They're sayin me goodbye. We don't need you anymore, because we are accepting only photos of restaurants now... And uploaded by context menu for the exact POI.


Dňa streda, 5. októbra 2016 6:03:02 UTC+2 hvbemmel napísal(-a):

[Amelia Royan]

I am almost totally computer literate.  Do you advise me to sign up for G+, then save  all my photos in the zip file?   I'm not good at following instructions and have a fear of losing everything!

I  have to say that, even though it has been on the cards for some time now, I feel very sad, and very disappointed  with Google, and the way they have treated this site.

[hvbemmel]

Amelia, do you have your photos on your computer / hard drive ? if yes, then forget about the zipfile it will not bring you more as what you have. The zipfile is only for if you do not have a copy of your photos anymore.

If you want to have your photos transferred to photos.google.com and want to go in with Google Maps, then you have to connect to G+. I can not advise you there. you will have to decide what you want. 

[mook88]

I've been hoping that this day would never come, but sadly, here it is. So now I would like to take this opportunity to thank the moderators for all of their hard work over the years. It has been very much appreciated!

[Vietoves.Lt]

Hello,

it is very sad, that Panoramio will be not available for people shortly. But here are few questions, we all need to know.

1. We are still able to upload photos to Panoramio. They will be reviewed and approved for Google Maps? What is final date, then reviewers will complete own work?

2. Maybe anyone know, if it is (will be) possible upload batch geotagged photos to Google Maps like now to Panoramio?

Thank You.

[hvbemmel]

Pavol, The thank you and level 5 is for the photos you already have in Google Maps. You get no credits (yet) for Panoramio photos. Look for "your contributions"- photos under the three horizontal lines in the top left corner on GM. Ther you will find all your photos. those wit number on it are the photos you have in GM already.   

[Asinus99]

2.I use

http://www.geosetter.de/en

it is free

среда, 5 октября 2016 г., 14:45:19 UTC+3 пользователь Vietoves.Lt написал:

[hvbemmel]

1. The photos will go to GM when you have a connection to G+ There the photos will be reviewed anyway so I guess the review will go on if not in Panoramio then in GM

2. You only can upload photos in GM when you go to a POI and click it. In the left pane the POI will appear and you will have to look for "add a photo" there (under a photo which says xx photos). The you can upload as many photos as you like.  

[Draken]

Has anyone found out how to remove all the photo content? If I delete my photos from Panoramio will they also disappear from the Local contributors abortion of nature or do I have to make it directly on Google Maps? If so, how?

My photo contribution to Google is over for good. Thank you

[hvbemmel]

If you do it before november 4 you can delete your Panoramio account in the settings. As there was no transition to photos yet, that should do the trick. 

You also can remove the connection to G+ in the settings which also will prevent the transition (you will have to make sure there is no link as you had a link there but due to a bug we were thrown out of G+ , but not entirely)..then only Panoramio will remain and you can remove your photos/delete your account up to november 2017, after that Panoramio will not be reachable any more and photos will be transferred to Google photos.  

[Draken]

Thank you Herman. I knew you would have the right answer. It is a pity we cannot reach the great bulk of Panoramio users and make them aware of this option. I am pretty sure a vast majority of them  would delete their accounts and photos since they would no longer want to contribute with this ugly-faced Leviathan. I will probably now remove the connection to G+, after that considered me gone.

[Nick Weall]

Goodbye Draken

Thanks for all your hard work over the years.

[hvbemmel]

Well, you have my address.

It was great living this adventure with you and the others, Knowing you all was worth te efforts and this is something Google can not ever take away from us. I doubt that they have the EQ to even fathom what Panoramio has meant for many of us and what they miss with their head in the mist of ones and zeros. Specially the moderators have lived through a lot of things and we always came out better. In this spirit I´m thankful to Draken, Matthew, Daniella, Tomas and all the others I consider being my friends and that goes far beyond Panoramio. I consider this a Goodbye, not a farewell.

[digitography]

I have tried to back up my photographs using the method they prescribe, but there is no link in settings for for "Data Liberation" and I know my original account was a panoramio account.
I have no idea WTF google think they are achieving, other than pissing people off. Maybe they think they can get some suckers to pay them for putting photographs on GMs?
I have looked at the GMs option of uploading photographs and cannot figure out how to make it work, and if you make a contribution on G+ you can only upload photographs 1 at a time.
Thankfully all of my photographs are backed up, however many of them were geo located manually, so many hours I will never get back.

On Wednesday, 5 October 2016 05:03:02 UTC+1, hvbemmel wrote:

[Stephen SteveT]

Dear Herman, Matthew, Draken and others

I'm gob smacked. I nearly posted this week that we needed the defibrillator to try and get a pulse back into Panoramio. 

I have spent Years on this project, my first photo upload back in Feb 2007 and what a waste of effort I now feel.  I will pull all my 19,243 photos from Google along with the 32,000,000  views they've had, with immediate effect. 

I take my hat off to you guys Herman, Matthew, Draken and others that have had to put up with me over the years, you clearly have the patience of saints.

Panoramio was great, had it's problems but was truly great and could have been made outstanding with a little resolve from Google.

I wish to thank the Founders of Panoramio, Eduardo and Colleagues for a such great idea it was a shame they were unable to continue.

 

Also a big thank you to Pierre Dablon for his Stats Program PhotosheetPano, along with others who also wrote complimentary software. 

Panoramio is going to be a big miss in my life and wish all who have contributed well and all the best for the future.

Cheers from Geordieland and Farewell

Stephen (SteveT, Stephen SteveT)

PS. Whats the safest way to remove all photos from Panoramio / Google Maps / Google Earth ?

[Aristaeus63]

It makes you wonder if they're going to end Google Earth next. I don't think photo's uploaded to Google Maps end up on Google Earth. The only new photo contributions to GE were on the android version via Panoramio.

[hvbemmel]

Hi Steve,

Thx for your kind words.

To your question: The easiest way is to delete your Panoramio account in the Panoramio settings, this only affects Panoramio and also removes your photos from GM and GE (those two can take some time) 

On Wednesday, 5 October 2016 16:14:41 UTC+2, SteveT wrote:

Dear Herman, Matthew, Draken and others

I'm gob smacked. I nearly posted this week that we needed the defibrillator to try and get a pulse back into Panoramio. 

I have spent Years on this project, my first photo upload back in Jan 2008 and what a waste of effort I now feel.  I will pull all my 19,243 photos from Google along with the 32,000,000  views they've had, with immediate effect. 

[Daniela Brocca]

I'm so sad, Hermann, a could cry all the time.Almost ten years of my life and thousands of hours gone. What is left is that I met hundreds of peeople , many of them became friends, even some I never met in person.  We can meet again in Ipernity,where some of us went already some times ago.Is not the same , I know, but at last we will not lose everything.We can stay in touch.

Please help  the people that ask how to go to Maps, for me is difficult. I will have to try too.

[Roger-11]

Hello,Steve.

 I'm like you after the publication of the message Panoramio top, I came across the cu (behind) .
After all the effort that one has done more petitions made, google to play dead and took the opportunity to do that médiathéquephoto on Google Earth, as the photos put on this site for his well there lomtemps and we do not suprimés with more than 134 million photos that they were taken by amateur photographer us cheaply, this is where the bottom lies I'm really disappointed because it was a good way to give an opinion on the photo and communicate together.
My Greeting France, Roger. See Here: http://www.panoramio.com/photo/134028115

[© Tom Cooper]

Aristaeus63,

Google has some legal problems with Google Earth.  Depending on how that goes, they may be forced to close Google Earth. :(

[SteveT]

Thanx Herman, thought I should say thanx again before doing as you say because probably not able to post afterwards. 

Auf Wiedersehen

[© Tom Cooper]

I will add my thanks to you, Herman, Daniela, and all of the other moderators.  It was a priveledge to meet and have breakfast with you at the 2011 Google Geo User's summit.  The world is a small place.  Perhaps our paths will cross again some day.

[Tomas K☼h☼ut]

Yeah, that's a "nice" early Christmas present!

All useful information included in our 

- conversation comments, 

- descriptions, 

- tags, 

- links to other resources from comments and desription, 

- favourite photographers and photos, 

- links to our galleries, photos and tags based selections from other web pages, 

- apps using API, 

- official and user organised contests and their results, 

- perhaps also this forum... 

...everything's going to die and disappear, all in vain. 

Thank you Google.

Thank you for the good time I enjoyed discovering the locations on Maps and Google Earth when planning, recalling or simply dreaming about the trips to remote locations.

Thank for letting me know some new virtual and also the real friends.

Thank for an education and a tutoring in the landscape photography I've got through this experience and with a help of the new friends.

Thank for all the thrill, learning curve and Panoramio experience from "Wow! My photos are on Google Earth!" through the discovery of the great photos in Panoramio Galleries and the photo games and competitions in the forum... to becoming a moderator helping others.

Thank for the meetings, either official ones organised by Google or informal ones we organise ourselves.

Big thanks to Eduardo and all other co-founders to make it all possible.

I cannot thank you Google for the way you handle Panoramio in last 3 years and how you finally resolve the "migration".

Although I read between the lines of the last (previous) official announcement by James Therrien that there will not be much effort to migrate all of our content and give us better, more flexible, more social, "brighter and more shining" tool to share our photos on maps... and as I observed "advancing" development of Maps - Your Contribution, Google Photos and Local Guides programme... despite all of that I remained loyal contributor to Panoramio, with a false hope in a miracle. It did not happened.

I have to take a break and cool off period to decide, if I leave with all my photos (read: if I should delete them all), or if it is better for me and my friends to keep them buried somewhere in Photos gallery.

Perhaps... it is also our fault that the popularity of Panoramio declined recently. Perhaps we shall interact and promote more this service, which used to be the breaking one. But most of all, we are the hobbyists and not the marketers. And it's hard to promote the service, which is for three years broken and without dedicated admins.

Perhaps I shall revive my account on ipernity or Flickr (or other photo sharing site), but there is no service which provide such a excellent combination of maps and photos for me. Hard decision. 

So hello and good bye Daniela, Herman, Draken, Matthew, Alex, Ihor, Andre, Alexandru, Mimi, Roar, Nick, Larry, Agneta, Amelia, Gudrun, Herb, Rob, David, JBM and many others (to name a few only...). Hope to see and meet you not only on the map.

[laurence_cox]

Actually Google is pretty good at corrupting without anyone's help. Take a look at this example from my photos:

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/131581747

As you can see it is a church interior and there is no POI, because Google thought it unnecessary to provide one for this church in Trier.

Now look on Google maps:

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/contrib/112118098670910242746/photos/@49.756249,6.64071,9z/data=!4m3!8m2!3m1!1e1

and you will see that it has been allocated to:

Suksabai Thaimassage Trier
Porta-Nigra-Platz 4, 54292 Trier, Germany

which incidentally, is a totally different location in Trier. I could understand it if they had chosen the nearest POI.

On Wednesday, 5 October 2016 10:31:10 UTC+1, hvbemmel wrote:

You can link to POI´s, which would be the same as the snap to function in Panoramio. POI´s are not necessarily businesses but can be other places like churches, musea, fountains etc. It´would be the users choice to link to businesses. For the rest you can of course link your flower photos to flower shop etc. The system GM uses is as vulnerable as Panoramio once was, Google still has no idea about human nature and the way some people will corrupt the system given the chance.

[Aristaeus63]

This one of mine, http://www.panoramio.com/photo/132688571 , is from Assateugue Island National Seashore. On google maps it is designated as taken in the "North Atlantic". Unless they greatly improve google maps, there's not much point in posting.

[millotaurus1]

In fact, I f...ck them all....

[SteveT]

Looks as though I'm still able to post after death. Panoramio account deleted, now empty photos on Google Earth but still here in spirit.

Stephen 

[Draken]

However, if I hover my mouse over your name here there is no link to your account/profile. So far you can participate in the forum and I suppose it is so because the Google groups and the Panoramio accounts have never completely integrated.