What is missing in Panoramio?!

[Ali Shaib]

What is missing in Panoramio?!
range">[Third Post]
Share and Let your opinion reach the team
Panoramio this a geolocation-oriented photo sharing website is ever growing rapidly. Users from all around the world share photos enabling other users on Panoramio and Google earth users to view photos for certain areas and learn more about that location.
Plus the idea that Google images search engine is giving priority to Panoramio databases, for example: type “HDR photography Beirut”, you get HDR photos mainly from Panoramio website… This highlights the importance of these large databases owned by Google, where the entire world is now contributing to these each-second-growing databases…
But! Don’t you feel that Panoramio needs some enhancements to make it better! Months ago Panoramio team change the voting rules to make people again get interests in photos and not just for voting for friends. They are working at all times to enhance this brilliant website, but why we don’t share with them what we want to facilitate our work with this website.
I thought in 5 changes that (in my opinion) would enhance this website and make it more interesting:
1- Add notification system about new comments (because it is somehow annoying to go to inbox to see the new messages and comments)
2- Add side bar for private chat with favorite photographers
3- Add the tool to customize galleries to make them more personal (such as change themes, add links and a page for data they want to add about them
4- Add the ability to change the order f pictures in the Gallery (because many people like to bring to front images they like… for example I so once user wrote next to his image “not all beautiful photos in first page”
5- Add the ability to organize the photos in Albums for better grouping, such way it is more attractive than tags
I will be glad to add some notes regarding what other things should be done to make panoramio easier, more attractive and personally accustomed…
I would like to keep this issue for discussion and I’ll gladly reply to related thoughts
Thank you!
Ali H. H. Shaib, Beirut - Lebanon

[Marcin Roguski]

My 3 cents worth

Quote Ali Shaib:

for example: type “HDR photography Beirut”, you get HDR photos mainly from Panoramio website…

Well, IMO it's nothing wrong with google preferring their "children" services, but finding Flickr and Picasa images isn't that uncommon as well.

Unless you mean Google Maps, of course.

Quote:

1- Add notification system about new comments (because it is somehow annoying to go to inbox to see the new messages and comments)

Second, PM management would be very welcomed.

Quote:

2- Add side bar for private chat with favorite photographers

HELL NO! This would be first step for changing Panoramio into another Myspace or Facebook...

Quote:

3- Add the tool to customize galleries to make them more personal (such as change themes, add links and a page for data they want to add about them

The question is: why? The idea behind Panoramio is to share the world as we see it, not personal galleries - that's what other services are for.

Quote:

4- Add the ability to change the order f pictures in the Gallery (because many people like to bring to front images they like… for example I so once user wrote next to his image “not all beautiful photos in first page”

That is possibly the second most wanted feature, nothing new here.

Quote:

5- Add the ability to organize the photos in Albums for better grouping, such way it is more attractive than tags

That's what tags are for.

[Ali Shaib]

I thank your interesting reply

and in themes part maybe your right, but Panoramio can provide little space for themes not just but a thin bar to put a photo or color...

Mr. Marcin Roguski , thanks for your detailed and positive criticism andyou are always welcome

regards
Ali

[Draken]

Ali

Rest assured all your suggestions have been carefully considered in the past. Perhaps some of them will be implemented (not the chat I am afraid). The way of reaching the Team is through these suggestions topics which in time are read by the moderators and some reliable users who are in touch with the Team. So, thanks and be patient.

[Daan Prinsloo]

What is missing in Panoramio? Perhaps right now I’m in a philosophic mood, but I couldn’t help thinking of some of the things Paulo Coulho wrote. One is: "Nothing in the world is ever completely wrong. Even a stopped clock is right twice a day." (Brida) And also: "Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure." (The Alchemist)
I may be speaking for the more “normal” users of Panoramio and GE, so I wouldn’t go in for the more complicated IT things, but apart from what the Panoramio team has been working on, there is not much else that I miss, but a hellavalot I enjoy. I am on Facebook, and that serves other, more particular social needs, but even on Panoramio as it is, there is abundant space for socializing. You just have to go the extra yard yourself. That’s my view IMHO.

[davidcmc58]

For me Panoramio is fine right now. But I do miss the "all" tab that used to truly show every single photo taken in a particular neighborhood. As I believe the most popular ones are far from being the best photos, we as explorers of the site are deprived from seeing a great deal of newer but higher quality photos. Many of my newer and nicer shots are blocked by my own older and poorer (but more "popular") photos that were taken close by. I certainly had a lot more fun exploring Panoramio photos near my own entries when the "all" tab was available. Please bring it back!

[JBTHEMILKER]

I too would like to see the "all" tab return.

[Daniela Brocca]

I would like to have back the pages of tags.

[Tomas K☼h☼ut]

I agree - "All" tab could be particulary interesting for same use cases of Panoramio. Although after almost two years without "All" tab I can see I don't miss it very much. Flood of new photos is stronger than me - I have no power to check every new photo, even in particular location.

Quote Daniela Brocca:

I would like to have back the pages of tags.

Daniela, what do you call "pages of tags"?

[Daniela Brocca]

Every tag was shown in pages until about 2 years ago, before they decided to show them in the map. It were like the user page and when you searched Paris you found all the photos tagged Paris, 100 pages maybe, so that you could found easily what you searched, or something new, without having to scroll the map, where you only can find few photos. It was also useful for the monthly games, because the photos were tagged with the game subject. and you had them all together. I really miss them.

[Tomas K☼h☼ut]

Thanks Daniela. Something I don't remember.

[AustinMN]

Quote Daniela Brocca:

Every tag was shown in pages until about 2 years ago, before they decided to show them in the map. It were like the user page and when you searched Paris you found all the photos tagged Paris, 100 pages maybe, so that you could found easily what you searched, or something new, without having to scroll the map, where you only can find few photos. It was also useful for the monthly games, because the photos were tagged with the game subject. and you had them all together. I really miss them.

Hmmm...when I search for tags, I get pages and pages of some tags. Perhaps not 100, but that would not be something most users would have the patience to scroll through.

Austin

[Oompie]

Quote AustinMN:

Hmmm...when I search for tags, I get pages and pages of some tags. Perhaps not 100, but that would not be something most users would have the patience to scroll through.

Austin

I believe the problem lies in the fact that there are no standard tags. If a dropdown box with a few say 30 standard tags could be provided it would become much more meaningful. Or even a facility whereby a partial word/phrase could be used. At the moment small letters or caps even makes a difference. To use but one example: Many users tag their "Not accepted" photos. Some use "Not selected" others use "Not selected for GE" which essentially is the same but brings up different results! A dropdown box with choices would ceratinly eliminate much of that.

[Galatas ©]

Another geo-locating site that I have used has a drop down list of tags. The problem with such systems is that having a limited number of categories , for the sake of simplicity , means they are too broad to be really useful. On the other hand , as the number of categories grows it soon becomes laborious to select the most appropriate tag from several similar or overlapping categories. The end result is people choose the first tag in the list that is "near enough".
Think of the possibilities for tagging a place of worship as just one example.
Many people would want to tag by country , state and county. 30 tags wouldn't begin to cover that.

[Daniela Brocca]

Quote AustinMN:

Hmmm...when I search for tags, I get pages and pages of some tags. Perhaps not 100, but that would not be something most users would have the patience to scroll through.

Austin

It's not the same as it was, now you have the pages in the map, before there were pages like the user page, with the same size.

[Tomas K☼h☼ut]

Everything has pros and cons.

I have to say, in most cases I would search for global tags with aid of map (e.g. I would like to restrict browsing to particular area only, but I can choose also whole map if I want), so current implementation makes a sense for me.

I would like to select if I want to see left pane sorted by popularity or by upload date (we are back at "All" tab request).
Well, the size of left pane with photo previews vs. map might be also user definable (draggable splitter). The size of thumbnails themselves might be choosen (small, medium, large). In this case Daniela, you will have what you are asking for.

[Whees]

What about a de-map button or option when a photo was mapped but not accepted for Google Earth?

[Galatas ©]

Quote Whees:

What about a de-map button or option when a photo was mapped but not accepted for Google Earth?

Why would anyone want to keep a photo location secret just because it wasn't accepted for GE ?
The whole point of Panoramio is showing the location of photos.

[Tomas K☼h☼ut]

Quote Galatas:

I think, this suggestion is valid. Photo owner can change his mind lately - to share a photo, but not to show location of photo (whatever is the reason... changed ownership of propery, endangered plant or animal species...).

Of course, to remove mapping only because photo was not selected for GE is strange reason.

[Galatas ©]

Quote Tomas K☼h☼ut:

....................

Of course, to remove mapping only because photo was not selected for GE is strange reason.

That was the only reason given.
Since plants and animals , endangered or not , aren't generally accepted for GE ( or at least shouldn't be ) I don't think that is sufficient reason to implement this suggestion. Geo location is the prime function of Panoramio. Too many people seem to want to move away from that and become just another social media website.
Those who change their minds about any aspect of sharing a photo always have the option to delete it.

[Ali Shaib]

Quote Galatas:

Hi, I find the De-map option funny but-may be useful, though such provided reasons are weird! But one must say that Google enabled lately the revision of photos without mapping them, so one can map those that carry title (unmapped photos are not accepted on google earth) and don't map these that are rejected after first or second review! For such reasons maybe Panoramio team gave opportunity for users to minimize the % of non accepted mapped photos!

On the other hand, when I came to Panoramio, the ""All" tab option was not found, and read about it in your comments for first time, was it such useful? I didn't have idea about it before

I must say I'm very Glad that your sharing ideas about such suggestions in this page

Regards for all of you;

Ali

[Galatas ©]

Quote Ali Shaib:

........But one must say that Google enabled lately the revision of photos without mapping them, so one can map those that carry title (unmapped photos are not accepted on google earth) and don't map these that are rejected after first or second review!...............

I don't know where you got the idea that unmapped photos are reviewed. Some months ago Gerard Sanz requested that we map all photos so that they could be reviewed. AFAIK he did not say unmapped photos would be also reviewed. Nothing that I have seen suggests unmapped photos are reviewed.
Unmapped photos definitely do not receive the accepted for GE logo or the rejected message.
The only way to find out if a photo will be accepted or not is to map it first and wait for the review.

[Ali Shaib]

Quote:

I don't know where you got the idea that unmapped photos are reviewed. Some months ago Gerard Sanz requested that we map all photos so that they could be reviewed. AFAIK he did not say unmapped photos would be also reviewed. Nothing that I have seen suggests unmapped photos are reviewed.
Unmapped photos definitely do not receive the accepted for GE logo or the rejected message.
The only way to find out if a photo will be accepted or not is to map it first and wait for the review.

Good Morning,
I think that unmapped photos are reviewed, (otherwise could be wrong idea) but here are piece of evidence:
upload the two photos, one your certain of being accepted and the other your certain that it won't
wait for 2 or 3 days, the first remains under the title: "unmapped photos are selected..." while the second become titled as "ask for second review.."
check this link whereby a photo of mine that is not mapped yet it is revised and not selected to google earth:
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/56027715
-----------------------------
This is just a personal analysis and no based to sources (again I could be wrong... but somehow what I presented is convincing)

Thank you for your time and discussion
regards;
Ali

[Ali Shaib]

Quote Draken:

Ali

Rest assured all your suggestions have been carefully considered in the past. Perhaps some of them will be implemented (not the chat I am afraid). The way of reaching the Team is through these suggestions topics which in time are read by the moderators and some reliable users who are in touch with the Team. So, thanks and be patient.

Thank you Draken for the kind reply

Regards from Lebanon, Ali

[Tomas K☼h☼ut]

Galatas, review process may be subject of change at any time.

There are some clues that also not mapped photos are now reviewed.

It may speed up process of getting additionaly mapped photos to GE (they need not to be reviewed after mapping), but (more important!), it may allow also screen out photos not suitable for Panoramio (to reject obvious abuse, such as porn, cartoons etc.).

[davidcmc58]

Quote:

On the other hand, when I came to Panoramio, the ""All" tab option was not found, and read about it in your comments for first time, was it such useful? I didn't have idea about it before

The "ALL" tab is a definite must for a world class geo-tagging photo sharing web site. Google map and GE has its own share of "ALL" tab called the street view. Let me show a hypothetical situation where the "ALL" tab would be necessary- Let's say there is a nice sculpture very near a world famous land mark. Obviously most "popular" photos will be all about the landmark and the nice sculpture will not be seen or discovered by the visitors to Panaromio unless some one knows about it and looks for it very hard. Without some form of the "ALL" tab (even limited to the neighborhood levels of showing only a couple of hundred photos), this site will never get an "A" rating from me. Just my personal humble opinion of course.

[AustinMN]

Quote Galatas:

Quote Ali Shaib:

........But one must say that Google enabled lately the revision of photos without mapping them, so one can map those that carry title (unmapped photos are not accepted on google earth) and don't map these that are rejected after first or second review!...............

I don't know where you got the idea that unmapped photos are reviewed.

Perhaps he got it from the fact that unmapped photos are now reviewed.

Example:
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/53384160

One of your own:
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/55336031

Austin

[peargrin]

Recently found myself looking for an unmap button... Since joining Pano, i've changed my photographic focus to wildlife, and am using Pano to document wildlife in my area, knowing that my photos will rarely make it to GE. We recently had an incident where a notorious animal control officer decided to run around shooting beavers in a wildlife area without permission or cause...and I happened to have a mapped photo of a pregnant beaver. Without the button, I simply relocated her photo to another county. So, once in a blue moon, the subject of a photo becomes sensitive enough to want to unmap it...

[Galatas ©]

Quote AustinMN:

Perhaps he got it from the fact that unmapped photos are now reviewed.

My apologies to Ali. That is the first time I have seen or heard anything about this.

[Galatas ©]

Quote peargrin:

........ So, once in a blue moon, the subject of a photo becomes sensitive enough to want to unmap it...

Let me get this straight , are you saying that when designing the site Panoramio layout developers should have taken into account once in a blue moon events such as rogue wildlife officers browsing GE looking for pregnant beavers ?

[peargrin]

Heaven forbid, Galatas. It was simply to provide an example of a legitimate desire to unmap a Pano photo. Sorry...once in a while I forget how 'friendly' these forums are...

[Galatas ©]

Quote peargrin:

Heaven forbid, Galatas. It was to simply provide an example of a legitimate desire to unmap a Pano photo. Sorry...once in a while I forgot how 'friendly' these forums are...

All of a sudden it seems anyone expressing a different opinion on these forums is to be branded as unfriendly or aggressive.

[Ali Shaib]

Quote Tomas K☼h☼ut:

Galatas, review process may be subject of change at any time.

There are some clues that also not mapped photos are now reviewed.

It may speed up process of getting additional mapped photos to GE (they need not to be reviewed after mapping), but (more important!), it may allow also screen out photos not suitable for Panoramio (to reject obvious abuse, such as porn, cartoons etc.).

Dear Tomas K☼h☼ut,

Totally agree with you, in fact, try this and the story would sound more clear:
- Upload your pack of photos for example on Tuesday
- wait for the normal and usual time for mapped photos to get reviewed ( 1 to 2 days)
- then map the photos
- you find that each mapped photo is instantaneously is accepted after the pages refreshes and say in the green box "position is saved"
- This shows that the photos have been previously revised otherwise we need a super-fast Panoramio Reviser team that is waiting you to map the photo and in the time of refresh to show the map they accept it and here you have it mapped and accepted (which is not possible)

and Mr. AustinMN thanks for the links for photo: 53384160 which shows another proof to what I was saying and provided evidence in this link to:
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/56027715
were it says under it:
This photo is not selected for Google Earth after a second review [?] - ID: 56027715

and thanks to Mr. davidcmc58 who explained the "all" tab usage because I had no idea about it before..

[Tomas K☼h☼ut]

Quote Galatas:

Quote peargrin:

........ So, once in a blue moon, the subject of a photo becomes sensitive enough to want to unmap it...

Let me get this straight , are you saying that when designing the site Panoramio layout developers should have taken into account once in a blue moon events such as rogue wildlife officers browsing GE looking for pregnant beavers ?

Galatas, mapping the photos is optional (yes, we know - Panoramio "raison d'etre" is to show geo located photos). And in most information system, each action that can be done - can be also undone. I see no reason why not to allow reverse action of mapping.

We can speculate - the site design is made to push users to map their photos (?), so unmapping is not desired action. But what about (much more) photos that were not mapped at all? They are still here and still allowed (and makes a sense, I think).

I am not here to argue which reasons for unmapping are important and how much they are frequent, but I can imagine more reasons for this than a pregnant beaver female. Live and let live (not only beavers).

[Tomas K☼h☼ut]

Ali
you proved by experiment something what I knew from "higher spheres". (yes, now all photos are reviewed).

More info for you about "all tab":

this was another tab in map/photo display:
http://www.panoramio.com/map/?user=4223446
Instead of tab "Recent", there were tab "All" showing all photos from selected area, sorted by upload date (most recent first). It showed also overlapped photos (mapped on exactly same place). I am affraid, current map view does not show all photos from same location even in lowest altitudes.

Although "All tab" was not Nr 1 tool for me, I have to admit, it could be very important tool for all users interesed in particular areas.

[Ali Shaib]

Quote Tomas K☼h☼ut:

Ali

Thank you a lot my friend for this detailed explanation!
and thanks for confirming that what I was saying was right
and I liked the term from "higher spheres" "
you are always welcome my friend to my gallery.

regards from Lebanon, Ali

[mikstan43]

" All pictures are now reviewed "

Does this mean that all the narcisistic portrait photographs of "me" and "my family" and "my friends" that I regularly see in the RSS feed are now immediately deleted ?

I think not !!!!

[Panamon-Creel]

Quote skrik:

" All pictures are now reviewed "

Does this mean that all the narcisistic portrait photographs of "me" and "my family" and "my friends" that I regularly see in the RSS feed are now immediately deleted ?

Nope on the "immediately all".
So don't get your expectations too high, you'll get disappointed.

[Tomas K☼h☼ut]

Quote skrik:

" All pictures are now reviewed "

Does this mean that all the narcisistic portrait photographs of "me" and "my family" and "my friends" that I regularly see in the RSS feed are now immediately deleted ?

I think not !!!!

http://www.panoramio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=540313#540313

[mikstan43]

Quote Tomas K☼h☼ut:

Galatas, review process may be subject of change at any time.

There are some clues that also not mapped photos are now reviewed.

It may speed up process of getting additionaly mapped photos to GE (they need not to be reviewed after mapping), but (more important!), it may allow also screen out photos not suitable for Panoramio (to reject obvious abuse, such as porn, cartoons etc.).

Do you know when this "all reviewd " was started ?

My reason for asking this is that a pornographic gallery I have reported to "spam <at> had it's first picture uploaded on 12th June and the latest only 5 days ago. ( See Thread entitled "Pornography" )

If the "all reviewed "has been in effect for some time it is obviously not working.

skrik

[Tomas K☼h☼ut]

Well, I don't know more details about this intention.
First mention about this new strategy of review is from the end of May.
But intention is clear, huh?
Were photos in question reviewed? (you cannot tell when there is status "Unmapped photos are not selected...&quot

And don't foget - after gazing about 8 hours to minitor, reviewer must be partially blind.

[Galatas ©]

Quote Tomas K☼h☼ut:

Were photos in question reviewed? (you cannot tell when there is status "Unmapped photos are not selected...&quot

Surely , if the all review is operational that message should be replaced by accepted or not accepted after the photo has been reviewed , as in the examples posted by Austin ?
These photos were uploaded more than a month ago and should have been reviewed by now.

[AustinMN]

Quote Galatas:

Quote Tomas K☼h☼ut:

Were photos in question reviewed? (you cannot tell when there is status "Unmapped photos are not selected...&quot

Surely , if the all review is operational that message should be replaced by accepted or not accepted after the photo has been reviewed , as in the examples posted by Austin ?

That would be my assumption.

I am guessing, but I think they are attempting to prevent "adult content" from getting a toehold on the site in response to the Iranian and other governments blocking Panoramio.

Austin

[Panamon-Creel]

Quote Galatas:

All of a sudden it seems anyone expressing a different opinion on these forums is to be branded as unfriendly or aggressive.

Ahwwww, someone needs a hug

[Galatas ©]

Quote Panamon-Creel:

Quote Galatas:

All of a sudden it seems anyone expressing a different opinion on these forums is to be branded as unfriendly or aggressive.

Ahwwww, someone needs a hug

Panamon , you couldn't be more wrong if you tried LMAO at you

[Panamon-Creel]

Phew, you had me worried there for a fraction of a second, thought you where going soft on us

[Anupam Mukherjee]

Desperately looking for two features in Panoramio :

1. Button to re-order photographs in gallery.

2. An approval option to accept photographs in a group.

[Tomas K☼h☼ut]

Quote Anupam Mukherjee:

Desperately looking for two features in Panoramio :

1. Button to re-order photographs in gallery.

2. An approval option to accept photographs in a group.

1. Now one of most frequently asked features. But I don't hope very much for change. Keeping the photos within consistent pattern (newest first) is essential for regular visitors in large and growing galleries.

2. You want to approve every single photo submited to group by already accepted photographer? It would be nice as an option... (similary - as system checking of the count of photos submitted by each group member).

Well, I think group moderators are responsible for inviting and accepting "trusted" users. If you have somebody permanently ignoring group rules and spirit - simply remove this user from group. Well, not easy for groups with huge user base.

[Frank Noordenbos]

Quote Tomas K☼h☼ut:

Quote Anupam Mukherjee:

Desperately looking for two features in Panoramio :

2. An approval option to accept photographs in a group.

2. You want to approve every single photo submited to group by already accepted photographer? It would be nice as an option... (similary - as system checking of the count of photos submitted by each group member).

Well, I think group moderators are responsible for inviting and accepting "trusted" users. If you have somebody permanently ignoring group rules and spirit - simply remove this user from group. Well, not easy for groups with huge user base.

I would like such an option too.

It would members make more critical towards their own photos and more reluctant to place them in a group.
And for me as owner / moderator it is easier to judge pictures one by one than whole series at once.