Phanfare’s desktop application assists with storing many photos with captions, subsections and layout and editing tools. All major functions of a photo site are there with video too. One benefit of this program is the video functions are essentially the same as the still image functions. You can put videos in slideshows, sort them, password-protect them, etc. Although similar services are offered for free, the ad-free browsing and streamlined functionality of Phanfare makes it an excellent choice despite the cost.
Phanfare offers a 30-day free trial without asking for a credit card, so if you forget to cancel there is no chance of being charged. Signing up a friend gets you a year free!
The Phanfare interface is structured for fast and easy movement between hard drive, software and online albums. All updates saved to the desktop are automatically synched with the site - this is not the case with many other desktop products.
If you are a digital imaging rookie, you may want to check out the glossary for descriptions of general features found on photo and video sites, and for some insight into basic industry terms.
[#Unique#]
Album Pages: Easily add albums, specifying all security, labels, organization, etc. from the get-go. Add subsections and colorful layouts and style templates with only a few quick clicks. Each album can have individual layouts and settings. The layouts personal webpages are unique in that the Phanfare logo is hidden, photos are displayed in chronological order according to the album date you select or a date taken from the time stamp of the actual photo.
Web Synch: When uploading or changing a photo, the updates are automatically sent to your web album. Phanfare calls this “zero click web publishing.”
Original Retention: Phanfare saves a copy of your original photo when you are editing photos for cases when you save over the original in error.
Community Service: An even more unique feature is the Phanfare School Program which offers Phanfare’s services free to schools and other non-profit groups.
[#Membership#]
Once you are a member you get unlimited storage space for photos, videos, albums, etc. and good desktop software to organize everything. In addition, Phanfare members get ad-free browsing as this site is not advertiser-supported.
A lifetime subscription is also available for $299.95. Annual backup DVDs are sent at no cost with this type of membership and accounts can have no activity for five years and still be accessible online.
[#Drawbacks#]
A drawback to the Phanfare desktop application is you cannot use the tools of the program without being connected to the internet.
Phanfare does not sell prints or gifts. You must have an account with Shutterfly, Kodak or Snapfish to transfer photos for ordering.
[#Uploading#]
Application provides virtually instantaneous uploading in a superbly organized and efficient manner. Phanfare uploads a web-size version of the photo first and lets you go back to the program. While you continue to work on your desktop, Phanfare uploads a full-size version of the photo and updates your personal website in the background without disturbing your workflow. These are three tasks that are often separate steps you must take with other programs and the program is inoperable until the uploading and web synching are complete.
Upload Speed*
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*Under
upload speed, modem is a T1 modem.
[#Storage#]
Both photos and videos are stored in online albums on a personal URL. Personal webpages are neatly organized and can be restructured, resorted and redesigned at any time.
Right-click on any photo to download it in the event it becomes corrupted or lost from your files.
Photos are backed up daily on main servers.
Videos are limited to 5 minutes or 1GB each; images are limited to 20MB each.
[#Products#]
Ordered through Kodak, Snapfish or Shutterfly.
[#Prints#]
Ordered through Kodak, Snapfish or Shutterfly.
[#Sharing#]
Presentation of albums is nicely designed on personal webpages. Albums you have selected to be listed on your page are neatly organized and viewers can access them with a password you provide or albums can be made public. A nice feature is the ability to add sub-albums to any main album.
Different display options can be chosen for viewing your personal webpage, such as a slideshow for which you can preset the music and other options, or a static display with color themes.
RSS feeds are available to alert your friends that you have added photos to your page. This can be disabled at any time.
Weekly sharing reports are sent to your email on the exact day you choose.
Simply right-click any image to get the unique link for posting the image or video to a blog or webpage.
[#Privacy#]
All privacy functions are available on Phanfare. Disable right-click copying and ordering of prints from your albums in addition to adding password protection - all set up through easy to follow prompts when setting up an album. Settings can be changed at anytime.
[#SiteNavigation#]
All functions can be found on the desktop application. The program is one of the easiest to use and still has all of the advanced functions necessary for the complete online photo experience.
