Welcome to the TravelPod forums

[bizarreirishsta]

It would be great if when we uploaded pictures it took the label that was already on it. I hate having to spend time labeling my pictures twice, once on my hard drive and then again for my blog. :-D

Thanks!

Update

There appears to be an issue with the Uploader in Firefox 2.0.0.5 on MAC OSX. I believe this is a Firefox issue. Until Firefox releases a new update try using Safari, an older version of Firefox or Camino.

--Shaun



You've asked for it, and we hear you loud and clear... We've just released a new set of photo album tools. It's a massive improvement that should make uploading your travel memories to TravelPod so much easier.

Here's a brief list of the new features:

1. Album Editor - you can now edit all your photos for an entry all at once! No more editing one image at a time.
2. Photo Sorter - you can sort your photos by dragging and dropping them in place, no more wacky numbered titles.
3. Video thumbnails are now created for videos automatically after you upload them.
4. Media Player - we have a new player for MP3's and windows users can now view your videos in an embedded media player instead of downloading the video first.
5. Photo Uploader - finally a drag and drop photo uploader that allows you to upload files from your hard drive by dragging and dropping. Photos are automatically previewed, resized and optimized *before* being uploaded for lightening fast uploads. You can even rotate them before you upload. We've also improved photo handling so that you should very rarely see any errors with uploads.
6. Photos with duplicate titles are now allowed - no more "Ooops you have a dup title" errors
7. Now you can upload as many photos as you want, no more "5 at a time limit"

To use these new features it's best that your browser be up-to-date but it should work on most:
- IE: 5.5 or better
- Firefox: version 1.0 or better
- Safari: a recently updated version

There are a few lingering issues with the photo uploader that we're working on:
1. When uploading large videos or images, the progress bar tends to hang on windows machines, please be patient your file is uploading.
2. The CMYK image format is not supported in the Java version (on any non-IE browser) of the photo uploader. They will appear either very small or blocky after upload. However if you are using Internet Explorer CMYK images will work fine.
3. Draging and dropping photos in the uploader on the MAC using Firefox does not work, use the Add or Add All buttons.

We'd love to hear from you, let us know what you think!

Note: If you experience any difficulties, please let us know by posting the browser type, version and operating system.

Cheers,
Shaun McQuaker
Web Developer, TravelPod

[bakasyonista]

I am so thankful for the photo sorter. Great job

The new photo uploader is finally in. Uploading in Firefox should be much faster and less "crashy". Enjoy.

Shaun

It would be great if when we uploaded pictures it took the label that was already on it. I hate having to spend time labeling my pictures twice, once on my hard drive and then again for my blog. :-D

Thanks!

An option to use the filename might be a good idea. That being said, most cameras now name their files something very cryptic like (dsc004.jpg) and we don't want weird names as the title of photos. I'll see what I can do though!

Cheers,
Shaun

[sanjon]

I've been unable to get the drag-drop browser working on any of my computers. When I click the [Upload Photos, Videos and MP3s] button, nothing seems to happen.

Current computer is:
WinXP (32bit) SP2.
Firefox 2.0.0.20
Java 1.5.0
also tried I.E. 6.0.2900.2180

I did notice than when I click the Upload button, the following is dumped into the Java console:

[/indent]java.security.PrivilegedActionException: java.lang.reflect.InvocationTargetException
at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method)
at sun.plugin.liveconnect.SecureInvocation$2.run(Unknown Source)
at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method)
at sun.plugin.liveconnect.SecureInvocation.CallMethod(Unknown Source)
at sun.plugin.liveconnect.SecureInvocation.access$300(Unknown Source)
at sun.plugin.liveconnect.SecureInvocation$CallMethodThread.run(Unknown Source)
Caused by: java.lang.reflect.InvocationTargetException
at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke0(Native Method)
at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(Unknown Source)
at sun.reflect.DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(Unknown Source)
at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Unknown Source)
at sun.plugin.javascript.invoke.JSInvoke.invoke(Unknown Source)
at sun.reflect.GeneratedMethodAccessor7.invoke(Unknown Source)
at sun.reflect.DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(Unknown Source)
at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Unknown Source)
at sun.plugin.javascript.JSClassLoader.invoke(Unknown Source)
at sun.plugin.liveconnect.PrivilegedCallMethodAction.run(Unknown Source)
... 6 more
Caused by: java.util.regex.PatternSyntaxException: Unexpected internal error near index 1
\
^
at java.util.regex.Pattern.error(Unknown Source)
at java.util.regex.Pattern.compile(Unknown Source)
at java.util.regex.Pattern.<init>(Unknown Source)
at java.util.regex.Pattern.compile(Unknown Source)
at java.lang.String.split(Unknown Source)
at java.lang.String.split(Unknown Source)
... 16 more
[indent]

[jacquesl]

I've been unable to get the drag-drop browser working on any of my computers. When I click the [Upload Photos, Videos and MP3s] button, nothing seems to happen.

Current computer is:
WinXP (32bit) SP2.
Firefox 2.0.0.20
Java 1.5.0
also tried I.E. 6.0.2900.2180

I did notice than when I click the Upload button, the following is dumped into the Java console:

[/indent]java.security.PrivilegedActionException: java.lang.reflect.InvocationTargetException
at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method)
at sun.plugin.liveconnect.SecureInvocation$2.run(Unknown Source)
at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method)
at sun.plugin.liveconnect.SecureInvocation.CallMethod(Unknown Source)
at sun.plugin.liveconnect.SecureInvocation.access$300(Unknown Source)
at sun.plugin.liveconnect.SecureInvocation$CallMethodThread.run(Unknown Source)
Caused by: java.lang.reflect.InvocationTargetException
at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke0(Native Method)
at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(Unknown Source)
at sun.reflect.DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(Unknown Source)
at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Unknown Source)
at sun.plugin.javascript.invoke.JSInvoke.invoke(Unknown Source)
at sun.reflect.GeneratedMethodAccessor7.invoke(Unknown Source)
at sun.reflect.DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(Unknown Source)
at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Unknown Source)
at sun.plugin.javascript.JSClassLoader.invoke(Unknown Source)
at sun.plugin.liveconnect.PrivilegedCallMethodAction.run(Unknown Source)
... 6 more
Caused by: java.util.regex.PatternSyntaxException: Unexpected internal error near index 1
\
^
at java.util.regex.Pattern.error(Unknown Source)
at java.util.regex.Pattern.compile(Unknown Source)
at java.util.regex.Pattern.<init>(Unknown Source)
at java.util.regex.Pattern.compile(Unknown Source)
at java.lang.String.split(Unknown Source)
at java.lang.String.split(Unknown Source)
... 16 more
[indent]

First thing to do is to upgrade your Firefox and Java programs to the newest versions. We did notice some problems with older versions and once you upload to the newer versions the problems go away.
It might also be wise to also clear your cache once you upload the newer versions of Firefox and Java!

[Paul]

I didn't post this

[darrenstravels]

I've been unable to get the drag-drop browser working on any of my computers. When I click the [Upload Photos, Videos and MP3s] button, nothing seems to happen.

Current computer is:
WinXP (32bit) SP2.
Firefox 2.0.0.20
Java 1.5.0
also tried I.E. 6.0.2900.2180

I did notice than when I click the Upload button, the following is dumped into the Java console:

[/indent]java.security.PrivilegedActionException: java.lang.reflect.InvocationTargetException
at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method)
at sun.plugin.liveconnect.SecureInvocation$2.run(Unknown Source)
at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method)
at sun.plugin.liveconnect.SecureInvocation.CallMethod(Unknown Source)
at sun.plugin.liveconnect.SecureInvocation.access$300(Unknown Source)
at sun.plugin.liveconnect.SecureInvocation$CallMethodThread.run(Unknown Source)
Caused by: java.lang.reflect.InvocationTargetException
at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke0(Native Method)
at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(Unknown Source)
at sun.reflect.DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(Unknown Source)
at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Unknown Source)
at sun.plugin.javascript.invoke.JSInvoke.invoke(Unknown Source)
at sun.reflect.GeneratedMethodAccessor7.invoke(Unknown Source)
at sun.reflect.DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(Unknown Source)
at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Unknown Source)
at sun.plugin.javascript.JSClassLoader.invoke(Unknown Source)
at sun.plugin.liveconnect.PrivilegedCallMethodAction.run(Unknown Source)
... 6 more
Caused by: java.util.regex.PatternSyntaxException: Unexpected internal error near index 1
\
^
at java.util.regex.Pattern.error(Unknown Source)
at java.util.regex.Pattern.compile(Unknown Source)
at java.util.regex.Pattern.<init>(Unknown Source)
at java.util.regex.Pattern.compile(Unknown Source)
at java.lang.String.split(Unknown Source)
at java.lang.String.split(Unknown Source)
... 16 more
[indent]

Do you have any third party extensions in Firefox - for example "noscript" or "adblock"? If so, you may need to add Travelpod to your whitelists - I had that problem before, and it turned out I wasn't allowing Java to work properly.

[crocodile_john]

i dont know, whether this was issued before, u can delete it if u want.
I think ur uploader is total S*$#!
The drag & drop uploader does not work (tried it on 4 different computers: IE or Firefox, xp or vista doesnt matter!). The basic uploader works, but is totally lame and unfriendly to use. I wish u'd improve ur server capacities or whatever the lameness causes, thats really the most bothering issue.
P.S.: U've got lots of potential with the map pin feature and "unlimited" upload space (which is a joke because pictures are compressed and it takes ages to upload anything), but the whole interface is cumbersome and seems old. Dare to have a look at other blogs, its not loosing uniqueness if u adept good concepts from others!

C ur potential and hope ull improve soon!
crocodile_john

[pykesonthego]

It would be great if when we uploaded pictures it took the label that was already on it. I hate having to spend time labeling my pictures twice, once on my hard drive and then again for my blog. :-D

Thanks!

An option to use the filename might be a good idea. That being said, most cameras now name their files something very cryptic like (dsc004.jpg) and we don't want weird names as the title of photos. I'll see what I can do though!

Cheers,
Shaun

Facebook uses the same Java uploader (at least it seems like the same one), but it's SO much easier to get pictures uploaded on the fly, because we don't have to create any names for the photos. I find myself uploading more and more to Facebook, and less and less to TravelPod, even though it's not fair to my friends who aren't on FB, but who still follow our travels on TP. Why can't the "title-less" photo option be offered on TravelPod?

[ericlussier]

Hi crocodile_john,

We'll never delete a valid complaint. It keeps us on our toes.

Sorry to hear that you're having issues with the drage & drop uploader. The Java version had been giving our members some trouble a few months ago, but we upgraded it and since then we haven't had any complaints.

I'm actually quite surprised to hear that you had trouble with the ActiveX version. It has been very solid for us for a long time. Did you contact TravelPod support when you had this issue?

Please feel free to get in touch if the drag & drop uploader still doesn't work for you. I completely agree that the basic uploader is underwhelming, but it has to be quite simple so that it works in the absolute worst case scenarios.

I really hope that we can get the uploader working for you so you can take full advantage of the unlimited photo uploading.

Eric

[ericlussier]

Hi pykesonthego,

"Title-less" pictures is something we have discussed several time over the years here at TravelPod. There are a few things that make TravelPod different from Facebook that explain why we still ask our users to fill out the titles of their pictures before uploading.

The biggest difference is that on TravelPod the stories and pictures that our members contribute, amount to an extensive encyclopedia of real-traveler experiences.

Every month TravelPod is used by millions of visitors to research trips or just to be inspired. The picture titles add that extra bit of context that can be very valuable to those that are simply passing through.

Conversely, there have been times when I've been browsing through my friend's pictures on Facebook and wished there was some sort of caption or title to tell me more about a picture. Since I know them, I'm more likely to post a comment since it gives me a reason to get in touch. But on TravelPod, people who are doing research are probably going through dozens of sites and might not take the time to ask for the extra info.

We'd certainly love to have you posting all your pictures on TravelPod. We are always looking to make things easier for our bloggers but at the same time we try to be mindful of our other, more transient users.

Hope this helps.

Eric

[pykesonthego]

Hi pykesonthego,

"Title-less" pictures is something we have discussed several time over the years here at TravelPod. There are a few things that make TravelPod different from Facebook that explain why we still ask our users to fill out the titles of their pictures before uploading.

The biggest difference is that on TravelPod the stories and pictures that our members contribute, amount to an extensive encyclopedia of real-traveler experiences.

Every month TravelPod is used by millions of visitors to research trips or just to be inspired. The picture titles add that extra bit of context that can be very valuable to those that are simply passing through.

Conversely, there have been times when I've been browsing through my friend's pictures on Facebook and wished there was some sort of caption or title to tell me more about a picture. Since I know them, I'm more likely to post a comment since it gives me a reason to get in touch. But on TravelPod, people who are doing research are probably going through dozens of sites and might not take the time to ask for the extra info.

We'd certainly love to have you posting all your pictures on TravelPod. We are always looking to make things easier for our bloggers but at the same time we try to be mindful of our other, more transient users.

Hope this helps.

Eric

Thanks, Eric - I pretty much figured that the reasons for requiring photo titles were as you've explained above - and I deal with it. I actually DO end up putting comments/titles on almost all of my Facebook photos, but the difference is that I can GO BACK and do it later, after uploading. With TravelPod, I don't even think of starting to upload pictures until I know I have a large block of time. I can start writing an entry, knowing that "Save Draft" is available if I have to go offline. (Since we live in our motor home and travel full time, I often write when we're on the road, and with the wonderful new automatic draft saving feature, I don't worry about possible loss of my "creation" if I lose the aircard signal momentarily.) However, it's different with photos - would it be possible to offer a "save draft" feature on photo uploads...allowing us the convenience of uploading our pictures now, and adding the titles later? Just a thought, because the reasons for requiring titles on photos are good ones!

Thanks to you and all the TravelPod folks for providing such a fabulous resource for travelers all over the world!

Rosemary Pyke

[ericlussier]

We've actually experimented with this over the years. We found that not requiring titles before uploading led to a 70% drop of pictures with titles.

Perhaps I can suggest that you use the "Auto-fill titles" feature when uploading and then you can use the Edit Pictures & Videos page afterwards to fix everything up.

I hope that suits your needs.