4 ms·

They didn't screw up Flickr. Then again, they didn't do anything with Flickr.

speg 13y ago
That seems to be their M.O., remember Delicious?
freehunter 13y ago
They kind of did screw up Flickr, just by virtue of letting it stagnate. They got lucky in that no one else really made anything better in the meantime.
- geoffw8 13y ago
  ...and then Instagram
  - UVB-76 13y ago
    ...not to mention Facebook took over as the place for most people to share photos with their friends
    - freehunter 13y ago
      I don't think Flickr and Facebook/Instragram really compete, except in the situation where people didn't need Flickr but Facebook/Instagram didn't exist yet. Flickr is more for professional photographers, not a social network for youths to share their photos with their group. If Flickr loses professional photogs, then they're hurting. But they haven't yet. Instagram is not going to replace Flickr for Flickr's core audience.
      - geoffw8 13y ago
        Thats the entire point. Flickr is about photos. If Flickr was releasing new products and testing new things they might have landed on Flickstagram. But like OP said they didn't do much at all, and so missed the boat. So yes you're right, they don't compete. But thats the problem. Hypothetical one, and I wouldn't blame the CEO for it. Its just one of the many things up the road they didn't travel up.
      - UVB-76 13y ago
        I think flickr gradually became a place "more for professional photographers" as the rest of its uses were eroded by other social media sites.
caycep 13y ago
That being said...since MM took over, I'm seeing signs of life in Flickr. New mobile app, noticeable upgrades on the web interface, little things like that. I suspect Flickr is on her priority list.
mullingitover 13y ago
If they'd managed flickr properly, there may have never been a YouTube or an Instagram. A competently-run flickr could've handled video (in a non-crippled fashion), and would've been anticipating and well-prepared for the mobile photography boom. My guess is that flickr was being run by a bare-bones team in strictly maintenance mode, and the profits were funneled into other (money-losing) parts of the company.

speg 13y ago

That seems to be their M.O., remember Delicious?

They kind of did screw up Flickr, just by virtue of letting it stagnate. They got lucky in that no one else really made anything better in the meantime.

geoffw8 13y ago
...and then Instagram
- UVB-76 13y ago
  ...not to mention Facebook took over as the place for most people to share photos with their friends
  - freehunter 13y ago
    I don't think Flickr and Facebook/Instragram really compete, except in the situation where people didn't need Flickr but Facebook/Instagram didn't exist yet. Flickr is more for professional photographers, not a social network for youths to share their photos with their group. If Flickr loses professional photogs, then they're hurting. But they haven't yet. Instagram is not going to replace Flickr for Flickr's core audience.
    - geoffw8 13y ago
      Thats the entire point. Flickr is about photos. If Flickr was releasing new products and testing new things they might have landed on Flickstagram. But like OP said they didn't do much at all, and so missed the boat. So yes you're right, they don't compete. But thats the problem. Hypothetical one, and I wouldn't blame the CEO for it. Its just one of the many things up the road they didn't travel up.
    - UVB-76 13y ago
      I think flickr gradually became a place "more for professional photographers" as the rest of its uses were eroded by other social media sites.

caycep 13y ago

That being said...since MM took over, I'm seeing signs of life in Flickr. New mobile app, noticeable upgrades on the web interface, little things like that. I suspect Flickr is on her priority list.

mullingitover 13y ago

If they'd managed flickr properly, there may have never been a YouTube or an Instagram. A competently-run flickr could've handled video (in a non-crippled fashion), and would've been anticipating and well-prepared for the mobile photography boom. My guess is that flickr was being run by a bare-bones team in strictly maintenance mode, and the profits were funneled into other (money-losing) parts of the company.