Difference between TinyPic and ImageShack
The ability to share pictures is one significant benefit that the Internet has wrought, and sites such as TinyPic and ImageShack help make it a lot easier. Offering a range of photo sharing and hosting services, these sites and others like them have become indispensable features of the Internet in this day and age. Let's see what both sites have to offer.
Profile
TinyPic offers a photo sharing service that offers support for video files as well. The service is under the ownership of Photobucket.com, and it provides users the ability to upload, link and share both images and videos over the Internet. TinyPic does not require users to have an account with the service, although having one will grant user access to more features and functionality.
ImageShack is a similar site, although it is limited to image hosting and sharing at present, with no video services offered. ImageShack also offers its services for free, although there is also a subscription-based account offered. In any case, much of ImageShack’s revenue is drawn from advertising.
Accepted Formats
TinyPic supports .jpg, .tiff, .gif, and .png image files. However, images are limited to 1600 pixels in width or height, and those that exceed these dimensions are automatically resized to conform to the size restriction. The site also has restrictions with regard to video file size, with a cap of 500 Megabytes or 15 minutes length. The service accepts video files in the following formats: 3g2 – 3gp – 3gp2 – 3gpp – 3p – asf – avi – divx – dv – dvx – flv – moov – mov – mp4 – mpe – mpeg4 – mpeg – mpg4 – mpg – qt – rm – wmvand XviD.
ImageShack for its part offers support for .jpg, .tiff, .gif, .png, and .bmp file formats. The company also has a limit on the file size of images, which have to be 5 MB or smaller. It is also worth mentioning that bmp and tiff files are automatically converted to .png.
Restrictions
In July of 2010, the administrators of TinyPic prevented access to Argentinean users, effectively cutting off image access to thousands of users. The company has yet to provide any details with regard to how users could access their stored images or a reason for their actions. Instead, the site features a notice inviting users to sign up for a PhotoBucket account instead.
The company also announced the cessation of upload services to users from countries other than the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and a few others, again giving no reason for the move.
ImageShack for its part began 'hiding' image direct links, since they provided the company with no advertising revenue. The company has since discontinued this policy, and now places direct links at the top of the page.
Summary
TinyPic
- Photo sharing service that offers support for video files as well
- Supports .jpg, .tiff, .gif, and .png image files
ImageShack
- Offers image hosting and sharing services, with no support for video
- Bulk of revenue is drawn from advertising
- Supports .jpg, .tiff, .gif, and .png and .bmp file formats
