ImageShack

Infobox Website
name = ImageShack



caption = ImageShack Frontpage
url = http://www.imageshack.us
commercial = Yes
type = Image Hosting Service
registration = Optional
owner = ImageShack, Corp.
author = Alexander Levin
language = English
launch date = November 2003
current status = Active
revenue =

ImageShack is the fifth-largest image hosting website on the Internet. [http://mashable.com/2006/08/28/imageshack-profile/ A Profile of ImageShack] (accessed 2008-01-23)] They have a subscription service, but the majority of their revenue is produced from advertising related to their free image hosting. [cite web |url=http://mashable.com/2006/12/18/divshare-launches-imageshack-wannabe-imageshack-launches-profiles/ |title=DivShare Launches ImageShack Wannabe, ImageShack Launches Profiles |accessdate=2007-02-27 |publisher=Mashable.com] The imageshack.us Alexa ranking as of September 25, 2007 is 36. [cite web |url=http://www.alexa.com/data/details/traffic_details?url=imageshack.us |title=Related info for: imageshack.us |accessdate=2007-09-25 |publisher=Alexa] According to Nielsen//NetRatings, ImageShack was the fourth fastest growing web brand in July, 2006. [cite web |url=http://www.imediaconnection.com/news/10801.asp |title=MySpace Tops List of Hottest Sites |accessdate=2007-02-27 |publisher=I Media Connection]

Image hosting

The site debuted in November 2003, offering a user-friendly interface, and has since grown greatly in popularity. The main page has a file selection field, where the user may select the image file to upload. The image file format must be either JPEG (JPG), PNG, GIF, TIFF (TIF), BMP, or SWF, and the file must be smaller than or equal to 1.53 megabytes. Uploaded BMP and TIFF (TIF) images are automatically converted to PNG format.

After the file is uploaded, the user is redirected to a page containing different versions of URLs to the uploaded image. These URLs are preformatted in HTML and Bulletin Board code, which can be used to hotlink them on websites and message boards. These URLs can not be reached publicly, therefore only the user and the people the user gives the URL to can know the file location.

Images are stored on ImageShack indefinitely unless the image or the user who uploaded it abuses the Terms of Service. The image will be rendered inaccessible if the image uses over 300 megabytes of bandwidth in a one-hour period.

There is also a free registration service that gives the user the ability to see and delete their previously uploaded images.

In May 2006 it was reported that ImageShack serves 100,000 concurrent user requests during peak operation. [cite web |url=http://www.biosmagazine.co.uk/article.php?id=3421 |title=ImageShack Simplifies Image Sharing |accessdate=2007-02-27 |publisher=Bios Magazine]

ImageShack galleries

Users may also create galleries for their images—public collections of selected images with guestbook and rating functionality. ImageShack's Terms of Service state that the uploading of pornographic materials is prohibited. Users may purchase credits to do bulk uploads of images. This includes using Windows XP publishing after downloading a free plug-in or uploading numerous images in a single zip file. File size limits are still enforced when using this method of uploading images.

See also

* Photo sharing
* Flickr
* Photobucket
* Snapfish
* Webshots

References

External links

* [http://imageshack.us/ ImageShack website]
* [http://news.imageshack.us/blog/ ImageShack® - Blog]