Kodak Gallery

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Kodak Gallery
Kodak
Created byOfoto
URLKodakGallery.com
CommercialYes
RegistrationYes
LaunchedJune 1999
Current statusInactive

The Kodak Gallery was

stalking horse bid on Kodak Gallery on March 1, 2012, for $23.8 million.[2]
Kodak Gallery was shut down on July 2, 2012. Photos were transferred to Shutterfly.

History

Ofoto's online photography service was started in June 1999, in

Jim Barksdale, Clark's former partner and co-worker from Netscape. This led to the brief "Clark vs. Bark" photo wars. Ofoto started by simply allowing users to upload JPEG
images to the online service, to share online photo albums with friends, and to purchase physical silver-halide prints of photos. In 2000, Ofoto added a 35mm online film processing service and an online frame store. In following years, Ofoto added 4-color offset printed invitations and cards, and services for mobile phones.

In May 2001, Ofoto was purchased by

Boston Globe selected Kodak Gallery as the winner in a review of online photo service web sites.[5]

Free services

Uploading photos to Kodak Gallery was free, but unless purchases (e.g., of prints) were made on the site, the pictures were only stored for 90 days and then deleted. The site's terms of service specified that "To maintain free storage, you need to meet the following minimum purchase requirement within 90 days of first uploading images, and then every 12 months thereafter ... If you do not purchase the required amount as set forth above from us for a period of 12 months, we may delete the images stored in your account." The minimum purchases required was between $5 and $20, depending on the amount of pictures stored. Kodak received some negative press for deleting photos if users did not order prints after a certain amount of time.[6] Digital photo frame customers complained that web connected photo frame (often costing $300 or more) galleries were not exempted from the policy. Further criticism came from a former executive who alleged that she was wrongfully fired for complaining about a plan to reduce image quality in order to save on storage costs without giving adequate notice to customers.[7]

Products and services provided for a fee

In addition to standard custom photo merchandise (such as prints, photo books, stickers, calendars, mugs, cards, apparel, etc.), Kodak Gallery also provided the following services:

  • Archive CDs
  • DVD slideshows via Photoshow by Roxio, a division of Sonic Solutions
  • PhotoStamps (via Stamps.com)
  • Traditional picture frames for digital prints
  • Digital Picture Frames along with preloaded picture cards
  • Kodak Gallery Premier Service – for monthly or yearly fee, provides a unique web address, full-resolution downloads, optional password protection, credit if photos destroyed in a natural disaster or due to hard drive crash or theft

See also

References

  1. Providence Journal
    . December 30, 2007. Retrieved October 9, 2008.
  2. ^ "Shutterfly bids $23.8 million for Kodak Gallery customers". CNET. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
  3. PC World
    . May 31, 2006. Retrieved October 9, 2008.
  4. Wall Street Journal
    . August 1, 2007. Retrieved October 9, 2008.
  5. Boston Globe
    . September 28, 2008. Retrieved October 9, 2008.
  6. ^ Lazarus, David. "Precious Photos Disappear" , San Francisco Chronicle. February 2, 2005. Retrieved October 9, 2008.
  7. ^ Anthony, Laura. "Local Woman Blows The Whistle On Kodak" , KGO-TV San Francisco. March 30, 2006. Retrieved October 9, 2008.