AOL announces final resting place for AOL Pictures, Xdrive files

As has been previously reported, AOL is shutting down its photo-hosting services AOL Pictures and Bluestring, and its online file storage service Xdrive. Everything stored there goes away on December 31, 2008. Photos on AOL Pictures are getting an optional new home at American Greetings' PhotoWorks service, although users have to actively sign on to the new service before June 30, 2009, to rescue their images.

Out.

The best bet, for everyone, is to sign on to your AOL services before the end of the year and download your photos or files. All three services will have bulk downloading available until the end of the year; archival DVDs will also be available for a fee. Xdrive users will also find other online storage companies hustling for their business.

In.

The selection of PhotoWorks as the sole online destination for users' files is limiting. When Yahoo shut down Yahoo Photos to favor its Flickr service, it offered users not just a sideload to Flickr but to Shutterfly or Kodak Gallery if they wished. PhotoWorks isn't a bad photo site, but it's not the most contemporary in terms of features, and as it is part of American Greetings, the service is definitely canted toward the creation of printed photo gift items. However, American Greetings' GM of Digital Photography, Sally Babcock, told me that to sweeten the deal, "we are offering customers 50 free prints to migrate and may have some other special offers closer to the holidays."

Users of Xdrive's paid services will get a pro-rated refund early in 2009; billing itself will stop as of November 5, 2008.

Regarding the shutdown, AOL said in a statement: "Although these services have been an important part of our product portfolio for many years, AOL's shift to a Web-based, advertising-focused company has caused us to take a close look at the products we offer and we determined that managing and maintaining these hosted and subscription-based services is not in the best long-term interest of our users or our business."

[svk1069]

"we determined that managing and maintaining these hosted and subscription-based services is not in the best long-term interest of our users or our business."

What a line of BS. It would be in the best interest of its users to not inconvenience them by shutting the sites down and forcing them to migrate to other services.

It's simply not profitable for AOL, so yes, it isn't in AOL's best interest to keep them going.

AOL shouldn't try to convince us though that this is somehow good for their users.

[Seanathome]

Man... I've been using that for all some of my storage needs. Isn't Warner-Bros and AOL within the same corporation? Can't they share money between businesses to keep each other afloat?

[bowacl]

"Ads On Line" is slowly stripping all the extra services, pretty soon it will just be a sign on screen with ads on it and links to news etc.. Not that I am apposed to ads online they are common place but I do not like the ones that all of a sudden run across the screen then go away - frankly these are lost on me as I usually don't figure out what the heck they were for anyway, mouse overs where you accidentally touch them and they come to life with video and sound and ones that flash annoying trying to focus your attention on them rather then what you are trying to do. What I have found is some of my group still use AOL and some when they got broadband moved on after they found they could still keep their email address.

[lilmoya47]

Well guess its time to stop paying for AOL. It was about the only service I used alot bt see no sense in paying for it anymore.

[0zSpit]

i thought aol lost its usefulness when windows98 came out. i do know it's ruined everything its touched and is one f two things to NEVER put on your computer. the other is anything from nortons

[Feedbackplease]

I dont know if anyone else is having this problem, but when i download the pictures to my computer after the downloaded zipfile is complete. i attempt to unzip it and it says that the file is corrupted? ***. (the worst part is i waited forever to download 6 gigs worth of pictures.) I have retried this download three times and everytime i get a corrupted file. i feel this is a scam to make me purchase the DVD archiVE. XD is anyone having similar download problem?

[XDMOlson]

The corrupted files may not be related to the zipping process. Xdrive has to search for your assets that are stored across many servers at AOL and during this process and due to the integration with AOL many Legacy Xdfive consumers assets may look like they are stored in your account for access but as you pointed out you'll find that a major portion of your aassets will be corrupted and need to be restored by a thrid party application.

My suggestion is try using the Xdrive Desktop Lite application to download the corrupted file and see if you are able to retireve it intact that way. That's what I'm going to be suggesting to Xdrive consumers. However as of yet I have not tried it myself but I too encounterd some corrupted Microsoft files that were contained in the zipped file and would not open in Office. While the jpeg files worked pretty much ever time, so far. So it does not look promising for those Xdrive consumsers looking to switch over to another provider like ElephantDrive, FilesAnywhere, Box.net, or Adrive, etc.....check out my previous post here for the Ultimate Review List of Best Free Online Storage and Backup Application Services... stay tuned for my recommendation for a new provider.

http://tomuse.com/ultimate-review-list-of-best-free-online-storage-and-backup-application-services/

-XDMOlson

[XDMOlson]

Ultimate Review List of Best Free Online Storage and Backup Application Services...

http://tomuse.com/ultimate-review-list-of-best-free-online-storage-and-backup-application-services/

-XDMOlson

[Marily Lantz]

I am totally confused. All I store on AOL are saved emails. Am I going to lose those and if so, how do I read the contents without loading AOL on to my new computer?

[Feedbackplease]

XDMolson! awesome feedback, thanks. I went to xdrive and used the application like you suggested and it worked perfectly :) *cheers*

[Marily Lantz]

What I mean to ask is if I have to load these files onto my computer that does not have AOL installed (God forbid), how do I read the contents? I have more than 1,000 that are too dear to lose.

[Feedbackplease]

For {E-mails} AOl is still going to support that service and if you just go to aol.com through any web browser to sign in, you can access your email; you do not need to install the aol suite software to access your emails. *hope that helps.

[XDMOlson]

@ Marily,

Don't panic...! AOL at this time is not shutting down the email service that they provide. As long as your not using the AOL Pictures, AOL Bluestring, or AOL Xdrive services nothing changes for you.

However if you use any of these services that I mentioned above then you are going to need to take action. If you hesitate you're not going to be happy.

-XDMOlson

[XDMOlson]

Listen up Xdrive Consumers....! XDMOlson is going to hook you all up with the easiest way to transfer your Xdrive digital assets to another provider.

I know there are a lot of other providers out there, check out my previous post about the Ultimate Review List of Best Free Online Storage and Backup Application Services...

http://tomuse.com/ultimate-review-list-of-best-free-online-storage-and-backup-application-services/

However XDMOlson is going to recommend selecting ElephantDrive for current Xdrive consumers. They have worked out an agreement with Xdrive to make transferring those digital assets over as easy as possible.

Xdrive to ElephantDrive Migration Page: http://www.elephantdrive.com/m/ct.aspx?ici=267

-XDMOlson

[XDMOlson]

Do you have digital assets stored in either an Legacy Xdrive account or an AOL Xdrive account? Time is running out to get those assets....AOL is shutting down Xdrive on 12JAN2009....Hurry....!

Got assets stored in your Xdrive account? I recommend choosing ElephantDrive and to make transferring those digital assets over as easy as possible just click the link http://www.elephantdrive.com/m/ct.aspx?ici=267 ...this is the Xdrive to ElephantDrive migration page.

Xdrive and ElephantDrive have worked out a process to help account holders make the transition as easy as possible especially if you don't have the time to babysit the zipping process, one of mine took over 8 hours.

ElephantDrive uses the Open Xdrive API to access your account and perform the zipping process for you. Once your accounts data is zipped up a new ElephantDrive account will be created containing your assets.

There are several other online storage competitors out there, some offering Free accounts ranging in many quotas and paid subscriptions that will cover not only individual consumers needs but SMB companies needs and subscriptions that will cover large companies enterprise needs.

Here's one list I recommend checking out;

http://tomuse.com/ultimate-review-list-of-best-free-online-storage-and-backup-application-services/

Matt K. Olson
Consultant @ ElephantDrive

[XDMOlson]

Let me update everyone?

On November 12 2008 Xdrive LLC part of AOL LLC sent out to Xdrive account holders an AOL Official Mail notifying them that the Xdrive service will be shutting down on January 12 2009. On December 12 2008 Xdrive LLC part of AOL LLC sent a second notice to Xdrive account holders.

Check your SPAM box if you don?t see it in your Inbox especially if you have a non AOL email account.

I would not recommend waiting until the last day. Get it done today?!

I recommend choosing ElephantDrive and to make transferring those digital assets over as easy as possible just click the link http://www.elephantdrive.com/m/ct.aspx?ici=267 ?this is the Xdrive to ElephantDrive migration page.

ElephantDrive is the only solution provider working in cooperation with Xdrive using their Open Xdrive API. While competitors of ElephantDrive may offer discounts on their subscription plans you?ll have to do all the work of transferring your digital assets. ElephantDrive is committed to helping every Xdrive account holder make transitioning their digital assets seamless and transparent by using the Xdrive to ElephantDrive migration page.

ElephantDrive offers packages that are designed to protect the digital assets of individuals, SMBs, and large organizations.

Xdrive consumers with questions about transferring their digital assets over to ElephantDrive can check our Common Questions page.

https://www.elephantdrive.com/online_backup/xdrive_elephantdrive_migration.aspx#Learn

Matt K. Olson
Consultant @ ElephantDrive

[kdbaumann]

You can also go to www.divshare.com and upload your files there. They also provide a way to display your photos/videos/files in your blogs etc. and give you a great way to share your files around for free.

There is a paid for service but if you don't want to pay you get good stuff anyway.

Good luck.

[M0823MIKE]

After trying to download my files from x-drive for months, frustrated, I finally gave up hoping I would never need them. Well turns out my computer was stolen last month and the cd backups Ihave are no good so I really need that info. Anyone know if they are still available- PHOTOWORKS only allows you to download 1 photo at a time or conveniently they charge you a hefty fee for a cd where xdrive you could download entire folders. I feel AOL should have informed its customers of any significant changes in service like this. I plan to cancel my aol subscription in protest and have been a continuos subscriber for almost 30 years!