Flickr shows first major redesigns in years, promises more
updated 05:35 pm EST, Tue February 21, 2012
Flickr reworks to improve photo viewing and upload
Flickr senior product lead Markus Spiering in a far-ranging interview previewed some of its first major overhauls to Flickr for years. A February 28 overhaul outlined to BetaBeat will remake the photo preview page, turning it into a mosaic with larger shots and information only when it's needed. The new upload page is now more akin to a mobile app with a more visual drag-and-drop interface.
Changes have been trickling into Flickr in the past few years, but most changes either weren't noticed or were subtle, such as Flickr tie-ins in other parts of Yahoo. It would play a role in Yahoo Mail soon, Spiering said. The more conspicuous changes are coming about a year after Spiering took his current position and point to a more concerted effort that has included redesigned mobile apps and new pricing plans.
More large-scale changes would be coming over the course of 2012, although the product director wouldn't give hints as to what those would be.
The changes are both acknowledgments of both direct and indirect competitors threatening Flickr's lead in photos, such as 500px and Google+. They may also be lining up more closely with an audience more used to mobile apps like Instagram or Path than the traditional desktop.
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Prepping for ex-MobileMe'rs
They could also realize that there will be a migration of people who have to give up all their MobileMe galleries in June. In the Apple store this weekend, a Genius Bar specialist called Dropbox and Flickr by name as alternatives for when iDisk and Galleries support goes away.