Phlook Blog

HP Virtual Tech Museum (Asia) Contest Winners

2009-10-15T14:59:00.003+08:00

"Relieve your past. Touch the future."

Results are out! There is a total of 20 winning entries coming from countries all over Asia.

Here's one winning entry from Singapore:

Check out the rest of the winners here.

No Ordinary Phlook

2009-06-29T09:27:00.001+08:00

Phlook has been featured on Young Upstarts!

Check out the article here.

HP Virtual Tech Museum

2009-06-03T12:04:00.005+08:00

"Relieve your past. Touch the future."

Submit photos of your old tech devices and stand to win attractive HP prizes.

Contribute to HP Virtual Tech Museum here.

Slideshow Update

2009-05-27T11:22:00.004+08:00

There has been a "bug" in our slideshow that caused users' texts have an additional line break. This issue has been rectified.

Previously, the following paragraph:
Hi, I am a Phlookie!
Join me today.

Will appear as this in the slideshow:
Hi, I am a Phlookie!

Join me today.

An additional line break was accidentally inserted.

NOW IT IS THERE NO MORE!

Phlook is Featured in Singapore Newspaper

2009-05-03T21:03:00.006+08:00

(Zaobao Sunday 早报星期天; Zoom photo below to read)

Celebrating Our Mothers Photo Contest

2009-05-02T12:21:00.003+08:00

Upload photos of you and your mom from now until 24 May 2009. The most heartwarming photo wins!

Check it out here.

Optimizing Photo's Display Dimensions When Uploading

2009-04-30T19:24:00.004+08:00

Websites and blogs come in different layouts and all the while we have adjusted all the default dimensions of our embedded photos have be the maximum 400px. However as the displayed photos are usually of maximum dimensions of 500px, we have been getting feedback that some photos when appeared in the 400px embedded interface looked sort of distorted. Unfortunately this is how Flash resize the photos. Now we thought of a way to improve this. So here's how your upload page will look like. Specify first how you want to limit the display dimensions of the photos you want to upload, and it will greatly improve the quality of photos when displayed on your website!

New Contest Tab

2009-04-24T21:11:00.002+08:00

Hi guys, we have just added a new Contest tab to "The Pool".

Check out this new tab here.

Phlook Supports Netballuxion 2009!

2009-04-07T09:46:00.003+08:00

Wear their badge on your website today!

<a href="http://www.phlook.com/act/nusnetball/netballuxion09/index.aspx" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.phlook.com/act/nusnetball/netballuxion09/images/netballuxion09badge.png" border="0" width="150" height="250" alt="NUS Netballuxion 2009" /></a>

Upload Photo Via Image URL

2009-02-25T14:01:00.002+08:00

Other than selecting images from your computer to upload, you can now upload with just the image's web URL.

Someone is Going to Venus!

2009-02-16T22:22:00.029+08:00

Congratulations, JOEY! Hope your bags are packed because you are going to Venus!

Here’s the link to her winning entry, everyone:
Joey's winning blog post

So where exactly is Venus? She is in Florence, Italy. Phlook is going to send Joey to the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy, which houses one of the most famous paintings in the world, The Birth Of Venus by Botticelli!

Joey, hope you enjoy Italy, have lots of fun, and take many photos!

Although a grand total of only nine people turned up for the contest, we are still immensely grateful. Please continue to give Phlook your love by wearing a Phlook Badge on your site and telling your friends about Phlook. Phlook is currently a tiny little startup, but with your love and support it will grOW!

Venus Flyers

2009-02-05T22:12:00.008+08:00

We know the trip to Venus is going to be great fun and we really hope the message can reach more people. So we are planning to visit NUS & NTU (probably over this weekend/beginning of next week) to drop flyers at the different halls.

To cut cost, our flyer will be simply B&W. And because we are feeling the guilt in causing more trees being cut, the message will just be on half of the page so that the other half (and the back) can still be used as rough paper.

If you are from NUS/NTU and is into free labor ... ok, just joking. If you are there and is keen in helping us with the distribution, email us at info@phlook.com. We promise you we won't treat you as friend so that you can still participate in the contest!

Win a Return Trip to Venus!

2009-02-04T18:00:00.019+08:00

Valentine’s Day is coming! Express your undying love for Phlook and we’ll send you to Venus! Yes, you heard us correctly! Descend upon Phlook Habitat to give us a kiss and you could win a return trip to Venus. Sounds crazy? We’re perfectly serious. Here’s how it works:

1. Come to Phlook Habitat (32 Wallich Street #02-60 Singapore 078880, beside Tanjong Pagar MRT) on 14th Feb 2009, 10am – 6pm, and give us a kiss. (We promise to kiss you back.)

2. Take a photo of said kiss.
3. Upload the photo to Phlook and embed it back to your blog.
4. Leave a comment in this post of your kissed-Phlook blog post’s url from 15th Feb onwards (We will based this on the comments' time stamp).

The first person to complete all four steps this month goes to Venus!

P.S. Our friends & family members, kiss us some other time. Phlook haters, you will not get to go to Venus. Sorry.

UPDATE
So many of you have given us valuable feedback. Many, many thanks! Your requests granted - We will make the change to the contest for those of you who are planning to come (The change is in red above).

RESULTS
Check out the winner here.

Link to promote:

Phlook Badges, Phlook Badges, Phlook Badges

2009-01-29T00:29:00.006+08:00

Support a startup from Singapore - proudly display a Phlook badge on your blog/website today! Now you can even create your very own personalized badges :)
Get your badges here.

Email the Photos Right from Your Site!

2009-01-12T12:38:00.005+08:00

We have just added a new feature in our photo interfaces - Now you and your viewers can conveniently email the photos directly via the interfaces! Whether your photos appear on Phlook or on your own blog/website, your photos can now be easily shared through email. Our friends have told us how useful this is, hope you will like it too!

Who Can Add Notes??

2009-01-07T11:44:00.003+08:00

There has to be a balance!

Some of our users favor having all their photos set to "Anyone can add notes" (whereby signing in is not required) and some wants to limit interactions to "Only signed in members can add notes". One of our aim is to enable members to customize their default settings but this function is not in placed yet. So today we will conduct an experiment - we have changed our default option for all newly uploaded photos to "Anyone" can add notes. (Of course members can still make the changes anytime, just that if nothing is done, it will go to the default option)

Let us know what you think!

Photo Interface Upgrade

2008-12-29T14:33:00.003+08:00

After gathering feedback from you, we have made more improvements to the Photo Interface. We hope this new interface design can make navigation more intuitive and deliver even better user experience.

Let us know what you think!

Christmas Theme on Photo & Slideshow Interfaces

2008-12-15T15:46:00.003+08:00

Since last week we have been experimenting with the introduction of theme on our interfaces. Currently, when users' cursors go over the interfaces, a Christmas themed clip will appear on the top left hand corner of both the photo interfaces and slideshows. Tell us what you think, ok!

Btw You can easily switch these themed clips off when you do the normal embedding. Here are the instructions: photo, slideshow.

On your Blog/Website you & your friends can now add Notes/Annotations in the Photos

2008-11-25T22:43:00.001+08:00

Have you enjoyed adding notes/annotations in the photos on some photo-sharing websites? Wish your Blog/Website has that too?

NOW YOU CAN!

All you have to do is to embed the photos uploaded to Phlook back to your site. Then your visitors and you will be able to start adding Notes in those photos right away. Yes, it is that easy!

Learn more about it here.

Rich Photo Interface Showcase on Blogger.com

2008-11-22T12:46:00.015+08:00

Now you and your friends can add Notes, Zoom photos and more right on your Blog or Website!

Click the photos below.

Learn more
Get your own. Sign up here!

Sell Photos Showcase on Blogger.com

2008-11-21T11:49:00.008+08:00

Let your visitors buy photos from your Blog or Website. Phlook Sell helps you to put them up for sale within minutes!

Learn more
Get your own. Sign up here!

Now You Can Sell Pics Right On Your Website

2008-11-06T21:57:00.011+08:00

Phlook has launched a platform that empowers you to sell pics right on your website!

Simply upload and embed the pics for sale and start selling in minutes!

No more red tapes applying and submitting to traditional stock photography websites – Start your own!

All that is needed is a one-time sell activation fee of $3 or $12 to get started. Click here to learn more.

New Slideshow Design Coming Your Way!

2008-11-05T17:44:00.008+08:00

Since introducing "Storyboard" Slideshow in September, we see how much you have been loving it. We want to boost it up further by giving it an even cooler skin. Watch out for it, ya!

Here's how version 1 looked like:

Facebook PicBox

2008-10-24T14:30:00.004+08:00

Phlook has penetrated the social network!
We have integrated our fantastic slideshow function into Facebook.
Now you can create slideshows of your facebook pics. PicBox is the name of our cool app in Facebook.

Using Picbox you can send send your slideshow to your friend's profile box. In addition, you can send a link to the slideshow to your wall and it will mini-feed to your friends.

We are releasing this app in Facebook today and in the days to come we will be adding new features. Be the first to try out!!
Check out Picbox!

Slideshow Showcase on Blogger.com

2008-09-19T09:02:00.003+08:00

Empowering you to display not just photos but Multiple Albums on your Blog or Website.

Learn more
Get your own. Sign up here!

You can now create Slideshows on Phlook!

2008-09-18T11:30:00.003+08:00

Yes, you can now create slideshows on Phlook!

Phlook's Slideshow empowers you to display not just pics but multiple albums in their entirety right on your website or blog. All you have to do is to copy and paste the auto-generated embed code to your website. Click here to learn more.

No more thumbs down

2008-08-19T16:00:00.002+08:00

In response to member's feedback, Phlook decided to remove the thumbs down function. It was a system to facilitate user interaction by rating good & bad pics. However, we experience some vicious downing of thumbs causing some members who uploaded beautiful photos to be greatly upset. *console* From today onwards, there will be no more thumbs down & only thumbs up will be displayed!

The Actionscript Conference

2008-08-14T14:48:00.000+08:00

The Actionscript Conference (TAC) is a community conference with the focus on Flash Platform. Attendants will see themselves immersed in a day of learning, knowledge exchange, and networking. TAC aims to bring topics on Actionscript 3.0, Flash development, Enterprise Flex, AIR, Integrating of Flash and other Platforms, and building Rich Internet Application to its audience. It is organised by the Singapore Flex Usergroup with the aim to create a conference for the developers, by the developers. To date the confirmed speakers are Peter Elst, Lee Brimelow, Michael Plank and Stefan Wessels.

Last but not least, Phlook is proud to be the first Micro-sponsor of TAC!

"I Love Singapore" Photo Contest

2008-08-01T23:43:00.002+08:00

In conjunction with Singapore's 43rd birthday, Phlook is organizing an "I Love Singapore" Photo Contest. Submit your pics showing how much you love Singapore and stand to win one of 3 awesome cameras! The top 3 winning entries will be 100% decided by viewers' votes. Contest ends 18th August, so get clicking!

Phlook’s Public Beta!

2008-07-31T01:00:00.000+08:00

Yes, almost 4 months into Private Beta, the time has now come to unleash Phlook upon the world! Signing up no longer requires fiddling about with invitations. Tell your friends!

Introducing (drum roll please) Storyboard!

2008-07-10T16:37:00.001+08:00

We are pleased to present Storyboard, a kickass new feature we have been working on.

Storyboard allows you to do more with your pics. Create your very own visual narratives with the pics in your albums. Check out more details here or simply start reading Storyboards here.

Sell has been relegated to Phlook Lab for more R&D

2008-07-03T23:51:00.002+08:00

Friends, Romans, Countrymen,

We have come to realize that the way our selling feature works is confusing to some.

Our intention was not to build a stock photography service within Phlook but to create a platform where you can not only sell pics on Phlook, but also embed these pics back onto your website and sell them from there. In other words, sell helps you to build your very own mini stock photography website.

We believe this is the best way to get every pic the exposure it deserves and to target your niche customer base.

After some thought, we’ve decided to pull our selling feature for the time being and send it back to the Lab for some retooling before we relaunch it.

Be the First to Try Out Phlook!

2008-03-24T21:56:00.001+08:00

Yes, our awesomely sexy beta testers, the wait is now over! You can be the first to try out our new features at Phlook, which include:

1. New interface to enhance your viewing experience
2. Better organizing and browsing capabilities
3. Capability of emailing and sharing albums and pics to your family and friends
4. Putting your pics up for sale right at Phlook

As this is a private launch, membership is still not opened to the general public ... but we are giving you the prerogative to send out exclusive invitations to your friends through email. To do this, just click on "invite" at the top right corner of the web pages after you log in or use this url: http://www.phlook.com/member/invite.aspx. So do send out those invites!

Have fun!

The Time has come to Launch Phlook!

2008-03-24T17:20:00.000+08:00

Howdy y'all!

Sorry for the long wait, everyone ... after almost 6 months since you've been onboard as our awesomely sexy beta testers, we are finally ready.

Yes, the time has finally come to launch Phlook! Look forward to:
1. improvements from the valuable feedback you provided
2. a bunch of new features
3. ways to monetize your pics

You, our incredibly gorgeous beta testers, are invited to an exclusive preview of the new and improved Phlook on 1st of April, 2008 … stay tuned … just 7 more days to go!

Thanks for the feedback!

2007-12-01T09:56:00.000+08:00

Hi guys (referring to the amazing beta testers), thanks for the feedback so far! You have been marvelous! You can be assured that we are working real hard to straighten the issues you have raised before we launch our 2nd Stage.

Please keep the feedback coming ... millions of thanks!!!

Phlook's Private Beta "Test" Launch!

2007-11-27T16:18:00.000+08:00

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, we are pleased to announce the private beta launch of Phlook. We’re doing this in three stages.

First up is Share, which allows you to upload your pics and share ‘em with friends and family.

The next two stages are … well, under wraps for now because here at Phlook we’re slogging round the clock to make sure we have Share down pat. Any feedback would be handy and would really help us to work all the kinks out, so keep it coming.

In the meantime, have fun and remember, don’t do anything we wouldn’t do ;) !

Welcome to Phlook

2007-11-01T23:56:00.000+08:00

Howdy everyone! Well, it’s been months in the making, but we’ve finally developed Phlook from an idea on the drawing board into a full-fledged internet service which we hope combines fun, functionality, and ease of usage.

And we’re so glad you could join us for the party!