uber.com is going out of business

09/26/2008 12:28:18 AM · #1

The hits just keep on comin'... Just days after Photoshelter Collection closing, another photographer resource (as well as social networking site), uber.com is closing up, supposedly by the end of the month.

Here is the somewhat unofficial "official" announcement -- but I'm not sure I can assert the true validity of it, as the main uber page still has no mention of the closure, and you can still apply to create new accounts.

Still, Nicole, the main "face" of uber.com help, has always been a straight-shooter as far as I know, and they blog post and announcement seems sincere and from her.

So, if you've created your/a website on uber... I guess it's time to pack up and move on.

I thought it was too good to be true. Sad to find out it was. :(

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

09/26/2008 05:19:09 AM · #2

Ah, well the main uber homepage has been updated, and there is another blog post with more details.

uber is definitely on it's way out.

"The site will be inactive as of Monday September 29, 2008."

WOW. Two years of service, and only four days notice to let users find new homes.

Dirt_Diver

Nikon D3s

09/26/2008 07:24:26 AM · #3

So what happens to all the people that created blogs?

one2one

Olympus E-5

Olympus 7-14mm f/4.0 Zuiko Digital Zoom

09/26/2008 08:14:08 AM · #4

Originally posted by Dirt_Diver:

So what happens to all the people that created blogs?

They're screwed. [sarcasm]These sites really do take care of their customers.[/sarcasm]

I like how they say they'll be back with new ideas. LOL I won't be back that's for sure. Quitters!

Message edited by author 2008-09-26 08:21:32.

Dirt_Diver

Nikon D3s

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

09/26/2008 08:54:05 AM · #5

Originally posted by Jac:

Originally posted by Dirt_Diver:
So what happens to all the people that created blogs?

They're screwed. [sarcasm]These sites really do take care of their customers.[/sarcasm]

I like how they say they'll be back with new ideas. LOL I won't be back that's for sure. Quitters!

haha

09/26/2008 11:35:03 AM · #6

Originally posted by Dirt_Diver:

So what happens to all the people that created blogs?

The worst part, I think, is that uber made a number of import tools to bring peoples blogs in from other sites, in order to truly "move" them from wherever they came from to uber.

I strongly expect, especially with only four days notice, there will be no tools (written by uber or anyone else) to move anything from uber to.... anywhere.

I know a number of people who really "put their eggs in one basket" and used uber for their primary website, both for pleasure AND business (blogging was arguably only one of many services uber provided).

The short notice really bugs me. While I could certainly be wrong, I just can't imagine this is such a big surprise to *everyone* at the company. Someone had to know this was coming (or was at least very likely) -- To wait until the eleventh hour and only give users less than four days to figure out what to do with their web sites is REALLY pathetic. I'm sure some will say it's "better than nothing," and perhaps it is....... but not by much.

09/26/2008 04:19:25 PM · #7

bumpity-bump

Medoomi

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM

09/26/2008 04:26:49 PM · #8

how about doing a httrack website backup of your blog...?

(free GPL software)

You won't be able to migrate directly, but you might at least keep your posts in the format in which they're presently found.

09/26/2008 05:57:57 PM · #9

Originally posted by Medoomi:

how about doing a httrack website backup of your blog...?

(free GPL software)

VERY NICE FIND! Thanks very much for that. I've post a link on both of the uber blogs related to the closure as well.

None of the comments are being answered by user staff at this point -- it appears they are "off the map" and users are on their own.

I'm really glad I didn't have a lot there (I've never big a big blogger, and I have another place who hosts my web site, but my wife blogs ALL the time...). We "lucked out" with her blog, though -- she has been waiting for uber to finish their livejournal import tool (was supposed to be finished "any day now") so she could move her existing blog from LJ to uber. WOW, I'm really glad they didn't finish that tool -- she would be absolutely beside herself at this point.

Dodged a bullet there, at least for us... but I know a LOT of people are really going to be upset and disappointed by this. With such short notice, I really feel for people who are out of town or not very active online -- they are going to hop on next week sometime and find everything....just gone...

Medoomi

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM

09/26/2008 06:28:04 PM · #10

Using httrack, you may have to fiddle particularly with how uber calls out the blog info from its database.
Eg. To do a backup of a blog hosted on blogger, you would just enter //blogname.blogspot.com/search?max-results=1000 into the URL box in httrack, and that should call the first 1000 posts in a linear fashion for copying. Uber should be able to do this, perhaps just click on various display functions on the site and see how the uber url changes... and just use that :-)