Zoto is a Web-based photo sharing application where you can access your photos from any PC, Mac and handheld device anywhere you go. What makes Zoto stand out is its easy-to-use features that come with detailed instructions.
Zoto allows direct uploading of photos right from your PC, Macintosh or camera phone. Tags and permissions allow you to organize and control who sees them. You can also create custom photo galleries then invite friends to participate. Share them with your friends, or share them with everyone.
Pro users can post slideshows and filmstrips of photos to any blog with a GUI that works with Blogger, TypePad, LiveJournal, WordPress, and more and community features allow you to browse photos from people who share your interests as well as exploring geo-tagged photos, placing comments, adding friends and rating/voting on specific images.
To start uploading photos to Zoto to load photos on Zoto you must first install the free uploader software. The software is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems.
Uploading photos is a breeze thanks to Zoto's excellent tutorial showing everything you need to know on how to upload images. The uploader supports direct drag and drop operation, allowing you to easily drag multiple image files on it for immediate uploading.
The gallery is Zoto's version of a photo album. The gallery wizard walks you through entering content and selecting a template as Zoto has over 20 available templates from which to choose. If you wish to keep the gallery private, you can add password-protection. You can use the gallery to create presentations or to tell stories.
If you want the photo titles and descriptions to appear in the gallery, make sure you select a template that includes the description because some templates don't display the title and description.
Once you complete the gallery, invite users and assign them a user level indicating how much control you want them to have in the gallery. Invitees can view your gallery without registration, but they must register if they want to contribute their own photos or post a comment.
Visitors can subscribe to your photo and gallery RSS or ATOM feeds. Next to the RSS and ATOM links appears ZEED. This represents Zoto Feed, but there's no information available in spite of the excellent documentation. Visitors can use the JavaScript (JS) wizard to generate code to use a selected photo layout on a Web page or blog. Slide is only available to users, not viewers. Selecting Slide creates a Slide-based slideshow that you can post on a Web page.
Editing tools on hand comprise resize, rotate, crop and enhance. Enhance uses auto levels for adjusting the photo's color level. Zoto also retains the original full-size photo, so a photo that has been manipulated, messed up or lost isn't gone forever even if you edit the photo.
Another uncommon feature found in Zoto is Advanced Information about an image. This consists of camera make and model, exposure time, F-stop and focal length details. A photo's page also has a links tab for speedy copying and pasting into a Web page so you can copy and paste links to specific images into a Web page.
Other tools include tagging and geotagging for which there are different categories including Favorites, Permissions and Licenses. The licenses are based on the Creative Commons licenses, which indicate how others may or may not use your photo.
Zoto supports blogging tools and services, so Pro account users can publish photos to their blogs as well as upload photos by email. In a partnership with Qoop, Zoto provides users with the option to buy prints of their photos.
Zoto's wizards, documentation and ability to work with multiple operating systems should please anyone who wishes to store and manage photos online with a Web-based application.
Requirements
Web browser
Windows, Mac, or Linux for uploader software
More Information
Help
Tour of Zoto and features
Forums for Zoto discussions
Blog for news on Zoto
Capacity
Free: 2 GB
Pro: 10 GB
Price
Two account types: Free and subscription for USD $24.95 per year. Here's a comparison of the two accounts.
Sign up for a free Zoto account and immediately start using the application.
