Free Image Host - Same URL, Update File

[Asudem]

Greetings folks,

I'm looking for a free (or cheap) image host for a friend, but with what they want to use the images for they need the URLs of the files to stay the same. This eliminates most free image hosting sites I know. Any ideas on a good and reliable image host my friend can use?

Thanks!

[wraith808]

A little bit more on why they need them to stay the same might help in recommending.

For instance, I use bit.ly when I need a certain name, and point it to dropbox or massdrop or imgur, or whereever.  I'm not sure if that's a valid scenario for your friend.



That image is using a bit.ly URL to point to an imgur hosted image.

[Asudem]

A little bit more on why they need them to stay the same might help in recommending.

They are using images for a profile, and the profile will be updated frequently. Due to the site's nature, custom HTML profiles are not an option, so they are stuck using static images instead of easy to edit HTML.

For instance, I use bit.ly when I need a certain name, and point it to dropbox or massdrop or imgur, or whereever.  I'm not sure if that's a valid scenario for your friend.



That image is using a bit.ly URL to point to an imgur hosted image.

Iiiiiinteresting. I never considered using something like that. But do you have to log into bit.ly and change the image url each time it's uploaded? My friend is... not tech savvy...

[Deozaan]

They are using images for a profile, and the profile will be updated frequently.

Gravatar?

[Asudem]

They are using images for a profile, and the profile will be updated frequently.

Gravatar?

WOW! Just wow, that service is amazing! Not quite a fit for my friend's needs, but I am signing up and recommending this to everyone ASAP!

[Deozaan]

Dropbox is a good idea. You could just update the file, leaving it with the same filename, and the link will remain the same.

[wraith808]

Dropbox is a good idea. You could just update the file, leaving it with the same filename, and the link will remain the same.

Dropbox has been changing the way their links work, unfortunately.  So you definitely want to vet that it works if you decide to go that way.

[Asudem]

Dropbox is a good idea. You could just update the file, leaving it with the same filename, and the link will remain the same.

Dropbox has been changing the way their links work, unfortunately.  So you definitely want to vet that it works if you decide to go that way.

Dropbox was my first idea, but any accounts made after 2014 apparently no longer get a public folder. 

[Deozaan]

Dropbox was my first idea, but any accounts made after 2014 apparently no longer get a public folder. 

You can still right-click a file and select "Get Public Link"

But that link might change or might not work well for this particular need.

[Asudem]

Dropbox was my first idea, but any accounts made after 2014 apparently no longer get a public folder. 

You can still right-click a file and select "Get Public Link"

But that link might change or might not work well for this particular need.

That only works for within the "public" folder, or am I missing some setting here? My friend does no have a public folder as the dropbox account was recently created.
https://www.dropbox.com/en/help/16

Note: Dropbox accounts created after October 4, 2012 will not have a Public folder.

[wraith808]

It works in any folder.  The public folder just lets you do it for hosting.

[Deozaan]

I was wrong about what the context menu item says, but the feature is definitely there:

https://www.dropbox.com/help/167

[Asudem]

It works in any folder.  The public folder just lets you do it for hosting.

I was wrong about what the context menu item says, but the feature is definitely there:

https://www.dropbox.com/help/167

[attach=1,msg398855]

Example of an embedded image using that link below:

Exact same URL as a hyperlink here.

Dropbox takes you to a download page. It does not allow hotlinking outside the public folder.

[Deozaan]

Try changing the zero to a one at the end of the link ("?dl=1" at the end of the URL):

Code

https://www.dropbox.com/s/x37ukdrt3sp90en/vlcsnap-2016-04-02-09h31m16s572.png?dl=1

[Asudem]

Try changing the zero to a one at the end of the link (?dl=1 at the end of the URL)

UNDOCUMENTED FEATURES

Thank you so much, this is exactly what I wanted!

[Deozaan]

Now the real test is to replace the image file with a different image (but same filename) and see if it updates the hotlinked image correctly.

[wraith808]

One other thing to be conscious of. Dropbox removed the public folder because of people's misuse, and bandwidth.  as such, I've seen it temporarily remove access.  Not sure if that's based on bandwidth or hits.  If the former, you're Ok.  If the latter...

[Asudem]

One other thing to be conscious of. Dropbox removed the public folder because of people's misuse, and bandwidth.  as such, I've seen it temporarily remove access.  Not sure if that's based on bandwidth or hits.  If the former, you're Ok.  If the latter...

Funny story that. I was hosting my friend's profile on my dropbox using the public links, and during some exceptionally heavy traffic, dropbox DID shut off all my public links temporarily. So yeah, first hand, I know it's a possibility.

Now the real test is to replace the image file with a different image (but same filename) and see if it updates the hotlinked image correctly.

Good call, I'll do that now!

EDIT: Nope, still my cat 

[wraith808]

How so?  Did you overwrite the file?  If you did, I don't get how it couldn't be.  Especially if your cat is still showing up.  Did you refresh and/or empty your cache for your browser?  I'd also suggest creating a new user in your browser, and going to the link from there.