Top photo-sharing site Flickr today announced that it would be rolling out a new online photo editor.
New York-based Aviary will fill the gap left by Picnik, the beloved site/service that Google is dismantling. The embedded editor from Aviary, used by hundreds of mobile apps and websites, has another big advantage: It uses HTML5 rather than Flash to work its photo-editing magic. This means it will work on more platforms, including Apple's iPad.
Flickr's Georges Haddad announced the move in a blog post, which noted that the rollover will start on April 5 and last several couple until all Flickr users are moved to Aviary. Users will see the new choice in their Actions menu after their accounts are rolled over.
The blog post noted that the new editor will give users the two traits they crave most—speed and simplicity. "Tens of thousands of members edit their photos on Flickr each day, so we know that photo editing is something that the Flickrverse cares about," wrote Haddad. He noted some characteristics of the new tool: "With the Aviary editor, beginners will find that there's almost no learning curve…You can apply new app-like filters, stickers, text, and save it back to your photo stream with just a few clicks."
In addition to the new editor, Flickr has been undergoing a makeover, with new HTML5-powered justified views for contacts recent photos and favorites, as well as a new multitasking uploader. The site has received a new injection of life, thanks to recently hired director Markus Spiering. In an interview earlier this year, Speiring told PCMag, "Photo editing is an important part of what people do on Flickr," he continued. "Our goals with the new editing experience are that it needs to faster and more embedded."
To see the new Aviary editor and other photo sharing innovations for yourself, head to Flickr.com.
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