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PicTomo
Comparison Guide

No More USB Drives
or SD Cards

Share event photos with everyone using just your phone and a QR code.

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Services Compared

Recommended

PicTomo

Share photos using just your phone's browser. No physical media needed.

USB Drive / SD Card

Physical storage media. Share photos by hand-delivery or mail.

Feature Comparison

Convenience

PicTomo
◎ Just scan a QR code
USB Drive / SD Card
× Requires PC import → copy → hand-delivery

Large Group Support

PicTomo
◎ Everyone joins simultaneously via QR code
USB Drive / SD Card
× Must pass one device around in turns

Real-time Sharing

PicTomo
◎ Everyone can view immediately after upload
USB Drive / SD Card
× Physical hand-off time required

Loss Risk

PicTomo
◎ No loss risk with cloud storage
USB Drive / SD Card
× Small and easy to lose

Image Quality

PicTomo
◎ Up to 4K (4096px)
USB Drive / SD Card
◎ Original quality

Device Compatibility

PicTomo
◎ Phone, PC, tablet — all supported
USB Drive / SD Card
△ PC required (limited direct phone connection)

Cost

PicTomo
◎ Free basic plan
USB Drive / SD Card
△ Media purchase cost (a few dollars+)

Security

PicTomo
◎ Password protection, GPS removal, auto-delete
USB Drive / SD Card
× No encryption (risk of exposure if lost)

Detailed Analysis

USB Drive / SD Card

A long-used method for sharing photos, but with smartphones now being the primary camera, inconveniences have grown. Requiring a PC, waiting turns, and loss risk make physical media challenging for event photo sharing.

Pros

  • No internet connection needed
  • Original quality fully preserved
  • No problem with large data (tens of GB)
  • Low purchase cost (a few dollars+)

Cons

  • Requires PC import (phone → PC → USB workflow)
  • Passing one device around takes time to reach everyone
  • Small and easy to lose (risk of losing all photo data)
  • No password protection — anyone who finds it can view photos
  • Many modern phones lack USB ports
  • Risk of virus infection

Conclusion

USB drives and SD cards are tools from "the era of managing photos on PCs." With smartphone photography now mainstream, cloud services like PicTomo are ideal for event photo sharing. Just hand out QR codes and all participants can upload directly from their phones — no PC imports, no passing media around, zero loss risk. However, USB drives remain useful for environments without internet or for transferring very large data.

FAQ

Q. Can't I share phone photos without a USB drive?

A. With PicTomo, you can share photos using just your phone. Simply scan a QR code and upload your photos. Recipients can also view and download from the album in their phone's browser. No USB drive or PC needed.

Q. What do I do in places without internet?

A. An internet connection is required, so PicTomo can't be used in areas with no signal. However, you can upload later when you have Wi-Fi. For fully offline sharing, AirDrop (between iPhones) or Nearby Share (between Androids) are alternatives.

Q. Can PicTomo handle a large number of photos?

A. Yes. You can upload in bulk and batch download as a ZIP file. Unlike USB drives, there's no need to copy photos one by one.

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Free, no registration. Your album grows as you share.

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