So why didn't they just buy Instagram? They had plenty of opportunity to do it. I hope it's not just because they didn't realize its potential against Facebook and its potential to enhance an already very photographer-friendly Google+, because then Google has a problem spotting the high potential businesses.
Pretty sure they didn't purchase Nik Software to compete with Instagram and Facebook; I think the iOS app was secondary.
Looking at the history that Nik has, as well as the other products they acquired, it seems like photo editing in general was the target. Something to make Picasa a (hopefully) better product in the long run.
Snapseed is probably a huge part of it (and it's already very much cross-platform). For the other aspects, there are a number of other companies Google might have chosen to acquire instead (Topaz Labs — which would be my choice as a scrappy, lightweight, innovative photo-centric company — Alien Skin, etc.), but they're absent in the mobile space.
I think you're right. Though I wouldn't hedge any money on them improving Picasa, directly anyway. This is more about enriching the Android platform. There are a lot of photographers that walk with a netbook and use that for editing within Lightroom. With a bit of a push, those said photographers could instead move to tablet.
Picasa is like the Google+ of social networks, it had some loyal users who want it to be the next big thing. But that won't happen any time soon. Google will invest in this niché premium market for tablets. With the incoming Nexus Phablet and November's rumoured 10" tablet, they'll try and prove that Android offers more than casual/convenient usage.
Before touch was a major major interface, Nik Software had developed an editing interface that was surprisingly good on touch devices. You essentially click a point on a photo and set the size of the area for edits to be applied to. The software will figure out regions in the photo similar to what you clicked on and then apply the edits. Creating SnapSeed on iOS really proved that the interface was perfectly suited to touch.
You can see the interface in action on their website. Load the following link (http://www.niksoftware.com/colorefexpro/usa/index.php?view=h...) and then click on "Working with control points". It's in an embedded flash player so I can't give a direct link.
Is this just a new Google strategy lately to buy up awesome iOS apps and kill them off, death by a thousand aqui-hires? Let's hope they don't kill off Snapseed.app, I will be extremely annoyed if they 'Sparrow' or 'HTML5-crapify' it.
I think it is funny you mention that in light of the recent comments on HN about how html5 isn't the problem but the implementation that Facebook took.
I like google +, I really do, but look at your google + feed, then look at your facebook feed. They are both vying for the time. Its clear as to who is winning that war.
You're only as good as your network. Your social feed is different than mine.
My Google+ feed is way more useful to me. I follow a lot of fellow developers & tech personalities who post long-form content that can't fit on Twitter.
My Facebook feed has too much personal/trivial posts that I value it less. Not to mention the endless political rant.
I actually think that Facebook & Google+ comparison is not right.
The people I follow on Google+ are more similar to the people I follow on Twitter. But Google+ has an advantage because it has no 140-character restriction & displays media (video/picture) better.
With android in cameras now, that already have bracketing, together with the increasing focus on camera performance in mobile phones, having HDR expertise would seem to me to be highly valuable as well.
Mhh, given that G+ hsa an awesome photo community, and the awesomeness of the Nik Tools (love them)..
Hopefully they build that stuff into picasa and make it free for all!!
Wow, have you checked out the comments on that page? Virtually zero congratulatory messages, just many, many self-entitled people bemoaning the "downfall" of the company. Good on Nik Software I say, they worked hard for this, let them enjoy it.
On the contrary, I would argue that if there was any sign of "self-entitlement" it would be in the case of a software company (hypothetically; not this one) that ignored its customers, the same ones who enabled it to remain a going concern long enough, so that, one lucky day, they could attract the attention of wealthy suitor and "make a grand exit". "Dear customers: Thanks for your business, we being acquired and we can retire now. Internet Ad Sales, Inc. will handle all your further needs. See ya!"
I do not see this as "self-entitlement" in some negative sense. There's nothing wrong with it. It's just how business works.
However, customers have a reason to lament if they lose the utility of a product they like. To accuse them of "self-entitlement" for lamenting that loss does not make any more sense than accusing the business owners of "self-entitlement" for selling their business in order to enjoy a windfall.
If you are like this company, then you cannot make a "grand exit" without customers to get you to that point where someone acquires you. You needed those customers. They are "entitled" to what they've paid for the product/services and nothing more. But if you treat customers poorly you might find they leave you for a competitor. So, some companies may also believe that customers are "entitled" to respect, even though the company is under no obligation to show it. This is because the company realizes it needs those customers.
I wonder if what is the attitude of most web startups. Is it like that of the parent comment?
Google -- if you let Nik's "non-sexy" non-mobile plugins for Photoshop/Lightroom, etc die on the vine I will never forgive you. Either commit to them or sell them off to someone who will keep them maintained.
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[ 3.5 ms ] story [ 72.8 ms ] threadLooking at the history that Nik has, as well as the other products they acquired, it seems like photo editing in general was the target. Something to make Picasa a (hopefully) better product in the long run.
I know Snapseed is popular, but I think Nik is actually more known for their other products, at least with photographers.
Silver Efex is easily one of the best black and white image processing tools around.
Picasa is like the Google+ of social networks, it had some loyal users who want it to be the next big thing. But that won't happen any time soon. Google will invest in this niché premium market for tablets. With the incoming Nexus Phablet and November's rumoured 10" tablet, they'll try and prove that Android offers more than casual/convenient usage.
In Nik Software's case, it feels like the acquisition was a good balance between acquiring a team and acquiring patented technologies (http://www.google.com/search?tbo=p&tbm=pts&hl=en&...).
You can see the interface in action on their website. Load the following link (http://www.niksoftware.com/colorefexpro/usa/index.php?view=h...) and then click on "Working with control points". It's in an embedded flash player so I can't give a direct link.
My Google+ feed is way more useful to me. I follow a lot of fellow developers & tech personalities who post long-form content that can't fit on Twitter.
My Facebook feed has too much personal/trivial posts that I value it less. Not to mention the endless political rant.
I actually think that Facebook & Google+ comparison is not right.
The people I follow on Google+ are more similar to the people I follow on Twitter. But Google+ has an advantage because it has no 140-character restriction & displays media (video/picture) better.
This (acquihire? patent-grab?) is a gut-punch to photographers, if nothing else.
On the contrary, I would argue that if there was any sign of "self-entitlement" it would be in the case of a software company (hypothetically; not this one) that ignored its customers, the same ones who enabled it to remain a going concern long enough, so that, one lucky day, they could attract the attention of wealthy suitor and "make a grand exit". "Dear customers: Thanks for your business, we being acquired and we can retire now. Internet Ad Sales, Inc. will handle all your further needs. See ya!"
I do not see this as "self-entitlement" in some negative sense. There's nothing wrong with it. It's just how business works.
However, customers have a reason to lament if they lose the utility of a product they like. To accuse them of "self-entitlement" for lamenting that loss does not make any more sense than accusing the business owners of "self-entitlement" for selling their business in order to enjoy a windfall.
If you are like this company, then you cannot make a "grand exit" without customers to get you to that point where someone acquires you. You needed those customers. They are "entitled" to what they've paid for the product/services and nothing more. But if you treat customers poorly you might find they leave you for a competitor. So, some companies may also believe that customers are "entitled" to respect, even though the company is under no obligation to show it. This is because the company realizes it needs those customers.
I wonder if what is the attitude of most web startups. Is it like that of the parent comment?
Google -- if you let Nik's "non-sexy" non-mobile plugins for Photoshop/Lightroom, etc die on the vine I will never forgive you. Either commit to them or sell them off to someone who will keep them maintained.