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Author Topic: Nik software acquired by Google!  (Read 5278 times)

francois

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Nik software acquired by Google!
« on: September 17, 2012, 12:50:22 pm »

Press release here!
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Francois

john beardsworth

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Re: Nik software acquired by Google!
« Reply #1 on: September 17, 2012, 01:28:40 pm »

Interesting, isn't it? I can see a reason why Google would want the mobile apps, but I'm not sure where the desktop apps like Silver Efex etc fit in.
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francois

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Re: Nik software acquired by Google!
« Reply #2 on: September 17, 2012, 01:30:24 pm »

Interesting, isn't it? I can see a reason why Google would want the mobile apps, but I'm not sure where the desktop apps like Silver Efex etc fit in.

Mobile apps is obvious but I agree with you as desktop apps or maybe for Chrome?
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Francois

john beardsworth

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Re: Nik software acquired by Google!
« Reply #3 on: September 17, 2012, 01:42:54 pm »

Thought that side of Nik's business is based on users of Photoshop full/Elements, Lightroom, Aperture, which isn't on Chrome. Maybe it's just a good business that they can build up, for example by building a raw converter.
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francois

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Re: Nik software acquired by Google!
« Reply #4 on: September 17, 2012, 01:54:23 pm »

After second thought, I can imagine Google having the Nik software tools hosted on its servers and subscribers of Google's clouds could use those tools on the uploaded photos or files (even RAW). I guess that it's not unlike Adobe's Carousel services.
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Francois

kaelaria

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Re: Nik software acquired by Google!
« Reply #5 on: September 17, 2012, 02:11:12 pm »

That really sux.
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Jeremy Roussak

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Re: Nik software acquired by Google!
« Reply #6 on: September 17, 2012, 02:30:18 pm »

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Pelao

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Re: Nik software acquired by Google!
« Reply #7 on: September 17, 2012, 02:33:43 pm »

Reasons?

Jeremy

I would say it likely sucks. Google generally wants the expertise, and the core product is left to whither or is shut down quickly. Of course that needn't happen here, but it seems unlikely Google is too concerned with software such as the Nik suite; they want the technology behind it.

Very disappointing if it means the core products die or wane.
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deejjjaaaa

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Re: Nik software acquired by Google!
« Reply #8 on: September 17, 2012, 02:38:45 pm »

Reasons?

Jeremy

desktop software will die... so long Adobe plugins
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Justan

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Re: Nik software acquired by Google!
« Reply #9 on: September 17, 2012, 02:55:53 pm »

It’s also possible that G will bundle some NiK offerings in future versions of Picasa and use them to produce a way more powerful and very consumer friendly post processing product that competes with PS.

The Google acquisition opens the door for many possible applications and a truly global marketplace.

walter.sk

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Re: Nik software acquired by Google!
« Reply #10 on: September 17, 2012, 03:10:31 pm »

Just guessing, based on my 71 years, most of which spent in observing big fish eating littler fish:  I can't see Google wanting to spend the time, manpower or money furthering the design, support and innovation of NIK plugins that we love so well.  I think they will grab a couple of the elements such as U-Point technology to use for mobile apps, and they will "simplify" apps such as the HDR, Silver Efex, Color Efex, etc. to work "automatically." 

While I hope I'm wrong, I predict NIK going the way of some of the plugins bought by Corel, etc.
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Pelao

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Re: Nik software acquired by Google!
« Reply #11 on: September 17, 2012, 03:14:09 pm »

It’s also possible that G will bundle some NiK offerings in future versions of Picasa and use them to produce a way more powerful and very consumer friendly post processing product that competes with PS.

The Google acquisition opens the door for many possible applications and a truly global marketplace.


Our definitions of a truly global marketplace clearly differ. I prefer one in which specialists innovate for selected market segments.

Quote
Just guessing, based on my 71 years, most of which spent in observing big fish eating littler fish:  I can't see Google wanting to spend the time, manpower or money furthering the design, support and innovation of NIK plugins that we love so well.  I think they will grab a couple of the elements such as U-Point technology to use for mobile apps, and they will "simplify" apps such as the HDR, Silver Efex, Color Efex, etc. to work "automatically." 

While I hope I'm wrong, I predict NIK going the way of some of the plugins bought by Corel, etc.

I hope you're wrong too, but I'd bet on you being right.
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lfeagan

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Re: Nik software acquired by Google!
« Reply #12 on: September 17, 2012, 03:44:22 pm »

This may or may-not go down this way, but I had first-hand experience with being a long-time paid user of a product bought by Google that were also plug-ins. In this case, however, the plug-ins were for software developers that use the Eclipse IDE. The company bought was Instantiations. The product name was Window Builder Pro. The functionality provided was a rapid GUI design toolkit for Java and Eclipse (SWT, JFace, GWT). The cost was around $300 initially and around $150/year. At the time of the acquisition I had been using it for a little over 5 years at the time. Initially I was quite worried, as I rely on the tool regularly.

Shortly after the acquisition Google said that support for paying customer would continue for at least 1 year. About a month after the acquisition they announced that the product would be open sourced and given to the Eclipse foundation. The reason Google bought the product was that one of the variants was a GWT toolkit for rapid GUI design. Google integrated this into their GWT Developer Toolkit, which is also free. It has been a few years now and generally things are going along well with both sides of the equation. I am pleased because now when I suggest using the toolkit I don't have to hear groans about how much it costs. The quality is still good. However, in the meantime there has been a new Eclipse release with API changes and the toolkit has not kept up with these changes. Previously Instantiations would usually have preview versions available for the release candidates and now they haven't even added support for Eclipse 4.x and we are well over a year into the 4.x realm and are currently at Eclipse 4.2. There are some Instantiations people that volunteer their time to keep things generally working. Still, it isn't the same.

I don't know how things will play out for the Nik plug-ins. Unlike the Eclipse foundation, which has a clear interest in the technology and the developer resources to maintain them, I doubt there is a similar open organization that is in place to take over the Nik plug-ins if they were open sourced. Google tends not to be greedy with things that are not along their line of business when they acquire a company with multiple products. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.
« Last Edit: September 17, 2012, 04:00:04 pm by lfeagan »
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Lance

Nikon: D700, D800E, PC-E 24mm f/3.5D ED, PC-E 45mm f/2.8D ED, PC-E 85mm f/2.8D, 50mm f/1.4G, 14-24 f/2.8G ED, 24-70 f/2.8G ED, 70-200 f/2.8G ED VR II, 400mm f/2.8G ED VR
Fuji: X-Pro 1, 14mm f/2.8, 18mm f/2.0, 35mm f/1.4

hjulenissen

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Re: Nik software acquired by Google!
« Reply #13 on: September 17, 2012, 04:04:55 pm »

Android-Mobile-social-photosharing-instagram?

-h
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BigBadWolfie

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Re: Nik software acquired by Google!
« Reply #14 on: September 17, 2012, 11:20:14 pm »

Damn. I hope this just means more resources for Nik and not a change in business model.  Nik really has passionate people working there. Love their live training.
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francois

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Re: Nik software acquired by Google!
« Reply #15 on: September 18, 2012, 06:01:51 am »

Vic Gundotra (Google's SVP) doesn't say much about the acquisition:

Today I’m excited to welcome +Nik Software to the Google family! We want to help our users create photos they absolutely love, and in our experience Nik does this better than anyone. Check out the examples from some of the world’s greatest photographers, and you’ll see what I mean.

Source: https://plus.google.com/u/1/+VicGundotra/posts/2YWhK1K3FA5

Another interesting thing, unless I'm wrong, Nikon software uses Nik's U-Point technology. Will Google continue to license it to Nikon?
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Francois

dgberg

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Re: Nik software acquired by Google!
« Reply #16 on: September 18, 2012, 06:45:04 am »

Anyone know what the NIK Software revenue numbers look like?

If the NIK Suites only takes in 10 million its probably dead in the water as the cost of keeping them up will not be worth it. Thats pennies to Google.
Now if its 100 million that could be a different story. Still pennies to Google.
I personally think Google will let the plugins die. At present a decent customer base, but just no future growth outlook to make continuation worthwhile.
So sad!  My most used plugins too.
Lets hope for the best.
« Last Edit: September 20, 2012, 07:24:37 pm by Dan Berg »
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lfeagan

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Re: Nik software acquired by Google!
« Reply #17 on: September 18, 2012, 11:00:22 am »

I think the most likely scenario is that Google will make the present versions of all plug-ins free. But, they won't be doing any maintenance on them.

The technology behind the plug-ins will be integrated into Picasa, Picasa Web, G+, and other current Google products as appropriate. I do not think there will be any current Nik products that will continue to be sold. There are very few desktop software products that Google sells, SketchUp and Earth Pro are the most notable examples I can think of.

Just as a fantasy, maybe Google, Nikon and Nix have a grand plan to combine Picasa and Capture NX to create a Lightroom-like piece of software. Like I said, just a fantasy.

As far as Nikon goes, I would hope (and assume) their lawyer's drafted a good contract that ensures the development, support, and use of Nix technology for at least 5 years. Then again, Nikon's general lack of interest in developing software might mean that they overlooked this as a business concern and failed to secure their interests.
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Lance

Nikon: D700, D800E, PC-E 24mm f/3.5D ED, PC-E 45mm f/2.8D ED, PC-E 85mm f/2.8D, 50mm f/1.4G, 14-24 f/2.8G ED, 24-70 f/2.8G ED, 70-200 f/2.8G ED VR II, 400mm f/2.8G ED VR
Fuji: X-Pro 1, 14mm f/2.8, 18mm f/2.0, 35mm f/1.4

GeraldB

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Re: Nik software acquired by Google!
« Reply #18 on: September 21, 2012, 12:18:31 am »

Too bad, rather dissapointed as there go some of my favourite plug-ins, especially Silver Effects. Googles philosophy is all about the cloud, so forget any support for desktop.
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