What is Digg?149 Comments
- sastian, on 10/12/2007, -1/+42you act like getting free software on linux is a new thing : )
- eklitzke, on 10/12/2007, -5/+38I love Google so much right now. I don't even like Picasa, but the fact that a major company would release their product on Linux, for free, just makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside.
EDIT: damn, it uses Wine. - tabledesk, on 10/12/2007, -11/+37iPhoto is pathetic in terms of performance. Ridiculously unnecessary anti-aliasing, which only slows down the entire application. It does not scale well in performance -- when they show off these applications in the store, you'll be able to note that the images in the library are not taken with a 7+ megapixel camera, so the speediness won't apply to you when you try it at home with your modern camera.
Anyway - Picasa is much more responsive and lightweight than iPhoto and has much lower requirements for acceptable speeds. (AND IT KEEPS THE PHOTOS IN A SANE DIRECTORY STRUCTURE) - kodek, on 10/12/2007, -8/+32That's cause this isn't Google. It's Goggle! Didn't you read the description? ;-)
- burke, on 10/12/2007, -6/+29Seriously? It uses wine? That seems like a pretty huge cop-out.
- mkoko, on 10/12/2007, -1/+22225 patches, to be exact :)
http://code.google.com/wine.html - wampl3r, on 10/12/2007, -2/+20No, they're embracing the open source community by submitting over 100 patches to the wine project in order to run picasa on Linux.. (see my comment below)..
- noneloud, on 10/12/2007, -2/+17***** Google? They contributed over 200 improvements to the open source Wine and you're saying ***** Google? Sir, I'm pretty sure that qualifies for a '***** you' instead.
- adinb, on 10/12/2007, -5/+20Amen to the directory structure. iPhoto doesn't seem to pay *any* attention to the meta-data it could get from a directory structure when importing.
Picasa for OSX! - brentcore, on 10/12/2007, -14/+28i actually see this a slap in the face to linux users. I actually hate it more when vendors "release" software for "free" under linux, yet refuse to open source it. Then everyone talks about how they reach out to open source and "embrace the community". beh, this is just like java.
I'll stick with F-spot thank you very much. - alloneword, on 10/12/2007, -3/+17Guess what, Sky High Rockets, you can't get iPhoto 06 for Linux.
- gstuartj, on 10/12/2007, -2/+15This. Is. Wonderful. It's very stable and works surprisingly well for such an early release.
- Niek, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11Direct links (accessible for everyone, also those outside the US):
RPM (Red Hat/Fedora/Suse/Mandriva x86): http://dl.google.com/linux/rpm/stable/i386/picasa-2.2.2820-5.i386.rpm
DEB (Debian/Ubuntu x86): http://dl.google.com/linux/deb/pool/non-free/p/picasa/picasa_2.2.2820-5_i386.deb
BIN (Any x86 Linux distribution): http://dl.google.com/linux/standalone/picasa-2.2.2820-5.i386.bin - tvgm2, on 10/12/2007, -1/+12Google Earth?
- jzimmerman, on 10/12/2007, -3/+14@brentcore
Why is it a requirement to be open source if your application is going to run on linux.
There are markets for both closed source and open source apps.
Seriously think about what it takes to release an application open source. If the application wasn't open source from the start it is a pain in the ass, especially if multiple developers, and in this case companies, have worked on the closed source code. The IP path is not clear.
They are letting you use it for free, on linux, via WINE.
Open source is not the "holy grail" of computer programming. It is one piece to the whole picture.
Be grateful for what is made available to you. If you don't like it program something similar yourself, release it open source, and give it away for free. (or after you have put all that time and effort into it would you feel so generous?) - brentcore, on 10/12/2007, -8/+18believe me, i'm not using it. call me crazy, but why even bother releasing this? a) it runs in wine, which it already did anyway, b) it's still not free, and c) it's crap compared to F-spot. Which is free. And native to linux.
I have to agree with DiggDuality below, this is gimmicky crap. Ask yourself why Google has even a single good reason for keeping Picasa and all it's other software closed? This "release" just reinforces the idea it's ok USE open source for profit and pretend like your giving something back by making software free as in beer. Bury me for being an OSS snob, fine. - cphuntington97, on 10/12/2007, -11/+21wtf? wine? seriously!? no digg! bad goggle!
- MrSpontaneous, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11"btw i thought there were more of us then there were of the linux users anyway!"
nope. Linux is ranked second in terms of market share. - Flooq, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9What exactly is the problem with staying closed? I'm not trying to complain or stick up for Google here I'm geniuinely curious about why people think that everything on Linux has to be in tune with the FSFs ideas about how things should be. There seem to be a lot of fundemental economic problems with that view when expanded to the entire industry unless I'm missing something.
- kingofearth2, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10@brentcore: While I do agree that they should open source some more of their programs, you can't say that Google doesn't do anything for the community. You have to remember that they sponsor the Summer of Code, and I'm pretty sure that they gave Jabber VoIP capabilities with libJingle.
And it did say that they had to make some improvements to Wine in order to get it to work properly, which they gave to Wine. - jzimmerman, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8@brentcore (again)
Just because google own's the rights to the program doesn't make ALL the IP clear for open sourcing. Open source licenses have requirements too.
And a business will have to justify the time spent on open sourcing the application vs the benefit.
Do you honestly think that with the programmer's they have access to that they will benefit from the open source community having access to their code? - jzimmerman, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8@brentcore (again)
Here is one answer to your "challenge".
Google makes money by offering __services__ and selling advertising on those services. There are other things, but that is what we are going to talk about here.
They buy and build applications that can tie into those services and offer the end user a richer experience, collecting data about their usage, offering great functionality in some areas, and selling targeted add space to advertisers.
If they open source these things how easy would it be for a competitor to pick up the source code and either user Google's own services to add value to theirs. How easy would it be to take the source code and setup their own services independently from google's, in direct competition with Google, with the source code that Google released.
Open source in this specific instance is not feasible. And would probably be a pain in the ass without a clear IP path on the code in Picasa's case (this is speculation on my part, but feasible speculation).
They are letting you use it for free. On linux.
Stop whining. - kleedrac, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8Where is everyone getting this from?? I'm still getting a 404 on http://picasa.google.com/linux/ ... or is there a mirror?
- sp0rk, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8Yeah, Digg the guy up that blindly assumes Wine requires a Windows partition, because he's obviously used Wine before.
- owine, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8they seem to have taken down the page. its still linked from the google labs page.
- wampl3r, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7I read that google provided over 100 patches to the wine project as a result of releasing picasa for Linux using wine. There has to be some benefits of using their packaged version of wine over the regular release unless you're currently running from cvs.. (although i don't know what the specifics are) Hopefully other apps will see benefits from these patches as well!
- rincebrain, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7Why the hell do people complain about Wine usage?
At least find out if it merely is compiled against wine and is statically linked against some of those libs, or if it just uses wine on the Windows picasa.
Sheesh.
Edit: Why hello there wine 0.9.10. How annoying. - nacs, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Actually wampl3r is correct.
As a result of Google using Wine to get Picasa on Linux, a whole LOT of patches were made to Wine. Here's the list of patches from Google itself:
http://code.google.com/wine.html
^^ That's why recent versions of Wine work so well with Picasa--because Google already worked with Wine developers to make sure those things were fixed. If Google hadn't done this, Picasa sure as hell wouldn't be running as smoothly as it is now. - jzimmerman, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6@brentcore
An API to use an application (i.e. Google Maps) and an actual application (i.e. Picasa) are two very different things.
I am in no way basing open source. I would advocate both open source an closed source given the right circumstances.
My comments are in no way "stuck in the old-dotcom way of marketing".
Google is in now way required or obligated to open source their application. You are not entitled to demand that they do so.
And if you believe that just because they own Picasa that their IP path is completely clear to open source it then you are naive. I am sure that you (and I for that matter) have not looked at any of the legal agreements and otherwise that were generated during the purchase of Picasa. To open source something like that they will need to hire legal aide to review it as well. - jzimmerman, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6@proidiot
Why do you think they __owe__ it to you to open source their application? - jzimmerman, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6@brentcore
Again...
Open sourceing an API to use a service or application is very different than open sourcing a complete application or service.
Please point me in the direction where I can download an open source version of the actual source code that I can compile and run my own service with for GoogleMaps.
Please point me in the direction where I can download open source code for GoogleEarth that I can modify compile and change to my hearts content.
An API is not an Application or Service. It is a way to use that service or application that extends functionality.
The example with GoogleEarth and GoogleMaps do not hold. It is a different situation. - Aiwanei, on 10/12/2007, -6/+12"I guess spell check doesn't pick up typos in "Google" huh :)"
Of course not, since Goggle is a real word and all. - dustinhoffman, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6I'm going to have to plead ignorant on this one... What Free app (built-in or downloadable) for windows does what Picasa does without loading a bunch of other junk on the system? And while you're at it, with your list of 10,000 similair applicaitons; could you name an application that is free, has a pretty darn clean and snazzy UI as picasa, and once again... doesn't load a bunch of other junk on the system?
I have been suggesting Picasa to the people I help for as long as it's been out. Granted, Picasa is not a "Feature Packed" application... I'm not going to be doing professional touchup or any of the millions of unrelated things that most companies stuff into their apps which make them slow and junky...but it can be a one stop shop to manage, view, share (via email, blog, website,CD), or have pictures printed at one of many online services.
From my encounters, every single application that has come bundled with the users cameras are terrible, some are locked down to a brand (c'mon people plug in more than one camera to their systems), The UI is not friendly... either fugly, unintuitive or both. - MrSpontaneous, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Here's a novel idea - you could try something before panning it. Its not in google's best interest to make the program (with wine bundled in the package) hard to install.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -5/+9Well now that i've waded through the trash comments of Linux, Mac, and Google fanboys pissing all over themselves.. i'll drop my 2 cents.
Google's size scares me.. but beyond that they've proven a trust worthy company, with a great business model, they've shown the world what you can do with a couple of linux clusters, and they offer some damned great online services..Gmail, all of their searching, their ad program (though that's being tainted with images and video.. but still less intrusive than others.. so i can't complain too much), Gtalk is a great chat medium, their Calendar is wonderful.
Now that i'm done kissing their ass... i've never seen a practicle use for a single piece of software they've written for a PC on any OS. Their Google Desktop for windows is pathetic. There's nothing it does that i can't do in Windows. Picassa... what can i do with this 10,000 other applications can't? What can i do with this that even some tools in most operating systems can't?
They're desktop software for the home PC i feel is just.. useless, gimmicky, trivial crap. - Trekkie101, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Actually, the Picasa installer deals with wine for you.
- dexta, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Email re the reasons why this was done with wine and the improvements to wine and what is missing.
http://www.winehq.com/pipermail/wine-devel/2006-May/047806.html
True it aint open source - but they just pumped a whole lot into open source - the improvements to wine will help everyone. - anjinash, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4"i actually see this a slap in the face to linux users. I actually hate it more when vendors "release" software for "free" under linux, yet refuse to open source it. Then everyone talks about how they reach out to open source and "embrace the community". beh, this is just like java."
I don't see it as a slap in the face. Hey, not everything can or should be opensource. When Doom 3 was released for Linux, did you piss and moan that the source code wasn't made available? It's whining like this that keeps more developers away from Linux, which cripples it in the long run.
I love the opensource philosophy, and I think more should be done with it. But if Linux wants to thrive, it has to welcome proprietary software into the fold as well. Imagine if Adobe were to release Photoshop for Linux.. what a coup that would be. I doubt anyone would bitch that they didn't release the source code.
In the case of Google releasing Picasa for Linux, I think it's a VERY good thing. I'm no fan of the actual software, but in releasing it they created over 200 patches for Wine. Having Google contribute to Wine like that can't be seen as anything but positive in the long run, as Google has the resources that nobody in the opensource world has. - bradr, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5I'd agree that Google Desktop is pathetic but if you don't know what Picasa will do that "10,000 other applications can't" I have a feeling you've never actually used it. It's one of the most user friendly photo management programs I've used. It has all the right features to just get photos off a digicam, touch up, print, and email - without being so feature heavy that it becomes unusable. If you hear all those mac 'fanboys' praising iphoto...that's why - it's pretty much the same program from what I hear. It's something I recommend to most people that aren't computer literate but have a digital camera (like my mother), but yet it's advanced enough that I use it too!
Maybe this only further validates your point - but it's worth noting that google didn't really write picasa. It was a startup they bought and all they did was touch it up! - pabster, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Another ***** whiner who obviously hasn't tried the RPM?
You don't even see Wine, let alone "have to deal with it." - DesiVideoGamer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I just installed it on to my Ubuntu AMD64 (6.06) machine. Works perfectly!
- DigeratiPrime, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4well to be precise google did not create picasa or google earth, i know the latter was from keyhole.
- celerate, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5I haven't needed Windows to run it's apps in Wine before, although I have heard of people installing the apps in Windows first and then copying the program files to their Linux partition in the case of software with uncooperative installers.
- chenlevy, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Apparently the http://picasa.google.com/linux/ link is accessible only from within the United States. As a workaround, the rest of us can use an anonymous web proxy such as http://www.anonymization.org/
This link worked for me: http://67.18.35.242/-picasa.google.com/linux/index.html - nperriault, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5Just go to : tinyurl.com/rtdf2 and it's ok ;) (french translation, sorry)
Why google is only allowing US providers to access this section ? Mystery. - lampshade, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6"But do you want code running on your computer that you can't examine and look at?"
I dunno, I find arguments like this dumb because I'm sure you didn't go through all of the linux kernel code. I'm pretty sure you trusted someone else to do it. If you happened to go through all the kernel code and make sure that was ok, did you go through all the code for Gnome, Fluxbox, KDE, or whatever else you might use as a window manager? Did you check the code of ls to make sure it was secure?
You admit in your post that __someone else__ will check the code
so you are blindly putting your faith in some guy anyway. Why not just blindly put your faith in a company whose motto is "Don't be evil"? - linuxos77, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I'm a huge Linux fan (I run it exclusively) and have grown quite accusomed to "This is the Linux equivalent to........" whenever I show someone a program. Sure, I'd love to have a native Linux Picasa (or Google Earth :) ), but who really cares whether or not it runs in wine on the backend? For Google (and us Linux users) it's a compromise, we get a well known and decent program, and they get to test the waters of a new user base. I'd rather run Picasa via wine (if it's exactly the same as the Windows version), than a stripped down native Linux version missing some features (as some vendors do). They made the install very simple (RPM) and it performs about the same as it does in Windows. Maybe if the response is strong for this version of Linux Picasa they will develop a native one. I enjoy the addition of another software title and think you should stop complaining....
- Killeroid, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I have some screenshots here: http://killeroid.com/blog/?p=18
- matid, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5I don't think it'll be worth installing, because there already is a very nice application like this called F-Spot: http://f-spot.org
And it doesn't require wine ;) - jzimmerman, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3It is only trivial if you don't use it.
I use Picasa. It is a great application. I have no use for anything else really for photo management. -
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